Obituaries Week of May 1, 2000, 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, Michigan Local Obituaries Week of May 1, 2000 Arnold Pobanz Arnold H. Pobanz, 93, of Sebewaing died Thursday evening, May 4, 2000, at Tendercare of Cass City following a one-month illness. He was born Sept. 3, 1906, in Brookfield Township in Huron County, son of the late John C. and Clara (Fritz) Pobanz. Arnold was a lifelong farmer in the Sebewaing area and also was a custom thrasher and baler and sawed lumber. He was married to Lillie M. Errer on Jan. 18. 1933, in Linkville. He attended the Methodist Church. Surviving are his wife, Lillie Pobanz of Sebewaing; one daughter, Betty Koch and her husband, Franklin, of Gagetown; three grandchildren and their spouses, Deborah Quick and her husband, Larry, of Gagetown, James Koch and his wife, Carol, of Gagetown, and Karen Heck and her husband, Rick, of Elkton; seven great-grandchildren, Jennifer and Kelsey, Bradley, Bethany, Chad, Chris and Samantha; two step-great-granddaughters, Miranda and Melissa; three sisters, Luella Born and her husband, Clarence, of Pigeon, Hazel Kuck of Sandusky, and Dorothy Leitch of Warren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one brother, Olin Pobanz. The funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 7, 2000, at the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. The Rev. Alger Lewis, pastor of Kilmanagh United Methodist Church, will officiate with burial in St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery in Bach. Visitation will be 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. until the time of services at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Kilmanagh United Methodist Church, Scheurer Hospital or the charity of the donor's choice. Olga Eggert Olga E. Eggert, 86, of Harbor Beach passed away Thursday, May 4, 2000, in Harbor Beach Community Hospital following a brief illness. Daughter of the late Albert and Theresa (Schave) Pleiness, she was born on Aug. 14, 1913, in Port Hope. On March 8, 1931, she and Hugo Eggert were married in Port Hope. He preceded her in death on May 5,1982. She was a faithful member of St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope and was an avid cookbook collector. She loved her garden as well as being with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and her church. Olga is survived by two daughters, Shirley Witherspoon and her husband, Robert, of Port Hope, and Elaine Eggert of Harbor Beach; two sons, Orville Eggert and his wife, Jean, of Harbor Beach, and Gary Eggert of Harbor Beach; nine grandchildren, Cindy Townley, Becky Brandt, Kathy Pleiness, Julie Eggert, David Eggert, Sue Witherspoon, Dennis Witherspoon, Terry Witherspoon and Peggy Maschke; 12 great-grandchildren, Timothy, Emily, Ethan, Olivia, Adam, Joshua, Sarah, Andrew, Nicholas, Amanda, Jered and Aaron; and five sisters, Emma Hartz, Caroline Reinke and Lena Pleiness, all of Port Hope, Louise Lampela of Bad Axe and Jean Berry of Caro. She was preceded in death by two sons, Gordon and Stanley; a sister, Esther Zelz; and three brothers, Erwin, Ernest and Alexander Pleiness. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 6, 2000, in St. John Lutheran Church, Port Hope, with the Rev. Henry Malone and the Rev. L.W. Nutzmann officiating. Burial will be in the Lakeview Cemetery, Port Hope. A scripture service will be conducted at 8 p.m. tonight at the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, a Golden Rule Funeral Home. Visitation will be 1 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and from noon until the time of services Saturday at the church. Mary "Marie" Messing Mrs. Mary M. "Marie" (Schroeder) Messing, 80, of Harbor Beach died Sunday, April 30, 2000, at Huron Memorial Hospital in Bad Axe after a short illness. She was born June 3, 1919, in Ruth, daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Hitch) Guitar. She married Franklin Schroeder on June 14, 1941, at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Parish in Ruth. He preceded her in death on June 13, 1991. She married Robert B. Messing on Oct. 3, 1992, at Our Lady of Lake Huron Parish in Harbor Beach. She was a graduate of SS. Peter and Paul Elementary School. She did domestic work in the Detroit area for a few years. She farmed with Franklin Schroeder until 1969 and worked for Hamill Manufacturing in Bad Axe for 10 years. She was a member of Our Lady of Lake Huron Altar Society and a parishioner at Our Lady of Lake Huron. She enjoyed cards and socializing with family and friends. She is survived by her husband, Robert Messing of Harbor Beach; three daughters, Doreen Peterson and her husband, Robert, of Bad Axe, Judith Gwisdalla and her husband, Elmer, of Bad Axe, and Elaine Grifka and her husband, James, of Caro; 11 grandchildren, Tina McDonald and her husband, David, of Bad Axe, Rick Gwisdalla of Bad Axe, Colleen Block of Troy, Marcy Sweeney of Bad Axe, Gene Gwisdalla of Bad Axe, Christopher Gwisdalla of Bad Axe, Joseph Grifka of Caro, Sheila Polzin and her husband, Gregory, of Madison, Wisc., Michael Grifka and his wife, Amanda, of Carrollton, Maria Williams and her husband, Jeffery, of Lansing, and Theresa Grifka of Grand Rapids; five great-grandchildren, Adrienne, Erica and Kristen McDonald, Justin Sweeney and Nicole Block; one stepdaughter, Patricia Rutkowski and her husband, Richard, of Vassar; two stepsons, Marvin Messing and his wife, Kathleen, of Ortonville, and Dennis Messing and his wife, Darlene, of Sterling Heights; 10 step-grandchildren; nine step-great-grandchildren; one sister, Cecilia Stacer of Bad Axe; one sister-in-law, Hazel Guitar of Ruth; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Gertrude Mary Schroeder; two grandchildren, John Robert Peterson and Gloria Ann Peterson; three sisters, Emma Vordam, Helen Tenbusch and Dorothy Guitar; and five brothers, Leo, Roman, Cyril, Leonard and William Guitar. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 4, 2000, at Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church in Harbor Beach. The Rev. Edward Konieczka, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. There will be a parish wake service at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday at Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. today, from 1:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Harold Murray Mr. Harold Murray, 77, of Ubly died Saturday, April 29, 2000, at his residence. He was born May 11, 1922, in Ubly, son of the late Thomas and Josephine (Maurer) Murray. He never married. He was a graduate of Kelly, Bingham No. 1 Country School. He farmed with his family and on his own from 1959 until 1987. He was a parishioner of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Smith Corners, all his life. He was a former member of the Ushers Club and the Holy Name Society. He is survived by two brothers, John Murray and his wife, Patricia, of Ubly, and Raymond Murray and his wife, Thelma, of Ubly; two sisters, Phyllis Roggenbuck and her husband, Vincent, of Snover, and Jean Messing and her husband, Leroy, of Juneau, Alaska; one sister-in-law, Esther Murray of Frankenmuth; and 40 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one brother Clements Murray; and two sisters, Margorie Abraham and Grace Murray. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, 2000, at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Smith Corners. The Rev. John Weis, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. There will be a parish wake service by Father Weis at 8 p.m. tonight at Zinger- Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Visitation is 1 to 9:30 p.m. today and from 10:30 until noon Wednesday at the funeral home. Clements Schmitt Mr. Clements Schmitt, 56, of Smith Corners died Sunday, April 30, 2000, at Huron Memorial Hospital in Bad Axe. He was born July 13, 1943, in Bad Axe, son of the late John P. and Frances (Helewski) Schmitt. He never married. He attended Maurer County School and Ubly Elementary School. He worked on the family farm. He was a lifelong parishioner at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Smith Corners and a former member of the Holy Name Society. He is survived by one sister, Helen Decker and her husband, Lon, of Redwood City, Calif.; six brothers, Carl Schmidt and his fiancee, Joan, of Fallbrook, Calif., James Schmidt and his wife, Irene, of Ubly, John Schmitt, Frances Schmitt and Bernard Schmitt, all of Smith Corners, and Simon Schmitt of Elgin, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one brother, Gerald Schmitt; and one sister, Evelyn Heilig. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 3, 2000, at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Smith Corners. The Rev. John Weis, pastor, will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. There will be a parish wake service at 8 p.m. tonight at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 9:30 p.m. today and from 8 to 9 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Leonard Graves, Sr. Leonard C. Graves, Sr., 47, of the White Rock area near Harbor Beach passed away Saturday, April 29, 2000, from injuries sustained in a house fire. He was born on July 10, 1952, in Utica, the son of the late Lloyd C. and Clara A. (Jennings) Graves, Sr. Leonard is survived by a son, Leonard C. Graves, Jr., of St. Clair Shores; a daughter, Julie Graves of Centerline; and a sister, Lois Hill of St. Clair Shores. He was preceded in death by his brother, Lloyd C. Graves, Jr. Cremation took place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City and a memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, 2000, in the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, a Golden Rule Funeral Home. The Rev. Theresa Cutler will officiate. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral home. Florence Sosnoski Florence M. Sosnoski, 79, of Port Austin died Sunday, April 30, 2000, at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe. She was born on June 15, 1920, in Hume Township, daughter of the late Aloysius and Mary (Kula) Goretski. She and Peter Sosnoski were married on May 8, 1937, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dwight Township. He preceded her in death on June 19, 1993. She was a member of the American Legion Post No. 499 Auxiliary, the Grindstone Port Hope Sportsman's Club and St. Michael's Catholic Church. She is survived by her son, Larry Sosnoski of Port Austin; a daughter-in-law, Cheryl Sosnoski of Essexville; seven grandchildren, Todd and Jennifer Sosnoski of Bad Axe, Kim Sosnoski of Bay City, Renee Sosnoski of Warren, Michelle and Derek Fought, Kristen Sosnoski, Holly Sosnoski and Heather Sosnoski, all of Eastpointe; three great- grandchildren, Dylan Sosnoski, Vinnie Fanning, Jr., and Julia Fought; four sisters-in-law, Lottie Goretski of Port Austin, Rose Andreski and Josephine Andreski, both of Detroit, and Helen Horetski of Port Austin. She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Richard Sosnoski; two brothers, Chester and John Goretski; and two sisters, Francis Inda and Matilda Wisneski. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, 2000, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin, with burial in the church cemetery. There will be a service by the American Legion Auxiliary at 7 p.m. and a scripture service at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde. Visitation will be 1 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. John Blome John Gustav Blome, 70, of Indian River, formerly of Pigeon and Plymouth, passed away Thursday, April 27, 2000, at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey. He was born on July 1, 1929, in Detroit, the son of the late Gustav and Gertrude (Kaucher) Blome. Following his 1951 graduation with a bachelor of science degree from Michigan State College, he entered the U.S. Navy, where he served from 1952 to 1955. On Jan. 28, 1956, he married Lorene L. Heck in Pigeon, who preceded him in death in April 1993. He was married to Virginia Blay in Indian River on Oct. 22, 1994. She preceded him in death in June 1997. On July 18, 1998, he was united in marriage to Shirley (Kipfer) Sturgis in Linkville. She survives him. In 1959, Mr. Blome began working for Unisys Corp. (Burroughs) and retired as a supervisor in 1988. In 1993, he relocated to Indian River. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Blome was actively involved with his church. He was currently a member of the Hope Lutheran Church in Indian River and the Builders for Christ W.E.L.S., as well as a member of the Indian River Golf Club. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; three sons, David Blome of Howell and his friend, Joyce of Lansing, Paul Blome and his wife, Nancy, of Plymouth, and John Blome and his wife, Maria, of Belleville; three grandchildren, Ryan, Rebecca and Rachel; his stepchildren, Luann Miller of Ann Arbor, Linda Czyzewski and her husband, Joe, of Auburn, Cindy Sturgis of Bad Axe, Wanda Sturgis of Florida, and Scott Sturgis and his wife, Barb, of Grand Rapids; a sister, Joanne Powers and her husband, Patrick, of McCordsville, Ind.; a brother, Harold Blome of Pigeon; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Donald. The funeral service will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 30, 2000, at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, a Golden Rule Funeral Home, in Pigeon, with the Rev. James Dunham, pastor of Hope Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in Grand Lawn Cemetery, Winsor Township. Visitation will be noon until the time of services at 4 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels of Pigeon, Hope Lutheran Church or W.E.L.S. Builders for Christ. Burton Wood Burton O. Wood, 81, of Harbor Beach died Friday, April 28, 2000, at Harbor Beach Community Hospital Long Term Care. He was born May 20, 1918, in Grindstone, son of the late Robert and Lottie (Minard) Wood. Mr. Wood graduated from the Harbor Beach High School and served in the United States Navy. He was employed at Hercules in Harbor Beach as a shift supervisor. He married Dorothy Schmanski and she preceded him in death. He then married Verna (Essenmacher) Childers on Sept. 4, 1971. Burton enjoyed fishing and visiting with family and friends. Surviving are his wife, Verna, of Harbor Beach; one daughter, Kathleen Anderson and her husband, Ken, of San Clemente, Cal.; one son, Richard Wood and his wife, Judy, of Plymouth; one stepson, Clayton A. Childers and his wife, Jan, of Rantoul, Ill.; one daughter-in-law, Karen Wood, of Harbor Beach; five grandchildren, Lianna Varnum and her husband, Paul, Annie Anderson, Austin Anderson, Robert Wood and his wife, Barb, Steven Wood and his wife, Stephanie, of Bad Axe; three great-grandchildren, Raechael Varnum, Robert Wood, Nathan Wood, two step-grandchildren, Jamie L. Childers of Bay City and Clayton Childers Jr., of Champagne, Ill.; one brother, Emerson Wood and his wife, Ruth, of Independence, Mo.; four sisters, Margaret "Peg" Blashill of Harbor Beach, Berniece Kloska of Harbor Beach, Barb Hammond and her husband, Wallace, of Lansing, Ruth Turner of San City, Ariz.; several nieces and nephews. In keeping with his wishes, cremation has taken place at Sunset Valley Crematory. A memorial service will be conducted at a later date. MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe is handling the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the donor's choice and mailed to MacAlpine Funeral Home, 302 N. Hanselman, Bad Axe, MI 48413. 1