Obituaries Week of October 31, 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 October 31, 1999 Tillie White Tillie K. White, 85, lifelong resident of Kinde and Bad Axe died at her home in Bad Axe on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999, following an extended illness. Mrs. White was born March 5, 1914, in Dwight Township near Kinde. She was the daughter of the late Frank X. and Hattie (Miller) Lerash. Miss Tillie K. Lerash and Toby White were married at Bowling Green, Ohio. Mr. White preceded his wife in death on June 20, 1955. Surviving are one daughter, Kay L. White of Bad Axe; two sons, Donald L. White of Albuquerque, N.M., and Terry D. White of Sonoma, Calif.; three sisters, Maggie Byarski and her husband, Karl, of Kinde, Rose Meagher of Port Austin and Alice Gottschalk and her husband, Donald, of Kinde; two brothers, Frank Lerash and his wife, Helen, of Bad Axe and Edward Lerash of Bad Axe; two sisters-in-law, Gertrude Lerash and Viola Lerash of Kinde; several nieces and nephews. Mrs. White was preceded in death by one sister, Celia Fleszar; three brothers, John Lerash, Tony Lerash and Joseph Lerash; and a sister- in-law, Martha. The Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 8, 1999, from Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe. Father Jack Leipert, pastor, will officiate. Burial will take place in the church cemetery. Hazel Peters Hazel M. Peters, 84, of Shelby Township and formerly of Evergreen Township, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999, in Shelby Nursing Center. She was born Aug. 20, 1915, in Moore Township in Sanilac County to John and Ida (Henry) Kritzman. She married Harold A. Peters on March 2, 1935, in Detroit. He died July 1, 1982. Hazel is survived by her children, Fred Peters of Nuevo, Calif., Janet Laszlo and her husband, John, of Deford, Marilyn Gulley of Clearwater, Fla., Linda Maher and her husband, Gerald, of Grayling, Dean Peters and his wife, Darlene, of Howell, David Peters and his wife, Kathy, of Macomb Township, Alice Peters of Fowlerville; daughter-in-law, Michele Peters of Battle Creek; 19 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; one sister, Beatrice Fox and her husband, Howard, of Indianapolis, Ind.; one brother, Kenneth Kritzman of Marion, Ala.; sister-in-law, Iris Kritzman of Decker; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three sons, Gary, Michael and Joseph Peters; grandsons, Mark Laszlo and John Gulley; great-great-granddaughter, Kelsi Whitbeck; brother, Harvey Kritzman; sisters, Cletice Evans and Josephine Shuler. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 1999, in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Argyle with the Rev. Anthony A. Wozniak officiating. Interment is in Freiburg Cemetery. Angela Jackson Angela Rose Jackson, 21, of Kimball Township died unexpectedly on Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999. She was born Oct. 5, 1978, in Port Huron. She is survived by her mother, Connie Smith, and her husband, Paul, of Jeddo; her father, Kevin Jackson, and his wife, Sherri, of Gibraltar; her grandparents, the Rev. Laurence Dove and his wife, Velma, of Kimball Township; grandmother, Jane Tucker; great-grandmother, Louisa Dove; three sisters, Aleia, Tiffany and Jasmine Jackson; a brother, Jeremy J. Jackson; several aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Humphrey J. Jackson. Funeral services were conducted on Monday, Oct. 25, 1999, at Life of Faith Fellowship Church in Port Huron. Julie Armbruster Julie Ruth Armbruster, 36, of Pigeon and formerly of Bad Axe, died unexpectedly Monday, Nov. 1, 1999, at her home. She was born Sept. 12, 1962, in Englewood, Calif. She was the daughter of Katherine (Drake) DeChane and the late Harold DeChane. Julie (DeChane) Ligrow and Mr. Brian Armbruster were married on May 31, 1997, at the Log Cabin Chapel in Bad Axe. Surviving are her husband, Brian, of Pigeon; two sons, Merritt Ligrow II and James Ligrow, both at home; her mother, Katherine DeChane of Bad Axe; one sister, Debbie Jurges and her husband, Tim, of Bad Axe; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Pearl and Don Armbruster of Caseville and Brian's grandmother, Irene Englehardt of Bay City; two sisters-in-law, Lori Swartzendruber and her husband, Paul, of Pigeon and Lynn Polega and her husband, Dale, of Bad Axe; nieces and nephews, Corey DeChane, James Jurges, Katylyn Jurges, Jessica Swartzendruber, Angie Swartzendruber, Jill Swartzendruber, Ryan Polega, Corey Polega and Shayna Polega. She was preceded in death by a brother, Richard DeChane. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999, at the MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe with the Rev. Jerry W. Sutton, pastor of the Bad Axe Free Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Colfax Township Cemetery. Crystal M. Lange Crystal M. Lange, 72, of Saginaw, went to be with Jesus on Monday Nov. 1, 1999. She was the daughter of the late Bazil and Crystal Shirl Morse, of Argyle. She was united in marriage to Mr. Elmer W. Lange on June 10, 1961. She is survived by her husband; six sons, Gregory F. Lange and his wife, Marlene, of Saginaw, Fredrick J. Lange and his wife, Linda, of Baldwin, Charles Lange and his wife, Amber, of Montrose, G. Benson Lange and his wife, Dawn, of Clarkston, Robert L. Lange and his wife, Kathy, of Bridgeport; Larry A. Lange and his wife, Lori, of Saginaw; one daughter, Helen Lange Borland of Atlanta, Ga.; grandchildren, Suzan Lange Lemmons of Midland, Scott Lange of Saginaw, Cora Lange Miller of Baldwin, Misty Lange Peterson of Edgerton, Ohio, Charles and Denice Lange Jr. of Chesaning, Jeffery P. Lange of Montrose, Karen Borland of Atlanta, Ga., Eric Borland of Atlanta, Ga., Joshua John Lange of Clarkston, Joel Lange of Clarkston, Sarah Lange of Bridgeport, Christopher Lange of Bridgeport, Erin Lange of Saginaw and Ethan Lange of Saginaw; great-grandchildren, Ashley Marie Cole, Jennifer Lynn Miller both of Baldwin, Trevor Lange of Chesaning, Troy Gregory Lemmons of Midland; two sisters, Carmen Marks of Rose City and Edith McQueen of Bad Axe; and several aunts, uncles and many cousins. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 5, 1999, at Faith Lutheran Church, 2405 Bay. The Rev. Julie Bailey, the Rev. Dr. William Nicholson and the Rev. Kyle Kleman will officiate. William Thuemmel William O. Thuemmel, 94, long-time resident and retired farmer of Port Austin, died Nov. 1, 1999, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe following a long illness. He was born on March 23, 1905, in Port Austin, the 10th of 14 children of the late Charles H. and Amelia A. (Hass) Thuemmel. Mr. William O. Thuemmel and Miss Ila M. Coulston were married on Jan. 16, 1935, by the Rev. Harold P. Cornell at the Presbyterian manse in Kinde. Mrs. Thuemmel preceded him in death on Nov. 6, 1996. Surviving are two daughters, Carol E. Royce and her husband, Terrance, of Grand Rapids and Deborah I. Thuemmel of Gagetown; four sons, Dr. William L. Thuemmel and his wife, Eleonore, of Amherst, Mass., David C. Thuemmel and his wife, Charlotte, of Port Austin, Douglas D. Thuemmel of Port Austin and Kurt A. Thuemmel and his wife, Kathleen, of Laingsburg; 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; and one sister, Alma Sullivan of Sault Ste. Marie. He was preceded in death by nine sisters, Luise Thuemmel, Ida Thuemmel, Caroline Thuemmel, Elsie Rothe, Tillie Schuman, Clara Hunter, Minnie Kautz, Gertrude Scott and Eleanor Voelker; three brothers, Fred, Charles and Robert Thuemmel. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999, at the United Protestant Church in Port Austin. Burial will follow at Port Austin Township Cemetery. Lance Worden Lance Worden, 59, of Bay City passed away unexpectedly Saturday afternoon, Oct. 30, 1999, at Bay Medical Center. He was born Sept. 3, 1940, in Bay City and resided there all his life. He is survived by his wife, the former Connie S. Vegenski, whom he married April 26, 1991; his children, Melanie Worden and her fiancee, Alan Mielens, of Bay City, Larry Valencia and his wife, Carin, of Bay City, Heather, Josh and Katie Ziegelmann, all of Bay City; his mother, Mary Worden; his grandchildren, Brian Ziegelmann, Kayla Worden, Courtney Mielens; his brother, Herbert Brennan and his wife, Joyce, of Bay City; his sister, Alice Brennan of Essexville; his mother-in-law, Marcella Vegenski; his sister-in-law, Marlene Hammerle and her husband, Elwood, and Carol Long, all of Bad Axe; and his brother-in-law, Michael Vegenski and his wife, Darla, of Florida. He was preceded in death by his son, Timothy Joseph Worden, and his parents, Laurence and Helen Worden. Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999, at North Euclid Church of God. Officiating will be the Rev. Ronald E. Green with interment in Floral Gardens Cemetery. Delmas Hunley Delmas Hunley, 78, of Port Hope died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999, at Covenant Cooper Hospital in Saginaw after a long illness. He was born on Feb. 8, 1921, in Hazzard, Ky., the son of the late Kelly and Annabelle (Hogston) Hunley. Delmas Hunley and Florence Stacy were married in 1945 in Kentucky. They moved to the Kinde area in 1970. She preceded him in death on May 10, 1998. Surviving are three sons, Jimmy Hunley and his wife, Gennia, of Port Hope, Hubert Hunley and his wife, Nancy, of Romeo and Duane Hunley and his wife, Julie, of Harbor Beach; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, Edison Hunley of Alabama and Philip Hunley of Ohio; two sisters, Eudora Reynolds of Ohio and Marla Claypool of Kentucky. He was preceded in death by one sister, Connie Hudson, and eight brothers and sisters. William Rohlfs William E. Rohlfs, 93, of Cass City died Friday, Oct. 29, 1999, in Tendercare Nursing Facility in Cass City. He was born July 10, 1906, in Akron to Edward A. and Anna (Lane) Rohlfs. He married Marion Bell. She preceded him in death in October of 1962. He married Olive MacLachlan on Dec. 28, 1963, in Cass City. Bill is survived by his wife, Olive; stepdaughters, Sue Young of Garden City and Jane Grieger of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; granddaughters, Jennifer Young, Sarah Roffi and her husband, Michael, and Katherine Young, all of Garden City; sisters, Grace Devault of Plymouth and Edith Marsh of Charleston, S.C.; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Joyce Rohlfs; a son, Glen Rohlfs; brothers, Harry, Edward, Kenneth, Maurice and Clarence Rohlfs. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999, at the Cass City First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Mark Mourningstar of Sandusky Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment is in Demorest Cemetery in Akron. Beryl Brown Beryl (Grandma) Brown, 70, of Kinde passed away Friday, Oct. 29, 1999, after a three and a half year battle with cancer. She was born Dec. 6, 1928, the daughter of the late Benjamin and Louise "Irene" (Underwood) Running. Surviving are two daughters, Marie Haley and her husband, Stan, of Bad Axe, Judy Shamka and her husband, Mike, of Bad Axe; one son, William Brown and his wife, Linda, of Kinde; seven grandchildren, Tracy Haley of Plymouth, Tina Majeski and her husband, Jason, of Port Hope, Shawn Haley of Macomb, Bobbi Jo Brown of Owosso, Becky Shamka of Bad Axe, Todd Brown of Kinde and Heidi Brown of Essexville; five great-grandchildren, Nicholas Weber, Matthew Haley, Johnathon Majeski, Jordan Haley and Zachery Kirkey; two sisters-in-law, Georgina Running of Bad Axe and Betty Phelps of Saginaw; two brothers-in-law, Robert Brown and his wife, Elaine, of Filion and Gary Brown of Dewitt. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Running and William Running; a sister, Elizabeth Hall; and a granddaughter, Mary. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999, at the MacAlpine Funeral Home Gage Chapel in Kinde. The Rev. Deweerd Smith, pastor of the Community Wesleyan Church, will officiate. Burial will follow in New River Cemetery. Ila Caperton Ila Marie Caperton, 54, of Decker died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, at Covenant Medical Center - Cooper in Saginaw. She was born March 10, 1945, in Detroit, the daughter of the late John and Doris (Carroll) Kalamick. Ila married Raymond Caperton on July 1, 1961 in Detroit and moved to Decker seven and a half years ago. She is survived by her husband, Raymond; her sons, David Caperton and his wife, Catherine, of Roseville and Donald Caperton and his fiancee, Regina, of Bad Axe; her daughter Sherry Delacourt and her husband, Patrick, of Bad Axe; brothers, Timothy Kalamick of Westland and Kenneth Kalamick of Detroit; sisters, Elsie McAnally of Westland and Margo Blunt of Bay City; and three grandchildren, Natalie, Danielle and Shawn. Beside her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles and Richard; and one sister, Kathleen. Funeral services were held Saturday, Oct. 30, 1999 at Marsh Funeral Chapel in Marlette with the Rev. Kenneth Parker officiating. Cremation followed the service at the Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City. Avis Cregeur Avis C. Cregeur, 94, of Gladwin and formerly of Pigeon, passed away Friday, Oct. 29, 1999, at the Gladwin Living Center. She was born on Feb. 6, 1905, in Detroit, the daughter of Robert and Josephine (Holland) Armstrong. She was united in marriage to Cletus Cregeur in Bad Axe at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Feb. 15, 1928. He preceded her in death on Nov. 6, 1987. She is survived by two daughters, Ellen T. Cepak of Bay City and Doris Thebedo and her husband, Melvin, of Gladwin; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Lois Wolschlager of Bad Axe. She was preceded in death by five brothers. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999, at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Pigeon with the Rev. Fr. George J. Serour officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Leonard Karr Leonard J. Karr, 80, of Gagetown died Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, in the Huron County Medical Care Facility of Bad Axe. He was born on Sept. 26, 1919, to Moses and May (MacKichan) Karr. He married Marjorie A. Milligan on Nov. 29, 1947, in Cass City. Leonard is survived by his wife, Marjorie; children, Arnold Karr and his wife, Janet, of Akron, Dale Karr and his wife, Mary, of Milan, and Curtis Karr and his wife, Cynthia, of Ann Arbor; grandchildren, Eric, Jesse, Grant, Lucas, Julia and Neil; sister, Meadie Sparks and her husband, Leonard, of San Diego, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Ada Salgat and Iva Clague. Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 1, 1999, in Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City with the Rev. Alice Sheffield of United Methodist Church of Gagetown officiating. Interment will be in Elkland Township Cemetery. Frank Masa Frank F. Masa, 65, of Elkton died Friday morning, Oct. 29, 1999, at Four Seasons Healthcare Center in Bad Axe following a long illness. He was born on Jan. 17, 1934, in Wayne County at the home of his parents, Felix Masa and the late Elizabeth (Paul) Masa. On April 13, 1966, he was united in marriage to Irene A. Koss in Las Vegas. Surviving are his wife, Irene Masa of Elkton; his father, Felix Masa of Port Austin; his sister, Christine Abraham and her husband, Arthur, of Bad Axe; two nephews, Bob and Dave Abraham; his niece, Pamela Koroleski; and several great-nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be conducted at 3 p.m. today, Oct. 31, 1999, at Riverside Cemetery. Raymond McCarty Raymond P. McCarty, 82, of Oxford passed away on Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, following a brief illness. He was born on Nov. 7, 1916, to the late Alexander and Margaret (Traudeau) McCarty. He married Mabel Bezemek on Jan. 4, 1940. He is survived by his wife, Mabel; one daughter, Deanna Verganus and her husband, William, of Lake Orion; two sons, James McCarty and wife, Tessa, of Texas and David McCarty and his wife, Nancy, of Maryland; one brother, Patrick McCarty and his wife, Dorothy, of Ubly; one sister, Ruth Mesevich of Indiana and one sister-in-law, Josephine McCarty of Ubly; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Mark and Allen McCarty of Ubly. Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1, 1999, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Orion with the Rev. Fr. John Leo Phalen officiating. Graveside Services will be at St. Ignatius Cemetery in Frieburg at 3 p.m. Harold Smith Harold E. Smith, 75, of Prescott and formerly of Berkley and Port Hope, died Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, in Rose City. He was born March 28, 1924, in Akron, Ohio, the son of the late Earl and Edna Smith. He married Margaret Ruth (Nee Kelly) Smith on May 30, 1947, at Berkley Community Church. She survives him. He is survived by his children, Thomas Michael Smith and his wife, Maryann, of Berkley, Peggy Ann Padget and her husband, John, of Prescott, David Earl Smith and his wife, Susan, of Rochester Hills, Todd Alan Smith and his wife, Suzanne, of San Diego, Calif., and Terry Alan Smith and his wife, Suzanne, of Attica; his siblings, Juanita Wachtel of Missoula, Eleanor Clough of Pickney and Earl Smith of Irons; eight grandchildren; and his overweight, white cocka- poo-mix dog, Trixie. He was preceded in death by one grandson. Funeral Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 1, 1999, at the William Sullivan and Son Funeral Home, 705 W. 11 Mile Road in Royal Oak. The Rev. Patrick J. Connell from Our Lake of LaSalette will officiate with burial at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy. Matthew Soper Matthew D. Soper, 17, a junior at Owendale-Gagetown high School, died Thursday afternoon, Oct. 28, 1999, in an automobile accident near Owendale. He was born on Christmas Day in 1981 to Denise Collins and the late Melvin Soper. He preceded him in death July 19, 1994. Surviving are his mother and stepfather, Denise and Randy Radabaugh of Owendale; his brothers and sisters, Michael, Randi, Joshua and Jillyn; his maternal grandfather, Dennis Collins of Flushing; his paternal grandmother, Ida Soper of Bad Axe; his stepgrandparents, Paul and Dorothy Radabaugh of Owendale; and his maternal great-grandmother, Violet Champagne; as well as his aunts, uncles and many cousins. Preceding him in death were his grandmother, Marie Fern Champagne; and his grandfather, Arthur Soper. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1, 1999, at the Pigeon River Mennonite Church. The Rev. Tom Beachy, pastor, will officiate with burial next to his grandmother in St. Felix Catholic Cemetery in Pinnebog. John Stiff John Stiff, 55, a long-time Bad Axe jeweler, died Friday, Oct. 29, 1999, at his residence after a long illness. He was born on June 14, 1944, in Port Huron, son of the late Harry and Jacqueline (Graham) Stiff. John Stiff and Patricia Horiski were married Nov. 16, 1963, at the Bad Axe First Presbyterian Church by the late Rev. Joseph Ryan. Surviving are his wife, Patricia; two daughters, Carol Dybilas and her husband, Stephen, Vicki LeJeune and her husband, William Jr; one son, Kevin Stiff and his special friend, Sandra LaCourse; and six grandchildren, Carissa and Brianne Dybilas, Shawn and Erin LeJeune and Dustin and Madison Stiff. Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 1, 1999, at the H.W. Weitenberner Funeral Home in Bad Axe. The Rev. Jan Dykshoorn, pastor of Bad Axe First Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Colfax Township Cemetery. 1