In Memory
ALFONS A. VERWILST
Dec. 29, 1922 - Sept. 17, 2013
NILES - Alfons A. Verwilst, age 90 years, of Bertrand Township, Michigan, died at 2:25 a.m. on Tuesday, September 17, 2013, at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness. He was born on December 29, 1922, in South Bend, Indiana, to Alfons and Emerance (duPont) Verwilst Sr., and was graduated from Washington High School in South Bend.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army Air Corps as a radioman/gunner, stationed in England. He was the co-founder and past president of Attco Machine Products, Inc., in South Bend. Alfons was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles.
On June 7, 1947, he married the former Catherine DeKe, who preceded him in death on November 16, 1962. Later, on June 18, 1966, at Saint Anthony's Parish in South Bend, he married the former Joan (Weaver) Howells, with whom he celebrated last June the forty-seventh anniversary of their marriage. Alfons and Joan built a new home in rural Bertrand Township, Michigan, where they raised their blended family of eight children. He is survived by his wife, Joan, and children, Carol (Virgil) Coker of Antioch, Illinois, Michael (Jody) Verwilst of Rochester Hills, Michigan, Jane (Daniel) Heman of West Lafayette, Indiana, Richard (Janice) Verwilst of Niles, David (Terri) Howells of South Bend, and Nancy (Charles) Caldwell of Canton, Georgia; grandchildren, Todd (Christina) Eckstein, Brett (Stephanie) Eckstein, Lee (Katie) Eckstein, Alex Verwilst, Jason Heman, Christy (Dylan) Reynolds, Ann (Daniel) Driscoll, Laura Verwilst, Andrew Verwilst, Hannah Howells, Tommy Howells, Michelle Queen and Kevin (Jasmin) Queen; and four great-granddaughters.
In addition to Catherine, he was also preceded in death by his parents; by two children, Deborah Howells in 1981 and James Howells in 1972; and by a brother, Rene, and sisters, Rachel and Dorothy.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Alfons A. Verwilst will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 20, 2013, at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles by the Rev. Bradley Metz, C.S.C., rector of Fisher Hall at the University of Notre Dame. Committal Rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Niles, and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Air Force Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan, Michigan. The family will receive relatives and friends from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. today at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, with an Evening Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m.
Contributions in memory of Alfons may be made to Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, Saint Joseph, MI 49085; or to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001; or to the donor's choice. www.halbritterfunerals.com
Published by South Bend Tribune from Sep. 18 to Sep. 19, 2013.
05/26/2023 EJS
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