Richard C. Binns, Sr.

Richard Carlisle Binns, Sr., age 91 years of Niles, Michigan; husband, father, grandfather, brother, machinist, and lawn perfectionist died peacefully at 2:10 p.m. on Monday, July 7, 2025 at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness. His family is grateful for all the healthcare professionals who enabled Richard to remain at home until the last few days.

He was born on January 14, 1934 in Niles to Clem C. and Pauline V. (Hartzell) Binns, and attended Niles Community Schools. He was a talented machinist, and was first employed in the shops of the former Niles plant of the Kawneer Corporation. At 21-years-old, he built his house – just 2 blocks away from his parents - where he would reside the rest of his life. After Kawneer closed, he was then employed in the family business, Cass Tool & Die in Cassopolis, Michigan until it closed, and he was retired from the Bud’s Machine Corporation in South Bend, Indiana.

Richard was a member of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles. He was well-known for the quality of lawncare that he practiced at home, edging the pavement with the precision of a machinist. He also enjoyed maintaining a flower garden, with special care of the pruning and deadheading of the roses, and growing tomatoes. When inside the house, he enjoyed watching old westerns on the television, especially those staring the late actor John Wayne, and he enjoyed the James Bond 007 series, often with a cheeseburger, or potato salad, and sometimes with a peanutbutter and . . . onion sandwich.

On September 8, 1953 in Niles he married the former Marian June Crone, with whom he celebrated last year the remarkable Sixty-nineth Anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on February 24, 2023. They were sadly preceded in death by a granddaughter, Jamie Lynn Binns who died tragically on June 18, 2022. Richard was also preceded in death by two brothers, Jack and Fred, and by a sister, Millie.

Surviving family includes his children, June Wardlaw and Jeanne Reed, both of Niles, Barbara Binns of Nashua, New Hampshire, Richard (& Renée) Binns, Jr. of Berrien Springs, Michigan, and Mike Binns and Danny Binns, both of Niles; grandchildren including Scott, Tia, Jeremy, Emily, Marcy, Nathan, Matt, and Aaron; several great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren; and Richard’s siblings, John (& Jolene) Binns of Nappannee, Indiana, and Judy Blake of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

The family of Richard Binns, Sr. will gather privately for Committal Rites at her graveside at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Richard’s ninety-one years are beyond the Biblical promise of seventy years, or by strength, 80 years, and he used those years well, laboring to support his family, maintaining a pleasing shelter for them, enduring some sorrow and enduring; all successes, and all fulfilling the command to love God and love people.