July 12, 2014 Mark M. Alonso, born Moises Moragrega Alonso, age 87, of Grand Rapids, formerly of Kentwood, MI and Anna Maria Island, FL, passed away on July 12th, 2014 surrounded by his family. Mark was the owner of Mark's Asphalt Paving. Mark was born in Bilbao, Spain on July 28th, 1926. During the Spanish Civil War, he and his brothers were evacuated to England, where in 1937 they were given refuge in the town of Blackboys, East Sussex, and where they lived in the same camp as his future wife Miren, a fellow Basque child refugee. He was later moved to London where at the age of 14 he came across American G.I.s, was awed by them, wanted to be one of them and realized his dream of becoming an American soldier. He worked on fishing boats in order to obtain his seaman's license, traveled the world as a merchant marine with the goal of getting to an American port to finally jump ship in New Jersey in 1945. Mark proudly served in the U.S. Army in the Occupation of Japan during WWII and in the Korean Conflict. Mark is survived by his wife of 60 years, Miren; their children Virginia Alonso (Eduardo Vega), Billy and Kathleen Alonso, Mark A. Alonso, Susan Alonso (Ralph Lazzarini), John and Tricia Alonso, and Pam Alonso; many adored grandchildren and great grandchildren; extended family; and many beloved friends. The family will meet with friends between 3:00pm and 5:30pm with a celebration of Mark's life immediately following at 5:30pm on Thursday, July 17, 2014 at Ofield Funeral Home, 4500 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Kentwood, MI. In lieu of flowers, please reach out to a child or consider a donation to a children's charity of your choice. Online condolences may be left at www.ofieldfuneralhome.com