Obituaries Week of March 5, 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 WEEK OF MARCH 5, 2000 Michael Carlson Michael "Mike" Thomas Carlson, 43, of Cass City died Wednesday, March 8, 2000, at Hills and Dales General Hospital, Cass City. He was born April 18, 1956, in Mount Clemens to Emil and Julia (Spencer) Carlson. He married Teresa Teller in 1990 in Caro. Mike worked for Numatics in Sandusky, Ford Motor Co. and Macomb County Human Development. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. Mike enjoyed gardening and growing roses and was building a greenhouse. He was very creative and artistic. Mike is survived by his son, Jason Allor of Kingston; his mother, Julia Eckert of Cass City; his father, Emil Carlson of Racine, Wis.; brothers and sisters, Elizabeth Finley and her husband, Randy, of Armada, Joseph Carlson of Racine, Wis., James Carlson of Cass City, Laurie Carlson and Linda Carlson, both of Kenosha, Wis., Julia Beaver and her husband, Christopher, of Racine, Wis., John Carlson, Douglas Eckert and Angela Eckert, all of Cass City; aunts and uncles, JoAnn LaFave and her husband, Robert, of Gainesville, Fla., David Spencer and his wife, Mary, of Minnesota, Margaret Ross of Clawson, Larry Spencer of Deford, Delores Lucylece and her husband, Albert, of Romeo, Mildred Banker and her husband, Russ, of Allenton, Marjorie Machuga of Berville, and Douglas Jr. Eckert of Fraser; a special friend, Joy Watts; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his infant sister, Mary Jane Carlson; maternal grandparents, Julia and David Spencer; and paternal grandparents, Anna and Carl Carlson. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 11, 2000, at Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, with the Rev. Elwin Hazen of Great Lakes Bible Church, Mayville, officiating. Visitation will be 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today and noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. Robert Eisengruber Robert John Eisengruber, 79, of Sebewaing died Thursday, March 9, 2000, at Bay Medical Center in Bay City following a two-month illness. He was born Feb. 18, 1921, in Sebewaing, son of the late John and Mary (Ort) Eisengruber. He was united in marriage to Ruth E.B. Kundinger on Sept. 17, 1949, in Munger. She preceded him in death on Sept. 19, 1983. Bob was employed at Sebewaing Tool and Engineering as a tool and die maker, foreman and designer for 46 years before retiring in 1988. He also was an instructor at trade schools for many years. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, the Sebewaing VFW Post No. 4115 and the Sebewaing American Legion Post No. 293. He served with the U.S. Army in the Burma, India and China Campaign. Surviving are two daughters, Judy Maule and her husband, Ted, of Flint and Nancy MacGillivray and her husband, Brian, of San Marcos, Calif.; grandchildren Dustin, Nicholas, Kristi and Jennae Roller, Tahnee, Evan and Zachery MacGillivray, and Andrea, Thera and Meaghan Heck; a brother and sister-in-law, James Eisengruber and his wife, Kay, of Sebewaing; and several nephews. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, March 13, 2000, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Sebewaing. The Rev. Fr. George Serour will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. The grave-side committal service will take place under the auspices of the Sebewaing VFW and Sebewaing American Legion Posts. A scripture service will take place at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. He will lie in state from 10 a.m. Monday until the time of services Monday at the church. Memorials may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, the American Lung Association or the charity of the donor's choice. Walter Stec Walter Stec, 69, of Caro, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away on Wednesday, March 8, 2000, at Cartwright Center, Saginaw, after a brief battle with cancer. He was born on June 16, 1930, in Bad Axe, and married the former Bernetta Finkel on June 7, 1952. Walter served in the U.S. Army from Jan. 12, 1953, until Nov. 2, 1954, with an honorable discharge. He was a sergeant and received several medals during his tour in Korea: the Korean Service Ribbon with one bronze service star, Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. Walter was employed at Malleable Iron for 25 years, retiring in May 1992. He had many hobbies and interests. Among them were hunting, fishing, gardening, playing the guitar and singing country music. He was a member of Caro Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 3587. Our beloved Walter will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Bernetta Stec; two sons and one daughter and their spouses, Steven Stec and his wife, Carol, Ray Stec and his wife, Lisa, and Shirley Molnar and her husband, Morrie, all of Caro; five grandchildren, Travis, Misty, Wayne, Marissa and Brandi; three brothers and four sisters and their spouses, John Stec and his wife, Angie, of Warren, Mike Stec and his wife, Marilyn, of Cass City, Peter Stec and his wife, Alice, of Caro, Mary Sal of Traverse City, Katherine Flesch of Harrison Township, Sophie Lanszynski and her husband, Stanley, of St. Charles and Stella Stroh and her husband, Roy, of Marysville; three sisters-in-law, Doris Stec of Shields, Lucille Dombrowski of Peoria, Ariz., and Arlene Harbin of Lawrence; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Simon and Michelina (Zaremba) Stec; two brothers; and three sisters. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, 2000, at Collon Funeral Home in Caro with the Rev. David Hollender of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Caro officiating. Burial will be in the Indianfields Township Cemetery with military grave-side services under the auspices of the Caro VFW Post No. 4164. Visitation is 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until the time of services at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Stec family discretionary fund. John "Jack" Glaza Mr. John "Jack" Glaza, 83, of Ubly died suddenly Thursday evening, March 9, 2000, at his residence in Ft. Meade, Fla. Arrangements are being handled by the Zinger- Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Les Simmons, Sr. Les Simmons, Sr., 89, of Gotts Corner died Friday morning, March 10, 2000, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. A complete obituary will appear in Sunday's Huron Daily Tribune. Champagne Funeral Chapel, Caseville, is handling the arrangements. James Sprunger James R. Sprunger, 53, of Grant Township south of Elkton died Thursday afternoon, March 9, 2000, at Huron Memorial Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. A complete obituary will appear in Sunday's edition of the Huron Daily Tribune, or contact Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton for details. Ty Mzyk Tyrus Raymond Mzyk, 88, former owner of Ty's Bowling Lounge in Elkton, died Tuesday, March 7, 2000, at his home. He was born Feb. 4, 1912, in Detroit, son of the late Frank and Clara (Plevnia) Mzyk. Ty's father died two weeks before Ty was born and his mother later married Frank Leppek. In 1916, they moved to Parisville where he grew up on a farm. In 1937 he returned to Detroit and worked with Radio Cab, Fuller Brush Co. and Budd Wheel. There he also met Agnes Griskiewicz, his future wife. They were married Jan. 28, 1939, at Guardian Angel Catholic Church, Detroit. She preceded him in death on April 18, 1999. Soon after they were married they purchased the New Greenleaf Country Store in Cass City. In 1955, they moved to Elkton and opened Ty's Sportsman's Inn. Several years later he bought the Elkton Recreation (the bowling lanes) from Lavern Chiotti and moved the bar across the street, operating it until retiring in 1976. Ty also drove a school bus for Elkton and the Laker district during those years. He was a member of St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, past member of the Elkton Rotary, charter member of the Elkton Lions Club and was honored just last month for 40 years of continuous membership. He was also a life member of the Bad Axe Knights of Columbus No. 1546, 4th Degree Assembly and was one of the first members of the color corp. Surviving are two daughters, Sally Buschlen and her husband, Roger, of Pigeon and Joyce Beyer of Saginaw; his son, Dennis Mzyk of Auburn, Wash.; five grandchildren, Lisa, Brenda, Michael, Dennis, Jr. and Christopher; two great-grandchildren, Lukas Tyrus and McKenzie; two brothers, Ira Leppek of Reno, Nev., and Chester Leppek and his wife, Martha, of Harbor Beach; and his sister, Vivian Rumptz and her husband, Clarence, of Ubly. The funeral mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, 2000, at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Pigeon, with burial in St. Mary's Cemetery, Parisville. The Knights of Columbus Bishop Babcock General Assembly will conduct a Challis service at 10:20 a.m. Saturday morning at Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton. Visitation is 2 to 9 p.m. today and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan or the church. Richard Arnott Richard J. Arnott, 55, resident of Chandler Township, died Wednesday morning, March 8, 2000, at his home in Chandler Township. He was born June 27, 1944, in Detroit, son of "Jean" (Englehart) Arnott and the late Leslie R. Arnott, Sr. Mr. Arnott was a 1962 graduate of North Huron High School and attended St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Kinde. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1964. Mr. Arnott was employed at Tower Automotive, Inc., in Elkton. Richard's hobbies were hunting and playing the casino slots in Sault Ste. Marie. Surviving are three sons, Ronald Arnott and his wife, Wendy, of Haslett, Randy Arnott and his wife, April, of Interlochen, and Todd Arnott and his fiancee, Jillyn, of Elkton; three grandchildren; his mother, "Jean" Arnott of Kinde; three sisters, Beverly McFarlind and her husband, Earl, of Bay City, Karen Donovan and her husband, Herman, of Kinde, and Cindy Bergquist and her husband, Richard, of Kinde; one sister-in-law, Marlene Arnott of Bay City; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Leslie Arnott, Jr. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, 2000, at the MacAlpine Funeral Home Gage Chapel in Kinde. The Rev. Richard G. Wilson, pastor of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, will officiate. Burial will be in the Port Austin Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight, from 1 to 9 p.m. Friday, and from 10 a.m. until the time of services at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Herman Kociba Mr. Herman F. Kociba, 85, of Ubly and formerly of Verona, died Wednesday evening, March 8, 2000, at his residence after a short illness. He was born on March 14, 1914, in Lincoln Township, son of the late Anthony and Theresa (Danielski) Kociba. He married Helen Osentoski on July 2, 1949, at St. John the Evangelist Church of Ubly. He attended the Lincoln Country School. He farmed with his family. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He worked for Dodge Main in Hamtramck. He was the former owner of the Rapson Grocery store for eight years. He worked at Verona Hills Golf Course and different area jobs. He retired from Spandex Manufacturing of Bad Axe after nine years in 1980. He was a former member of St. Mary's Church in Dwight and St. Joseph Church of Rapson. He was most recently a parishioner of St. John Catholic Church of Ubly. He was the former Senior Commander of the Parisville VFW Post No. 5740 of Ruth, a member of the Ubly Community Club, Senior Citizens Euchre Club and St. John's Men's Club. He is survived by his wife, Helen, of Ubly; two daughters, Linda Hanson and her husband, Gene, of Cass City and Betty Glaza and her husband, Bill, of Ubly; five grandchildren, Tracy, Pam, Jamie, Bradley and Bryan; one stepchild, Shelley; one great-granddaughter, Cierra; one brother, Isadore Kociba and his wife, Frances, of Bad Axe; and two sisters, Gertrude Dudek of Madison Heights and Margaret Puckette of Warren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Edward Kociba; one sister, Irene Costello; and two stepsisters, Bertha Schmelzer and Tillie Merenich. Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, 2000, at St. John Catholic Church in Ubly. The Rev. T.J. Fleming, pastor, will officiate. Military honors will be provided by the Parisville VFW Post No. 5740 of Ruth. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery of Ubly in the spring. There will be a parish wake service at 8 p.m. Friday at Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Richard Bloye Richard Bloye, 64, of Pigeon and formerly of Bay Port, passed away Saturday, March 4, 2000, at Scenic Adult Foster Care Home in Pigeon. Burial will take place at Grant Township Cemetery near Gagetown. Funeral arrangements are conducted by Meyersieck- Bussema Funeral Home, a Golden Rule Funeral Home, Pigeon. Eugene Clor Eugene M. Clor, 66, of East Lansing, formerly of Argyle Township, died at his daughter's residence on Saturday March 4, 2000 after a short illness. He was born May 29, 1933, in Minden City, son of the late Leo and Elizabeth ( Newsom) Clor. He married Ellen Ann Walker on Dec. 28, 1962 in Plymouth. She preceded him in death Nov. 22, 1972. He was a graduate of the Minden Elementary School. He was a wheelsman on the Great Lakes Ships from 1948-1963. Was in the U.S. Navy from November 1955 to August 1957. He farmed in Argyle Township from many years. He was owner of the Pit Stop Party Store for 54 years, retiring in 1997. He was a former member and usher of St. Joseph Parish in Argyle. He was also a former member of the school board for the Star School as well as a member of the National Farmers Organization. Eugene is survived by two daughters, Lizbeth Clor of East Lansing, Janet Howe and her husband, David, of Ann Arbor; two sons, Leo Clor and his wife, Mary Ann, of Huntington, Ind., Joseph Clor and his wife, Jennifer, of Rochester Hills; eight grandchildren; five sisters, Ann Prine and her husband, Donald, of Port Sanilac, Junie Brown and her husband, C. Richard, of Long Beach, Calif., Frances Myers and her husband, Dennis, of Pinckney, Judy Swartz and her husband, Charles, of Harbor Beach, Darlene House and her husband, Gerry, of Metamora; one brother, Patrick Clor and his wife Eva, of Marion, Texas. He was preceded in death by one sister Betty Jean Mills. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday March 7, 2000, in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Argyle. Rev. Anthony Wozniak, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be at 2:30 until 9:30 p.m. today and from 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home. There will be a parish wake service at 8 p.m. tonight by Rev. Anthony Wozniak at the funeral home. George Ackerman George I. Ackerman, 84, lifelong resident of Elkton, died Saturday evening, March 4, 2000, at McLaren Medical Center, Flint. He was born June 14, 1915, at the home of his parents, the late LeRoy and Margaret (Knechtel) Ackerman in Oliver Township. On July 22, 1939, he was united in marriage to Virginia Tschumi at the home of her parents in Elkton. Mr. Ackerman lived and farmed in the Elkton area all his life. He was very active in his community over the years, from Little League to being president of the Lions Club. George was an avid and eager Laker sports fan, rarely missing a game. He also volunteered long hours in the summer, mowing the grass at Bay Shore Camp in Sebewaing. He was a lifelong member of the Elkton United Methodist Church and the Pathfinder Sunday school class. He also taught Sunday school and was active with the youth programs. He was a member of the Gideons, past member of the Elkton Rotary, Bluewater Thumb Youth for Christ board, and past president of the Elkton Lions Club. Surviving are his wife, Virginia; two daughters, Lois Furness and her husband, Harvey, of East Jordan and Barbara Carter and her husband, Jim, of Carter; two sons, Dale Ackerman and his wife, Debi, of Gaylord and Don Ackerman and his wife, Lynnette of Lansing; nine grandchildren, Tim, Chris, Paula, Jami, Amy, Faith, Lora, Joel and Markas; a great-granddaughter, Helen; and his sister, Ermythe Seley of Elkton. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, 2000, at the Elkton United Methodist Church. The Rev. Pete Crawford, pastor, will officiate with burial in Riverside Cemetery, Elkton. Visitation is 7 to 9 tonight and 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton, and after noon Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be given to the church or Bay Shore Camp. Lila Mears Mrs. Lila Mae Mears, 56, of Ubly died Friday morning, March 3, 2000, in the University Hospital of Ann Arbor. She was born July 20, 1943, in Marlette, the daughter of Bernie Ode and the late Eloise (Sommerville) Ode. She married Clarence Mears on Aug. 26, 1961, at the Presbyterian Church in Clifford. She was a graduate of Marlette High School Class of 1960, resided in Huron County for the last 30 years in Ubly, and was a member of the Ubly United Methodist Church since 1970. Lila is survived by her husband, Clarence, of Ubly; one son, Ray Mears and his wife, Mary, of Parisville; two daughters, Dawn Partaka and her husband, Michael, of Ruth and Rebecca Conley and her husband, Harold, of Minden City; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; father, Bernie Ode and his wife, Martha, of Marlette; one brother, John Ode and his wife, Mary, of Clifford. She was preceded in death by her mother, Eloise Ode; and a sister, Linda Long. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, March 6, 2000, at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. The Rev. Robert A. Srock, pastor of the Ubly United Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Valley Cemetery in the spring. Visitation will be from 1 to 9:30 p.m. today and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Ubly United Methodist Church. Ronald Simmons Ronald D. Simmons, 46, of Rockledge, Fla., and formerly of the Detroit area, passed away Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000, at Harborside Health Care in Rockledge. A memorial service will be conducted at a later date at the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, with interment near his grandparents in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Ruth. A complete obituary and service announcement will appear in the Huron Daily Tribune at a later time this spring. 1