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. Local Obituaries for the week of April 15, 2001 Sunday, April 15, 2001 Amanda A. Errer Amanda Anna Errer, 106, of Pigeon passed away Thursday, April 12, 2001 at Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon following a brief illness. She was born in Winsor Township on Dec. 22, 1894, daughter of the late Adolph and Amelia (Wachner) Trautman. On April 19, 1922, she was united in marriage to Leonard A. Errer in Kilmanagh. He preceded her in death on June 22, 1977. Mrs. Errer was a homemaker throughout her life, spending her time loving her family and all of her grandchildren. She also enjoyed sewing and quilting. She was a member of the Cross Lutheran Church of Pigeon. She is survived by a son and a daughter, Raymond Errer and his wife, Elaine, of Bad Axe; and Dorothy Rummel and her husband, Walter, of Sebewaing; a daughter-in-law, Maxine Wing and her husband, Ron, of Bad Axe; nine grandchildren: Cheri and Syl Kubiak, Steve and Diane Errer, Charlie and Roxanne Errer, Don Errer, Doug and Patti Errer, Dennis and Penny Errer, Craig and Sheila Errer, Tom and Carrie Errer, and Allen and Terry Collison; 16 great- grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; two sisters-in-law, Della Trautman and Hazel Weisenberg; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, Alvin; two great-grandsons, three sisters, and six brothers. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 16, 2001 at the Cross Lutheran Church in Pigeon, with the Rev. Raymond E. Orth, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be today from noon until 9 p.m. at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon, and on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at Cross Lutheran Church. Memorials may be made to the Crippled Children's Fund or to the Cross Lutheran School. Carl Meirthew Carl E. Meirthew, 78, of Harbor Beach passed away Thursday, April 12, 2001, in the Cartwright Center Hospice in Saginaw following a long illness. He was born June 28, 1922 in Fingal, Ontario, Canada to the late Calvin and Mary (Shingler) Meirthew. He and Alyda Gorzas were united in marriage on April 7, 1951 in St. Phillip Mary Church in Detroit. She preceded him in death on Dec. 14, 1999. Carl was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He received three bronze star medals in the liberation of the Philippines and other Pacific Theater operations. He was a life member of the VFW Post in Harbor Beach, and a former Knights of Columbus member in Garden City, and is a member of Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church in Harbor Beach. Carl is survived by a son, Gerard Meirthew and his wife, Pamela, of Detroit; a foster son, Claude Meirthew of Indiana; a foster daughter, Iliana Ysla of Miami, Fla.; four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by four brothers: Alfred, Harvey, Leslie and Williams; and three sisters: Agnes, Sarah and Frances. A funeral mass will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 17, 2001 in Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church in Harbor Beach, with the Rev. Gerald Kukla, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Livonia. A parish vigil service will be Monday at 8 p.m. in the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, where visitation will be Monday from 3:30 to 9 p.m., and Tuesday at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the time of services. Eleanora Eicher Trost Eleanora Eicher Trost, 86, of Pigeon passed away Saturday, April 14, 2001, at Huron County Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe. She was born March 15, 1915 in Pigeon, daughter of the late Carl J. and Maria Sophia Caroline (Dohrman) Sting. She attended St. John Lutheran School and graduated from Pigeon High School in 1933. In 1934, she was united in marriage to Boyd. E. Eicher in Detroit. He preceded her in death in December 1973. In April 1978, she was united in marriage to Ervin Trost in Pigeon. Mr. Trost preceded her in death in April 1984. Mrs. Trost established Eicher Dry Cleaners in Pigeon in 1939. In 1945, the business was moved to its present location where she continued to operate the dry cleaner until 1982 when the business was purchased by her nephew, James Sting. She was an active, lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church in Berne where she was a member of the Women's Society. Also an active member of the Pigeon community, Mrs. Trost was a member of the G.F.W.C. Pigeon Worthwhile Club, holding several offices on the local, district and state levels. She was the first woman president of the Pigeon Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Pigeon Historical Society, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2236 Ladies Auxiliary, as well as the Scheurer Hospital Auxiliary. Her survivors include a son and a daughter-in-law, Allison and Kathryn Eicher of Bloomfield Hills; a daughter and son-in-law, Ardra and Glen Schaaf of Pigeon; a daughter-in-law, Marion Holz; six grandchildren: Laurie Sweet and her husband, Paul; David Eicher and his wife, Sheila; Christy Eicher; John Schaaf and his wife, Deborah; Becki Schaaf; and Angela Lewis and her husband, Jason; six great- grandchildren; two stepchildren, Henry Trost and his wife, Barb, of Pigeon, and Nancy Mellendorf of Gagetown; several step-grandchildren; a step great-grandson; four sisters- in-law, Dorothy Sting, Meta Farver, Elsie Sturm, and Lydia Decker and her husband, Budd; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, Gary Lee Eicher, on May 31, 1959, an infant sister, Hilda Sting, and a brother, Eldon Sting. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 17, 2001 at St. John Lutheran Church in Berne with the Rev. James A. Gorsegner, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be tonight from 7 to 9, and on Monday from noon until 9 p.m. at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, a Golden Rule Funeral Home, in Pigeon, and on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at St. John Lutheran Church. Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, the Pigeon Historical Society, or the Huron County Nature Center. Fred N. Withey Fred N. Withey, 83, died Wednesday, April 11, 2001, at the Tendercare Nursing Center in Cass City. He was born Feb. 27, 1918, at the home of his parents, the late Fred Nelson Sr. and Cerlista Jane (Crawford) Withey near Cass City. On Oct. 28, 1939, he was united in marriage to Juanita "Nig" Rice in Ohio. She preceded him in death on Nov. 29, 2000, after 61 years of marriage. Fred managed the Farm Produce Elevator in Cass City for many years, along with the Akron and North Branch elevators, finally retiring from the FDA agency as inspector of elevators. He was a life member of the Masons and a member of the Caseville Eagles Club. Fred enjoyed gardening, fishing, and golfing. Surviving are his son, Francis Withey and his wife, Mary, of Cass City; two grandsons, Patrick Withey and his wife, Dena, and their daughter, Paige, all of Caseville, and Michael Withey and his wife, Jamie, and their daughters, Allyson and Hannah, all of Cass City; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers and their wives, Bill and Marion (Helwig) and Joyce (Lockhart) Withey and Don and Lucy (McGregory) Withey. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, April 23, 2001, at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Caseville. The Rev. Ron Albert will officiate with interment in Caseville Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Caseville Eagles Club for the special group of ladies who prepare funeral luncheons. Monday, April 16, 2001 Alex Kovach Sr. Alex John Kovach Sr., 78, of Owendale passed away on Sunday, April 15, 2001, at his home following and extended illness. He was born on July 7, 1922, in Van Wert, Ohio, son of the late Louis and Katy (Pavlichek) Kovach. In 1940, he graduated from Owendale High School. On April 19, 1947, he was united in marriage to Wilma Voss at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Linkville. She survives him. Mr. Kovach farmed in Huron County throughout his lifetime. He was a member and former president of the congregation at St. Paul Lutheran Church as well as a past president and former member of the Owendale Lions Club. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, pool and playing cards. He is survived by his wife of nearly 54 years, Wilma; two daughters, Carolyn Bilunes of Holt and Kathleen Kovach and her husband, Erwin Burkle, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; two sons, Alex Kovach Jr. and his wife, Diane, of Sebewaing and Jeffrey Kovach of Owendale; five grandchildren, Matthew, Ty and Sara Bilunes and Kevin and Erin Kovach; a brother, Mike Kovach and his wife, Emma, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; two sisters, Katherine Finkbeiner of Bay City and Elizabeth Kretzschmer of Owendale; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by an infant son, William; a son- in-law, Paul Bilunes; a brother, Louis; two sisters, Mary Voss and Esther Falletich. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 2001, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Linkville with the Rev. Lee C. Wenskay, pastor officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 7 to 9 p.m. today and noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Wednesday at the church. Memorials for Mr. Kovach may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church building fund. Tuesday, April 17, 2001 Dorothy Trim Dorothy L. Trim, 80, of Caseville died Easter morning, April 15, 2001, at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, Fla. She was born on Oct. 24, 1920, in Detroit at the home of her parents, the late Gordon and Rachel (Hazard) Lackie. In June of 1949, she was united in marriage to Robert F. Trim in Detroit. He preceded her in death in October 1993. Dorothy was a registered nurse. She trained at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and was employed by St. Johns Hospital in St. Johns until retiring in the early 1970s. She was a veteran of the United States Army and served in World War II as a field nurse. She summered in Florida since 1994. Mrs. Trim had no children and is survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Donald and Gordon Lackie; a sister, Mildred Sheridan. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2001, at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Caseville. The Rev. DeWeerd Smith will officiate with entombment at Colfax Mausoleum in Colfax Township. Visitation is from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral chapel. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association or the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Wednesday, April 18, 2001 Christine Peyok Christine P. Peyok, 81, life-long resident of Lincoln and Dwight Township in the Kinde and Bad Axe areas, passed away Monday, April 16, 2001, at Huron Memorial Hospital in Bad Axe. She was born Aug. 1, 1919, in Dwight Township to the late Michael and Agnes (Ignash) Inda. She attended the Morrison Country School. On April 24, 1939, Miss Christine Inda and Mr. Roy Peyok were united in marriage at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin by Father Kromka. Christine was a homemaker and enjoyed reading, sewing, polka music and dancing, playing the accordion, pet birds and delivering the Huron Daily Tribune. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dwight, and a member of St. Mary's Holy Rosary Sodality. Surviving are one daughter, Shirley Connelly and her husband, Robert, of Clinton Township; two sons, Donald Peyok and his wife, Donna, of Reese, Darrell Peyok and his wife, Debbie, of Westminister, Md.; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Florence Ruth and Teresa Verner; and several nieces and nephews. Christine was preceded in death by her husband Roy Peyok; one son, Jerome Peyok; one granddaughter, Michele Ewald; two sisters, Gertrude Horetski and Victoria Inda; two brothers, William Inda and Lawrence Inda. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, April 20, 2001, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Kinde with Fr. Mietek Oniskiewicz officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A Rosary offered by St. Mary's Holy Rosary Sodality will take place at 7:30 tonight at MacAlpine Funeral Home-Gage Chapel in Kinde. A Vigil Scripture Service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday followed by a rosary service at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today, 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or St. Mary's Catholic Church-Dwight. John Ross John Francis "Frank" Ross, 98, of Caseville passed away on Tuesday, April 17, 2001, at Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon. He was born on the farm in Lake Township on Aug. 13, 1902, the son of the late James Francis and Catherine (McGathy) Ross. He graduated from the Rock City School. On Dec. 24, 1924, he was united in marriage to Lydia Belle Sweet in Caseville. She preceded him in death on Sept. 2, 1995. Mr. Ross farmed in Lake Township throughout his lifetime. For many years, he was the Elder Pastor for the Caseville congregation of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He enjoyed gardening and was an avid Tiger baseball fan. He was a member of the Bay Port RLDS Church and the Elkton Senior Citizens. He is survived by four daughters, Erdene Saylor and her husband, Joseph, of Grand Blanc, Leota Gillespie and her husband, Jack, of Three Rivers, Wiletta Ferguson and her husband, Lowell Brown, of Caseville and Cathey Eimers and her husband, LeRoy, of Unionville; four sons, Paul Ross and his wife, Carol, of Clio, Delos Ross of Caseville, Larry Ross and his wife, Judy, of Fenton and Frank Jay Ross of Reading, Pa.; 43 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ruth Baker of Cheboygan and Bessie Nellis of Corunna; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter and son- in-law, Erlene and Jay Horton; a daughter-in-law, Merrill Ross; two grandsons, Joe Saylor III and Robert Brown; a great-grandson, Adam Goff. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 20, 2001, at the Bay Port RLDS Church with Elder Ervin Haley and Elder Terry Brown officiating. Burial will be in the Caseville Township Cemetery. Visitation is from 1:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, a Golden Rule Funeral Home, in Pigeon and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Bay Port RLDS Church. Thursday, April 19, 2001 Beatrice Harwood Beatrice I. Harwood, 64, of Port Hope passed away on Wednesday, April 18, 2001, in the Harbor Beach Community Hospital after a short illness. Bea was born on June 22, 1936, in Wisner to the late Paul and Beatrice (Hunter) Schave. On June 30, 1956, Bea and Hugh Harwood were united in marriage in St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope. She was a member of the St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope and sang in the choir for many years. She was an avid bowler for several years and was in the Wednesday night bowling league in Kinde. She served as secretary and treasurer for the league for more than 30 years. Bea also enjoyed being outdoors, gardening and fishing. Bea is survived by her husband, Hugh Harwood of Port Hope; a son, Steven Harwood and his wife, Shannon, of Rockingham, N.C.; a daughter, Vicki Mazza and her husband, Larry, of St. Clair Shores; two grandchildren, Riley and Skylar; three sisters, Doris Kaufman and her husband, Nathan, of Port Hope, Bernice Smith of Port Hope and Phyllis Will and her husband, Elwyn, of Lennon; three brothers, Donald Schave and his wife, Deanna, of Lennon, Ken Schave and his wife, Bernie, of Florida and Leroy Schave and his wife, Alice, of Port Hope; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Lee and Paul Schave. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 20, 2001, at St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope with the Rev. Gregory Eilers, pastor and the Rev. Henry Malone officiating. Burial will be in the Lakeview Cemetery in Port Hope. Visitation is from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday at the Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach and from noon until the time of the services Friday at the church. There will be a scripture service at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Julie Lyman Julie Kay Lyman, 48, of Sebewaing died Tuesday, April 17, 2001, at her daughter Tina's home near Sebewaing following a two-year illness. She was born July 9, 1952 in Cass City, daughter of the late Steven and Helen (Halasz) Kovach. Julie loved plants and gardening. Surviving are two daughters and three sons: Julie Kay Lyman and special friend, Chuck Rowloff, of Warren, Tina Lyman and special friend, Don Weisenbach Jr., Norman L. Lyman Jr., William H. Lyman and special friend, Angie Prill, and James G. Lyman, all of Sebewaing; ex-husband, Norman Lyman of Sebewaing; two grandchildren, Jeffrey A. Mulrath Jr. and Steven G.D. Lyman; three sisters, three brothers and spouses, Mary Bell and her husband, Donald, and Joanne Kowalski and her husband, Wayne, all of Bay City, Joyce Webster and her husband, Gary, of Fairgrove, George Kovach and his wife, Mary, of Unionville, Frank Kovach and his wife, Mabel, of Houghton Lake, and Albert Kovach and his wife, Elizabeth, of Owendale; several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will take place on Friday, April 20, 2001, at 11 a.m. at the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. The Rev. Ray McGee will officiate with burial in the Silverlawn Cemetery in Sebewaing. Visitation will be from noon until 9 p.m. tonight and from 9 a.m. Friday until the time of service at the funeral home in Sebewaing. Charles Wiethoff Charles J. Wiethoff, 87, of Cass City and Harbor Beach passed away on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, in St. Mary's Medical Center following a short illness. He was born on June 13, 1913, in Detroit, the son of the late Joseph and Estelle (Lieberman) Wiethoff. He and Ethel Lilley were married on June 20, 1936, in Detroit. He was retired from the Lanera Engineering Co. in Troy. Charles was a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 2 in Detroit. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Ethel Wiethoff of Cass City; one son, Charles Wiethoff and his wife, Lynne, of Iron Mountain; one daughter, Ellen Eanes and her husband, Lewis, of New Baltimore; four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; one sister, Rosemary Sieger of Farmington Hills. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2001, at the First Presbyterian Church in Harbor Beach with the Rev. Theresa Cutler, pastor officiating. Cremation took place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City. Interment will be at the Rock Falls Cemetery in Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or the Salvation Army. Arrangements are through Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach. Friday, April 20, 2001 James Briggs James Elton Briggs, 93, of Bad Axe passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2001, at Huron Memorial Hospital. Mr. Briggs was born June 15, 1907, near Adrian in Sand Creek to the late Wilbert and Elsie (Abbott) Briggs. Jim began working at the local general store at age 18. After graduation from the Sand Creek High School class of 1927, Jim worked as a cost-clerk for Bostwrick-Brun, and supplemented his income by "peddling papers". He worked whatever jobs necessary to put food on the table and clothes on his back. Jim attended aviation school in Chicago during the Great Depression. He and a friend built their own successful, all-wooden plane powered by a Model A Ford motor. He owned an electrical store in Adrian for 13 years. Then, Uncle Sam called Jim to duty in the Navy, and he was promoted to chief electrician on a repair ship in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. Jim was a plant engineer for 12 years at the Vernors Ginger Ale Co., and a member of the Detroit Society of Engineers. He also worked for the Thos. D. Murphy Co. for 20 years, selling promotional items for businesses, such as pens and calenders. Mr. James Briggs and Miss Carol M. Clark, were united in marriage on May 24, 1944, in San Diego, Calif. Together they owned and operated the Wilson Photography Studios, which became the Briggs Studio, until 1971, when they sold the business. Surviving is his wife, Carol; one daughter, Faye Frye of Adrian; three sons, David Briggs and his wife, Beverly, of Conroe, Texas, Lonny Briggs of Hacinda, Calif., and Dwight Briggs and his special friend Tina Hind of Bad Axe; 11 grandchildren; one step-grandson; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and one sister, Vena Newson of King, N.C. He was preceded in death by one son, James Orval Briggs; one infant granddaughter, Jaime; and two sisters, Edna Hume and Aletha Lamerson. Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, 2001, at the Bad Axe Free Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jerry Sutton officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe and 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the church. Memorials may be offered to the family. Bobbie Yachim Bobbie M. Yachim, 71, of Charlotte and formerly of Sebewaing died Wednesday, April 18, 2001, in Lansing. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2001, at the Sebewaing Assembly of God Church. Arrangements are being handled by the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. 8