Richard E Mohan's Obituary
Richard E. Mohan aka Dick, dad, and affectionately known as Poppy by his grandkids, left a special mark on the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him. He truly is "The Man, The Myth, The Legend". With heavy hearts, we announce his passing but take great comfort in the memories of the remarkable man that he was - the epitome of love, strength, and true devotion. Poppy's legacy will live on forever in the hearts of his family. He passed on peacefully surrounded by his loving family on June 27, 2023, at his home in Bradenton, Florida. He was 81 years old.
Poppy is survived by his loving wife of 59 incredible years, Marsha Mohan (nee Grens), his 4 beautiful daughters: Maureen (Scott) Watson, Michele (Dave Perry) Mohan, Melissa Mohan, and Meredith (Chris) Dyson, and 11 amazing grandchildren; Zachariah Hutchens, Forrest Hutchens, Jack Watson, Jon Baber, Matthew Watson, Kevin Watson, Rachel Baber, Thomas Baber, Patrick Watson, Cameron Dyson, and Connor Dyson. As a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Poppy's presence brought warmth and joy to every room he entered mixed with a touch of grumpiness and humor in the best way. Poppy embodied integrity, honesty, and compassion. He was unapologetically himself and taught us all to be true to ourselves. His wit and sarcasm gave us a lifetime of laughs. He was a guiding light to his family and taught his family the true meaning of honor, responsibility, perseverance, and prioritizing family above all else - and most importantly he lived by example. His strong moral compass taught all of his family how to live with integrity.
He is survived by 3 admired brothers and much-loved sister, John (Judy) Mohan, Thomas (Carole) Mohan, Gerald (the late Judy) Mohan, and Susan (the late Thomas) Lyons. He is also survived by 2 brother-in-laws who were great friends of his, Ronald Grens, and Gerald (Sheree) Grens.
Poppy owned and operated Roy’s Radiator and Glen Park Radiator for many decades. He was a trusted and fair auto repairman. His daughters all spent time working for him in one or the other, seeing him not only treat his customers with respect but being like a father to his employees over the years. He provided for his family with unwavering devotion and hard work. Poppy's commitment to his loved ones continued till the end, he wouldn’t hesitate to go above and beyond to ensure everyone's well-being and happiness.
Being from Chicago, Poppy was a loyal White Sox & Bears fan for many years… when it became almost Un-Bearable, he called up for a Rodgers shirt… oh Da Bears, but his heart remained true to Chicago and that shirt rarely saw the light of Sundays. Poppy's love for sports extended beyond just watching them, he was a star softball player in his younger years and proudly coached his daughters softball teams as well.
Road trips were always an adventure with Poppy, he would always moo every time we passed a cow. This tradition lives on with his cherished family and will always remind them of the joyful moments they shared.
When Poppy’s grandkids came to visit they couldn’t wait until morning time because they knew Poppy would make his family famous waffles. He crafted mouthwatering waffles for his adoring grandchildren infused with a hint of cinnamon and generously adorned with butter and syrup, though the most important ingredient he always added was love. To pay it forward, his grandson, Zach, remembers teaching Poppy how to make grilled cheese sandwiches.
He told both funny and crazy stories of his days growing up. And as if his already existing stories weren’t entertaining and remarkable enough, Poppy gained another tale to tell when he was struck by lightning - not once, but twice! This gave him superpowers, though they didn’t always seem super… most notable was how difficult it was for him to use technology, he would often say it was because his fingers had electricity coming out of them causing all sorts of issues when he used his phone. This was just another way Poppy brought laughter and humor to those around him while relating to life.
The hobby Poppy enjoyed most was fishing on the pier in Siesta Key. He had the ability to reel in all kinds of remarkable catches, including one of the most memorable Tarpon caught off the pier using nothing more than a shrimp and a smile. Poppy truly loved sharing his passion for fishing with his children and grandchildren, teaching them the art of fileting fish which led to some of the best fish dinners his family ever had.
As we say our goodbyes to Poppy in this life, we carry on the lessons he taught us, the love he bestowed upon us, and the countless memories he gifted us. His spirit is still with us and we are sure he will make his presence known from time to time. Poppy will live forever in our hearts, reminding us to approach life with zest, humor, and an unwavering commitment to family. His legacy is defined by endless love and devotion.
Poppy… may you rest in eternal peace. We love you so much.
A memorial service will be Friday July 21, 2023 at 11am at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church
5394 Midnight Pass Rd Sarasota, FL 34242
A Graveside service with Military Honors will be Friday July 21, 2023 at 1pm at Sarasota National Cemetery 9810 State Road 72 Sarasota, FL 34241.
For those who are unable to make it to either event on Friday A Celebration of life will be on July 22, beginning at 6pm. Location will be the clubhouse at Sandy Cove, 4900 Ocean Boulevard, Sarasota, FL, 34242.
In Lieu of Flowers donations in Richards Name can be made to the American Kidney Fund
https://www.kidneyfund.org/
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