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 May 20, 2001 Sunday, May 20, 2001 Clara Gregory Clara L. Gregory, 98, of Lansing, and formerly of Sebewaing, died Saturday, May 19, 2001, at Willow Wood Manor Adult Foster Care Center in Lansing following a lengthy illness. She was born on Feb. 13, 1903, in Sebewaing, daughter of the late Charles F. and Dora (Uhl) Liken. She was united in marriage to Alex Lee Gregory on Oct. 5, 1928, in Sebewaing. He preceded her in death on Nov. 11, 1993. They resided in Chicago for many years and then Detroit before moving to Sebewaing in 1973. Clara was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing. In 1962, while living in Detroit, she was co-chair of the 100th anniversary celebration of Harper Hospital. She is survived by one nephew, Charles E. Liken and his wife, Louise, of Lansing; one niece, Mary Jo Schippel and her husband, John, of Barrington, Ill.; two grandnephews and two grandnieces. She was preceded in death by one brother, Raymond (Sam) Liken. The funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, 2001, at the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. The Rev. Ray McGee will officiate with burial in the Silverlawn Cemetery. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Georgia Kerr Georgia M. Kerr, 105, of Jackson died on Tuesday, April 17, 2001, following a lengthy illness. Georgia was born on April 11, 1896, on the family farm near Owendale. After graduating from Owendale High School, she received her teacher's certificate from what is now Central Michigan University. She taught at an elementary school in Royal Oak. Georgia M. Kerr lived in Caseville along the shore of Saginaw Bay before moving to Bay City. From there she moved to the Vista Grand Villa in Jackson where she lived for the past 25 years. She was preceded in death by her brother, Allan A. Kerr of Caseville and sisters, Phoebe Kerr of Jackson and Anna Kerr Fyfe of California. Funeral services were conducted in Jackson. Internment of cremation remains will be at the Grant Cemetery near Owendale on June 28, 2001. Jonathan Nugent Jonathan W. Nugent, 20, died suddenly on Thursday, May 17, 2001, while playing softball at Alma College. Jonathan was born on Jan. 19, 1981, in Midland. He was the son of Warren and Mary Jane Nugent of Bath. He was a sophomore at Alma College, majoring in business administration. Jon graduated with honors from Bath High School in 1999. His accomplishments were many. In addition to being an excellent student, Jonathan was an all-around athlete. While at Bath High School, he earned 14 varsity letters. He was a member of Bath's cross country, basketball, baseball and track teams. He helped his cross country team earn three Class C regional championships, one top five in the state award and two top 10 in the state awards. In his senior season, the Bath High School basketball squad advanced to the state semifinals, in which he played a key role. In track, Jonathan's team earned two regional championships. He qualified for the Class C state track meet in two events his sophomore year and all four of his events during his junior and senior years. During Jon's sophomore year of high school, he became an Eagle Scout and did volunteer work with the Cub Scouts in Bath. He was a national Honor Society officer and earned a military scholarship for college. While at Alma College, Jon earned a varsity letter in cross country and track. He was Alma's top runner in the 400 meter and his relay teams were two of the best in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. What he loved most was playing on his intramural football championship team and his softball team. In addition to his family, close friends and team mates, the whole community of Bath and Alma mourn their loss. Jonathan is survived by his parents, Warren and Mary Jane Nugent; sister, Kellie, all of Bath; maternal grandparents, Del Lorraine Mathers of Mount Pleasant; paternal grandparents, John and Dorothy Nugent of Weidman and formerly of Ubly; aunts and uncles, Tom Mathers of Texas, Jerry and Diane Nugent of Davison, Judy and Arn Glaza, Elrae and Jerry Herp of Ubly; cousins, Mark Nugent, Jennifer Nugent and her fiance, Steve, Melinda and Brent Whitman, Greg Kowalski and his fiancee, Tara, Scott Glaza, Chad and Christy Glaza, Amy and David Russell, Betsy and Ben Butzbaugh, Lori and Shannon Flippin, Rachel Herp and Jeralyn Herp. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 21, 2001, at the Alma College Chapel. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery. Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Lux-Moody-Wolfel Funeral Home in Alma and from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday at the chapel. Memorials may be made to the family discretionary fund through the funeral home at 531 North State Street, Alma MI., 48801. Catherine Schultz Catherine L. Schultz, 69, of Port Austin died on Friday, May 18, 2001, at the Huron Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe. She was born on July 17, 1931, in Roseville, daughter of the late Venus and Ethel (Kirk) Brashaw. She married Lawrence Schultz in 1956 in Port Austin. He preceded her in death on Dec. 20, 1997. Catherine was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. She liked to read and enjoyed playing euchre and bingo. She is survived by her daughter, Beatrice Harrison of Ovid; son, Howard Schultz and his wife, Karen, of Lake Wales, Fla.; six grandchildren, Michael Schultz, and his wife, Cristy and Joseph Schultz, all of Lake Wales, Fla., James Harrison and his wife, Lori, of Beatyville, Ky., Wendy Harrison, Cody Smith and Tyler Smith, all of Ovid; five great-grandchildren, Blake, Jade and Ethan Harrison, Skylar Schultz and McKayla Klatt; two sisters, Betty Quick of Port Sanilac and Eva Hubbard of Port Austin; brother, Albert Brashaw of Port Austin. She was preceded in death by sister, Margaret Clancy; two brothers, William and John Brashaw; half brother, George Ottinger. A funeral mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 21, 2001, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin with father Michael Bell officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The American Legion Ladies Auxiliary will conduct a memorial service at 7 p.m. and a parish scripture service will take place at 7:30 tonight at the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Monday at the church. Monday, May 21, 2001 Ruby Miller Ruby E. Miller, 79, former resident of Rochester and for the past eleven years resident of Filion, died Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at her home, after an extended illness. She was born Nov. 19, 1921, at Marion, Ky., daughter of the late Robert Ford and Martie T. (Thurmond) Ford. Miss Ruby E. Ford and Mr. Harles Miller were united in marriage on Dec. 1, 1945. They had celebrated 55 years of marriage. Ruby attended Calvary Baptist Church at Caseville. She was a homemaker and enjoyed cooking, sewing, and gardening. Surviving are her husband, Harles Miller; two sons, Larry Miller and his wife, Ebbe, of Kinde, and Ronald Miller of Flint; one grandson, Kyle Miller; one sister, Juanita Morgan of Newburgh, Ind.; and one brother-in-law, Herb Delacy of Port Huron; and several nieces and nephews. Ruby was predeceased by one sister, Naomi Delacy. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2001, at the MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe. The Rev. Michael Goforth, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of Caseville will officiate. Cremation took place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City. Memorials may be offered to Huron Memorial Hospice, 1100 S. Van Dyke Rd., Bad Axe, MI 48413. Kerry Shuart Kerry Brent Shuart, 54, of Owendale and formerly of Elkton, died unexpectedly Friday, May 18, 2001, at his home. He was born May 11, 1947, in Grayling to Margaret (Kilpatrick) Shuart and the late Duane Shuart. On Oct. 3, 1968, Mr. Kerry Shuart and Miss Darla Shepherd were united in marriage. Kerry was an inspector with the Michigan Department of Transportation for many years. He was a graduate of Bad Axe High School in 1965. He earned an Associates Degree from Glendale Community College in Arizona. He enjoyed golfing and playing cards. Surviving are his wife, Darla, of Owendale; one daughter, Dawn Renee Darland and her husband, Aaron, of Grand Rapids; two sons, Shannon "Todd" Shuart and his wife, Sue, of Bad Axe, Shawn Shuart and his wife, Susan, of Bay City; his mother, Margaret Elizabeth Shuart of Grand Ledge; two grandchildren, Braedon Darland of Grand Rapids and Alexander Ropp of Bay City; two sisters, Lucrecia Johnson and her husband, Richard, of Grand Ledge and Beverly Schultz and her husband, LeRoy, of Texas; one brother, Cecil Shuart and his wife, Julie, of Bad Axe; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Duane Shuart and his brother, Andrew Shuart. A Memorial Service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2001, at Our Savior Lutheran Church of Bad Axe with the Rev. Kenneth Lueke officiating. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. at the church. Cremation has taken place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Tuesday, May 22, 2001 John Edwards John B. Edwards, 82, of Caseville and former resident of Hazel Park, passed away Sunday, May 20, 2001, at Huron Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe. He was born July 4, 1918, in Detroit. On March 9, 1940, he was united in marriage to June Ruttan in Bowling Green, Ohio. He served in the Army in World War II. John belonged to Eagles in Caseville and the Knights of Columbus in Pigeon. Surviving are his wife, June; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, John D. Edwards. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 24, 2001 at Hopcroft Funeral Home at 23919 John R. in Hazel Park. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Rev. Zygmunt Gaj The Rev. Fr. Zygmunt Ignatios Gaj, 86, passed away at his home on Saturday, May 19, 2001. He was born Sept. 16, 1914, to the late Joseph and Anna (Tomalka) Gaj in Policzko, County Konskie, Poland. He received his education in Poland attending Sandomierz Seminary at Wisla. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 10, 1941, at the Basilica of Blessed Virgin Mary in Sandomierz by the Bishop of Sandomierz, the Most Reverend Kanthy John Lorek. He was very proud to celebrate his 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood in May of this year. On Oct. 2, 1941, six months after he was ordained, while visiting his parents he was arrested by the German Gestapo and placed in concentration camps of Oswiecim and Dachau were he spent the next four years before the American Army liberated the camp on April 29, 1945. After the liberation he was assigned as chaplain of the British Army of the Rhine working with displaced persons and former prisoners of war. Fr. Gaj was given the opportunity to come to the United States in 1950 and served the Saginaw Diocese under the leadership of Bishop Stephen Woznicki. He served as assistant pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Bay City, St. Helen Church and St. Andrew Church, both of Saginaw. Fr. Gaj served as pastor in the Gaylord Diocesan parishes of St. Dominic Church in Metz, St. Ignatius Church in Rogers City, Sacred Heart Church in Oscoda, St. John's Church in Ubly and Holy Family Church in Klacking Creek. He retired in the summer of 1987. Fr. Gaj was a member of the Knights of Columbus Klacking Creek Council No. 8948. Surviving are one sister, Lucjia Gaj of Poland; one brother, Marian Gaj of Poland; many nieces and nephews; and close priest friends in the Saginaw and Gaylord Diocese. He also leaves a special friend, Rita Lutomski and many other dear friends. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 24, 2001, at the St. Stanislaus Kostka Church at 1503 22nd Street in Bay City. Presiding will be the Most Reverend Patrick R. Cooney, Most Reverend Kenneth J. Povish, Rev. Fr. William J. Rutkowski, Rev. Fr. Raymond Mulka and Rev. Fr. Arthur Mulka with burial in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. St. Stanislaus parish will pray the rosary at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the church followed at 7 p.m. by a parish vigil service. Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Ambrose Funeral Home, 1200 Garfield Avenue in Bay City and from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass on Thursday at St. Stanislaus Church. Memorials may be made to St. Stan's Stained Glass Project or the donor's favorite charity. Beverly McCrimmon Beverly A. McCrimmon, 66, of Goshen, Ind. died Sunday, May 20, 2001, at Goshen General Hospital after a year-long illness. She was born on May 27, 1934, to the late William and Anna (Siewert) Schluchter in Wisconsin. On July 18, 1953, she was united in marriage to Hector A. McCrimmon in Pigeon. She worked in Switches in Goshen until 1970 and was also a homemaker. She was a member of Women of the Moose, and Goshen Women Auxiliary D.A.V. She is survived by her husband, Hector; three daughters, Victoria Moelhman and her husband, Mark, of Lafayette, Ind., Susan Mason and her husband, John, of Port St. Johns, Fla. and Sandra Unhoch and her husband, David, of Claypool, Ind.; two grandsons. Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home in Goshen. The Pastor Jeffery L. Gaustad of First English Lutheran Church will officiate. Burial will be at Violett Cemetery in Goshen. Wednesday, May 23, 2001 - None Thursday, May 24, 2001 - None Friday, May 25, 2001 Shawn Siemen Shawn P. Siemen, 29, of Chandler Township near Pinnebog died Thursday, May 17, 2001, at his home. He was born Jan. 28, 1972, the oldest child of Patrick and MariAnn (Prill) Siemen of Pigeon. Shawn was a 1990 Laker High School graduate and was currently employed at Gemini Plastics in Ubly. He served as an altar boy and was a past member of St. Felix Catholic Church in Pinnebog. He loved playing and participating in all kinds of sports, especially baseball, and also had a great love for cars, racing and driving. Surviving are his wife, Lori; daughter, Kalee; parents, Pat and MariAnn Siemen of Chandler Township; two sisters, Michelle Daniels and her husband, Chad, of Cass City, Lisa Siemen and her special friend, Scott Horetski, of Bad Axe; one brother, Jason and his special friend, Vicki Arnott of Bad Axe; grandfather, LaVern Siemen of Harbor Beach; niece and nephews, Chelsy and Matthew Siemen and Joshua Daniels; godparents, uncle Richard Schmidt of Bad Axe and aunt Barbara Mosey of Harbor Beach; and several aunts and uncles. Preceding him in death were his grandparents, Alex and Regina Prill and Bertha Siemen. A funeral mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, 2001, at St. Felix Catholic Church, Pinnebog with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will from 2 to 9 p.m. today at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton and after 10 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Joyce Thick Mrs. Joyce A. Thick, 67, of Caseville, formerly of Saginaw, passed away Thursday, May 24, 2001, at James E. Cartwright Care Center. Joyce was born on Aug. 6, 1933 to the late Edmund F. Miller, Sr. and Ann (Nachtman) Miller in Saginaw. She was married to Donald L. Thick on April 4, 1953. Joyce was of the Catholic faith. She enjoyed crocheting, bingo, NASCAR racing and the Detroit Tigers. Surviving are her husband, Donald L. Thick; three daughters, Gail Parsons and her husband, Edward, of Kawkawlin, Karen Grunwell and her husband, Mike, of Kawkawlin, Nancy Martin and her husband, Scott, of Saginaw; two sons, Thomas Thick and his wife, Michelle, of Saginaw, Joseph Thick and his wife, Linda, of Saginaw; 11 grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; a brother, Dennis Miller and his wife, Carol, of Saginaw; and several nieces and nephews. Joyce was preceded in death by a brother, Edmund F. Miller Jr. Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, 2001, at The Snow Funeral Home at 3775 North Center Road (between Shattuck and McCarty). The Rev. Fr. Robert Konopa, O.F.M., will officiate with burial in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be present from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Hospital Foundation or the Public Libraries of Saginaw. Laura Booms Laura C. Booms, 93, of Harbor Beach passed away Friday, May 25, 2001, in the Long- Term Care Unit of Harbor Beach Community Hospital following a short illness. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at press time and are being handled by the Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach. A complete obituary will appear in Sunday's Huron Daily Tribune. Wesley Gebauer Wesley Gebauer, 96, long time Elkton plumber and businessman died on Friday, May 25, 2001, at Blodgett Medical Center in Grand Rapids. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 29, 2001, at the Elkton United Methodist Church. Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton and after 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the church. Jesse Lovejoy Jesse W. "Skip" Lovejoy, 39, of Deckerville and Harbor Beach passed away Thursday, May 24, 2001, in Port Huron Hospital following a short illness. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 28, 2001, in Zion Lutheran Church in Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday at the Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach and on Monday from noon until the time of service at the church. A complete obituary will appear in Sunday's Huron Daily Tribune. 1