Richard J. Ten Brink, died peacefully at his home in Holland MI after a twenty-one-year courageous journey with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) on Saturday, February 20, 2021, at the age of 69.
Richard was born in Holland, Michigan to Louis Harold and Alice Ruth (Gordon) Ten Brink. He graduated from West Ottawa High School in 1970. On Saturday, July 10, 1993, Richard married Deborah A. (Curtis) at her home in Vicksburg, Michigan.
When people think of Rich, the traits they are most likely to remember are his willingness to help anyone at any time, his down-to-earth honesty, Christ-centered life, volunteerism, his work ethic, his sharp wit, coaching baseball and basketball, fishing, and his commitment to health. Rich was exceptionally skilled as a master carpenter. He loved to tell stories of working for Broward Marine in Saugatuck MI, doing the custom woodwork on yachts that were sometimes for celebrity buyers.
In more recent years, Rich was a professional CDL-A Truck Driver. He could pull into any loading dock or delivery situation anywhere, no matter what the weather or the challenges. He never ever missed a day of work. Rich was someone you could depend on to show up and do his very best.
While living in Sun City West, Arizona, Rich and Deborah enjoyed hiking the mountain trails of White Tank Mountain Regional Park. Almost every weekend they would visit just to admire the raw dessert beauty, have a picnic lunch, and commune with nature.
When Deborah and Rich learned that he was diagnosed with a terminal illness called “Frontotemporal Degeneration,” a devastating degenerative brain disease, they sought out every reasonable medication, procedure, and clinical research data to restore health and maintain a good quality of life. When it became clear that this would not be possible, they thanked Rich’s medical team and moved back home to Holland, MI to be near family. Rich then moved on to palliative care and eventually onto hospice care. This allowed him to have a brief window of relatively pain-free quality time spent at home with his beloved spouse.
Now that the formal information has been disclosed, rather than focusing on his illness, close family and friends prefer to smile and remember Rich for saying that he’s ‘still pickin’ and a-grinnin.’ He has a whole new audience to amuse in his eternal heavenly home where he now resides with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
His Mother, Alice Ruth (Gordon), and his Father, Louis Harold Ten Brink, and his Brother Gordon Louis Ten Brink, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Deborah (Curtis), Holland MI; Children Heather Ten Brink White of Holland MI, Richard “Derek” Ten Brink (Stephanie) of Hamilton MI, Brooke Ten Brink (Eli Moya) of Ann Arbor MI; Step-Children James Kubicek (Nicole) of Dorr MI, Kristen Kubicek Tidd (Nate) of Galesburg MI, and Shannon Kubicek Barber (Andrew) of Caledonia MI, and Father-in-Law James W. Curtis of Fulton, MI; Siblings David Ten Brink (Mary) of Holland MI, John Ten Brink (Sherri) of Zeeland MI, Mary Ten Brink Lokker (Steve) of Hart MI, and Marlene Ten Brink Bullers of Holland MI.
Rich has been blessed with 11 grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends.
A private memorial celebration of Richard’s life is being planned for June at the Community Church of Douglas in Douglas, MI.
The family would like to send a special thank you to the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, Theaftd.org, LifeCircles Pace of Holland, Hospice of Holland, and The Brain Support Network, for all of their care and support.
The family has designated The Brain Support Network for memorial contributions in memory of Richard J. Ten Brink (BNS will take donations made by credit card at brainsupportnetwork.org, or by check mailed to Brain Support Network, PO Box 7264, Menlo Park, CA 94026)
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