Richard C Alonso
Jan. 19, 1940-Feb. 18, 2022 (age 82)

Published on Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home website

Obituary

Richard C. Alonso, 82 of Niles, passed away in Memorial Hospital after an extended illness.

Richard was born on January 19, 1940, in Manhattan, NY to the late Harold and Rose (Vasquez) Alonso, Sr.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Gladys.

On June 21, 2005 he married Carmencita Vega. 

Those left to cherish Richard’s memory are his wife, Carmen and children; Ronald James (Rosalie Martinez) Alonso of Long Island, NY, Joanne Alonso of Long Island, NY, John Alonso of Loveland, CO, Kathleen (Edwin Rodriquez) Alonso of Orlando, FL, Daniel Alonso of Teaneck, NJ, Lynda Alonso of Niles, MI, Phillip (Danielle) Alonso of Long Island, NY, Laura (Rafael Melendez) Hernandez as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He is also survived by his brothers, Harold Alonso, Jr. of Florida and Robert (Elaine) Alonso of LaPorte, IN.

Richard had served in the United Sates Air Force.  He retired from the Memorial Hospital Engineering Department after 20 years. He earned a diploma in professional locksmithing , advance locksmithing and Steam Energy Conservation. Richard enjoyed woodworking and making wood crafts. He would make a miniature doll house and then give it away to someone who would appreciate the time and craftmanship that he put into each house. Richard also loved collecting ships.  He was a man who had his designated chair that only he sat in. As his health continued to be a challenge, Richard could spend all day in his chair either watching TV or being on the computer. 

Visitation for Richard will be on Friday, February 25, 2022 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home 615 E. Main St. Niles.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 10:00 am in St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.  Burial will follow with military honors from the Air Force at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Online condolences to the family may be made at www.halbritterwickens.com

Christopher Eric Houk, previously of Niles
July 2, 1972-Feb. 15, 2022

Niles Daily Star, Published online 1:17 pm Monday, February 21, 2022

Christopher Eric Houk, 49, of Bradenton, Florida and previously of Niles, suddenly passed away on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.

Chris was born in Niles, Michigan on July 2, 1972, which is where he lived prior to moving to Orlando, Florida 30 years ago. For the past 29 years, Chris was a resident of Bradenton, Florida. Chris graduated from Manatee Community College and worked as a Director of Operations for TurfSolv, a leader in the next generation of Turf solutions. Chris had a passion for business development, he truly believed in the product which his company produced and it showed. In his leisure time, for years, Chris trained endlessly in the Martial art of Karate. It was clearly his favorite pastime. Chris was a sports enthusiast who also loved playing golf. Chris also enthusiastically followed his favorite teams The Norte Dame Fighting Irish, The Tampa Bay Rays, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Chris also extensively followed politics. Chris was a warm-hearted man who loved his family as well as his friends.

Chris was the beloved son of Phyllis Okun (husband, Jim) and the late Richard C. Houk; loving grandson of Richard L. Houk and the late Marjorie Houk; loving brother of Tricia Rule (husband, Ken), Lindsay Hartig (husband, Ben) and Kimberlee Hankins; he is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and numerous friends.

A Celebration of Life was held on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022, in Bradenton, Florida. A private interment will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Local arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Carolyn M. Hatcher, of South Bend
Nov. 11, 1945-Feb. 7, 2022

Niles Daily Star, Published online 2:52 am Thursday, February 10, 2022

John C. Cary, of South Bend
Aug. 24, 1927-Jan. 9, 2022

Niles Daily Star, Published online 12:52 pm Thursday, January 13, 2022

Aug. 24, 1927 — Jan. 9, 2022

John Cornelius Cary, 94, recently of South Bend, passed away on Jan. 9, 2022.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert W. Cary.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia H. Cary, also of South Bend, as well as by sons, John C. (Mary) Cary III and David J. (Jodi) Cary, both of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and his daughters, Susan White, of Niles, Michigan, and Barbara (Rex) Sessions of Chicago; grandchildren, Anna (Ben) Long, Brian Cary, Alex White, Isabel Sessions, Elizabeth Cary, Zachary Sessions, and Caroline Cary; and numerous nieces and nephews.

John “Tim” was born on Aug. 24, 1927, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to John C. and Helen M. (Wren) Cary. He graduated from Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids in 1945. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and received both a JD and MBA from the University of Michigan in 1956. He enlisted in the officer training program at age 18 and entered the US Army, serving in both WWII and the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1952 with the rank of First Lieutenant, having served most recently in the 11th airborne division as a paratrooper. On Aug. 22, 1953, he married Patricia H. Cary. He served as Clinton County prosecutor in St. Johns, Michigan from 1957 to 1962. John and Patricia moved to Niles in 1963 where they were residents for 55 years until 2018. From 1966 to 1970, he served as fourth ward alderman for the city of Niles and was a long-time member of the Niles Rotary Club. John served as vice president and international legal counsel for Clark Equipment Company from 1963 until 1987. He continued working for Clarks’ joint venture partner, AB Volvo, until he retired in 2005.

John was an expert sailor and sailed in 35 Chicago to Mackinac races over the course of his life. He climbed 48 of the 54 14,000-foot peaks in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, and served as a high school football referee for more than 20 years. He was a proud supporter of the University of Michigan football program, having attended every game in the “Big House” for a stretch of more than forty years. He played tennis and skied well into his 80s.

A memorial service will be held in the spring, details TBD. Questions regarding the service may be directed to the Brown Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be directed to support the Ara C. Cary Fellowship in Child and Family Programs at the University of Michigan School of Social Work or Talon’s Out Honor Flight.

talonsouthonorflight.org/make-a-donation.

leadersandbest.umich.edu/find/#!/give/basket/fund/570472

Emma Bingham Dewey
Oct. 27, 1837-Sept. 25, 1910

Niles Daily Sun (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, September 27, 1910, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

ONCE LIVED IN NILES
Remains of Mrs. Geo. N. Dewey will be Buried Here

The remains of Emma Bingham Dewey will be brought to Niles at one o'clock on Wednesday for interment at Silver Brook cemetery.

The lady's death occurred at Owosso, Mich., Monday in which city she had made her home for twenty years.

The remains accompanied by relatives will arrive at 1 p.m. and will be conveyed directly to the cemetery.

The deceased was the widow of Geo. M. Dewey, who many years ago was the publisher of the Niles Republican.

Mrs. Dewey was born in Ellsworth, Ohio, October 27^th, 1837, and moved to Cleveland with her parents, while yet a young girl. She attended the public schools at Cleveland and later the family moved to Niles, Mich., Miss Bingham teaching school for one year at Buchanan.

She was married on May 27, 1857, to George M. Dewey, moving to Hastings, in 1864, where Mr. Dewey for fifteen years was publisher of the Hastings Banner. Mr. Dewey and their eldest son, Edmond O., at present postmaster, went to Owosso in 1881.

Mrs. Dewey was at one time a member of the Presbyterian church but at Owosso joined the First Congregational church.

Surviving are the following sons and daughters: E.O.., and Geo. M., of Owosso; Henry B., of Tacoma, Wash.; Miss Emma Grace, of Lowell, Mass., and Mrs. Howard S. Reed of Blackburg, Va.

Mrs. Dewey spent last winter with her daughter, Mrs. Reed in Virginia, returning to Owosso in April. Since then she has been in poor health.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, September 28, 1910, page 3, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

HERE & THERE

The remains of the late Mrs. George Dewey, a former well-known resident of this city were brought here this afternoon and buried in Silver Brook cemetery. Rev. W.R. Yonker officiated.

George Martin Dewey
Feb. 14, 1832-May 27, 1897

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, May 31, 1897, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The remains of Geo. M. Dewey arrived in this city this afternoon from Owosso. They were place in the vault and will be interred later. Mr. Dewy[sic] was a printer and at one time published the “Enquirer” in this city. He was well known here.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, June 1, 1897, page 3, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

BROUGHT HERE FOR BURIAL
The Remains of the Late Geo. M. Dewey Deposited in the Vault

The remains of the late Geo. M. Dewey, who died at Owosso last Thursday, were brought her for burial and deposited temporarily in the vault at Silver Brook cemetery yesterday. H.P. Dewey, a son of the deceased, came here Sunday to make arrangements and a younger son of the deceased accompanied the remains here yesterday. Mr. Dewey was a former resident of Niles, and as before stated by the STAR, he was proprietor of the Berrien County Enquirer and what is now known as the Niles Republican. Mr. Dewey's daughter died and was buried here many years ago. He was 65 years of age and a wife, three sons and two daughters survive him. Mr. Dewey moved from here 40 years ago last Friday. He went from here to Hastings where he conducted the Hastings' Banner for 15 years, after which he removed to Owosso in 1881 where he published the Times until the fall of 1891, when he sold out to his son George, who still conducts the Times.

Mr. Dewey next engaged himself in publishing the Odd Fellow, which he owned at the time of his death. This latter paper will probably be published in the future by his youngest son. The cause of the old gentleman's death is said to have been chronic bronchitis. The family have a lot at Silver Brook cemetery where the remains will be laid to rest. His sons intend sending a fine monument to be placed on the lot in a few days. Mr. Dewey was well-known by the older residents of Niles by whom he was highly respected.

 Note:  George M. Dewey and his wife Emma Bingham Dewey were the paternal grandparents of Thomas Dewey, Governor of New York, who ran for U.S. President against Harry Truman in 1948.  Their home in Niles was located at 70 N. St. Joseph Avenue.