Richard L. Fellows

Richard (Rick) L. Fellows, 66, passed away peacefully at home on September 5, 2014 surrounded by his loving wife and family members after an 8-year heroic battle against pancreatic cancer. Rick was born in Flint, MI on June 26th, 1948 to the late Lynn and Nathalene (Niedzielski) Fellows. He graduated from high school in Rancho Cordova, California in 1966 where he excelled in track and football. After graduation, Rick moved to Lansing and joined the Lansing City Police Department where he served as both a patrolman and undercover narcotics detective. He went on to graduate from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. During his time in Lansing, the local hippies challenged Rick and some of his fellow officers to battle it out on the football field. Rick took this opportunity to create a fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital through the infamous “Pigs and Freaks” football games. The games eventually grew so popular that they were held in the MSU football stadium. In the 1970’s, Rick’s great love for the beauty of the Grand Traverse area inspired him to move to Traverse City. He worked in automotive sales and management for over 25 years and retired in 2008 due to his illness. Rick owned several boats and greatly enjoyed his time on the water. He took great pride in keeping physically fit and spent hours working out. Rick was preceded in death by his infant son Rex and his sister, Janine (Jack) Rokos. He is survived by his spouse Jessica (Perdue) Fellows, daughters Stacy Snyder of Traverse City, and Stephany Johnson of Utah. He is also survived by four grandchildren, sisters Linda (Gale) Long of Arizona and Kathy (Mike) Duvall of Utah, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family is being served by Reynolds- Jonkoff Funeral Home. A visitation will be held Monday, September 8th from 5-8pm at St. Joseph’s Church on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City. A funeral mass will be held Tuesday, September 9th at 11am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with a burial to follow at 16 Cemetery south of Mesick. In lieu of flowers, Rick wished that donations be made to the Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences at 401 N. Broadway, Suite 1440, in Baltimore, MD. 21231. Please specifically direct these donations to the Herman Research Fund in memory of Rick Fellows.

Richard L. Fellows

June 26, 1948 - September 5, 2014