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 17, 2001 Sunday, June 17, 2001 Patricia Gravelle Patricia Ann Gravelle, age 72, of Bad Axe passed away on Friday, June 15, 2001, at Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon. She was born on Aug. 12, 1928, in Rapson, daughter of the late Theodore and Mabel (Green) Bezemek. She married Arnold Gravelle on Aug. 6, 1949, in the Bad Axe First United Methodist Church. Mrs. Gravelle was employed for many years at the Sears-Roebuck Store in Bad Axe, and enjoyed reading and crocheting. She was a member of the Bad Axe First United Methodist Church. She is survived by her husband, Arnold Gravelle, of Bad Axe; a son, David Gravelle and his wife, Lori, of Stuart, Fla.; two daughters, Mona Erard and her husband, Roger, of Bad Axe, and Lorie Booms and her husband, Russell, of Bad Axe; eight grandchildren, Tonya Stambaugh and her husband, Mark, of Bad Axe, Jodie Miller and her husband, Dean, of Elkton, Michael Erard of Bad Axe, Alex and Hannah Booms of Bad Axe, Jesse, Tori, and Jennifer Gravelle of Stuart, Fla.; one great-grandson, Matthew Miller of Elkton; one sister, Helen Tomlinson, of Bad Axe. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Jack and Pete Bezemek; and two sisters, Clara Pleiness and Irma Smith. Services will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, June 18, 2001, at the Kaufman Funeral Home in Bad Axe. Officiating will be the Rev. William Wright, pastor of the Bad Axe First United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Colfax Township Cemetery. Visitation is from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be offered to the Sarcoidosis Association or the American Lung Association. Annabell Gainor Annabell Gainor, age 91, of Harbor Beach passed away Thursday, June 14, 2001, in Harbor Beach Community Hospital following a long illness. Born on Feb. 28, 1910, in Harbor Beach. She was the daughter of the late Marshall and Christina (Tageson) Winterhalter. On Nov. 7, 1936, she was united in marriage to Colin Gainor in Harbor Beach. Colin preceded her in death on Feb. 9, 1999. Annabell was a retired employee of the Harbor Beach Community Hospital, working for 35 years and retiring in 1972. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Harbor Beach. Surviving are her children: Kelly Gainor of Harbor Beach, Sally McCune and her husband, Ed, of Washington, Penn., Larry Gainor and his wife, Jackie, of Harbor Beach, and Robert Gainor and his wife, Bonnie, of Croswell; six grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three brothers: Herman, Frank and Ralph Winterhalter; and a sister, Gladys Winterhalter. Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, June 18, 2001, in the Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach with the Rev. Theresa Cutler officiating. Burial will be in the Rock Falls Cemetery in Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today and from noon until the time of service on Monday at the funeral home. George Nienstedt George W. Nienstedt, age 94, passed away Nov. 20, 2000, in Mesa, Ariz. He was born on Feb. 22, 1907, in Pigeon. He was married to Lulu Wurtz, who preceded him in death. He and his brother Bill owned and operated Nienstedt Brothers Sunoco Gas Station for 32 years in Caseville. Mr. Nienstedt was a member of the Caseville United Methodist Church, Hubbard Winsor Masonic Lodge 420, and the Elks Lodge in Bay City and Mesa, Ariz. He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, F. William and Valta Nienstedt of Mesa, Ariz.; nieces and nephews, Peggy Smith and her husband, Mark, of Farmington Hills, Joan Flynn and her husband, Gabriel, of Buchanan, Wayne Wurtz and his wife, Connie, of Saginaw, and Nancy Lake and her husband, Tom, of Saginaw. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 20, 2001, at Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, Pigeon, with the Rev. Robert Garrett, pastor of the Port Austin United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the Caseville United Methodist Church or the Children's Shrine Hospitals. Clifford Carlson Clifford L. Carlson, 79, of Bay City and formerly of Sebewaing, died Friday, June 15, 2001, in his home. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 18, 2001, at the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing with Mr. Willet Oeschger officiating. Interment will be in St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery in Bach. Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. Gregory Haebler Gregory S. Haebler, 31, of Reseda, Calif., died Wednesday, June 13, 2001, in his home. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 21, 2001, at Kranz Funeral Home in Kingston with the Rev. George Harmon of Calvary Bible Church in Caro officiating. Interment is in Kingston Cemetery. Visitation is from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to he Family Discretionary Fund. Monday, June 18, 2001 Sandra Marshall Sandra Kohr Marshall, "Sandi," passed away on Thursday, June 14, 2001, after a brief illness. She was born on April 17, 1967, in Midland and graduated from Belleville High School in Belleville in 1985. Sandi received a B.S. degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1989, and in 1990 she completed her M.A. in Communication Disorders at Central Michigan University. Sandi was married Aug. 17, 1991, to Scott Madison Marshall. They had two children, Kari Lee Marshall, 7, and Zachary "Zac" Madison Marshall, 5. Sandi was involved in speech therapy work in hospitals and schools for several years. She and her family were active members of Saint Stephen's United Methodist Church in Burke, Va. She was a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association and was certified with her CCC in speech language pathology. Sandi was Room Mom at Fairview Elementary School in Burke, Va. and a Team Mom for Braddock Road Youth Club Soccer and Fairfax Little League T-Ball. In addition to her husband and children, Sandi leaves her parents, Raymond and Virginia Kohr of Bay Port; a brother, Jeffrey William Kohr and his wife, Kristen, of Clinton Township; sister, Susan Kohr Shepard and her husband, Gary, of Shepherdstown, W. Va.; mother-in-law, Barbara Marshall Dorr, of Statesville, N.C.; brothers-in-law, Ronald Warble and his wife, Kathy, of Orlando, Fla. and Wesley Marshall and his wife, Ruby, of Danville, Va.; sisters-in-law Charmaine Fulk and her husband, Daniel, of Bridgewater, Va. and Tina Marshall of Charlestown, S.C.; 11 nephews and four nieces. Memorial service was conducted on Saturday, June 16, 2001, at Saint Stephens United Methodist Church in Burke, Va. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2001, at the Bay Port United Methodist Church with the Rev. Alan DeGraw, pastor, and the Rev. Dick Andrus, officiating. Burial will be in the New Bay Port Cemetery in Fairhaven Township. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, A Golden Rule Funeral Home in Pigeon, and at 10 a.m. until the time of service at on Wednesday at the Bay Port United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to Central Michigan University Speech Camp Summer Remedial Clinic. Paul Robb Paul Robb, 48, of Port Hope passed away unexpectedly Monday morning, June 18, 2001, at Harbor Beach Community Hospital. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach is handling arrangements. A complete obituary will appear in Tuesday's edition of the Huron Daily Tribune. Tuesday, June 19, 2001 Victor Forman Victor David Forman, 92, of Bay Port passed away on Monday morning, June 18, 2001, at Scenic Home in Pigeon. He was born in Fairhaven Township on July 6, 1908, son of the late Clarence and Emma Augusta Elizabeth (Laramee) Forman. On June 25, 1933, he was united in marriage to Virginia Hansen in Angola, Ind. She preceded him in death in March 1966. In December 1969, he married Mary Turner at the First United Methodist Church in Pigeon. She passed away on Nov. 15, 1978. Mr. Forman graduated from Bay Port High School. In 1949, he graduated as a school teacher from Central Michigan Agricultural College. He taught school at the Ridge Country School in Sebewaing, Bay Port High School, Owendale-Gagetown Schools, and Akron Fairgrove Schools. He taught drivers education and drove school bus for many years. During World War II, he worked at Defoe Ship Builders in Bay City. He also worked as a mechanic at S & S Motors Sales in Pigeon. He is survived by a daughter, Charlotte Dutcher and her husband, Don, of Pigeon; a son, Ralph Forman and his wife, Judy, of Bay Port; five grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; three step-great- grandchildren; a step-daughter, Lana Hunter and her husband, Pat, of Coldwater; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Willard, Clarence and Elwood Forman; a sister, Beatrice Kreh; and a granddaughter, Laura Armbruster. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 21, 2001, at Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon with the Rev. Karen Knight officiating. Burial will be in New Bay Port Cemetery in Fair Haven Township. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made in his memory to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society or United Hospice Service. Wilson Henderson Wilson F. Henderson, 74, of Harbor Beach passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, June 18, 2001. He was surrounded by the love of his family at the time of his death. Born on Feb. 10, 1927, in Harbor Beach, he was the son of the late Roy Wilson and Pearl (Hogan) Henderson. Wilson was a graduate of the Harbor Beach High School class of 1945 and sailed on the Great Lakes for a short time before going into the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was united in marriage to Beulah Barger on Nov. 14, 1952, in Indiana. He was a retired employee of the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors having worked there for 30 years. Wilson enjoyed fishing, hunting and being with his grandchildren and family. He was a life member of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Harbor Beach and a member of the American Legion Post No. 197 of Harbor Beach and Local No. 653 of the UAW. Surviving are his wife of 48 years, Beulah Henderson, of Harbor Beach; three daughters, Laura Henderson of Harbor Beach, Judith Henderson of Shelby Township and Rebecca Henderson of Harbor Beach; and two grandchildren, Roy Wilson Henderson and Portia Star Henderson. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2001, in the Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach with the Rev. Clarence VanConant, pastor for the United Methodist Church, officiating. Internment will be in the Rock Falls Cemetery in Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. today, and from 10 a.m. until the service time in the funeral home on Wednesday. Memorials may be given to Huron Memorial Hospice or Feed the Children fund. Bernice Osentoski Bernice (Polega) Osentoski, 78, of Bad Axe passed away on Monday, June 18, 2001, at Courtney Manor of Bad Axe after a short illness. She was born on Oct. 6, 1922, in Grindstone to the late Paul and Rose (Levine) Filipiak. She married Leo Polega at St. Mary's in Dwight. He preceded her in death in 1969. She married Alphons Osentoski on Nov. 26, 1970 at Sacred Heart in Bad Axe. He preceded her in death on June 24, 1993. She was a graduate of Grindstone Elementary. She worked with her family, farming in Mead Township. She moved to the Bad Axe area in 1962. She moved to Ferndale and the Almont area with Alphons and lived there until 1998. At the time, she moved in with her daughter in Parisville and then to Bad Axe. She loved to go bowling. Bernice is survived by three daughters, Helen Clor and her husband, Thomas, of Minden City, Angeline Hiller and her husband, Dale, of Harbor Beach, Arlene Schumacher and her husband, Donald, of Bad Axe; one son, Harold Polega and his wife, Joyce, of Cass City; one step- daughter, Jeannie Osentoski of Utica; one step-daughter-in-law, Barbara Osentoski of Warren; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; 12 step- great-grandchildren; six sisters, Theresa Bambach and her husband, Frank, of Port Austin, Florence Gusa and her husband, Albert Sr., of Harbor Beach, Rosemarie Kubacki of Harper Woods, Gertrude Strozeski and her husband, Chester, of Bad Axe, Sophie Navock of Port Austin, Barbara Uller and her special friend, Wally, of Warren; seven sisters-in-law, Agnes Kroestch and her husband, Philip, of Port Austin; Irene, Frances and Esther Polega, all of Kinde, Bernice Polega of Bay City, Sally Osentoski of Warren, and Sister Orentia of Livonia. She was preceded in death by four brothers-in-law, Ed, Felix, Mike and Floyd Polega; one sister, Lucy Baranski; one step-son, Gerald Osentoski; one sister-in-law, Virginia Kubacki. Mass of Resurrection will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 21, 2001 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Bad Axe. The Rev. John Killop, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be at the church cemetery. There will be a parish wake service at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Visitation is from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. today, 1 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and from 8 to 9 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Wednesday, June 20, 2001 Vera Bivens Vera Lydia Bivens, 79, of Bad Axe died Tuesday, June 19, 2001, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility. Vera was born on June 23, 1921, in Pigeon, the daughter of the late John and Florence (Winter) Edler. She was survived by her daughter, Judy Ann Bivens, of Bad Axe; two sons, John F. Bivens and his wife, SuzAnne, of Elkton, Lester D. Bivens and his wife, Beverly, of Kinde; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Vera L. Bivens will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 22, 2001, at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. on Friday. Pastor DeWeerd Smith will officiate. Burial will be in the Grandlawn Cemetery in Pigeon. Mary Laubensheimer Mary Ellen Laubensheimer, 45, of Tennessee died Saturday, June 16, 2001, as a result of a heart attack. She was born on April 8, 1956, in Detroit, the daughter of Dorothy Chesney Edds and the late Oscar Edds of Port Austin. She and James Laubensheimer were united in marriage on May 19, 2001, in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Mary Ellen graduated from Redford Union High School in 1974. She is survived by her husband, James, of Cross Plains, Texas; her mother, Dorothy Edds of Port Austin; one sister, Jennifer Prill and her husband, Karl, of Port Austin; two brothers, David Edds and his wife, Lynda, of Allen Park, Gary Edds and his wife, Terry, of Hamburg; and 18 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Oscar Edds on June 6, 2000. The funeral service for Mary Ellen Laubensheimer will be at 3 p.m. today at the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde. The Rev. Robert P. Garrett will officiate, with burial in the Port Austin Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until the time of service today at the funeral home. Roland Nelson Roland Christopher Nelson, 86, life-long resident of Filion died Monday, June 18, 2001, at Sunny Acres Nursing Center after a long illness. He was born on July 5, 1914, in Meade Township, son of the late Albert Charles and Alice Agnes Victoria (Humphrey) Nelson. Mr. Roland Nelson and Miss Alberta Rose Eddy were married August 16, 1941. They were married 59 years. Roland attended County Normal and was a good teacher and always compassionate. He worked for the Prudential and Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. "Rollie" enjoyed playing shuffleboard, golf, croquet, and riding the Ford 9N tractor. "Rollie" was a member and elder of the Chandler Presbyterian Church. He was a life-member of the Verona-Huron Masonic Lodge No. 365 F&AM and was to receive his 50 year membership pin. He also was a member of the Lebanon Chapter No. 125 Royal Arch Masons and Knights Templar Bad Axe Commandery Chapter No. 52. Surviving are his wife, Alberta Nelson; one son, David Nelson, of Bad Axe; seven grandchildren, Cyndy Leigh, of Columbus, Ohio, Jeff Leigh and his wife, Janet, of Lake Orion, Greta Eileen Umidi and her husband, Brion, of Crownsville, Md., Albert C. Nelson and his wife, Kerry, of Grand Blanc, Alicia V. Gresser and her husband, Mark, of Plymouth, William W. Nelson and his wife, Michelle, of Campbell, California, and Christopher M. L. Nelson, of Indiana; one sister, A. Mildred Kain and her husband Victor O., of Filion; eleven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Roland was preceded in death by two daughters, Theda I. (Nelson) Leigh, and Eileen June Nelson; three sisters, Agnes Marie Nelson-Snider, Arla Elaine Nelson, and Eva Caroline (Nelson) Case; and five brothers, Earl Stanley Nelson, Martin David Nelson, William Humphrey Nelson, Albert Edward Nelson, and Keith LeRoy Nelson. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 21, 2001, at the MacAlpine Funeral Home at Bad Axe, with Rev. John Adams officiating. Burial will be at Colfax Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today, and Thursday from noon until 2 p.m. before time of service at the funeral home. A Masonic service will be conducted at 7 p.m. today. Memorials may be offered to the Verona-Huron Masonic Lodge No. 365 F&AM, or the Order of the Eastern Star, Huronia Chapter No. 81, both of 120 Park Street, Bad Axe, MI 48413 or the Chandler Presbyterian Church. Thursday, June 21, 2001 Kathleen Horton Kathleen C. Horton, 78, of Port Mansfield, Texas passed away Tuesday, June 19, 2001, at the Hurley Medical Center in Flint. She was born in Chandler Township on Sept. 22, 1922, daughter of the late Peter and Elizabeth (Ahearn) Leneway. On July 20, 1940, she was united in marriage to Clarence W. Horton in Caseville. He survives her. Mrs. Horton worked in and owned restaurants in Michigan for more than 25 years. She worked at the Gillingham Fish Company as well as the Wallace Morley Fish Company. She and her husband built homes, and she also enjoyed fishing with her husband. In addition to her husband, Clarence, she is survived by a daughter, Mary Louise LaLonde and her husband, Keith, of Kalkaska; two sons, Wilmont L. Horton and his wife, Shirley, of Auburn Hills and Peter J. Horton and his wife, Dawn, of Burton; four grandsons, Keith LaLonde and his wife, Tamara, Mike LaLonde and his wife, Vicki, Shane Horton and Tony Horton; four great-grandchildren, Travis LaLonde, Rachel LaLonde, Kathleen LaLonde, and Alyssa Cathleen Horton; two brothers, Joseph Leneway and his wife, Helen, of Port Huron and Edward Leneway and his wife Pat, of Niles; three sisters, Marion Smith, of Attica, Helen Mayhew of Taylor, and Rita Kruger of Bad Axe; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Bernice Hebert and Margaret Leneway; and four brothers, John, Wilbur, Francis, and Donald Leneway. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 23, 2001, at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon, with Elder Truman Horton officiating. Burial will be in Caseville Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon. Memorials for Mrs. Horton may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Della Slayton Della Slayton, 76, of Harbor Beach passed away Wednesday, June 20, 2001, in the Evangelical Home of Port Huron following a long illness. Born in Hazard, Ky. on March 1, 1925, she is the daughter of the late Nathan and Rebecca (Coots) Lewis. She and Carl C. Slayton were united in marriage on Aug. 31, 1952, in Springfield, Ohio. He preceded her in death in May of 1986. Della is survived by her daughter Nancy Bensinger and her husband, David, of Harbor Beach; a son, Clarence Shell of Redford; seven grandchildren, Robert, Wanda, Carolyn, Tina and Jamie Shell, Jimmy Lee and Rob Michael Burnett; and four great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 23, 2001, at the Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach, a Golden Rule Funeral Home, with the Rev. Stewart Justin, pastor of the Victory In Christ Community Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Bay Cemetery in Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 tonight, 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday. Friday, June 22, 2001 Allen Wisneski Allen Wisneski, 50, life-long resident of the Kinde-Bad Axe area, died Thursday, June 21, 2001, at Huron Memorial Hospital in Bad Axe. Arrangements are tentative. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 25, 2001, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Kinde. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, at the MacAlpine Funeral Home-Gage Chapel in Kinde. A complete obituary will be in the Sunday edition of the Huron Daily Tribune. 1