HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Copyright © 2001 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. Obituaries for the week of December 10, 2000 Bernice Nowakowski Bernice M. Nowakowski, 81, of Port Hope passed away on Friday, Dec. 8, 2000, in Autumnwood of Deckerville following a short illness. Born in St. Louis, Mo. on July 13, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Stanley and Maryanna (Godewski) Nowakowski. Bernice was the former president of Unell Manufacturing near Port Hope and was a member of Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church in Harbor Beach and the church's alter society. She enjoyed her pets, especially her dog. She is survived by her sister, Anne Oglenski of Harbor Beach; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a sister, Estelle Nowakowski in 1974. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, 2000, in Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church with Fr. Gerald Kukla, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A parish vigil service will take place at 8 p.m. today in the Ramsey Funeral Home, A Golden Rule Funeral Home, in Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 10 a.m. until the time of service Monday at the church. Mary Osantowski Mary H. Osantowski, 87, of Ubly died Friday, Dec. 8, 2000, in the Huron County Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe. Mary was born on June 24, 1903, in Tyre, the daughter of the late John and Frances (Lautner) Sadro. She married Frank Osantowski on Sept. 11, 1923, at St. Ignatius Church in Freiburg. He preceded her in death on July 6, 1975. She graduated from the Hog's Back Country School and worked in the Nestle Condensery and the overall factory in Ubly. She worked on the family farm, also. She farmed with her husband, Frank, on their farm until 1975. After her husband died, she joined her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Peters and their family, where she lived for the rest of her life. Mary was a member of the St. Ignatius Alter Society and a lifelong parishioner of the church. She enjoyed crocheting, playing euchre and visiting with family and friends. She is survived by her daughter, Helen Peters, of Ubly; one son, Raymond Osantowski and his wife, Blanche, of Jeddo; a sister, Agnes Warchock, of Kalkaska; one daughter-in-law, Joan Osantowski, of Ubly; 34 grandchildren; 41 great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons, Robert and Marcus Osantowski; three grandsons, Patrick Osantowski, Andrew Osantowski and Frederick Peters; and two great-grandsons. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2000, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Freiburg with the Rev. Stephen Fillion, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A parish wake service will take place at 8 p.m. Monday at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. today, 1 to 9:30 p.m. Monday and from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the family or the donor's choice. Eric Ruth Eric Edward Ruth, 16, of Kinde died Dec. 7, 2000, due to injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. He was born Jan. 5, 1984, in Bad Axe, the son of Michael and Suzanne (Rice) Ruth. Eric attended 10th grade at North Huron High School in Kinde. He attended St. Mary's Catholic Church and would have been confirmed in 2001. Eric was a member of FFA and North Huron High School football and basketball teams. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, farming and his NASCAR collection. He was a cook at the Pasta House in Kinde. He is survived by his parents, Suzanne Ruth of Kinde, and Michael Ruth of Kinde; three sisters, Stacy DeJonge and her husband, Roger, of Wyoming, Mich., Amanda and Ashley Ruth of Kinde; one brother, Jeffrey Ruth of Saginaw and his special friend, Melissa Gaylord; two grandmothers, Lucy Ruth of Caseville and Mary Rice of Kinde; two nephews, Trevor Ruth and Eli DeJonge; an uncle, several aunts, nieces and cousins. Eric was preceded in death by one sister, Sandi Ruth; grandfathers, Francis Ruth and Edward Rice. Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, 2000, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dwight with Fr. Oniskiewicz officiating. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. There will be a scripture service at 7 p.m. today at the MacAlpine Funeral Home-Gage Chapel in Kinde. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today and 10 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. Lottie Janik Mrs. Lottie Janik, 91, of Bad Axe, died Saturday evening, Dec. 9, 2000, at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe. She was born June 26, 1909, in Buffalo, N.Y., daughter of the late Michael and Mary (Smidura) Stachura. She married John Janik on Feb. 9, 1926, at St. Columbkille Church of Sheridan Corners. He preceded her in death on Feb. 24, 1972. She attended parochial school in Buffalo, N.Y. She has lived in Sheridan Township since 1924. She farmed with her husband. She was a parishioner of St. Columbkille Church. Lottie loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren, loved to crochet and enjoyed cooking, gardening, flowers and sewing. She is survived by six children, Frances Bartnik and her husband, Chester, of Pontiac, Mary Gucwa of Bad Axe, Frank Janik and his wife, Dorothy, of Bad Axe, Helen Storckle and her husband, Walter, of Bad Axe, Peter Janik and his wife, Fronda, of Bad Axe, and Henry Janik and his wife, Nancy, of Bad Axe; 22 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; six great-great- grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; two sons, John and Joe; one son-in-law, Walter Gucwa; two grandsons, Walter Bartnik and David Janik; two granddaughters; two infant sisters; and three brothers, John, William and Frank. Mass of Christian burial will take place at noon, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000, at St. Columbkille Catholic Church of Sheridan Corners. The Rev. T.J. Fleming, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. There will be a parish wake service at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Visitation will be 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. tonight, from 1 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Elmer Rievert Elmer E. Rievert, 85, of Sebewaing died Sunday, Dec. 10, 2000, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe following a lengthy illness. He was born Jan. 19, 1915, in Sebewaing, son of the late William and Grace (Simon) Rievert. He was united in marriage to Frieda V. Nimtz on Nov. 24, 1938, in Kilmanagh. Elmer was employed at Michigan Sugar Co., in Sebewaing for many years before retiring in 1975. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing. Surviving besides his wife, Frieda, are one son, Darrell Rievert and his wife, Sally, of Sebewaing; one daughter, Janet Ewald and her husband, Dale, of Sebewaing; seven grandchildren and spouses, Todd Rievert and his wife, Marci, Kristi Eimers and her husband, Lee, all of Bay Port, Kevin Rievert and his wife, Jamie, of Akron, Brian Rievert and his wife, Denise, Carmen Dressler and her husband, Duane, Randy Ewald and his wife, Kim, and Renee Eurich and her husband, Tom, all of Sebewaing; 11 great-grandchildren, Drew, Benjamin, Brad, Michael and Sarah Rievert, Nicole and Jessica Dressler, Ashley and Justin Ewald, and Connor and Preston Eurich; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one brother, Arthur Rievert; and one sister, Mabel Rueger. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2000, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing. The Rev. Albert Bahr will officiate with burial in St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Sebewaing. Visitation will be 1 to 9 p.m. today at the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing, and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Immanuel Building Fund. Tuesday, December 12, 2000 Haley Mae Boesch Our hearts are broken, our arms are empty. Our daughter, Haley Mae Boesch died shortly after birth on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2000, at Bay Medical Center in Bay City. Haley will also be missed by one brother, Jacob Allen Boesch at home; grandparents, Leroy and Lillian Boesch of Sebewaing, Patty and Wayne Howell of Reese; grandfather, Larry Abke of Unionville; great-grandmothers, Alfrieda Boesch of Sebewaing, Phoebe Moore of Caro and Martha Abke of Unionville; many cousins, aunts and uncles. Haley's funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, 2000, at Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. The Rev. Mike Goforth of the Calvary Baptist Church in Caseville will officiate with burial in the New Port Cemetery. As Haley's parents, Leroy D. and Tracy L. (Abke) Boesch, we invite family and friends to share our sorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Thursday, December 14, 2000 Kenneth Fisher Kenneth M. Fisher, 53, of Kinde died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000, at his home of an apparent heart attack. He was born Oct. 14, 1947, in Bad Axe, the second son of Gertrude (McIlhargie) Fisher and the late Stanley Fisher. Ken graduated from Kinde High School in 1965 and worked in Pontiac until his induction into the U.S. Army. After his return from Vietnam in 1968, he came back to Huron County and took a position at Vollmer Ready-Mix in Pigeon. In 1995, he began a full-time job at Buchholz Transport Inc., where he had only been seasonal for many years. He enjoyed hunting and NASCAR racing. He was a former member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elkton, and a past president of the Elkton Jaycees. Surviving are his daughter, Keri Fisher and her special friend, Gabe Milbocker, of Midland; his mother, Gertrude Fisher of Caseville; three sisters, Margaret Moore and her husband, John, of Kinde, Mary Ellen Cales and her husband, Warren, of Ferndale, and Julie Rossi and her husband, Gary, of Royal Oak; two brothers, Don Fisher and his wife, Pam, of Kinde and Mark Fisher of Caseville; a special friend, Betsy Brown; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Stanley; and his grandparents, Eugene and Grace McIlhargie and Alex and Catherine Fisher. A funeral Mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15, 2000, at St. Felix Catholic Church, Pinnebog. Sr. Mary Swartz and Fr. Dennis Kucharczyk will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 2 to 9 p.m. today at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton, and after 10 a.m. Friday at the church. Memorials may be given to the church. Erna Rockstroh Erna J. Rockstroh, 92, of Sebewaing passed away Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000, at Bay Medical Center in Bay City. She was born Sept. 2, 1908, in Sebewaing Township, daughter of the late Albert and Hedwig (Schrank) Nitz. She was united in marriage to Otto F. Rockstroh on April 5, 1931, in Bach. He preceded her in death on Sept. 20, 1965. Erna was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Surviving are many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by six brothers, William, Adolph, Edward, Gustave, Albert and Herman Nitz; and four sisters, Elise Deeg, Linda Jaenicke, Martha Nusbaum and Frieda Gaeth. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing. The Rev. Gerald Meyer, vacancy pastor, will officiate with burial in Northlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m. tonight and from noon to 9 p.m. Friday at Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing, and from 10 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church. Ann Eleanor Thiel Mrs. Ann Eleanor Thiel, 81, of Bad Axe died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000, at her residence. She was born April 16, 1919, in Bad Axe, daughter of the late August and Anna (Richard) Mazure. She married Leo V. Thiel on Nov. 16, 1945, at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Rapson. He preceded her in death on Aug. 26, 1990. She was one of 50 charter members that started the Daughters of Isabella Fidelis Regina Circle No. 608 of Bad Axe in 1937. She held several offices as well over the years. She was a homemaker, worked at the Huron Daily Tribune, and ran the addressograph and helped in the kitchen at the Bad Axe Intermediate School. She was a parishioner of St. Joseph Church of Rapson, a member of the St. Anne Mothers Study Club and a member of St. Rita's Altar Society. She loved quilting, playing cards and playing bingo. She is survived by her eight children, Richard Thiel of Flint, Roseanne Thiel of Traverse City, John Thiel and his wife, Robin, of Grand Rapids, Ellen Hartman and her husband, Kim, of Croswell, Dale Thiel and his wife, Kim, of Mendon, Ronald Thiel of Oak Creek, Sue Thiel of Grand Blanc, and Janice Massimino and her husband, Jack, of Otter Lake; nine grandsons; one granddaughter; two brothers, Albert Mazure and his wife, Judy, of Bad Axe and Joseph Mazure and his wife, Kathy, of Utica. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo; two brothers, John and Henry Mazure; and two sisters, Agnes Maedel and Theresa Mazure. Mass of Christian burial will take place at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Rapson. The Rev. John Weis, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. There will be a parish wake service by Fr. Weis at 6:30 p.m. and a rosary service by the Daughters of Isabella at 8:30 p.m., both on Friday, at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Visitation will be 2 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Hazel Zinnecker Hazel S. Zinnecker, 82, of Cass City died unexpectedly Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000, in her home. She was born May 16, 1919, in Deford to John and Goldia (Cook) Pringle. She married Clark F. Zinnecker on Sept. 1, 1938, in Detroit. He died June 17, 2000. Hazel at one time worked for Agnes McPhail. Hazel sold Tupperware and Avon in the Cass City area for over 11 years before retiring to Florida. She enjoyed quilting and crocheting, and for her 60th wedding anniversary in 1998, she decorated the party hall with quilts. Hazel and Clark lived in Sorrento, Fla., from 1979 to 1995 and in Haselton Village, Eustis, Fla., from 1995 to 1999. Hazel was a member of the Novesta Church of Christ, Cass City, and a 20-year member of the First Church of Christ in Eustis, Fla. Hazel is survived by her sons, Grant Zinnecker and his wife, Donna, of Wilson, W.V., and Ralph Zinnecker and his wife, Patricia of Deford; granddaughters, Melissa Newland and her husband, Greg, of Caro and Karla Zinnecker of Cass City; a sister, Iva Field; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Grant Pringle. Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, at the Novesta Church of Christ, Cass City, with Chuck Emmert officiating. Interment will be in the Novesta Township Cemetery. Pallbearers for Mrs. Zinnecker will be her family. Visitation will be 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City, and from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Friday, December 15, 2000 Genevieve Crawley Genevieve A. Crawley, 58, of Cass City died Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 13, 2000, at the Lapeer County Medical Care Facility. She was born May 31, 1942, in Elkton at the home of her parents, Olivia (Martinez) Torres and the late Louis Torres. After graduating from Elkton High School, she enrolled at St. Lawrence Mercy School of Nursing in Lansing, graduating as a registered nurse in 1965. She worked in the Metro area a few years before coming to Hills and Dales General Hospital in Cass City where she remained for 15 years. In the mid-1980s, she traveled to Chicago's Mount Sinai Hospital and returned to Hills and Dales in 1997, retiring in 1998 for health reasons. Surviving are her son, Jimmy Crawley and his wife, Shannon, in the U.S. Army at Fort Stewart, Ga.; three grandchildren, Jeremy, Kristen and Justin; her mother, Olivia Torres of Lapeer; three sisters, Anita Lopez and her husband, Alex, of Lapeer, Louise Torres of San Antonio, Texas, and Margaret Stevens of Lapeer; and three brothers, Louis Torres and his wife, Pamela, of Boone, N.C., Robert Torres of Cass City, and Paul Torres and his wife, Elaine, of Midland. A funeral Mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 18, 2000, at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Pigeon. Sr. Theresa Fox will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton. 1