Captain Richard J Van Deuren

Captain Richard Joseph “Dick” Van Deuren, 99, of St. Clair Township, formerly of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, passed peacefully on Monday, January 10, 2022 surrounded by the love of his family.

Dick was born June 4, 1922 in Green Bay, Wisconsin and was raised and educated in Wisconsin, graduating from Lincoln High School in Manitowoc in 1941. He married Ruth M. Anderson on Valentine’s Day 1953 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Manitowoc. She preceded him in death on February 1, 2012 after 59 years of marriage.

At 14 years old, Dick began his first maritime job with the car ferry in Manitowoc and was hooked. He went on to serve for 36 months as a Merchant Marine in WWII, including a 15-month voyage to the South Pacific, tanker trips on the East Coast, a convoy trip to South America, and a trip to the Mediterranean. By the time of his discharge, he had obtained an unlimited Second Mates Any Ocean credential.

Captain Van Deuren went on to work for the Gartland Steamship Company and Great Lakes Towing Company in Chicago before moving to Port Huron in 1967. Captain Van Deuren worked the remainder of his career as a District #2 Seaway Pilot for the Lakes Pilots Association, until his retirement in 1988. He held an Unlimited U.S.C.G. Master Great Lakes 1st Class Pilot license. Dick also had a love of numbers, and worked many shipping “off-seasons” in accounting offices.

Dick took many camping trips all over the U.S.A. with his wife and best friend, Ruth. Their “Trip of a Lifetime” was visiting the Holy Land.

Dick is survived by a daughter, Christy (Dan) Evans; daughter-in-law, Karen Van Deuren; grandchildren, Darcy, Jake and LaDona Evans and Jason and Jennifer Van Deuren; and several great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Ronald Van Deuren; and his parents, Ethel and Alex Misky.

Inurnment will be in the Allied Veterans Columbarium, Port Huron.

Memorials may be made to Mid-City Nutrition. To send condolences, visit pollockrandall.com.