RICHFIELD SPRINGS - Alex Bristen, 83, ofMonticello Street, passed away Sunday, Aug. 12, 2001, as a result of anautomobile accident.He was born Sept. 15, 1917, in Hamtramck, Mich., son ofthe late George and Anna Sawka Bristen. Alex was raised and educated inHamtramck where he graduated with the "class of 1936." He then went onto graduate from Wayne State and Saint Lawrence Tech with degrees inengineering. For five years he worked for the Chrysler Corp. and 30 years forVickers Hydraulics, retiring in 1955.In 1952 he married Alice Nichols in Detroit, Mich. Formany years of his retirement he and his wife traveled with their Air StreamTrailer to many parts of the United States and went as far south as the PanamaCanal. He and his wife settled in Richfield Springs in 1973 coming from Detroit,Mich.Mr. Bristen was an honorably discharged U.S. Army veteran.He served from 1941 to 1945, being discharged as gun commander with the rank ofmaster sergeant. He was at Iwo Jima when the atomic bomb was dropped atHiroshima. He had received seven overseas bars, the American Defense Ribbon andtwo Bronze Battle Stars. He had a strong belief in God and was a member of theHoly Assumption Orthodox Church, Detroit.Alex is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Alice; abrother, George and his wife Irene Bristen of Dearborne, Mich.; a sister, Nadjaand her husband Dr. Nicholas Cherup of Rochester Hills, Mich.; and severalnieces and nephews.Funeral services were private and at the convenience ofthe family.