Dick Rewerts

When you try to define the sort of person Richard “Dick” Rewerts was to his family and friends, you imagine someone who is an all around good person, who loves his life and his family unconditionally, who always makes himself available when he is needed. This is how Dick will be remembered, as a man whose heart was certainly his strongest attribute.

The world was not a very safe place the year that Richard was born. World War II showed little signs of abatement as more and more U.S. troops shipped out for the European continent. At the same time, thousands of women stood united and labored to keep domestic industries running full steam. It was into this time of patriotism and unity that Fred and Margaret (DeMent) Rewerts of Kewanee, Illinois welcomed the birth of the son, Richard, on March 20, 1942.

Dick, as he was called, was the sixth of nine children with two sisters and six brothers. His father was a farmer where they lived in rural Kewanee, while his mother was busy being a “home manager.” After some time, Dick’s father left farming to work at Federal Mogul in St. Johns, Michigan, which led to the family moving to the nearby town of Ovid. Here, Dick began attended the Ovid schools, and was a good student and football player. While in high school, Dick met fellow classmate, Sandra Young, and they began dating. However, shortly after Dick graduated from Ovid High School in 1960, he followed the same patriotic calling of other young men of the time, and jjoined the U.S. Army. He proudly served overseas in Germany for 3 years, before receiving his honorable discharge.

Dick had only one thing on his mind when he finally made it home again. He headed straight for Sandra’s house in hopes of rekindling their relationship. As fate would have it, the two were happily married on Dick’s 29th birthday, March 20, 1971. Dick then got a job at Oldsmobile in Lansing, and the newlyweds made their first home together in St. Johns for about 5 years. After that they bought a home in rural Ovid. It was here Dick and Sandra would raise their five children: Tracy, Denise, Jean, Jim and Brian. Dick was a wonderful father, very easygoing and always ready to help in any way he could. Over the years, the family enjoyed camping quite a bit, and especially looked forward to their annual Father’s Day weekend camping trip. In the fall, they headed to the Ionia Free Fair every year for festivities there.

After retiring from Oldsmobile, Dick had plenty of activities to keep him busy in his leisure time. He loved working in his garden and doing some woodworking. Dick was a huge fan of NASCAR and Jeff Gordon, and he and his daughter, Jean, traveled to see many of the races together. Their favorite track was at Charlotte Motor Speedway. But Dick was always a traveler; on a whim he could just jump in the car and hit the road to somewhere or go off the beaten path to nowhere – that was part of the thrill of the adventure. He was always a willing travel partner when one of his kids called – he’d go anywhere with them. Perhaps, while driving along, Dick would recall a story from the “good old days” that meant a lot to him. He was good at debating politics too. Dick had a big heart for animals, and there was usually a dog or two running around the house.

Dick was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Richard “Dick” Rewerts died peacefully on Friday, May 7, 2010, at the age of 68. Dick is survived by his wife, Sandra; daughters, Tracy (Sean) Burgess, Denise (Tyler) Baker, Jean (Jim) Perrin; sons, Jim (Violet) Paksi, Brian Paksi; granddaughters, Jessie Johnson, Lindsey Burgess; grandsons: Brian (Danella) Paksi, Mason Paksi, Zach Perrin, Aaron Baker, Alex Baker, Nick Baker, Jim (Amanda) Johnson; great grandson, Brayden Meyers; sister, Sandie (Paul) Thompson; brothers, Tom Rewerts, Ronald Rewerts; and many nieces and nephews. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Jerry, Jim, Bill and Norm Rewerts, and sister, Carol Martinez.

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 11, at the Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes, with Jesse Ball officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, May 10, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Dick to the Hospice House of Mid-Michigan. Please visit Dick’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com/memories/58560, where you may share a memory or photo with his family and/or sign his online guest book.