Obituaries Week of May 28, 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 28, 2000 Virginia Skipinski Virginia L. Skipinski, 66, of Hamtramck died Wednesday, May 31, 2000, at her home. She was a homemaker. She is survived by three sons, Timothy Skipinski and his wife, Denise, James Skipinski and his wife, Laura, and Thomas Skipinski; four grandchildren, Sarah, Juli, Joseph and Steven; and four brothers, Jim, Hank, Roy and Mike Skipinski. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin; her parents, Helen and James Majeski; and her sister, Frances. Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2000, at St. Florian Catholic Church in Hamtramck. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Ubly. Arrangements were handled by Jurkiewicz and Wilk Funeral Home in Hamtramck. Guy Stocks Guy P. Stocks, 92, of Harbor Beach passed away Tuesday, May 30, 2000, in Broadwater Hospital in Townsend, Montana. He was born on Dec. 26, 1907, in Harbor Beach, son of the late Frank and Mamie (Winn) Stocks. He and Gertrude Wood were married on June 30, 1928, in Harbor Beach and she preceded him in death on Sept. 16, 1981. He then married Dorothy Jenkins in 1985 in Florida. Guy was a member of First Baptist Church in Harbor Beach and was the owner and operator of the Shell station for more than 20 years in Harbor Beach. He was an avid deer hunter and fisherman and enjoyed the outdoors. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Stocks; one daughter, Judith Shobert and her husband, Ray, of Davison; two sons, Jay Stocks and his wife, Margery, and Terry Stocks and his wife, Janet, all of Townsend, Montana; 12 grandchildren; 23 great- grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Guy was preceded in death by a grandson, Doug Stocks; a brother, Harold Stocks; and two sisters, Blanche Kittendorf and Shirley Minard Will. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2000, in the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, with the Rev. Theresa Cutler officiating. Burial will be in the Rock Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 to 9 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the funeral home. Edna Seltz Edna L. Seltz, 88, of Sherman Township near Ruth passed away Friday, June 2, 2000, in the long-term care unit of Harbor Beach Community Hospital following a long illness. Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, June 5, 2000, in Zion Lutheran Church, Harbor Beach, with burial in Rock Falls Cemetery. A scripture service will be conducted at 8 p.m. Sunday in the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach. Visitation will be 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home and from noon until the time of services Monday at the church. A complete obituary will appear in Sunday's Huron Daily Tribune. Penny Ann Schmitt Our hearts are broken, our arms are empty. Our daughter, Penny Ann Schmitt, was born Jan. 29, 2000, in Huron Memorial Hospital, Bad Axe, and died Thursday, June 1, 2000, in Hurley Hospital, Flint. As Penny's parents, Roy and Carrie Schmitt of Caseville, we invite family and friends to visit with us and share our sorrow from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City. Penny's funeral service will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, June 2, 2000, at Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, with the Rev. Mike Goforth of Calvary Baptist Church, Caseville, officiating. Penny will be buried in East Dayton Cemetery near her brother. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. Dugald Ferguson Dugald Donald Ferguson, 68, of Marlette died Wednesday morning, May 31, 2000, at the Ann Arbor Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital after a long illness. He was born July 15, 1931, in Cass City to Duncan and Ella (Sherman) Ferguson. He married Janette L. Lobb on Aug. 28, 1954, in Wyandotte. Dugald served in the U.S. Army in Korea during the Korean War. He worked as a painter and interior decorator. He was a former member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Clifford and was a former member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed boating, camping, steam engines and his grandchildren. Dugald is survived by his wife, Janette; daughters, Celine M. Becking and her husband, Randy, of Bad Axe, and Pauline M. Carter of Marlette; grandchildren, Erica, Melissa, Krista, Charles and Michael Becking, and Austin, Nicole and Tressa Mae Carter; brothers, Frank Ferguson and his wife, Gertrude, of Decker, Archie Ferguson and his wife, Geraldine, George Ferguson and his wife, Donna, Duncan Ferguson and his wife, Muriel, Hugh Ferguson and his wife, Judy, all of Marlette; a sister, Ann Henderson and her husband, Richard, of Marlette; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Theresa Marie Ferguson. Funeral services will take place at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 2, 2000, at St. Columbkille Catholic Church with the Rev. T.J. Fleming officiating. Dugald will be buried in St. Columbkille Cemetery near his daughter. There will be a scripture service at 8:30 p.m. tonight at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City. Visitation will be 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home, and from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. Victor Heinrich Victor Heinrich, 93, of Caseville went to be with his Lord on Tuesday afternoon, May 30, 2000, at Tendercare in Cass City. He was born on March 23, 1907, in Detroit to the late Ernst and Louisa (Doeter) Heinrich. On May 12, 1932, he married Beatrice L. Hanna in Detroit. She preceded in death Sept. 1, 1990. Victor worked for Detroit Edison for over 41 years, retiring in 1968 when he moved to Grindstone City. He then moved to Caseville in 1996. He was an avid sailor and a member of the Edison Boat Club for many years. When he retired he gave up sailing for golf. Victor was a charter member of the Port Austin Men's Senior Golf League and a member of the American Legion of Port Austin. He was a lifelong member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Detroit, and also attended the United Protestant Church in Port Austin while living in Grindstone. He was a member of the Caseville United Methodist Church. Victor is survived by his daughter, Nancy Begg and her husband, Donald, of Caseville; his son, Paul Heinrich and his wife, Takeko, of Grindstone City; six grandchildren, Gail, Sandra, Bruce, Robert, Paul and Cory; six great-grandchildren, Stewart, Jacqueline, Cameron, Christopher, Jason and Jeremy. He was preceded in death by a brother, Alfred Heinrich; and a sister, Florence Greenfelder. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, June 2, 2000, at Champagne Funeral Chapel, Caseville. The Rev. Michael Quayle and the Rev. Robert Garrett will officiate with burial in Caseville Township Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 to 9 p.m. today and after 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family. Selma Louis Selma I. Louis, 83, died early Wednesday morning, May 31, 2000, at Tendercare of Cass City following a two-year illness. She was born Nov. 12, 1916, in Brookfield Township, daughter of the late Rudolph and Helen (Beitz) Koch. She was united in marriage to Roland C. Louis on June 5, 1957, in Sebewaing. He preceded her in death on June 19, 1974. Selma had been an elementary school teacher in Bay City for 25 years before retiring several years ago. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing and the U.S.A. senior citizen's organization. Surviving are three sons and their spouses, Lynn Louis and his wife, Carol, of Unionville, Garry Louis and his wife, Kathryn, of Gagetown, and Kirk Louis of Gladwin; five grandchildren; four great- grandchildren; two sisters, Leatha Wisenbach and Vera Koch, both of Caro; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one brother, Raymond Koch. The funeral service will take place at 3 p.m. Friday, June 2, 2000, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing. The Rev. Charles Kuhl will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Dinkel- Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. She will lie in state from 1:30 p.m. until the time of services Friday at the church. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Alzheimer's Association. Betty Margaron Betty "Jean" Margaron, 70, of Mesa, Ariz., formerly of Port Austin, died Friday, May 26, 2000. She was born Jan. 6, 1930, in Springfield, Ill. On March 12, 1949, she married Oscar "Joe" Margaron in Decatur, Ill. She became a resident of Port Austin in 1965 and she relocated to Mesa, Ariz., in 1994. While in Port Austin, Jean was active in a number of civic organizations. She was a member and former officer of the Port Austin American Legion Women's Auxiliary Post No. 499, and a founding board member and an EMT for Thumb Ambulance. She ran a number of civic bingo games, ran the Port Austin meal site and worked at the meal site for the Commission on Aging Center in Bad Axe. For a number of years, she owned a resale shop in Port Austin. She is survived by three daughters, Beverly Reichert of Oxford, Deborah Fetkin of New London, Conn., and Cynthia Margaron of Mesa, Ariz.; four sons, Michael Margaron of Atlanta, Ga., and Gary Margaron, Tracy Margaron and his wife, Lissa, and Marshall Margaron, all of Mesa, Ariz.; two brothers, Billy Followell and Ray Followell and his wife, Louise, all of Springfield, Ill.; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar "Joe", in 1988. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, 2000, at the Port Austin United Protestant Church, with the Rev. Robert Garrett, pastor, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to National Kidney Foundation or the American Diabetes Association. Clara Yanasak Clara Yanasak, 89, of Dearborn, formerly of Ubly, died Monday, May 29, 2000. She is survived by a daughter, Caroline McKinney and her husband, Carroll; a son, Lawrence Yanasak and his wife, Julie; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and four great great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Yanasak, on Nov. 22, 1998; and a daughter, Lorraine Kargol. A funeral mass will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2000, at St. John Catholic Church in Ubly. Internment will be in the church cemetery. There will be a rosary service at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Charles R. Step Funeral Home, 18425 Beech Daly, Redford, between 6 and 7 Mile roads. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the funeral home, and from 9 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the church. Jacquelyn Read Jacquelyn S. Read, 49, of Battle Creek died Sunday, May 28, 2000, at Battle Creek Health System in Battle Creek after a period of declining health. She was born Nov. 5, 1950, in Lewiston to Kurt and Bonita (Nichols) Kruger. She lived in Grand Blanc before moving to Battle Creek in January. She was married to Edward Read on March 15, 1992 in Huntington, Ind. He survives her. She was a homemaker. She is survived by her mother and stepfather, Robert and Bonita (Kruger) Mrock of Lansing; daughters Kristin Brown of Flint and January Magnnasen of Grand Blanc; sons Keith Magnnasen of Grand Blanc; stepdaughter Annette Rolston and her husband, Randy Rolston II, of New Paris, Indiana; stepsons Aaron Read and Tori Read, both of Middlebury, Indiana; sisters Carrie Best of Gilman, Wisconsin, Kathie Kies of Lansing, Christina Geeve and her husband, Tim, of Valparaiso, Indiana; brother Eric Kruger of Calumet, Indiana; brother-in-law Bob Mrock of Mishawaka, Indiana; and her grandparents, Charles and Rozella Nicholas of Gilman, Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by her father. A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 3, 2000, at New Hope Presbyterian Church, County Highway M, Hannibal, Wisconsin. The Rev. Brad Carloss, pastor, will officiate. Memorials may be made to the Battle Creek Dialysis Clinic of the Community Hospital, c/o Miller Funeral Home, P.O. Box 734, Middlebury, Indiana 46540. Verda Bixler Verda V. Bixler, 81, longtime Elkton educator, died Sunday morning, May 28, 2000, at her home in Pigeon. She was born Oct. 8, 1922, in Gladwin to the late Glenn and Eleanora (Hewitt) Armstrong and moved to the Elkton area when she was 2. She graduated from Elkton High School in 1940 and continued her education at Central Michigan University, receiving her bachelor's degree in education and later a master's degree in special education. She taught at country schools for a while and then at Elkton and the Laker district for a total of 32 years, retiring in 1980. Mrs. Bixler was a member of the Elkton Missionary Church, Women's Ministries and taught Sunday school for many years. She also was a member of the Huron County Retired Teachers Association and the Elkton Women's Civic Club. Surviving are her husband, Blanchard; daughters Carol Tuckschmidt and her husband, Ron, of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Jeanne Swartzendruber and her husband, Leland, of Bay Port, and Joyce VanBruaene and her husband, Jim, of Wakarusa, Ind.; five grandchildren, Eric, Julee and Rachel Swartzendruber and Jason and Jill VanBruaene; her brother, James Armstrong and his wife, Inez, of Freeland; two sisters, Aleta Harvey and Joyce Hice, both of Pontiac; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Bruce, in 1969; and her brother, Harold Armstrong. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2000, at the Elkton Missionary Church. The Rev. Larry Salsburey, pastor, will officiate with burial in Riverside Cemetery, Elkton. Visitation will be 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton, and after 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Elkton Missionary Church Outreach Center or the American Diabetes Association. Harold Muegge Harold F. Muegge, 87, of Cass City died Saturday morning, May 27, 2000, at the Tuscola County Medical Care Facility. Harold was born in Quincy, Ill., moving to Detroit as a young boy with his parents, the late Henry and Elizabeth Muegge. He graduated from Cass Technology school in 1931. On May 30, 1940, he married Helen Marie Peebles in Detroit and moved to the Trenton area, where he worked at the Trenton Channel Power Plant of Detroit Edison Co. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 at a TEC 5. In his younger years, he found gardening and yard work to be a source of pleasure, for he was a man of action. In later life, he found happiness in watching and encouraging the work of others. He also was blessed in continuing to find love in his second marriage to Margie. Harold married his surviving wife, Margie (Thiel) Schwartz on Nov. 27, 1993. Along with his wife, he is survived by two children, Joyce Helen Troy of Ann Arbor and Janet Elizabeth Bryant and her husband, Michael, of Cass City; stepchildren, John Schwartz and his wife, Joyce, of Deford, Peg Schwartz of Huntsville, Alabama, Dorothy Hill and her husband, Kim, of Snover, and Edward Schwartz and his wife, Deanna, of Keysville, Virginia; three grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and five great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Marie (Peeples) in 1992; and a daughter, Joan Marie Rittig, in 1996. Memorial services will take place Friday, June 2, 2000, at Novesta Church of Christ with Chuck Emmert officiating. Harold donated his remains to Wayne State University Medical School with cremation to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Tuscola County Medical Care Facility, Novesta Church of Christ or Rawson Memorial Library. Mary Lou Palmer Mary Lou Palmer, 63, of Caro died Saturday, May 27, 2000, in her home after a long battle with cancer. She was born Aug. 10, 1936, in Alma to Earl and Florence (Vodden) Redman. Mary Lou worked as bookkeeping supervisor at Family Independence Agency (formerly Department of Social Services) for 25 years, retiring in 1997. She was a member of the Caro Community Hospital Auxiliary, assisting with many Red Cross blood drives. She was a member of the Colwood United Brethren Church and was secretary for many of the church groups. Mary Lou was a member of the Woman's Missionary Association. She enjoyed doing volunteer work, playing the piano, walking, reading, doing crossword puzzles and being with her grandchildren. Mary Lou is survived by her children, Michael Palmer and his wife, Melinda, of Thornville, Ohio, Michelle Hanby and her husband, Jeff, of Cass City, and Rhonda Gallier and her husband, Scott, of Arlington Heights, Illinois; grandchildren, Devon, Leisha, Rachel and Cassie Palmer, Caleb and Jacob Hanby, and Abigail Collier; her brother, Robert Redman and his wife, Janet, of St. Johns; her sister, Ruth Ann Bradley and her husband, Robert, of Maple Rapids; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services took place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2000, at Colwood United Brethren Church in Caro, with the Rev. Phil Whipple and the Rev. Lee Palmer officiating. Interment was in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City. Memorials may be made to the Colwood United Brethren Church, Family Life Radio, American Red Cross, United Hospice of Marlette or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements were handled by Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City. Leona Elliott Leona Marie Elliott, 85, of Port Austin, our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, was called home to her heavenly home on Monday afternoon, May 29, 2000, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility, Bad Axe. She was born April 18, 1915, in Hume Township, daughter of the late James and Emma (Wies) Ahearn. Miss Leona Marie Ahearn and Henry Elliott were married on Nov. 20, 1937, in Bad Axe. She was a member of the Kinde Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Ladies Circle. Leona drove special children to school. She also helped with Bible school and taught Sunday school classes. Leona was a member of the U & I Club of Port Austin. Her hobbies included gardening, flowers, sewing, crafts and playing cards with family, traveling and spending winters in Florida. Surviving are her husband, Henry, of Port Austin; three daughters, Marlene Tibbits and her husband, Art, of Kinde, Judy Miller and her husband, Walt, of Port Austin, and Norma Osborne and her husband, Jerry, of Port Austin; one son, Roger Elliott and his wife, Theresa, of Port Austin; 13 grandchildren, Diane and Gary Clark, Dale Tibbits, Karen and Larry Clark, Mike and Donna Tibbits, David and Rose Tibbits, Don and Laura Tibbits, Ed and Trish Tibbits, Bill and Carman Tibbits, Janet and Dan Quaine, Bob and Kim Miller, Sandra and Gary Osontoski, Dean Elliott and Jamie Elliott; 32 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; three sisters, Gert Ignash of Centerline, Irene McIntosh of Bad Axe and Anna Mae Angonece of Warren; three brothers, Lawrence Ahearn of Kinde, William Ahearn of Bad Axe and Gerald Ahearn of Kinde; and several nieces and nephews. Leona was preceded in death by a son, Robert Elliott; a great-grandson, Patrick Quaine; and a brother, Frances Ahearn. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, June 2, 2000, at the Kinde Presbyterian Church. Pastor Robert Tibbits will officiate. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the MacAlpine Funeral Home Gage Chapel in Kinde, and from 11 a.m. until the time of services at 1 p.m. Friday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Kinde Presbyterian Church or the Huron County Medical Care Facility, Bad Axe. Norma Annis Norma A. Annis, 96, of Grand Marais, Minn., passed away Saturday, May, 27, 2000 in Hill Haven Homes Plus in Grand Marais following a long illness. Born in Oscoda on Aug. 6, 1903, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Anna (Becker) LeBahn. She lived in several east, Michigan and Lake Huron communities where her father was fisherman and Coast Guard Lighthouse Keeper. Before marrying Lysle R. Annis on May 10, 1936, in Diamondale, she worked for Bell Telephone Co. The couple lived in Bad Axe and after Lysle returned from World War II in the SeeBees, they moved to Harbor Beach. Lysle preceded her in death on May 8, 1984. Following her husband's death, Norma lived in Independence Village in Frankenmuth. Since July 1995, she has been a resident of Daniel Swenson's Hill Haven in Grand Marais. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Harbor Beach. Norma is survived by a sister-in-law, Louse Annis of Nashville, Michigan; a cousin, Leona Alexander, of Lexington, Kentucky; a niece, Eleanor Annis, of Lutsen, Minnesota; a nephew, David Annis, and his wife, Jan, of Stapleton, Alabama; great-nieces, Laura Jackson and her husband, DeWaine, Linda Marx and her husband, Gary, Jackie Annis, Diane Lambert and her husband, Robert, KayLynn Stricker and her husband, Todd; a great-nephew, Ronald Spess, and his wife, Christy; and many other great-great-nieces and nephews; also by a very dear friend, Marlene Marcenkowski, and her husband, Michel, of Michigammi, and their children and grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2000, at the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach (A Golden Rule Funeral Home) with the Rev. Clarence VanConant, pastor of the United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Rock Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from noon until the time of service Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the United Methodist Church in Harbor Beach, cancer research or to the donor's choice. 1