Richard C. Bare

Richard C. (Dick) Bare, 93 of Petoskey, passed away Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Villa by the Bay.

Dick was born in Royal Oak to (Daniel) Carl and (Susan) Marie (Harshner) Bare.  The family moved to a farm in Resort Township in 1932.  He attended Petoskey High School, graduating in 1948.

In 1950, Dick married his high school sweetheart, Eileen (Brecheisen), and they shared 65 years together, until her death in 2003.   Their early adventures began during their honeymoon when they were located by the Indiana State Police to return home so that Dick could play as a pick-up for a championship softball tournament.   He was well-known for his ferris wheel-style of pitching, and, unfortunately, there were no radar guns in those days, but his fastball speed was intimidating.  He sponsored a softball team for many years, which won a State Championship in Class C in 1964.  Dick was eventually inducted into the Michigan Amateur Softball Association (now USA Softball of Michigan) Hall of Fame in 1997, an honor he was greatly proud of, as he was of the local tournament established in his name at the Petoskey waterfront.  Anyone who knew Dick, was well aware that softball was his first love, after his family and fast cars.

In about 1955, along with his father, Carl, and brother, Kenneth, Bare Construction Company was founded, doing residential and commercial construction across Northern Michigan.  Dick was a founding member of the Emmet Association of Home Builders, bringing more members into the Chapter than any other across the State for several years.  
 

Dick was honored to be both a Shriners Club Member, and a Third-degree Master Mason, the highest level to be a full-fledged Mason, ultimately earning his 50-year pin.  Dick was a past President of the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Petoskey Kiwanis Club.  He was also a volunteer member of the Petoskey and Resort Township Fire Departments for a total of 51 years, and was a lifetime member of the Petoskey Eagles Club.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen; his parents, Carl and Marie Bare; his in-laws, Logan Lee and Orlie Brecheisen; two daughters, Nancy McNamara and Brenda Bare; siblings, Donald and Marge (Sneathen) Bare, and Kenneth and Evelyn (Sneathen) Bare, Helen (Bare) and Lee Sneathen, Jr., and Marilyn (Bare) and Herb Bachelor.  He is survived by his daughter, Terri and Gil Sevener; son-in-law, Mike McNamara; grandchildren, Stephanie Sevener and friend, Tarrel Lewis, Kali McNamara and friend, Chris Binger, Jesian Bare-McNamara and friend, Matthew Goldsmith, Katy (McNamara) and Joe Smith, Nick Fosmore and friend, Tiffany Hall, and Richard and Nikita Fosmore; greatgrandchildren, Kaidence McNamara, Haleigh Kondrat, Andrew Fosmore, Joey Smith, Charlotte Smith, and Behr Fletcher Fosmore; and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, from 12:00-4:00 PM at the Petoskey Eagles Club, 313 Water Street, Petoskey.  If considering a donation in Dick’s name, in lieu of flowers, they can be sent to Terri Sevener, 1319 Eppler Road, Petoskey, MI  49770 or D-21 Softball, C/O Scott Kelly, 101 M-66 North, Charlevoix, MI   49720.  Please share your memories on the guest book below.