Submitted by: Dan Rich
John J. Houk
Aug. 23, 1938 - April 11, 2000
John James Houk, 61, of New Carlisle, Indiana, passed away on April 11, 2000, in the presence of his loving wife and daughters at Hospice House following a courageous battle with cancer.
John was born on Aug-ust 23, 1938, in South Bend. He was the son of the late Brinckman and Marguerite Houk, and lived in South Bend, Indiana, most of his life.
He is survived by his wife Barbara of New Carlisle. Survivors also include two daughters, Catherine (Anthony) Toms of Edwardsburg, Michigan, Susan (Dennis) Bettcher of Lakeville, Indiana, and one son Michael (Jennifer) Houk of Bremen, Indiana; ten grandchildren, Ashley, Philip and Isaac Toms, Dennis, Brandon, Kelsey and Katlyn Bettcher, Tyler Mikayla and Logan Houk.
He is also survived by his brother, George (Janice) Houk of Urbandale, Iowa; two sisters, Mary (Terry) Coleman of Jackson Center, Ohio, and Monica (Gary) Zent of Noblesville, Indiana; nine nieces and nephews; his mother-in-law, Marion Barnes of South Bend, Indiana; a sister-in-law, Diane (Rick) Williamson of Elkhart, Indiana.
John retired in March of 1999 after 45 years as a brickmason with Local 4 of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen. He managed the masonry work for the recent Riley High School project and the new Ivy Tech Vocational School, along with several other projects in the area. He was the president of Local 118 for 17 years and during that time he built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Howard Park along with apprentices from the Union.
Viewing will be at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive in South Bend on Thursday, April 13, from 2 to 4 pm and from 5-8 pm with the Rosary to be said at 7:30 pm. Funeral services will be at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in New Carlisle on Friday, April 14, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. with Father Gene Kazmierczak and Father Henry Byekwaso officiating. Burial will follow immediately at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County or to Pet Refuge. For additional information, visit our website at Kaniewski.com.