Final Salute

Richard Allen Hummel, age 98, passed away peacefully at King’s Daughters Home on April 7, 2023, after a brief illness. He was born on December 19, 1924, to Earl and Charlotte (Almquist) Hummel in Blue Earth, Minnesota. He graduated from Blue Earth High School in 1942 where he played football, basketball and participated in track and field. He attended one year at Macalester College in St. Paul before being drafted into the Navy. He served in the Navy’s Construction Battalion (Seabees) in the Pacific Theater during World War II from 1943 to 1946. A memorable experience was while stationed on the island of Tinian, he helped build the runway that launched the Enola Gay. After an honorable discharge, he studied at Iowa State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1949. From there he attended the University of Minnesota and received a Master of Science degree in Analytical Chemistry in 1951. While in Minneapolis he met the love of his life, Alyce Mae Peterson. They were married on September 8, 1951, and moved to Midland, Michigan. Richard demonstrated unconditional love for Alyce for nearly 64 years and showed particular caring dedication in the final years of her life.
Richard worked in Dow’s analytical laboratories, performing research, plant support and environmental analysis for 39 years until his retirement in 1990 as an Associate Scientist. Early in his career, he focused on the development and validation of analytical methods for agricultural and organic chemicals, the proof and measurement of purity of organic standards and the isolation and identification of impurities both in standards and products. Later in his career, he performed analysis of environmental samples for specific compounds at the part per trillion level. He authored a wealth of company methods and reports using the full range of analytical separation technology and detection schemes. He also published over 20 papers and authored review articles on ultraviolet spectroscopy in the publication Analytical Chemistry. In 1974, he was honored with the Vernon Stenger award for excellence in analytical chemistry. After he retired, he worked for Dow as a contract analytical chemist and then transitioned to work part time in the analytical labs of Michigan Molecular Institute until 2010.
Richard was a man of few words with a profound, yet quiet character. He was a role model of Christian values to those around him and particularly to his wife and children. He had a dry sense of humor that surprised many, except those that knew him well.
He was always there to support his wife’s, children’s, and grandchildren’s endeavors, be it Scouts, music, academics, sports or theater. He was an avid reader. Besides chemistry, he was also fond of the history of the railroad industry, ancestry, and the history of Michigan and Minnesota (where he spent most of his life). He passed on his curiosity and quest for knowledge to his children and grandchildren.
Family vacations were also a primary focus including visiting places like Washington DC, Florida, Mammoth Caves, Smoky Mountains, National Parks across the western U.S., virtually anywhere around the Great Lakes and of course the annual vacations to St. Paul and the family cottage in Minnesota.
He is survived by his sons, Charles (Pat) Hummel of Oconomowoc, WI, James (Glorian) Hummel of Midland, MI, and his son-in-law, Charles Wilson of Pace, FL, grandchildren Alex Hummel, Kristin Hummel, Kelsey Hummel, and Jeremy (Brittany) Hummel. Also surviving is brother John Hummel. He was preceded in death by his wife Alyce, his daughter Susan, and sister-in-law Bonnie Hummel. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews.
Richard’s family would like to express their deep gratitude to the wonderful staff at King’s Daughters Home for the excellent care they provided him in the last months of his life.
A celebration of Richard’s life will be scheduled in late summer.
In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest donations to the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry, or the charity of their choosing.
Richard’s arrangements have been entrusted to Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Directors of Midland.

Published by Midland Daily News on Apr. 14, 2023.