Obituaries Week of February 20, 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. _____________________________________________________________________ Bad Axe, Michigan Local Obituaries Week of February 20, 2000 Alvin Schweitzer Alvin F. Schweitzer, 95, of Sebewaing passed away Thursday, Feb. 24, 2000, at the Scheurer Hospital Long Term Care Unit in Pigeon. He was born in Oliver Township on Nov. 7, 1904, the son of the late George and Emma (Nietzke) Schweitzer. On Nov. 29, 1933, he was united in marriage to Viola M. Dorsch at the St. Paul Lutheran parsonage in Linkville. At the time of her death on May 3, 1995, the couple had been married for more than 61 years. Mr. Schweitzer was a lifelong farmer in Huron County. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Linkville. He is survived by his sons, Ronald Schweitzer and his wife, Sharon, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Dennis Schweitzer and his wife, Linda, of Auburn; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Hilda Kuck of Howell; a sister-in-law, Esther Schweitzer; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Duane; a grandson, James Crawford; a sister, Minnie Elftman; two brothers, Walter Schweitzer and Gilbert Schweitzer; and an infant brother. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 28, 2000, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Linkville, with the Rev. Ernest C. Wendt, vacancy pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Grand Lawn Cemetery in Winsor Township. Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, a Golden Rule Funeral Home, in Pigeon, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. at the church. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church Building Fund or to the charity of the donor's choice. Christine Starkey Christine B. Starkey, 51, of Ubly and formerly of California, died Thursday morning, Feb. 24, 2000, at her parents' residence after a long illness. Arrangements are being handled by the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home of Ubly. A complete obituary will appear in Sunday's Huron Daily Tribune. Funeral services are tentatively being planned for Monday. Casper Miller Casper Miller, 83, of Sebewaing died Thursday evening, Feb. 24, 2000, at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and a complete obituary will appear in Sunday's Huron Daily Tribune. Arrangements are being handled by the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. Ruth Morgan Ruth M. Morgan, 73, of Pinnebog went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000. She was a patient at St. Mary's Hospital in Saginaw for the past several days. She was born April 8, 1926, in Owosso and moved to Oliver Township as a young girl with her parents, the late Rev. Edward and Nora (Lomp) Young. On May 18, 1957, she was united in marriage to Lowell R. Morgan at the Elkton Missionary Church. She and Lowell lived in the Pinnebog area most of her married life. She maintained a home, raised two children and helped with her husband's milk hauling business by keeping the paperwork in order. Surviving are her husband, Lowell; a son, David Morgan and his wife, April, and a daughter, Cheryl Morgan, all of Pinnebog; three grandchildren, Myranda, Austen and Alexander; two brothers, Charles Young and his wife, Grace, and Milton Young and his wife, Margie, both of Elkton; and a sister-in-law, Joyce Young of Trenton. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Harold and Donald Young. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000, at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton. the Rev. Richard McLane, pastor of the Assembly of God Church, Bad Axe, will officiate with burial in Riverside Cemetery in Elkton. Visitation will be 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and after 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials be made to the Assembly of God Church or the American Diabetes Association. Barbara Noffke Barbara J. Noffke, 66, of Caseville died Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000, at her home following a long illness. She was born Nov. 14, 1933, in Detroit to the late George and Mary (Philip) Broz. On Oct. 10, 1979, she was united in marriage to Arthur N. Noffke in Ferndale. They moved to Caseville in 1994 from Warren after they both retired and attended the Calvary Baptist Church. Surviving are her husband, Art; three children, Vickie Menzies of Ferndale, Richard Blanton and his wife, Betty, of Syracuse, N.Y., and James Blanton and his wife, Barbara, of Gladwin; 11 grandchildren; three great- grandchildren; and three sisters, Dorothy, Mary Ann and Alice. A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000, at the Calvary Baptist Church, Caseville, with the Rev. Michael Goforth, pastor, officiating. Memorials may be given to the church. Arrangements were handled by Champagne Funeral Chapel, Caseville. Melvin Golochowicz Melvin Martin Golochowicz, 52, of Clinton Township, formerly of Madison Heights and Utica, died Friday, Feb. 11, 2000, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Melvin was born Dec. 29, 1947, in Detroit, son of Richard A. and Ilene C. (Watchowski) Golochowicz. He was a 1966 graduate of Servite High School. He was united in marriage to Jean M. Schaefer on Dec. 29, 1972, in St. Clement Catholic Church, Centerline. He received an associate degree in business from Macomb Community College and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Oakland University. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam Era. He retired in December 1999 after 31 years of service with Ameritech where he was employed by G.T.I. as a design specialist. Melvin was a member of St. Paul of Tarsus Catholic Church. He was a member of the Waldenburg Golf and Dart League and was formerly active in Boy Scouts. Surviving are his wife, Jean; sons Scott Golochowicz and his wife, Marsha Kaller-Apter, of Connecticut, and Kevin Golochowicz and his wife, Dorothy Wilkins, of Clinton Township; his parents, Richard and Ilene Golochowicz of Port Austin; brother Robert Golochowicz and his wife, Janet, of Warren; sisters Linda Primeau and her husband, Michael, of Fenton, and Susan Kolar and her husband, Christopher, of Armada; and his mother-in-law, Germaine Schaefer of Clinton Township. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Al Schaefer. A funeral mass took place on Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at St. Paul of Tarsus Catholic Church. The Rev. Fr. Art Jacobi was the celebrant. Burial followed in Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township. Memorials may be given to Leader Dogs for the Blind. Michael Lich Michael D. Lich, 22, of Kingston died suddenly in a military-related vehicle accident on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2000, in Yuma, Ariz. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 28, 2000, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Caro, with the Rev. Kenneth Yaroch officiating. The U.S. Marine Corps will provide the military honors and serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers for Michael will be the Caro High School Class of 1996. There will be a parish vigil service at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Kranz Funeral Home in Kingston. Visitation will be 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Caro Fire Department, Kingston Fire and Rescue, Education Fund for Steven Michael Turner, or the charity of the donor's choice. David Meyer David L. Meyer, 48, of Port Austin died Friday, Feb. 11, 2000, at Huron Memorial Hospital in Bad Axe. A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, 2000, at the Gage Chapel MacAlpine Funeral Home, Kinde. The Rev. Richard Wilson will officiate. Visitation will be from noon until the time of services Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Huron Memorial Hospice or St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Kinde. Loretta Dropiewski Loretta C. Dropiewski, 95, of Harbor Beach and formerly of Port Hope, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000, in the long-term care unit of Harbor Beach Community Hospital. Daughter of the late John and Elizabeth (Bischer) Booms, she was born on Nov. 13, 1904, in Harbor Beach. She and Frank Dropiewski were married on Nov. 16, 1936, in Harbor Beach. He preceded her in death on July 3, 1968. She was a member of Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church in Harbor Beach and the Altar Society. Surviving are two daughters, Lavonne Cloutier of Harbor Beach and Karen Coates and her husband, Richard, of Port Huron; one son, Kenneth Dropiewski and his wife, Pat, of Westland; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Leonard Booms and his wife, Rita, of Harbor Beach; and three sisters, Bernetta Messing of Lexington, Roseline Messing of Harbor Beach, and Margaret Maurer of Harbor Beach. She was preceded in death by a grandchild, Todd, in 1971; five brothers, Roman, Art, Wilfred, Leroy and Bernard Booms; and three sisters, Clara Roggenbuck, Emma Geiger and Alma Messing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25, 2000, at Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church in Harbor Beach. The Rev. Edward Konieczka, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Anthony's Cemetery in Harbor Beach. A parish vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Ramsey Funeral Home, a golden Rule Funeral Home, in Harbor Beach. Helen Lemanski Helen Catherine Lemanski, 95, of Port Huron and formerly of Minden City, died Monday evening Feb. 21, 2000, at Port Huron Hospital Marwood Manor Rehabilitation in Port Huron. She was born on March 9, 1904, in Minden City, the daughter of the late Wendel and Helen (Heilig) Block. She married Adolph L. Lemanski on May 5, 1931, in Ruth. He preceded her in death on Sept. 19, 1955. She attended Kelly Country School. She was a housewife, enjoyed baking, cooking, needlework and card playing. She was a member of the Port Huron Senior Citizens. She was a former member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Palms and a 30-year member of the St. Patrick Christian Mothers. She was also a former parishioner at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Port Huron and a member of St. Joseph Christian Mothers. She was a parishioner at St. Christopher in Marysville, for 30 years. She is survived by three daughters, Myrtle Lautner and her husband, Roman, of Port Huron, Edna Allen and her husband, Leo, of Sterling Heights and Ardith Hayes and her husband, Joseph, of Port Huron; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, Herman Block and his wife, Sylvia, of Minden City. She was preceded in death by one infant son, Russell Lemanski; one sister, Emma Guitar; and three brothers, Raymond, Henry and William Block. Mass of Christian burial will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25, 2000, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Palms. The Rev. Arthur Baranowski, pastor of St. Christopher Catholic Church of Marysville, will officiate. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery. Visitation is from 1:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday at the Smigielski Funeral Home in Minden City. Ottelia Rinnert Ottelia Agnas Rinnert, 90, resident of Port Austin died Tuesday February 22, 2000 at her daughter's home in Port Hope. She was born on Aug. 1, 1909, in Harbor Beach the daughter of the late Gustave and Mary (Becking) Strouer. Miss Ottelia Strouer and Mr. Clarence Rinnert were married on July 22, 1930, in Bad Axe. They had been married for more than 66 years before his death on Aug. 14, 1996. She was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Kinde, the U & I Club in Port Austin and the Seniors Citizens Clubs both in Kinde and Port Austin. Ottelia liked to knit, crochet, play cards, play bingo and enjoy her grandchildren. She is survived by her two sons, Willard Rinnert and his wife, Evelyn, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Kenneth Rinnert and his wife, Audrey, of Chesterfield; a daughter, Charlotte Matthews of Port Hope; 17 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son-in-law, John Matthews, on Nov. 7, 1999. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday Feb. 26, 2000 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Kinde, with Pastor Malone officiating. Burial will follow at Colfax Cemetery. Her grandsons, Michael Matthews, Dennis Matthews, David Matthews, Don Leberg, Erik Rinnert and Jason Genaw will be pallbearers. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday at the MacAlpine Funeral Home-Gage Chapel and from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, Port Hope. Anna Langmaid Anna M. Langmaid, 66, of Caro died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000, in Caro Community Hospital, Caro. She was born April 13, 1933, in Birchville Township to Ace and Eva (Morgan) Wixon. She married Donald R. Langmaid on Sept. 11, 1950, in Indiana. Anna attended Delta Community College and Saginaw Valley State University, receiving a bachelor's degree in social work. Years ago, she worked in the steel wool factory and cannery in Caro. Later, she worked at Fisher Convalescent Home in Mayville. She last worked as an outreach worker for the Human Development Commission. Anna is survived by her husband, Donald R. Langmaid; children, James Langmaid and his wife, Caryl, of Caro, Donna Schmitzer of Harbor Beach, Loann Rowe and her husband, Michael B., of Mayville, Debra Gutierrez of Mancelona and Larry Langmaid and his wife, Linda, of Bad Axe; 10 grandchildren; five brothers and two sisters; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000, in Kranz Funeral Home in Kingston with the Rev. Arthur Burger of Caro Assembly of God officiating. Interment will be in Kingston Cemetery. Visitation is 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the family discretionary fund. Benjamin Nagel Benjamin Francis Nagel, 79, of Bad Axe passed away Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000, at Huron Memorial Hospital in Bad Axe after fighting a courageous battle with heart disease. His illness may have won the fight, but God is the real Victor. He was born April 24, 1920, in Armstrong Creek, Wis., son of the late Marion and Valeria Nagel. At the age of 4, his parents moved to Candor, N.Y., where they farmed and Benjamin attended the Free Academy High School in Owego, N.Y. At that time in 1940, the country was in turmoil. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 7, 1940. He was stationed at Hickam Field Army Base near Pearl Harbor when the war broke out on Dec. 7, 1941. He had many stories to tell of Pearl Harbor, the Soloman Islands and Australia. He received an honorable discharge with a service-connected disability on July 25, 1945. He went back to Candor, N.Y., and stayed at the family farm with his parents until spring 1946. He left Candor and arrived in Detroit where he found work as a tool and die maker. Later, he worked for the Gobel Brewing Co. In 1947, Benjamin Nagel and Josephine Masa were married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe. Their marriage was blessed with two wonderful sons, Ronald M. Nagel and Charles F. Nagel. They moved to Bad Axe from Detroit. He was in partnership with his brother-in-law Elmer O'Berski at the City Cleaners in Bad Axe. Ben worked for several years at the cleaners then decided he wanted to do something else. He worked for Pigeon Manufacturing Co. for a short time. But Ben was a farmer at heart, so he started his own mobile feed business, serving farmers by grinding and milling their grain. He enjoyed his work and had made many wonderful friends. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and was an usher for many years. He belonged to Verona Hills Golf Club, the VFW Post of Bad Axe, the Pigeon VFW and was the commander of VFW Post No. 7057736 from 1967 to 1968. He loved to fish, hunt, bowl, play golf and visit with friends at the coffee shop. Surviving are his wife; two sons, Ronald Nagel and his wife, Dawn, of Bad Axe and Charles Nagel and his wife, Roslyn, of Bad Axe; three grandchildren, Richell Wittmuss Kostes, Jeff Wittmuss and Stephanie Nagel; four great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Kostes, Tailor Wittmuss, Zachary Wittmuss and Allie Wittmuss; one sister, Camilla Reed of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two sisters-in-law, Jessie Nagel of Candor, N.Y. and Lorrain Nagel of Buffalo, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews. Benjamin was preceded in death by two sisters, Sophie Dill and Lottie Netupski; and four brothers, Stanley Nagel, Arthur Nagel, Zygmunt Nagel and Victor Nagel, who was killed during World War II and is buried at National Memorial Cemetery in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000, from Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe. The Rev. Fr. Jack Leipert, pastor, will officiate. Burial will take place in Sacred Heart Cemetery. A wake scripture service will take place at 8 p.m. tonight at MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. We will miss you dearly, our loving husband, father and friend. Orrie Reimann Orrie W. Reimann, 93, of Kingston died Friday, Feb. 18, 2000, in the Tuscola County Medical Care Facility, Caro. He was born Feb. 7, 1907, in Manistique to William and Florence (Gay) Reimann. He married Dorothy Zeundel on July 7, 1928, in Bad Axe. She died Jan. 6, 1987. He married Reeva Peter on May 14, 1988, in St. Michael Catholic Church, Wilmot. Orrie and Dorothy owned and operated Kingston Butter Co. and Kingston Dairy Bar for more than 30 years. He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church. Orrie proudly served on the Kingston School Board for 18 years and was a member of the Kingston Lion's Club. He was a lapidary and made beautiful stone clocks which he gave to many, many people. He is survived by his wife, Reeva; a daughter, Shirley Sullivan and her husband, Donald, of West Branch; a daughter-in-law, Ann Reimann of Kingston; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great- grandchildren; brothers, Alfred Reimann and his wife, Vi, of Kinde, and Deward Reimann and his wife, Frieda, of Kinde; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Robert; a great-great-granddaughter, Chelsea Gonzalez; brothers Lloyd and Wilfred Reimann; and sisters Leona and Florence. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. today, Feb. 21, 2000, in St. Michael Catholic Church, Wilmot, with the Rev. Rick Bokinskie and Sr. Ruth Adamites of St. Michael Catholic Church and the Rev. Margaret Passenger of Kingston United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will be in St. Michael Cemetery, Wilmot. Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. today at the church. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Alfred Carpentier, Sr. Alfred L. Carpentier, Sr., 53, of Decker died Friday, Feb. 18, 2000, in his home. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 21, 2000, in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, with the Rev. Tom Harris of Deckerville United Methodist Church officiating. Memorials may be made to the family discretionary fund. Henry Monson, Jr. Henry Monson, Jr., 75, of Decker died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000, in the Aleda E. Lutz V.A. Medical Center in Saginaw. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2000, in Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City with Bobbie Parker officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Township Cemetery, Decker. Visitation is 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Ernest Pariseau Ernest E. Pariseau, 83, formerly of Ubly, passed away Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000. He was born and raised in Ubly before going to the Detroit area at age 17 to work. He retired in 1982 from General Motors, Cadillac Fleetwood Division. He was with his second wife Josephine for more than 20 years. And he was an avid collector who loved all animals. His favorite dog was Peaches, who even visited him in the hospital. Ernest was always helping somebody and never met a stranger. He was the loving husband of Josephine; dear father of Judy Andonoff and her husband, Jim, Richard and his wife, Sharon, Ernie Jr., and his wife, Denese, Vicki DeGregory and her husband, Ray, Kathy LoPiccolo and her husband, Joe, Jeff, Randy and his wife, Donna, Joe Potter and his wife, Alice, Karen DeLeeuw and her husband, Duane, Carol Kline and her husband, Paul, and Keith Potter and his wife, Verna; grandfather of 31; great-grandfather of 7; brother of Helen Wrubel and Edward Pariseau. He was preceded in death by his brothers Elmer and Wayne Periso. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 21, 2000, at the Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, 1500 McLellan, Detroit. There will be a scripture service at 7:30 p.m. today. Interment will be at St. John Catholic Cemetery, Ubly. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today at S.K. Schultz, a Trust 100 Funeral Home, 21705 Gratiot at 8 1/2 mile. He will lie instate from 11 a.m. until mass at noon on Monday at the church. To contact the Huron Daily Tribune, send us E-mail at tribune@hdtinfo.com 1