Richard Lee Dandelles (Rich), 62, of Tampa Florida, passed away late Thursday, April 15, 2010 at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa.
Born July 14, 1947 in Kankakee, Illinois to Harry and Lorraine (Richard) Dandelles, Rich graduated from Kankakee Senior High, class of 1965. Following service with the U.S. Army in Europe from 1966-1969, he graduated from the University of Illinois in 1973 with a specialized degree in Labor Relations and Arbitration. Rich held various positions in the Transportation industry before forming Dandelles Transportation Services in Tampa in the late 1980's. He was a natural talent at golf and an avid reader throughout his life.
In addition to his parents in Kankakee he is survived by brother Harry and sister-in-law Barbara of Tulsa, OK and brother Tom and sister-in-law Eileen of Kankakee, and their families. Cremation conducted by Veterans Funeral Care, Clearwater, Florida.
A graveside service will be conducted at a later date at Mound Grove Gardens of Memory, Kankakee. Please sign the registry below.
Please accept my condolences in the loss of Rich. I went to school with him at KHS, and my mother used to babysit for the family, as well as my father “Ozzie” tended bar for the Dandelles.
Please let me know when the memorial service will be. I would like to attend.
Blessings to you all as you cope with the loss of Rich. I was a classmate of his all through school and have fond memories of him and his family. My parents (Bill and Dot Gwin), who both were in leagues at the Dandelles Lanes, enjoyed good times with his parents.
We were sorry to read of the loss of your son. We pray the Lord will help you through this difficult time.
Love,
Willis and Judi
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Rich and I had lots of good times together–I have many fond memories of him. He was a big part of my life and will always be part of me. My parents thought alot of him also.
My deepest sympathy to Rich’s family and friends my thought and prayers are with you.
Rich is a very dear friend and he will always be in my heart.
Rich loved the people in his life very deeply. Many times he spoke of the pride and love he had for his family and friends.
Rest in peace Rich.
Love, Jeanne
Dear Harry, Lorraine and family, We send you our love, prayers and deepest sympathy on the loss of your son. As time passes, may all of your happy memories fill the emptiness in your hearts.
Harry,Tom & Eileen,
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family at this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
My most sincere condolences for loss.I envey Richard’s completeing his journey and Reconcilation with God..
Dr, William P. Burns
Deepest sympathy for your loss. Rich was in my graduating class but I remember him most of all as a guy with a great sense of humor (which was a tool for entertaining our senior English class). Jeanne and I visited him when I went to Florida to pick up my parents a few years ago. I would like to attend the memorial service if it is open to friends. Again, deepest sympathy to all of his family.
Deepest sympathy for your loss. Rich was in my graduating class but I remember him most of all as a guy with a great sense of humor (which was a tool for entertaining our senior English class). Jeanne and I visited him when I went to Florida to pick up my parents a few years ago. I would like to attend the memorial service if it is open to friends. Again, deepest sympathy to all of his family.
Please accept my condolences on Rich’s passing. He was in my high school class, and a good friend. He was funny, bright, outrageous and , in general, larger than life. We spent many hours at the Dandelles Lanes where he tried, unsuccessfully, to teach me to bowl. He will be missed…
Rich was a friendly outgoing guy who will be missed by those who knew him. I will always have great memories of he & his family through the bowling alley and high school.
Tom, My deepest sympathy to you and your family in the loss of your brother Rich.
I am so sorry for this loss. I was really hoping to be able to reconnect with my father but now that chance is gone.
I am so sorry for this loss. I was really hoping to be able to reconnect with my father but now that chance is gone.
“Life is just a chair of bowlies.” “God knows I’m sorry.” “The whole nine yards.” “Mrs. Dandelles’s little boy Richie.” Our friendship spanned over 40 years and 4 states. Rich, thank you for introducing me to the world beyond Kankakee and the world inside my imagination. You were one of a kind.
Rich and I were the same age. We both attended Univ. of Ill and we both did an active duty tour in the Army. He was an attendant at my wedding in 1982. Rich and my mother, Elaine, and I rode the train from Chicago to San Diego to visit Helen Bouchard. We played cards almost the whole time. Rich was always fun to be with. We will miss him a lot
Rich Kenley
I was a lonely, nerdy guy at Fort Knox in 1966 when I met Rich (he was known as “Dandy” at the time). It was obvious I needed a friend and, even though he was an outgoing popular guy, he stuck with me. His humor and upbeat personality gave all of us in E-2-1 (an armor training unit)
some bright moments during a very tough time in our lives. Everyone liked “Dandy”. He went to OCS, and I went to Vietnam, but we stayed in touch and visited for several years after we got out of the service. Rich was the best man at my wedding, and we had a great time canoeing on the Pine River in northern Michigan. I’ll always remember his stories about sneaking out of the barracks at OCS to pick up some “Pogie Bait” (snacks and beer). Knowing his personanlity, it is easy to picture him being the guy to volunteer to do it.
I decided to get in touch with Rich earlier this summer, and was very sad to see his obituary when I Googled him. He was a great friend ….I’ll miss him…Bob Moore
I was a lonely, nerdy guy at Fort Knox in 1966 when I met Rich (he was known as “Dandy” at the time). It was obvious I needed a friend and, even though he was an outgoing popular guy, he stuck with me. His humor and upbeat personality gave all of us in E-2-1 (an armor training unit)
some bright moments during a very tough time in our lives. Everyone liked “Dandy”. He went to OCS, and I went to Vietnam, but we stayed in touch and visited for several years after we got out of the service. Rich was the best man at my wedding, and we had a great time canoeing on the Pine River in northern Michigan. I’ll always remember his stories about sneaking out of the barracks at OCS to pick up some “Pogie Bait” (snacks and beer). Knowing his personanlity, it is easy to picture him being the guy to volunteer to do it.
I decided to get in touch with Rich earlier this summer, and was very sad to see his obituary when I Googled him. He was a great friend ….I’ll miss him…Bob Moore
Rest in peace, Richie. No words can express my sorrow for your family’s loss. Hope there was no pain. After all these years, just decided to google your life. With sympathy.