Obituary of Randy Lee Brizendine

June 22^nd, saw the passing of Kalamazoo's greatest superhero, Randy Lee Brizendine. He was born July 18^th, 1952 and spent almost 65 years making friends, loving his family, and laughing. He couldn't fly.  He couldn't run very fast or jump very high.  But he could laugh and love like no one else.  

Randy spent his younger years fighting, and building and driving stockcars.  According to him, he excelled at them all.  He spent countless hours “running the streets” with numerous friends and cousins - something he would never allow his two boys to do. But he had a great circle of friends – which will remain nameless because there might still be outstanding warrants.  He begrudgingly attended school in Kalamazoo, graduating (barely) from Loy Norrix High School in 1970.

In 1978 he met his soulmate, Jeannie Webster, and began a marriage that would last nearly 40 years. Their marriage, like all marriages, had its ups and downs.  But it was filled with love and laughter, and was insipirational to all who knew them. Randy worked several years for the City of Kalmazoo in the streets department. He then worked for the remainder of his career at Michigan Disposal Service, BFI, and Allied Waste in the capacities of supervisor and operations manager for several different departments. Randy and Jeannie successfully raised two sons, and ultimately even had several years of relative peace and quiet before he passed away.

Randy was preceded in death by his father Earl; his step-father Leonard Groetsema; his mother Donna (Dole); his sister Sandy; and his brother and BFF LanE.  He is survived by his wife Jeannie (Webster); son Bruce and wife Kelli (Bertelson); son Lee and wife Jessica (Idleman); sister Candy Mollohan; grandchildren Carter, Lee Jr., Mason, Christian, and Ivy; several nieces and nephews; very special friend, Ken Shauer, who was always there until the very end; and faithful dog, Mickey, who is taking things just as hard as everyone else.

A short period of viewing and visitation is planned for Thursday, June 28^that 2:00 PM, immediately followed by a celebrtion of life at 4:00 PM, at Kalamazoo Missionary Church in Kalamazoo.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations toward a memorial fund for Randy.