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. HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local Obituaries for the week of June 3, 2001 Sunday, June 3, 2001 Harold Finkel Harold "Harry" F. Finkel, 93, of Port Hope passed away Thursday, May 31, 2001, in Mercy Hospital in Port Huron following a brief illness. He was born in Port Hope on Nov. 19, 1907, to the late Leopold and Ida (Timreck) Finkel. Harry and Gladys Lange were united in marriage on Oct. 7, 1939, in Port Hope and she preceded him in death on Aug. 9, 1993. He was a retired Bloomfield Township farmer and enjoyed spending winters at Zephyrhills, Fla. for many years. Harry was a member of the St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope, the Port Hope Retirees Club, the Singles Club and the Kinde Senior Citizens group. He is survived by his children, Charles Finkel and his wife, Elaine, of Shelby Township, Gary Finkel and his wife, Beverly, of Port Hope and Nancy Mausolf and her husband, Roy, of Sterling Heights; nine grandchildren, Robin Teubert, Brian, Thomas Finkel, Christine and her fiance, Chuck Sandison, Kelli and Don Koth, Bethany and her fiance, James Pawlowski, Lisa, Sherry and Laura Mausolf; nine great- grandchildren; Harry's special friend and companion, Clairbell Storbeck of Kinde; three sisters, Lydia Secord of Sterling Heights, Nicolia Martha and Alvena Scherret of Warren; and one brother, Ferdinand Finkel of Bad Axe. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Clara Snare and Elsie Finkel. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. today, Sunday, June 3, 2001, in St. John Lutheran Church, Port Hope with the Rev. Gregory Eilers, pastor officiating. Burial will be in the Lakeview Cemetery in Port Hope. A scripture service was conducted at 8 p.m. on Saturday in the Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach. Visitation was from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and 1 to 9 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home and from 1 p.m. until the time of services today at the church. David Lowe David M. Lowe, 68, a visionary and educator, passed away Wednesday, May 16, 2001. He was born in Paw Paw on Dec. 16, 1932, the son of the Rev. Manson H. and Gladys Lowe. In 1942, they moved to Bad Axe, where he attended Bad Axe public schools. He was active in music and sports and graduated from Bad Axe High School in 1951. He then continued his studies at Western Michigan College (now WMU) in Kalamazoo. He graduated in 1955 with a bachelor's degree in education, and a commission as an Army officer through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. Following graduation, he served on active duty with the Army Quartermaster Corps at Fort Lee, Va., and began his post- graduate studies at Union Theological Seminary. He taught in the Battle Creek and Ypsilanti school systems and received his masters degree in education from the University of Michigan in 1960. Following graduate school, he joined the College of Education faculty of Eastern Michigan University. In the '70s Dave left the education world and worked for a time in real estate in Michigan before relocating to Phoenix in 1982. On an avocational basis, Dave worked on a number of environmental, spiritual and social change initiatives. On the environmental front, Dave was actively involved in alternate fuels projects, with a focus on the use of hydrogen. On the spiritual front, he was an elder in the Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church. He led and supported a number of important church programs including work with the homeless, and initiatives to improve diversity and inclusion in the church. Surviving are his three daughters, Lynn Lowe Miller and her husband, Joel, of Grand Rapids, Lisa Lowe Mittleman and her husband, Willard, of Athens, Ga., Lori Lowe Tzortzinis and her husband, Angelo, of Ann Arbor; his sister, Mancelyn Howard and her husband, Gordon, of Glendale, Ariz.; his brother, George Lowe and his wife, Marj, of Northville; three grandchildren, Christina Barbara, Sofia Lisa, and Keenan David; and his former wife, Barbara Lowe, and her mother, Ruth Avery Ulrich. A memorial service was conducted May 21, 2001, at the Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church, Paradise Valley, Ariz. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church, 535 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253. Thelma Fritz T. Illene Fritz, 85, of Cass City died Thursday, May 31, 2001, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Saginaw after a long illness. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today in Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City with Dr. Phil Rice of Cass City United Methodist Church officiating. Interment is in Novesta Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. Monday, June 4, 2001 Berthold Leese Berthold Leese, 90, of Port Hope passed away Sunday, June 3, 2001, at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe following a short illness. Born in Port Hope on March 12, 1911, he was the son of the late Gotlieb and Susanna (Radatz) Leese. On Jan. 22, 1938, he was united in marriage to Bertha Engel in Port Hope. Together they farmed in Rubicon Township. Berthold enjoyed doing woodworking projects. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope. Berthold is survived by his wife, Bertha Leese, of Port Hope; his children, Dale Leese and his wife, Linda, of Flushing, Elmer Leese and his wife, Ruth, of Port Hope, Susan Reinke and her husband, Richard, of Port Hope, and Diana Richardson and her husband, Ralph, of Snover; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Edwin Leese and his wife, Edna, and Walter Leese all of Garden City; and two sisters, Hilda Berndt of Dearborn and Martha Hiller of Port Hope. He was preceded in death by a son, Ronald Leese, and five brothers, Harold, George, Theodore, Carl and Omar Leese. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, 2001, at St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope with the Rev. Gregory Eilers, pastor officiating. Burial will be in the Lakeview Cemetery in Port Hope. A scripture service will be at 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday and from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home and from noon until the time of services on Wednesday at the church. Edna Singleton Edna W. Singleton, 89, of Winter Haven, Fla. passed away Wednesday, May 30, 2001, at Tandem Health Care in Winter Haven. She was born in Winburn, Pa. on May 4, 1912, daughter of the late Julius and Minnie (Yeskulka) Branda. On June 17, 1961, she was united in marriage to James W. Singleton in Plymouth. He preceded her in death on Jan. 13, 1983. Mrs. Singleton was a homemaker throughout her lifetime and enjoyed reading. Surviving are a sister, Hilda Collis of Caseville; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a sister, Pat Thompson. The Funeral Service will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5, 2001, at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon with the Rev. Dick Andrus officiating. Burial will be in Grand Lawn Cemetery in Winsor Township. Visitation will be 12:30 p.m. until the time of service on Tuesday at the funeral home. Tuesday, June 5, 2001 Pauline Breakie Pauline B. Breakie, 84, of Clarkston, and formerly of Huron County, passed away Monday, June 4, 2001, at the Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital following a short illness. She was born in Huron County to the late Paul and Elizabeth (MacDonald) Sturm. She attended the St. Lukes United Methodist Church in Rochester Hills and enjoyed sewing. Surviving are her four daughters, Ethel Tribe and her husband, Larry, of California, Glenda Walls and her husband, Jim, of Oklahoma, Maribeth Schwandt and her husband, Eric, of Dundee, Joy White and her special friend, Fred Haslip, of Clarkston; two sons, Paul Breakie and his wife, Ardith, of Kingsley and Richard Breakie and his wife, Lana, of Texas; 17 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Pauline was predeceased by her husband, Glen Breakie; one son, Charles David Breakie; one sister, Mary Filion; and one brother, Robert Sturm. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6, 2001, at the St. Lukes Methodist Church at 3980 Walton Blvd. in Rochester Hills. Interment will be in the Ortonville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made to St. Lukes United Methodist Church in Rochester Hills. Local information provided by the Kaufman Funeral Home in Bad Axe. Wednesday, June 6, 2001 John Moore John C. Moore, 86, of Cass City died Monday, June 4, 2001, in Marlette Extended Care of Marlette. He was born March 13, 1915, on the family farm in Cass City to Arthur and Grace S. (Clark) Moore. He married Violet M. Brown in 1940. She died in 1952. He then married Marjorie A. Burnett March 14, 1954, in Cass City. She died May 14, 1995. John farmed for many years. He was a school bus driver and custodian for Cass City High School for several years. He worked in the Custodial Department at Caro Regional Center and retired after 17 years. John was a former member of Cass City First Baptist Church. While living in Marlette, he attended Good News Assembly of God Church in Marlette. John and Marjorie loved to travel, fish and camp. He enjoyed CB radios and having coffee with his friends. John was survived by his children, Donna M. Niemann and her husband, Clayton, of Freeland, Diane G. Wood and her husband, Wayne, of Marlette, Larry E. Moore and his wife, Peg, of Fenton, Maj. Thomas D. Moore (USAF- Ret) of Columbus, Ohio; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; brothers, Paul Moore and his wife, Rosalind, of Clearwater, Fla. and Marvin Moore of Bradenton, Fla.; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Doris Lester. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 7, 2001, at Kranz Funeral Home Cass City with the Rev. Eric Holmgren of Cass City First Baptist Church officiating. Interment is in Elkland Township Cemetery in Cass City. Visitation is from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today. Arrangements by Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City. Memorials may be made to Marlette Extended Care or Cass City First Baptist Church. Victor Smith Victor W. Smith, 83, of Harbor Beach passed away on Monday, June 4, 2001, in the Huron Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe following a short illness. Born in Onaway on June 25, 1917, he was the son of the late J. Wesley and M. Elizabeth (Reynolds) Smith. On July 28, 1945, Victor and Betty Thompson were united in marriage in Port Huron. She preceded him in death on May 15, 1999. He was a veteran of World War II serving overseas in the Battle of the Bulge and in France. Victor was a retired employee of Hercules, Inc. in Harbor Beach, working for over 40 years and retiring in 1982. He enjoyed playing cards and computer games. He was survived by his children, Kenneth Smith and his wife, Lauren, of Saline, Robert Smith of Benson Ariz., Sharlene Binder and her husband, Paul, of Bad Axe and Brian Smith and his wife, Tina, of Howell; ten grandchildren; one sister, Edith Grice of Port Huron. He was preceded in death by two brothers, James and Howard Smith; three sisters, Maxine Forstner, Marion Way and Thelma Hunter. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 8, 2001, in the Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach with the Rev. Jay Barsaleau, pastor of First Baptist of Bad Axe officiating. Burial will be in the Rock Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today, 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, and from noon until the time of service, all at the funeral home. Patricia Wutzke Patricia A. Wutzke, 64, of Cass City died peacefully Tuesday, June 5, 2001, in her home after a long illness. She was born on Jan. 27, 1937, in Detroit to Edmond and Theresa (Czenkus) Rafalski. She married Bernard L. Wutzke on July 17, 1959, in Gethsemene Lutheran Church in Warren. Pat worked in the Housekeeping Department at Hills & Dales General Hospital for 20 years. She loved people and was very generous. Pat loved her flowers, watching Cass City High School basketball and spending time with her family. She was a member of Novesta Church of Christ. Pat was survived by her husband, Bernard; children, John Wutzke and his wife, Evelyn, of Cass City, Bonnie Wutzke and her fiance, Raymond Cuddington, of Caro, Jim Wutzke and his wife, Samantha, of Columbiaville, Kim Leiterman and her husband, Rob, of Gagetown, Debbie Frank and her husband, Kevin, of Cass City; grandchildren, Ryan, Justin, Joshua Wutzke, Guy Nanney II, Nicholas Nanney, Nathan and Brandon Abby, Casey Wutzke, Grant and Cassady Frank, Breanna and Seth Frank; sister, Marion Griebe of Warren; several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents; brother, Tony Rafalski. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 8, 2001, at Novesta Church of Christ in Cass City with Chuck Emmert officiating. Pallbearers for Mrs. Wutzke will be Jim Wutzke, John Wutzke, Kevin Frank, Brandon Griebe, Dennis Griebe, Rob Leiterman and Grant Frank. Interment is in Novesta Township Cemetery. Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday at Kranz Funeral Home of Cass City, and 12 to 1 p.m. on Friday at the church. Arrangements by Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City. Memorials may be made to Novesta Church of Christ, Heartland Hospice or American Cancer Society. Thursday, June 7, 2001 Etril Koch Etril George Koch, 83, of Pigeon passed away Sunday, June 3, 2001 at Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon. He was born in Pigeon on Nov. 14, 1917, son of the late George and Thelma (Bates) Koch. He graduated from Pigeon High School in 1938, and served with the United States Army Armored Division during World War II. On Oct. 2, 1948, he was united in marriage to Elna Mae Copeland in Pigeon, who preceded him in death on Jan. 25, 1993. Mr. Koch worked in automotive sales in the Huron County area from the early 1950's through the 1990's. He also was an auctioneer in Canada from 1957 to 1974. He attended Cross Lutheran Church in Pigeon. He is survived by his sons, Randall E. Koch of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Paul E. Koch of Pigeon; a grandson, Jonathan; two sisters, Ellen Koch of Saginaw and Gertrude Waigle and her husband, George, of Blissfield. He was preceded in death by an infant brother and an infant sister. The memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2001, at Cross Lutheran Church in Pigeon, with the Rev. Raymond E. Orth officiating. Interment will be at Grand Lawn Cemetery, Winsor Township. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are conducted by Meyersieck- Bussema Funeral Home, a Golden Rule Funeral Home in Pigeon. Friday, June 8, 2001 Ralph Gottschalk Ralph E. Gottschalk, 56, life-long resident and farmer of Colfax Township, Bad Axe, died Tuesday, June 5, 2001, due to a farm accident. He was born May 5, 1945, in Bad Axe to the late Louis August Gottschalk Sr. and Marge (Peavey) Young. Mr. Ralph Gottschalk and Miss Bonnie Parker were united in marriage on March 31, 1973. He was a graduate of Bad Axe High School, class of 1963. Ralph enjoyed fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family and friends. He was a member of the Bare Acres "Ponderosa" deer hunt club. Surviving are his wife, Bonnie; one son, Todd Gottschalk, of Bad Axe; two daughters, Jennifer Gottschalk of Bad Axe and her special friend, Harold Talaski, and Chrystal Mattocks and her husband, Steve, of Bad Axe; one granddaughter, Amanda Talaski; his mother, Marge (Peavey) Young of Elkton; one sister, Gloria LeJeune and her husband, William Sr., of Bad Axe; two brothers, Ronald Gottschalk and his wife, Harriet, of Hastings, Fla., and Sam Gottschalk and his wife, Sue, of Elkton; a sister-in-law, Susan Gottschalk, of Bad Axe; and many loving nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors. He was preceded in death by his father, Louis August Gottschalk Sr.; and three brothers, Johnny, Alvin and Louis Jr. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2001, at the Evangel Life Assembly of God Church in Bad Axe with the Rev. Robert Smith, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Colfax Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials may be offered to the family. Mary Mathews Mary Frances (Bard) Mathews, 93, of Bad Axe, formerly of Lake City and Flint, died Wednesday, June 6, 2001, at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe. Mary was born in Lapeer County on June 16, 1907, to Albert and Myrtle (Collard) Bard. She lived in Lake City for 44 years, in Flint for 17 years, and in Bad Axe for the last 30 years. Mary was a member of Victory in Christ Community Church in Bad Axe. She was survived by her son, Martin Bard and his wife, Lucille, of Bad Axe; grandchildren, Mike Bard and his wife, Rebecca, of Oxford, Margaret Allen and her husband, Wayne, of Davison, Mary Bouchard and her husband, Norman, of Bad Axe, Patricia Shepherd and her husband, Tom, of Oxford, Helen Todaro and her husband, Joe, of Bad Axe, John Bard and his wife, Kim, of Howell; 15 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; sister, Elsie Thebo of Grand Rapids; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Charles Bard and Clarence Mathews; grandson, Stephen; two sisters and two brothers. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. today, June 8, 2001, at Allen Funeral Home, 9136 E. Davison Rd., Davison, with Pastor Stewart Justin officiating. Burial in the Lake City Cemetery in Lake City. Memorials may be made to United Hospice of Marlette. 1