Obituaries Week of November 7, 1999, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Copyright © 2000 by Carol Morrison. This copy contributed for use in the MIGenWeb Archives. MIGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed MIGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the MIGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local Obituaries Week of November 7, 1999 Thomas Taylor Jr. Thomas L. Taylor Jr., 71, of Sebewaing, formerly of Port Austin, died Nov. 9, 1999, at the Saginaw Veterans Hospital. He was born on April 8, 1928, in Akron, Ohio, son of the late Grace (York) and Thomas L. Taylor Sr. He married Lorraine Fluegge on July 21, 1962. She preceded him in death on Feb. 1, 1999. Surviving are two daughters, Sharon Bletl and her husband, Everitt, of Bad Axe and Gail Thompson of Sebewaing; 10 grandchildren, Everitt Jr., Ashley, Rebecca, Joshua, and Derek Bletl and Brandi, Brittani, Bryon and Bret Thompson; and three sisters, Karen Gorman and her husband, Richard, of Howell, Beverly Marshall of brighton and Patricia Leonard of Fort Lauderdale. A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde. The Rev. Robert P. Garrett will officiate with a graveside service following at the Port Austin Township Cemetery. Audrey Ingram Audrey Ingram, 80, of Citra, Fla., and formerly of Port Hope, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1999, at her residence following a short illness. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, in the Ramsey Funeral Home, a Golden Rule Funeral Home, in Harbor Beach with burial in Lakeview Cemetery in Port Hope. Visitation will be Sunday. John Holdwick John J. Holdwick, 62, of Warren died Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1999, at his home. He was born on April 3, 1937, in Ruth, the son of John and Veronica (McIsaac) Holdwick. He was married to Judy Leppek on May 4, 1963. He is survived by his wife, Judy; five children, Carrie Velasco and her husband, Daniel, Dawn, Tammy, Brian and Rick Holdwick; four brothers, Jim Holdwick, Marvin Holdwick and his wife, Rosa, Dale Holdwick and his wife, Judy, and Jerry Holdwick and his wife, Miki. Funeral services will be conducted at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999, at Ford Funeral Home in Center Line with Fr. Don Walker officiating. After cremation, interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Detroit. Edith Karle Edith Mae Karle, 82, of Bay Port, died Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1999, at her home. Funeral services are tentatively set for 11 a.m. Nov. 12, 1999. Troy Brady Troy Joseph Brady, 25, of Vassar and formerly of Port Austin died Saturday, Nov. 6, 1999, as a result of injuries sustained in a traffic accident. His fiancee, Sara Schmidt also died in the accident. He was born on June 30, 1974. Surviving are his parents, Joan and Kenneth Taylor of Port Austin; two sisters, Kristina Jensen of Bay City and Jayme Taylor of Port Austin; one brother, Kenneth Taylor of Port Austin; maternal grandmother, Margaret Stobbe of Florida; and an uncle, David Stobbe and his wife, Kristen, of Southfield. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Clifford Stobbe. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Kinde. Pastor Randolph J. Schnack will officiate. Gillies Brown Gillies J. Brown, 95, of Cass City died Monday, Nov. 8, 1999, at Huron County Medical Care Facility of Bad Axe after a long illness. He was born Dec. 17, 1903, in Grant Township to Dougald and Sarah (Gillies) Brown. He is survived by his many cousins including Gwen McLachlan and her family of Ubly, Bob McLachlan, Scott and Cindy McLachlan and their children, Shelby and Zachary, Beatrice McLachlan, Bob and Edna McLachlan, Naomi Wallace and family. He was preceded in death by his cousin, Raymond Wallace. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, 1999, in Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City with the Rev. Mark Morningstar of Sandusky Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment is in Elkland Township Cemetery. Lewis Grifka Mr. Lewis "Lloyd" Grifka, 76, of Ubly died Sunday, Nov. 7, 1999, at Annapolis Hospital in Wayne. He was born on July 30, 1923, in Tyre, the son of the late Edward and Katherine (Pollum) Grifka. He married Magdalene "Maggie" Susalla on May 6, 1950, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Parisville. He is survived by his wife, Magdalene "Maggie" Grifka of Ubly; two daughters, Marlene Sossi and her husband, Michael, of Harper Woods and Linda Grifka of Roma; three sons, Daniel Grifka and his wife, Peggy, of Wayne, Gary Grifka and his wife, Pat, of Bristol, R.I. and Edward Grifka and his wife, Billie Ellen, of Snohomish, Wash.; 12 grandchildren; two brothers, John "Jack" Grifka of Warren and Cass Grifka and his wife, Margaret, of Ubly; four sisters, Martha Leppek and her husband, Chester, of Ruth, Theresa Taylor of Ubly, Alice Horetski of Port Austin and Agnes Taylor and her husband, Frank, of Ironton, Ohio. He was preceded in death by one brother, Alec Grifka; three sisters, Eleanor Particka, Gladys and Irene Grifka. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11, 1999, at St. John's Catholic Church in Ubly. The Rev. T.J. Fleming, pastor will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Grave side military services will be provided by the veterans of the Ruth and Ubly area. Donald Pilon Donald J. Pilon, 67, of Bay City died at his home on Monday, Nov. 8, 1999. Survivors include his wife, Louise and three children. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12, 1999, at St. Joseph Church at Third and Grant Streets in Bay City. The Rev. Raymond S. Fron will preside. Interment will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery. Leona Koceba Leona K. Koceba, 89, of Bad Axe passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1999, following a short illness. She was born on Aug. 24, 1910, in Kinde, the daughter of the late Alexander and Margaret (Sherette) Itchue. She married Edward Koceba on Oct. 26, 1931, in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Rapson. He preceded her in death in May, 1994. She is survived by two daughters, Margaret Ann Cook of Bad Axe and Loretta Hoose and her husband, William, of Caro; one daughter-in-law, Arlene Kociba of Otisville; 10 grandchildren, Diane Marie Johnston and her husband, Larry, of Davison, Stephen Cook of Harbor Beach, David Cook of Bad Axe, Sharon Armstrong of Bad Axe, Michael Cook and his wife, Cindy, of Bad Axe, Annette Wilson and her husband, Jim, of Niles, Scott Hoose of Unionville, Deanna Dormon of Holly, Daniel Kociba and his wife, Kelly, of Millington, Denise Stewart and her husband, Bob, of Flint; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one son, Edward Franklin Kociba; two brothers, Willard and John Itchue; three sisters, Mary Jane Callahan, Eleanor Jacobs and Amelia Miller. Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999, at Sacred Heart Church in Bad Axe. Officiating will be Fr. T.J. Fleming, pastor of St. John's Catholic Church in Ubly. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Rapson. Vera Bunting Vera W. Bunting, 96, of Harbor Beach passed away Saturday, Nov. 6, 1999, in the long- term care unit of Harbor Beach Community Hospital. She was born on April 18, 1903, in Harbor Beach to the late James and Mary (Wilson) Woods. She and Harold Bunting were married on April 4, 1925, in Detroit. He preceded her in death on March 1, 1995. She is survived by a daughter, Ann Cleland and her husband, Don, of Avoca; three grandchildren, Gwen Mitch of Ft. Gratiot, David Cleland and his wife, Sharon, of Troy and Michael Cleland of Avoca; four great-grandchildren, Kelly and Ryan Mitch, and Alex and Sara Cleland; a brother, Harry Woods and his wife, Rosalie, of Port Huron; a sister, Burnetta Cregeur of Saginaw; a brother-in-law, Guy Stocks; a sister-in-law, Olive Woods; many nieces, nephews, cousins; and special friends, Barbara Chapin and the Rev. Theresa Cutler. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Marie Emling, Violet Hamilton and Gertrude Stocks; and a brother, Stanley Woods. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1999, in the Ramsey Funeral Home, a Golden Rule Funeral Home, in Harbor Beach with the Rev. Theresa Cutler officiating. Burial will be in the Rock Falls Cemetery. Rhea Christner Rhea H. Christner, 91, of Pigeon passed away Sunday, Nov. 7, 1999, at St. Mary's Hospital in Saginaw. She was born in Pigeon on Aug. 17, 1908, the daughter of the late Albert and Laura Ann (Henne) Haist. She was united in marriage to John C. Christner in Pigeon on Dec. 31, 1929. He survives her. She is survived by her husband of nearly 70 years, John C. "Jack" Christner of Pigeon; a daughter, Ellamae Bedford and her husband, Howard, of Pigeon; two sons, Dale A. Christner and his wife, Joyce, of Pigeon and Glen A. Christner and his wife, Nancy, of Gagetown; eight grandchildren, Jeffery Diachenko, Melony Cross and her husband, Marc, Teresa Stiles, Christine Bean and her husband, Michael, Kent Christner and his wife, Karen, Norman Christner and his wife, Melissa, Karrie Foy and her husband, Gregory and Debby Johnson, and her husband, Michael; 11 great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and a brother, Howard Haist of Pontiac. She was preceded in death by a granddaughter. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1999, at the Salem United Methodist Church with the Rev. Calvin Long, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Grand Lawn Cemetery in Winsor Township. Christian Warack Christian Adam Warack, 64, retired Air Force Colonel, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Col. Warack was born on Oct. 22, 1935, in Gagetown, the youngest of 10 children, to Adam and Amalia (Horrasz) Warack. He was valedictorian at Owendale High School and a member of St. Agatha's Catholic Church in Gagetown. He married Patricia Loretto Clark, daughter of Robert S. and Lillian M. Clark, on Sept. 23, 1961, at the Pauline Chapel in Colorado Springs. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; two sons, Maj. Christopher A. Warack and his wife, Karen, of Centreville, Va. and Maj. Mark A. Warack and his wife, Karen, of Little Rock, Ark.; a daughter, Karin P. Heusted and her husband, Dennis, of Seattle, Wash.; two brothers, Andrew and John Warack; a sister, Marian Halasz; six grandchildren, Kristina, Adam, Nicholas, Sarah, Mark and Noah; 33 nieces and nephews; many grandnieces and grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Peter, William, Joseph Nicholas and Jacob; two sisters, Eva Reinholz and Elizabeth Ambrose. Funeral services were conducted on Nov. 1, 1999, at the Cadet Catholic Chapel at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Father Robert E. Jaeger of St. Peter's Parish in Monument, Colo., officiated. Ann McLaren Ann McLaren, 85, of Clarkston died Friday, Nov. 5, 1999, in her home. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 8, 1999, in Kranz Funeral Home in Kingston with Dr. Rudyard Fay of Kingston Wesleyan Church officiating. Interment is in Kingston Cemetery. Jack Smith Jack Smith, 77, of Port Hope passed away Saturday, Nov. 6, 1999, in Huron Memorial Hospital in Bad Axe following a long illness. He was born on April 5, 1922, in Redford to the late Sidney and Rose Smith. He and Carolyn Woolford were married on Aug. 16, 1947, in Port Hope. She preceded him in death on Sept. 21, 1994. He then married Bernice Banker on May 18, 1996, in Port Hope. He is survived by his wife, Bernice Smith of Port Hope; two sons, Kenneth Smith and his wife, Jeanie, of Imlay City and Robert Smith and his wife, Lola, of Warren; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one brother, James Smith of Dearborn; five step-children, Fred Banker of Port Hope, Larry Banker of Warren, Randy Banker of East China, Pamela Banker of Bad Axe and Tony Banker of Armada; 11 step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope with the Rev. Larry K. Loree, former pastor, officiating. Burial with military honors by the VFW and AmVets Posts will be in Lakeview Cemetery. 1