Ernest Dick Flietstra, beloved child of God, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 25, 2025.

Dick was born in Grand Rapids, MI on April 28, 1935, to the late Dick and Jeannette (Elslo) Flietstra. In January 1940, at the age of four, Dick began kindergarten in the half-year class at Baxter Christian. After graduating from Grand Rapids Christian High School in 1952, he entered Calvin College intending to become an engineer. Instead, he discovered a love of mathematics and decided to pursue teaching. After graduating from Calvin in 1956, Dick earned a master's degree in mathematics from Michigan State University in 1967.

During college, Dick also discovered a passion for camping and photography. One of his earliest trips was to Isle Royale National Park, sparking a lifelong love of the outdoors. Over the years, he traveled to all 50 U.S. states, often with a camera in hand and a trail map in his pocket.

After college, Dick taught for one year at Grand Rapids Christian High School before beginning a 39-year career at Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville. From 1966 to 1973, he received five National Science Foundation fellowships to attend summer programs at universities across the country. When selecting each program, Dick carefully considered not only the academic offerings but also the nearby parks he could explore.

In the fall of 1966, a young English teacher named Carol Pettinga joined the faculty at Unity Christian and caught Dick's eye.  The two began dating soon after, leading to their engagement in March 1967, and their wedding on August 9, 1967. Together they raised three children: Rebecca, Rachel, and Timothy.

As his family grew, so did Dick's roles at school. He served as yearbook photographer, bus driver, basketball scorer, and track starter. Summers were filled with house painting jobs in June and July, followed by family camping and hiking trips in August to state and national parks across the country.

Dick's faith in God was the foundation of his life and the motivation for his work, both as a teacher and a volunteer. He and Carol and their family served with CRWRC in Rehoboth, New Mexico, in the summer of 1977, and then spent several summers working with Mississippi Christian Family Services in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, in the 1980s.

After retiring from teaching in 1997, Dick began what his family and friends called his "second career" — volunteering with Home Repair Services of Kent County. Over the next two decades, he was involved in building over 500 wheelchair ramps for those in need, working closely with a team of volunteers who became close friends.  He continued this work faithfully until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Above all, Dick cherished his family. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His seven grandchildren brought him immense joy, and he delighted in celebrating their accomplishments and spending time with each of them.

Dick was preceded in death by his sister Francine Leep, a niece, a nephew and numerous in-laws. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carol (Pettinga) Flietstra; his children Rebecca Flietstra, Rachel (John) Witte, and Timothy (Stephanie) Flietstra; grandchildren Jacob (Jessica) Witte, Jonah (Jessica) Witte, Emma Witte, Cameron Flietstra, Lauren Flietstra, Jeremiah Flietstra, and Jonathan Flietstra; brother David Flietstra, sister Evelyn Vandenberg, sisters-in-law Sandra Reynolds, Ruth Graham, and Janice Brock, brothers-in-law Tom (Dar) Pettinga, and Bill Willging; and many nieces and nephews.

Family visitation will be held at Eastern Avenue Church (514 Eastern Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503) on Sunday, November 2, from 5-7 pm. A Memorial Service will be on Monday, November 3 at 11 am, also at Eastern Avenue Church, with a visitation before the service at 10 am.  Memorial contributions can be made to Home Repair Services of Kent County (1100 Division Ave. S., Grand Rapids, MI, 49507).

Dick's legacy lives on in the thousands of students he taught, the hundreds of ramps he built, the many trails he hiked, and the humble faith that he consistently lived and modeled throughout his life. He will be deeply missed and joyfully remembered.