Richard J. Dowling

Dick was born on October 11, 1933 at the Dowling home in Alpena County, MI, to Richard and Mable (Cadarette) Dowling. At age 4, Dick’s father Richard, at the young age of 39, was killed in an auto accident. Dick was then raised from age 10 on by his beloved step-father, Archie Landry.

Dick attended the old St. Bernard’s School on Chisholm St. and graduated high school from Alpena Catholic Central, graduating in its first graduating class of 1951. His extended further formal education was in the military.

Dick and his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Barbara Jean Szejbach, were married at St. Anne’s Church by Father William Simon on June 5, 1954. They raised five children: James, Joan, Kevin, Sarah and Florence and enjoyed 63 years of married life together.

Dick had an interesting and enjoyable 28 year military career. He enlisted in the Michigan National Guard as a Private in 1951 and rose through the ranks of the Air National Guard and the United States Air Force. He retired in 1979 with the rank of Lt. Colonel.

In retirement and over the next 38 plus years, Dick literally made hundreds of friends though his home office tax prep business. Dick never had to advertise and at one time had over 200 clients.

Dick loved to tell interesting stories, some factual, some fictional. You never knew which, and he never let the truth or fact get in the way of entertaining the listener.

The light of his personal life was always his wife Barbara, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He loved them all totally and without reservation.

Dick is survived by his wife, Barbara; his five children, James (Kay) Dowling of Marquette, Joan (Ken) Schetter of Ft. Myers Beach, FL, Kevin (Mary) Dowling of Marquette, Sarah Dowling Salvatori of Alpena, MI and Florence (Chris Taylor) Dowling of Marquette; sisters, Gail (Elwood) Door of Elk Rapids, MI and Mary Anne (Landry) Krauseneck of Frankenmuth, MI; grandchildren, Chris (Laura Passic) Schetter, Emily (Will) Johnson, David A. Salvatori II, Tara K. Dowling and Patrick R. Dowling; and great grandchildren, Geneva P. Schetter and C. Kai Schetter, and Reed P. Johnson.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Mable; his step-father, Archie Landry; siblings, Lyle B. Dowling, Charlotte (Dowling) Griffin and Donald J. Dowling; half-sister, Rita Jean (Landry) Kendjiorski; and step-brother, Norman Landry.

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 11th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Canale-Tonella Funeral Home in Marquette with a parish prayer service to be recited at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

There will also be visitation on Tuesday from 10-11 a.m. in the Bishop’s Room of St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 12th at 11 a.m. in the cathedral with the Rev. Msgr. Michael Steber officiating. A luncheon will be served in the parish hall immediately following the mass. Spring burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Alpena, Michigan.

Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are kindly asked to consider St. Vincent de Paul Society, 2119 Presque Isle Ave., Marquette, MI 49855, the Bishop Baraga Association, 347 Rock St., Marquette, MI 49855 or Beacon House, 1301 N. Third St., Marquette, MI 49855 in Mr. Dowling’s memory.

The Canale-Tonella Funeral Home is assisting the family where memories of Dick may be shared at canalefuneral.com.