PAINESVILLE TWP. – Services for Richard J. Morse, 80, of Painesville Township, will be held March 8, 2017, at 8 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home, 368 Mentor Ave., Painesville (opposite Lake Erie College).
Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. March 8 at the funeral home.
He was born on Jan. 12, 1937, in Painesville, to the late John and Elizabeth Morse, and had lived in Lake and Geauga counties all his life.
Richard was a Chardon High School graduate in 1955 and served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.
Mr. Morse was a charter member of the Hambden Volunteer Fire Department, where his father was the first fire chief.
He moved to Willoughby Fire Department in 1962, earning the rank of lieutenant. In 1979, he moved to Leroy Township and became fire chief until 1988.
Mr. Morse was a Master Mason F.&.A.M. of Willoughby #302 and a member of Painesville Temple #28. He was very involved in masonry and served in many different capacities throughout the years.
Mr. Morse was a motorcycle enthusiast and was a member of Masonic Motorcycle Club International and Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club, and Founder of Ohio Chapter #1
He was also a member of F.O.P.A. Lodge #69 Willoughby, and the Painesville Elks Lodge #549.
He had volunteered at Lake East Hospital and was a Boy Scout leader and a member of the U.S. Selective Service System for Lake County.
Survivors are his wife, Janice M. (Munneke); daughters, Jennifer Kusmier, of Concord, N.C., and Glee Ann (Steve Rosen) Slivka, of Chester Township; and son, Lawrence (Jill Chapek) Morse, of Trumbull Township; grandchildren, Todd, Hillary, Cameron, Ashley Nichole, Taylor and Rachel; and great-grandsons, Kydon and Fellon.