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Charles L. Rieks, 74, of Greeneville, TN and Orange Park, FL passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017.  He was born July 6, 1942 in Warsaw, NY to the late Harvey and Edith Brower Rieks.
Mr. Rieks graduated from Pavilion Central School.  He worked at Caledonia Bean Plant, Rochester Telephone Company and retired from Amtote International of Hunt Valley, MD.  He worked in Buffalo, Batavia and Canandaigua before transferring to Jacksonville/Orange Park, FL.
Charles was a life member of Pavilion Fire Department and was instrumental in helping to establish the Pavilion Rescue Squad.  He was also an American Legion member.  He was a veteran of the US Army having served from 1961-1967.
Mr. Rieks is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy (Smith) Rieks of Greeneville, TN; son Daniel (Lisa) Rieks of Batavia, NY; daughters, Roseann (Doug) Harris of Greeneville, TN, and Kelly (Daniel) Cordell of Stafford, NY; 6 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Shirley Cotton of Greenville, TX; sisters-in-law, Lorraine (J.E.) Rieks of Silver Spring, MD, Judy (Nick) Cecci of Corning, NY and Patricia (Robert) Murphy of Wyoming, NY; brother-in-law, Gary Phillips of Attica, NY, step-brothers, Robert and Donald Hammond of Rochester, NY; many nieces and nephews; and a very special family friend, Brad Skwirsk.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Edgar (Ed) Rieks.
Services will be held at a later date at East Bethany Rural Cemetery in East Bethany, NY. Memorial contributions can be made to Pavilion Fire Department, P.O. Box 156; Pavilion, New York 14525.
Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.doughty-stevens.com

Jack was a United States Army Veteran. He was employed with the New York State Department of corrections working at The Attica Correctional Facility for many years and then at Albion from where he retired. After retirement he moved with his wife to Orlando and worked with the Orange County Sheriff's Department for 10 more years. Jack loved to fish and hunt and spent many happy hours in those pursuits. More than these though he loved his family. He married the love of his life in September 1955 and they spent 62 years together. He was so proud of his children and grandchildren. Jack was a great storyteller and enjoyed when the family would gather together and he kept them laughing with his stories. In his later years he loved to hold his great-grandchildren and there were many people, both family and friends who called him “Grandpa Jack”.  Jack was a lifetime member of the Alexander Fire Department, a member of the VFW Joseph Collins post 6239 and the American Legion in Attica.

He is survived by his loving wife; Mary Ellen McCarthy; children Michael (Mary) McCarthy of Batavia, Marlene (Stefan) Worthington of Alexander, Lorrie (Jim) Gammack of Darien Center, Noreen (Mike) Gaiser of E. Bethany and Amy (Mike) Shaw of Alexander; 27 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.  

Family and friends are invited to call on Tuesday April 25, 2017 from 4:00-8:00PM at Marley Funeral Home, LLC. 135 Main Street Attica, New York 14011. A 10:00AM Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday the 26^th at the Alexander United Methodist Church 10540 Main St. Alexander, NY 14005. Jack will be laid to rest in Ossian Center Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the NYS Veterans Home @ Batavia Activities Fund 220 Richmond Ave. Batavia, NY 14020 or the Alexander Fire Dept. ambulance fund P.O. Box 336 Alexander NY 14005 or the Alexander United Methodist Church at the address listed above. For more information please call (585) 591-1212 or to sign a message of condolence please visit www.marleyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Marley Funeral Home, LLC. 135 Main Street Attica, New York 14011.

Dennis was a graduate of Cleveland Hill High School, his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Wadham’s Hall Seminary, Ogdensburg, NY and earned his master’s degree from the University of Rochester.

He was employed for 36 years with Genesee County as a Probation Officer and in 1980 was asked by the late Sheriff, W. Douglas Call to head up a new program, Alternatives to Incarceration, which was a first in the United States with law enforcement and third such program in the United States. He began the first rural and fourth in New York State Child Advocacy Center and Multi-Disciplinary Teams serving Genesee County, as well as neighboring counties. He started the Driving While Intoxicated Conditional Discharge Program, Justice for Women Program and Team, the Western New York State Victims Coalition, he was President of the New York State Crime Victims Board Advisory Council and, Vice President of the New York State Association for Alternative Sentencing. Former Governor George Pataki appointed Dennis to the Western New York Citizens Review Panel (abused children), First Victim/Offender Reconciliation Program in New York State dealing specifically with serious/violent cases, National Institution of Corrections consultants, Office of Victims of Crime consultants, Chairman of Criminal Justice Advisory Council. Dennis represented the United States in a Bi-Lateral Summit in Japan, addressed the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, addressed the Canadian Parliament on Restorative Justice and traveled to forty states and the Canadian Provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and British Columbia.

Dennis recently served on the Diocese of Buffalo Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Policy Task Force. He was an Adjunct Professor at Roberts Wesleyan College and served as Town Supervisor for the Town of Bethany from 1978 to 1990. He was a faithful member of Ascension Parish in Batavia where he served as Vice President and President of the Holy Name Society, President of the Parish Council and Usher under the former Sacred Heart Parish.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Carol (Chmielowiec) Wittman of Batavia whom he married in 1971; loving daughters, Holly (Michael) Stoddard of Honeoye and Jennifer of San Antonio, TX; faithful Husky companion, Kodah; sister, Kathie (Paul) Beaulieu of Cheektowaga, NY and brother, Philip (Nancy) Wittman of Akron, NY; brother-in-law, Dr. A Steven Bangs of Long Island; sister in law, Marsha Deman of Defiance, Ohio along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great niece and nephew.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Epidemic a Mass of Christian Burial will be announced later. Memorials in his memory may be made to Charlotte House, P.O. Box 123, 4316 Route 98, North Java, NY 14113: Ascension Parish, 17 Sumner Street, Batavia, NY 14020, or MUSH Rescue Inc, 12820 Wyngate Trail, Alpharetta, GA 30005.

Thank you to our Wednesday morning library friend, Roger Richardson. Tuesday lunch time prayer group: Marg Miller, Leta Sackett, Pastor Ken Cromer and Elder Ron. Emilie, Board of Directors, the many volunteers, weekly communion from Holy Family Polish National Church and the community at Charlotte House for the excellent care provided, to the many doctors at University of Rochester Medical Center and Rochester Regional that provided such excellent care, for their prayers and visits Rev. Father David Glassmire, Deacon Mark Kehl, Rev. Father Matthew Kawiak, Deacon Corey Foegen and especially Sue Hatrick for giving a part of herself to Dennis.

The family kindly asks people consider signing to be an organ donor. Two special people gave Dennis thirteen extra years with his family.

Please share your words of comfort with the Wittman family at www.tomaszewskifh.com

THE FAMILY OF DENNIS J. WITTMAN IS BEING CARED FOR BY THE MICHAEL S. TOMASZEWSKI FUNERAL & CREMATION CHAPEL, LLC 4120 WEST MAIN STREET ROAD BATAVIA, NEW YORK 14020 – (585)343-7500