Richard Bardos

Richard was born on Sept. 19, 1940, in California, a son of Joseph and Leona (Schmidt) Bardos.

In 1957, he joined the U.S. Army where he served both in the US and in Germany. Richard worked for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, monitoring the moon mission, and all other flights until Richard’s retirement in 2002.

No matter where he lived, he was always thinking of others. In San Bernardino County, California, Richard was a volunteer firefighter and as a volunteer paramedic.

When he moved to Los Angeles County, he also volunteered as a volunteer sheriff.

When we moved to Calumet, he joined the Superior Search and Rescue team. 

Richard is also a member of the local Ham Radio club.

He met Donna Eliasen in 1961 at a roller skating rink and they were married on March 17, 2002.

He was preceded in death by: a grandson, Lukas Ballew; daughter-in-law, Maria Ballew; brothers, Joseph Bardos Jr. and Donald Bardos.

Richard was survived by: his wife, Donna; four children, Robert Ballew of Munich, Germany, Robin Bardos of California, Richard Bardos Jr., and Rinda Clopp, who lives in Texas; step-sons, Lawrence (Eve) Burnett of Washington and Erik Burnett of Tennessee; grandchildren, Thomas and Melissa Ballew, Ava Clopp; step-grandson, William; and several great-grandchildren.

The Funeral Liturgy will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Pearce Funeral Home in Lake Linden with Father Raju Jose to officiate. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the start of the funeral at the funeral home. 

Burial will be at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lake Linden.

In lieu of flowers request that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Online condolences may be left at pearcefuneralhome.com.