Richard Eli Abraham

Having experienced a life filled with abundant adventures, hard work and endless love, Richard E. Abraham, age 85, went willingly and peacefully to live another life of eternal peace with his Lord and Savior on July 31, 2015. Richard was born December 5th, 1929 in Iron Mountain to Michael and Sadie Abraham, the youngest of eight children. He was a 1949 graduate of Iron Mountain High School followed by graduating from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1953. It was in Milwaukee that Richard met and fell in love with his cherished wife, Jean, and married her on May 17th 1952. After marriage the happy couple moved back to Iron Mountain in 1954 where they opened and managed their first business; J&R Electronics. He and Jean together raised a loving family of four children. Richard had a one of kind, generous spirit and more energy than most. He was a true visionary and self-made man who had an incredible knack for business. He owned and operated six corporations and three proprietorships, employing up to 38 employees. His other accomplishments included building the second high power FM radio station in the Upper Peninsula which he named WJNR, after he and his wife. In his lifetime he also built many consumer electronic stores including SoundNorth, UPTV Systems, and Great Lakes Tele-Touch. Richard passionately believed in giving back to his community and was instrumental in raising funds for a long list of local organizations including; “The prevention of childhood sexual abuse”. He also had a great love of his country and as a result was the founding president of ACE – Americans for Constitutional Enforcement. Other fundraising projects that benefited from his desire to give back to the community included spearheading an effort to raise $75,000 to provide Dickinson County with 22 life-saving defibrillator units for area First Responder vehicles. An avid swimmer, Richard swam 7.7 miles in the Menominee River at the age of 65 and at 67 he swam the Straits of Mackinac to help raise funds for the local Kiwanis Club. In his lifetime he was a member of the Elks Club, Golden K, and served as a board member for Northwoods Airlifeline. Richard was also member of the Masons for over 50 years participating in Lodges 385 and 388. Being a Shriner since 1972 he proudly sponsored more than 130 children to the Shriner Hospitals where they were able to receive free medical help until the age of 18. He also had the privilege of serving for three years on the Board of Governors at the Shriners Minneapolis Twin City Children’s Hospital and the great honor of serving as the Potentate of the Ahmed Shrine in 1990. Richard strongly believed that God did not put him on Earth to take from it, but rather to make it a better place for his having been given the gift of life. If you were ask his of his greatest accomplishment in life, he would tell you it was the blessing of being the head of his loving family. Richard was a faithful servant of God and a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Iron Mountain. He served on the Parish Council for many years and was instrumental in leading the efforts, along with his lifelong friend Louis Cini, of the construction of the St. Mary’s Soccer Complex. Richard leaves behind his greatest source of strength and loving wife, Jean; his eldest son Michael (Margaret) Abraham of Erwin, Tennessee; his “favorite” (and only) daughter Cindy (Russ Pietschmann) Abraham of Iron Mountain; Richard Abraham Jr. of St. Paul Minnesota and Chris (Jessica) Abraham of Iron Mountain. His is also survived by his sister Virginia Gossan, four grandchildren (Jennifer, Adam, Nicholas, and Lauren Abraham), six great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren; and his brothers-in-law Harry Howard and Neal Doll. In addition, he leaves behind a very special and dedicated niece Peggy Gingrass as well as several nieces and nephews. Lastly, he leaves behind his dear friends Dale Frei, Bob Belongie, and his fishing buddy Bob Dubnick. In addition to his parents, those preceding Richard in death include his brothers John, George, and Samuel Abraham; his sisters Catherine Stichman, Helen Wagner and Margaret Bandt, as well as his Godson Richard Stichman and several brothers and sisters-in-law and nephews. Richard lived life to the fullest and before illness fell upon him, he not only was an expert sharp-shooter, but greatly enjoyed spending time at his cabin, singing, hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and most of all; spending time with his family. If he had any advice to all he left behind it would to love God, love your country, love your neighbor, and most of all; love your family never passing on an opportunity to say “I love you”. This is how Richard lived his life, and it was a good one.