We did not know Mr. Ridky personally, but purchased so many marble mayhem games from him within our circle of friends and family.  We appreciated his craftsmanship & talent and still enjoy the game.   We will raise a toast to him the next time we play

When we decided to buy our cabin at Cub Lake almost 20 years ago we decided to go and introduce ourselves to the neighbors so Renata, Samantha, Jeremy and I walked over and knocked on the door. Dick answered and looked at Renata and I ..... he pointed to Renata and said "you can come in" and then looked at me and said "you can go". I loved him the moment I met him. We became great friends with Dick and Dolores and the entire Ridky clan. Dick introduced me to the Manhattan cocktail, woodworking and Marble Mayhem game boards, to cutting down trees, building decks, all the local breakfast joints in Grayling and Kalkaska. He became part of our family up north and joined us or invited us for countless meals together .... we loved laughing together and hearing his stories of how he met Dolores, his first car, how he met Jimmy Cagney, how he bowled a perfect 300 game, his days working at Chrysler, how he and Dolores decided to leave Detroit and move to Cub Lake. Anytime we needed anything Dick was there to help us.... cabin repairs, snow blowing our driveway .... he offered advice and tools freely .... he had a big heart. Truth is I have only known Cub Lake with Dick as my neighbor .... we will miss him terribly! Rest in Peace my dear friend; we are happy knowing you are reunited with Dolores, Jeffrey, Debra, Kurtis and other family who went before you. You will always be my neighbor

Celebrating one of many birthdays with our neighbor Dick Ridky

Joe and Nathalie make a beautiful cake for Dick ..... cake and Manhattan on the deck at Cub Lake ....

Dick had an amazing workshop on Cub Lake. He loved to show it to anyone interested to see it. He built his entire home and built many things for our cabin for us as well.

What's for dinner? Looks like steak and potatoes by the smile on Dick's face

Another great evening of song and laughter at Cub Lake. Dick loved a crowd and would never turn down a Manhattan

July 4 weekend at Camp Ridky ..... we were invited every year! Ridky family is always welcome at the Arsenault cabin on Cub Lake.... we are family

Great photo of Dick and the young Spartans from Stoddard St..... he always treated our son Jeremy and his buddies like family. He would call me and say "come on over for a steak", I would answer I have a house full of Spartans and he would respond "I've got enough steaks for everyone"

Great photo of Dick and Lolly ..... he loved to put her on the sunroom table

Dick loved his little dog Lolly .....  he would always bring her over on the deck .... I will never forget the time she escaped and we had to chase her all over the property and eventually we caught her down by the lake

Looks like another Manhattan in Dick's hand ....

Almost 20 years ago, we were searching northern Michigan for a family cottage. When we saw the property on Cub Lake, we were quite interested,  but decided to do a bit of investigating by speaking to the neighbor. From the first time he opened the door for us, Dick stole our hearts and sealed our decision, one we would never regret! 
Over the ensuing years, Dick became much more than a neighbor. He helped us in countless ways, with his expert advice, his workshop, and even becoming our 'one-man snow-removal service'.  He did occasionally ’break into our house’ (i.e. we saw him entering with the ring camera while were downstate), but he was the only ‘burglar’ that left things (gifts) for his victims rather than taking anything. His tremendous humor and endless generosity infused our time up north with love and laughter. We got to know and love his incredible family, who we have come to consider as part of our own. He regaled us with colorful stories from his earlier days (often with a Manhattan in hand), and we grew to love his sense of humor and to appreciate first hand his deep and enduring  love of his wonderful family, those still living and those that have preceded him in heaven. 
Dick Ridky was a force of nature…talented, generous, kind and funny. Cub Lake will never be the same, although we are grateful that he left a few trees still standing on his property. He did love to participate in deforestation, and just as he forged a path through the forest and through life, he forged one as well through our hearts. We will never forget the best neighbor ever, and now that he is freed from his bodily pains we can see him clearly, with his beloved wife by his side and surrounded by other loved ones, sipping a Manhattan and smiling in reflection upon a rich life well-lived.

We loved our Manhattans ..... I am convinced after knowing Dick for so long that Manhattans must be good for your health as look what it did for him

Another meal at Cub Lake; this time he invited our family and friends over to join him

Dick loved to cut down trees .... it did not matter what time of year .... if the tree was dying or blocking his view of the lake it was time to cut it down! We were always amazed at how strong he was well into his 90's

Another Cub Lake family photo ..... and another Manhattan

Anytime our family and friends were up at Cub Lake, Dick was always invited to join us .... he loved BarBQ steaks with potatoes!

Dick was our neighbor on Cub Lake for almost 20 years. From the moment we met Dick and Dolores we became great friends and very quickly we become part of each other's extended families. Dick always took care of us and we did everything we could to take care of him, especially after we lost Dolores. We shared many great meals together

Manhattan time on Cub Lake ..... Dick loved his Manhattans and would offer them any time of the day .... I will never forget the time he came over in the middle of a hot July afternoon with a pitcher of Manhattans already mixed

What kind of neighbor was Dick? He was the kind of neighbor who would be waiting for you on the shore of Cub Lake with a Manhattan after you finish your 1/2 mile swim! How could you say no??

Dick loved to golf! He loved to talk about his hole-in-one .... a 170 yard par 3 with a 7-iron. Playing with him in his later years he would still hit his 7-iron from 170 yards out and then complain "why did it only go 130 yards?" We all tried to tell him he needs to hit more club but he would not change

Who has been able to escape Kalkaska without sampling Uncle Dick's favorite beverage..... 'The Kalkaska  Manhattan' ?

Who has been able to escape Kalkaska without sampling Uncle Dick's favorite beverage ' The Kalkaska Manhattan' ?

Whenever Uncle Dick had company he sure did like to share some of his ‘20 to 30 steaks’ he always kept in his Kalkaska freezer !            Rest in peace Uncle Dick…….and to the family…..We share your loss !       Bill & Teresa

We met Dick soon after purchasing our home on Cub Lake, and his smile and welcoming spirit were evident right away. 
It was through  Dick, that we were connected to his talented son, Jeff, who worked with us on remodeling our home. 
We were welcomed into family gatherings and hearty meals during the summer. It was kind of a joke amongst fellow neighbors that Dick Ridky LOVED steak!
Dick had interesting stories to tell. We learned of his military service and vision for retiring  'Up North'. He was a consummate 
craftsman and woodworker. The home he built for his family was well-planned and executed. 
If you could go out and buy a good neighbor, you'd select Dick Ridky. 

Sharon and Jeff Davis

OBITUARY

Richard Paul Ridky

October 21, 1928 – January 6, 2026

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