John R. "Bob" Dick, Jr.

John Robert “Bob” Dick, Jr. died August 2nd, 2019 at the Villa at the Bay Nursing Home in Petoskey, Michigan.  His wife of 55 years, Mary Jane, and his niece, Nancy, were at his side.

Bob was born September 25th, 1929 in Guilford County, North Carolina to John Robert Dick Sr. and Elsie (Brown) Dick.  He grew up in Greensboro, NC and attended Oak Ridge Military Academy in Oak Ridge, NC where he graduated high school in 1948.  Bob served in the US Air Force in the early 1950s before attending art school and becoming an advertising illustrator.  He moved to Michigan in the early 1960s to work for Ford Motor Company as an artist and draftsman.

Bob married Mary Jane Dick in 1964 and the couple moved up north to a log cabin on Pickerel Lake where they lived for over 40 years and where Bob developed a career as a fine artist.  Working in his studio on Pickerel Lake, he specialized in watercolor painting and sold many works at local art fairs and in the community.

Since childhood, Bob played, sang, and loved bluegrass music.  He played guitar, banjo, and mandolin, with mandolin being his stand out instrument.  Bill Monroe was his idol and he loved to talk bluegrass whenever he could.   Over the years Bob played in a number of bluegrass bands including Tannery Creek Band, Blue Grass Transfer, and String Jam, the last of which performed around Petoskey.  Nothing made Bob happier than sitting around pickin’ his mandolin with friends.

Bob will be remembered for his good humor, creative spirit, musical and artistic talent, and his great love for MJ.

Bob is survived by his wife Mary Jane (Pellowe) Dick, niece Nancy (Pellowe) Dennis of Dallas TX, niece Diane Pellowe (Rich Kaye) of Middleton, WI and great nieces Elena and Claire Dennis.  Bob wished to be cremated.  A memorial service will be held at Petoskey United Methodist Church at a future date.  In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred at Little Traverse Bay Humane Society in Harbor Springs, MI (ltbhs.com).

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