Richard McInnis, age 90, of Dexter, MI, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2025, at his home surrounded by family.
Richard was born on March 7, 1935 in McMillan, MI and was a graduate of Newberry High School, in Newberry, MI. He moved to Dexter in 1955 to attend the University of Michigan, where he later graduated with degrees in Education and Secondary School Administration. He began teaching at Dexter High School in 1959 and became the High School Counselor before leaving in 1965.
After leaving Dexter High School, he worked for Holt, Rinehart and Winston, publishers of educational materials, and for Marketing Manpower Development, a corporate training company. Richard later became active in local real estate, as a member of Waggoner Real Estate. In 1975, he purchased a Hallmark card shop in Dexter as a way of supplementing his real estate work. He operated Dexter Card and Gift for about two years, and it became his sole source of income. During that time, everyone in the family helped out in one way or another. He sold the card shop in 1977 after increasing sales in the time he owned and managed it and eventually returned to real estate, opening his own office, Real Estate Headquarters, in downtown Dexter.
In 1978, Richard returned to teaching by accepting a position at the Jackson Area Career Center, a Vocational High School in the Jackson County Intermediate School District, where he worked until retirement in 1997. In 1999, he was hired by Eastern Michigan University as a Student Teaching Supervisor, working with student teachers as they completed their internship experience in local area school districts.
In 2002, he was awarded the Dean’s Distinguished Lecturer's Award from the College of Education, Eastern Michigan University, for his outstanding leadership and initiative for improving the student teaching program and for his extraordinarily high evaluations by students.
In 2002, Richard was recognized by the Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organization as Volunteer of the Year, for his significant contributions to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospice Program of Ann Arbor, MI.
While Richard will be remembered by his family as a very loving father and husband, and by many as a very caring and encouraging teacher, he will be remembered by many others for his fun and lively music shared over the years. Since 1955, he has entertained in the Dexter-Ann Arbor area, playing music for dancing, singing, and listening at many local establishments for a variety of occasions.
Richard is survived by Jean McInnis, his wife of 47 years; three children from a former marriage, Joseph (Nancy) McInnis, Jamie McInnis Winkle, and Jennifer McInnis (Daniel) Wolanski; the mother of the children, Shirley Atkins; three grandchildren, Austin Winkle, Dustin Wolanski, and Taylor Wolanski; and a sister, Jean (Duane) Braun. He was preceded in death by his older brother, Pete (Gerry) McInnis, and his younger sister, Doris Morrison.
Visitation will be held at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea on Monday, September 15, 2025, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Dr. Matthew Hook officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Dexter.
Following the burial, all are invited to the Huron River Methodist Church for a luncheon and time of fellowship.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Residential Hospice or the Huron River Methodist Church.
