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 July 29, 2001 Sunday, July 29, 2001 Roland Dast Roland H. "Rollie" Dast, 83, longtime Elkton businessman, died Tuesday, July 17, 2001 at his home of an apparent heart attack. He was born June 21, 1918 in Bay Port to the late Henry and Ida (Daus) Dast. Rollie grew up in Bay Port, where he worked for Gillinghams at the docks cleaning and packing fish in salt. In 1936, he graduated from Bay Port High School and continued his schooling at the City College of Beauty in Detroit. When he returned to the area he worked for Lula Leroy in Caseville for one year. Then in February of 1912 he started Rollie's Beauty Salon in Elkton, retiring in the mid- 90s. He was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elkton, past member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Berne, and the Michigan Cosmetology Association. He enjoyed painting, photography, traveling and visiting with friends. Surviving are two sisters, Ida Graham and Willowbelle Buck, both of Saginaw; four nephews; two nieces; his great nieces and nephews and his godson, Roland Gazaleh of Bethlehem, Israel. In keeping with his wishes, there was no visitation or funeral service. A graveside memorial service will be conducted by the Rev. Elton Bickel, pastor of the Trinity Lutheran Church, at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2001 at the New Bay Port Cemetery. Arrangements were handled by Champagne Funeral Chapel of Elkton. Vera Fisher Vera V. Fisher, 89, of Bad Axe, formerly of Tyre, passed away on Friday evening, July 27, 2001, at Huron Memorial Hospital after a sudden illness. She was born in Argyle on April 8, 1912, daughter of the late Simon and Stazy (Stepka) Franzel. On Nov. 11, 1929, she and Ira Fisher were united in marriage at St. Ignatius Catholic Church of Freiburg. He preceded her in death on March 9, 1988. Ike and Vera made there home in Tyre. Together they established Ike's Tavern, which they operated for 50 years, from 1933 to 1983, and then retired and moved to Bad Axe. She attended Tamerack Country School and graduated from Tyre School. She was a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church of Freiburg and a parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish of Bad Axe. She made her home with her daughter, Jean, and granddaughter, Jody. She enjoyed being active in her home and enjoyed her special friend, Barney, the bassett. She is survived by her three daughters, Irene Peters of Pontiac; Lillian Kubacki, of Ubly; Jean Fisher of Bad Axe; 14 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; four sisters, Isabel Peruski and her husband, Elmer, of Palms, Esther Morris of Palms, Mabel McCarty of Oxford, Catherine Heck and her husband, Emil, of Ubly; two brothers Ernest Bezemek and his wife, Betty, of Minden City, Joseph Bezemek and his wife, Patricia, of Ubly; two sisters-in-law, Catherine Bezemek of Decker, Margaret Franzel of Clinton Township; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ira; infant daughter, Rose Marie; two sons-in-law, Raymond Peters and Elmer Kubacki; one grandson, Ronald Kubacki; one brother, Louis Franzel; one sister, Margaret Franzel; three step-brothers, Mark, Stanley and Norman Bismack. Funeral Mass will take place at noon on Tuesday, July 31, 2001 at St. Ignatius Church of Freiburg. The Rev. Kevin Maksym, associate pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Monday and from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home of Ubly. The vigil for the deceased will take place at 8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Lillian May Jaroch We celebrate the life of our mother, grandmother, teacher and friend, Lillian May Jaroch. On Friday, July 27, 2001, she was reunited with her husband, Lambert Joseph Jaroch, who preceded her in death on May 25, 1992. Lillian was born on Jan. 21, 1928 in Parisville and was the daughter of the late David and Blanche (Trepkowski) Bismack and stepfather, Edward Makowski. Her father, David, preceded her in death in 1930. Ms. Lillian M. Bismack married Lambert J. Jaroch April 9, 1947 at St. John's Catholic Church of Ubly. Lillian leaves behind fond memories with her two surviving sons, Victor Jaroch of Alexandria, Va., and David Jaroch and his wife, Marie, of Ubly, and and her three daughters: Deborah Szczepanski and her husband, Steven, of Rockford, Joanne Preston and Patrick Preston of East Lansing and Pamela Jaroch of Fairlawn, Ohio. She is survived by one brother, Elmer Makowski and his wife, Suzanne, of Parisville; and two sisters, Mildred Oberski and her husband, David, of Parisville and Marion Wilkowski and her husband, Willis, of Casco Township. Lillian's eight grandchildren: Jason, Brandon, David, Marjo, Thomas, Stacey, Nathaniel and Nicholas will have fond memories of their grandmother and all that she taught them. Lillian was an active parishioner of St. John Evangelist Church in Ubly where she participated as a Eucharistic Minister, a Christian Mother, an administer to the sick and a seamstress. Lillian valued education. Her unrelenting energy working beside her husband six days a week, 10 hours a day at Jaroch's Grocery Store successfully fulfilled her goal of providing educational opportunities to her children beyond high school. She continued her own education outside the formal classroom by taking on new challenges and studying areas of interest. She enjoyed sharing her love of sewing, gardening, cross stitching, quilting, cooking, golfing, playing cards and socializing with her friends and the community. Lillian performed in all the Alabama Jubilee productions as well as created costumes. She was a member of the Ladies' T.V.O. Auxiliary, the Ubly Bridge Club, the Rolling Hills Golf League, the Interfaith Council, and the Community Club. She extended herself beyond her family and continuously gave back to her community with commitment and pride. Lil's strong faith was always her driving force. Her family is comforted knowing that Lil is now breathing freely and is with her Lord, The Savior. Funeral Mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 30, 2001, at St. John the Evangelist Church in Ubly with Father Kevin Marksym officiating. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 9:30 p.m. today and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Monday at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. There will be a Christian Mothers Rosary at 4 p.m. and a Vigil for the deceased at 8 p.m. today. Both services will be at the funeral home. The family requests on behalf of their Mother that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association or be used to start an after school Bridge class. Monday, July 30, 2001 Gerald Elenbaum Gerald "Jerry" L. Elenbaum, 69, of Sebewaing passed away Saturday, July 28, 2001, at Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon. He was born in Sebewaing on March 25, 1932, son of Merrill H. and Wilma A. (Terrill) Elenbaum. He graduated from Pigeon High School in 1950, and served with the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. On March 29, 1959, he was united in marriage to Marilyn A. Thick at the Salem E.U.B. Church in Pigeon. She survives him. Mr. Elenbaum was a farmer throughout his lifetime. He was a former member and chairman of the Michigan Bean Commission, and was a participant with the Kellogg Agricultural Study Program. He was a former member of the Cooperative Elevator Company Board of Directors, where he also served as chairman. Jerry was a member of the Huron County Farm Bureau, the Michigan Farm Bureau, and the American Farm Bureau Sugar Advisory Board, as well as a former Michigan Sugar board member and director. Mr. Elenbaum also was a past member of the Advisory Board of the Chicago Reserve Bank. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Pigeon Post No. 2236, the Kilmanagh United Methodist Church and the Pigeon Lions Club. He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Marilyn; three children, Cathy Stoeckle and her husband, Brent, of Sebewaing, Randy Elenbaum and his wife, Tammy, of Owendale, and Shelley Elenbaum of San Jose, Calif.; six grandchildren, Jeremy Haag and his wife, Stacy, Nick Haag, Derek Stoeckle, Travis Elenbaum, Brandon Elenbaum, and Josh Elenbaum; two step great-grandchildren, Michael and Alex Nothelfer; his father, Merrill Elenbaum of Sebewaing; two brothers, Budd Elenbaum and his wife, MaryLou, of Pigeon, and Ron Elenbaum and his wife, Marilyn, of Mayville; two sisters- in-law, Marjorie Elenbaum and Judith Gaeth; two brothers-in-law, Lyle Thompson and John "Jack" Gaeth; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Wilma; a brother, Jake; and a sister, Norma Thompson. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001, at Salem United Methodist Church in Pigeon, with the Rev. Alger T. Lewis and the Rev. DeWeerd Smith officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sebewaing. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today and from 1 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Salem United Methodist Church in Pigeon. Memorials may be made to Scheurer Hospital, Bay Shore Camp, or Kilmanagh United Methodist Church. Don McKenzie Don A. McKenzie, 58, of Bingham Township near Ubly died Friday, July 27, 2001. He was born on Feb. 21, 1943, in Bingham Township to the late Arthur and Ruby (Nelson) McKenzie. Don McKenzie and Eunice Little were married Sept. 25, 1965. He was a Bingham Township farmer for many years. He graduated from Ubly High School in 1961. He is survived by his wife Eunice; two sons, Michael and his wife, Tina, of Bad Axe, Marc and Amy, of Saginaw; one grandson, Eathan; one sister, Bonnie McKnight and her husband, Dave, of Gladstone; two step-grandchildren, T.J. Messing of Ubly and Bryant Messing of Ubly; one niece, Tracy Challender and her husband, Roy, of Gladstone; two nephews, Scott McKnight of Marquette and Steve McKnight and his wife, Joy, of Gladstone. In keeping with his wishes, private funeral services will be conducted at the MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe. Pastor Burton Kincaid and Scott McKnight will officiate. Burial will be in Valley Cemetery in Ubly. Memorials may be made to the Cardio Vascular Unit of the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. Tuesday, July 31, 2001 Edward Armbruster Edward O. Armbruster, 85, of St. Helen and formerly of Sebewaing, passed away July 29, 2001, at Bortz Health Care in West Branch. Mr. Armbruster lived in St. Helen since 1984. He was a charter member of the V.F.W. Post No. 4115 in Sebewaing, the American Legion Post No. 416 of St. Helen and the Hope Lutheran Church in St. Helen. Mr. Armbruster is survived by his wife, Mildred, of St. Helen; children, Alvin Armbruster and Earl Armbruster, both of St. Helen, Phyllis Morgan and her husband, Dan, and Bruce Armbruster, both of Davison, Keith Armbruster and his wife, Kay, of Bay City, Timothy Armbruster of St. Paul, Minn., Nancy Armbruster of Houston, Texas, Dean Armbruster of Tabb, Va., and Wesley Armbruster and his wife, Kelly, of Caseville; six grandchildren; and two step grandchildren. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001, at the Hope Lutheran Church in St. Helen. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today at the Steuernol and McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch. A graveside service will be conducted at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Sebewaing. Elmer Peruski Sr. Elmer Peruski Sr., 87, of Palms went home to be with the Lord on Monday, July 30, 2001. Elmer was born on July 2, 1914, in Detroit, son of the late Vincent and Anna (Partaka) Peruski. On Sept. 28, 1935, he married his sweetheart, Isabel Bezemek, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church of Freiburg. Elmer attended Palms Country School. He and Isabel made their home in Palms for 36 years. Elmer worked for the Palms Elevator for many years and retired from Minden City Oil and Gas in 1979. He is survived by his wife, Isabel, of 65 beautiful years; three daughters, Mary Jane Vogel and her husband, Charles, of Deckerville, Judy Harter and her husband, Richard, of Deckerville, Jo Ann Stacer and her husband, Don, of Deckerville; one son, Elmer Peruski Jr., of Palms; very special niece, Betty Bezemek and her husband, Ernest, of Minden City; one sister, Elsie Peters, of Detroit; 20 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; two brother-in-laws, Ernest Bezemek and his wife, Betty, of Minden City, Joseph Bezemek and his wife, Patricia, of Ubly; five sisters-in-law, Catherine Heck and her husband, Emil, of Ubly; Esther Morris, of Palms, Mabel McCarty, of Oxford, Catherine Bezemek, of Decker, Margaret Franzel, of Clinton Township. Elmer was preceded in death by a daughter, Irene Walling; daughter-in-law, Violet Peruski; one brother, Harry; two sisters, Bertha Fisher and Vernita Beatty. Funeral mass for Elmer Peruski Sr. will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001, at St. Patrick Catholic Church of Palms. Sister Theresa Carlow, pastoral administrator of St. Patrick in Palms, and the Rev. Steve Gavit, pastor of SS. Peter and Paul in Ruth, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. There will be a Vigil Service at 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Smigielski Funeral Home in Minden City. Visitation will be from 1 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home, and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday at the church only. John Krajenka John S. Krajenka, 90, of Kinde died Monday, July 30, 2001, at his son's home in Filion. He was born on Jan. 27, 1911, in Dwight Township, son of the late Frank and Martha (Bodis) Krajenka. He married Leokadia Moday on June 24, 1951, at St. Josephats Catholic Church in Detroit. She preceded him in death on Jan. 28, 1993. John was a lifelong farmer and devoted member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dwight Township, where he belonged to the Holy Name Society. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus in Bad Axe. John is survived by two sons, Jim Krajenka of Kinde, Dennis Krajenka and his wife, Nada, of Filion; five grandchildren, John, Jeremy, Brian, Chris, and Aaron Krajenka; and two step grandchildren, Robert and Kristen Kirk; two sisters, Regina Gottschalk and her husband, Herman, of Kinde, and Mary Krajenka of Kinde; one brother, Edward Krajenka and his wife, Rita, of Kinde; and one brother-in-law, Donald Gerouix of Burlington, Ontario, Canada. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Theresa Krajenka and Helen Gerouix. A funeral mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dwight Township. Father Mieczyslaw Oniskiewicz will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. There will be a rosary by the Holy Name Society at 7:30 p.m. today. A vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. and a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde. Visitation will be conducted from 7 to 9 p.m. today, from 1 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and from 9 until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Heather Toth Heather Marie Toth, 14, of Minden City died Friday, July 6, 2001. There will be a memorial service for Heather at 3 p.m. Aug. 12, 2001, at St. John's Parish Center in Ubly. Memorials can be made to the family. Wednesday, August 1, 2001 Lawrence Stephenson Lawrence E. Stephenson, 83, died Monday, July 30, 2001. He was born Aug. 27, 1917, in Alcona County, the son of Alexander and Molinda M. (Rifenbark) Stephenson. He married Marie Erbe on Oct. 4, 1975, in Lansing. She preceded him in death in 1996. Lawrence was a member of Grove Bible Church. Survivors include his stepdaughter, Sharon Gregg and her husband, Neil, of Lansing; stepson, Dwight Erbe and his wife, Nancy, of Swartz Creek; sister, Julia McIntyle and her husband, Nevin, of Bad Axe; brother Les Stephenson and his wife, Doris, of Bad Axe; four grandchildren; five great- grandchildren; and special friend Iva Keys. He was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001, at Grove Bible Church, with Pastor Larry Smith officiating. Burial will be at Washington Cemetery in Carsonville. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns. Memorials may be given to Grove Bible Church. Thursday, August 2, 2001 Milton Damm Milton M. Damm, 82, of Bay Port died Tuesday evening, July 31, 2001, at home. He was born Oct. 23, 1918, to the late Otto and Clara (Kreh) Damm, of Pigeon. Milton grew up in the Pigeon area where he farmed until he began driving a school bus for the Pigeon school system, which he did for about 18 years. He then took a position as custodian for the Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Schools. On March 1, 1941, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Conger in Napolean, Ohio. She survives him. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pigeon. In addition to his wife, Elizabeth, he is survived by two sons, Robert Damm and his wife, Karen, of Pigeon, and James Damm and his wife, Susan, of Pigeon; two daughters, Carol Terrill and her husband, Arthur, of Livingston, Texas, and Beverly Damm of Elkton; 10 grandchildren; 13 great- grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Edna Damm Yackle; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Edgar, Walter, and Earl; and four sisters, Mabel, Luella, Viola and Elizabeth. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 3, 2001, at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon with the Rev. Margaret A. Passenger, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Pigeon officiating. Burial will be in New Bay Port Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Friday at Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, A Golden Rule Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Friends for Life Hospice, First United Methodist Church Parsonage Fund or the family. Friday, August 3, 2001 Bernice Bukoski Bernice Bukoski, 75, of Ubly passed away Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001, at Huron Memorial Hospital in Bad Axe after a long illness. She was born on Jan. 18, 1926, in Harbor Beach, daughter of the late Joseph and Martha (Kociba) Wroubel. On Sept. 25, 1943, she was united in marriage to Sylvester Bukoski at Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church of Harbor Beach. Bernice attended Harbor Beach school. In her younger days, she enjoyed traveling. She loved to read. She enjoyed visiting with her grandchildren. She was a member of St. John Christian Mothers, Circle No. 2, St. Monica and was a parishioner of St. John Church of Ubly. She is survived by her husband, Sylvester, of Ubly; three children, James J. Bukoski and his wife, Doreen, of Caro; Carol Sharbowski and her husband, Melvin, of Palms and Debbie Schmidt and her husband, Harry, of Ubly; eight grandchildren, Brenda Smigill and her husband, Chris, James M. Bukoski, Dawn Lamount and her husband, Duane, Jennifer Salcido and her husband, Mike, Deanna Bukoski, Brad Sharbowski, Nicklas "Nicky" Schmidt and Caryn Schmidt; seven great- grandchildren, Bryan Smigill, Shauna Salcido, Curtis Smigill, Kala Salcido, Michael Salcido Jr., Isiah Huizar, Shelby Schmidt; one sister, Lucy Kozfkay of Harbor Beach. She was preceded in death by one brother, Melvin Wroubel, and one sister, Delores O'Parka. The funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2001, at St. John Catholic Church of Ubly. The Rev. Kevin Maksym, associate pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A Rosary will be offered by the St. John Christian Mothers at 7 p.m. and a Vigil for the deceased will be at 8 p.m. today at the Zinger- Smigielski Funeral Home of Ubly. Visitation will be from 1 to 9:30 p.m. today and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the family discretionary fund. Frank White Frank "Bud" Frederick White, 80, of Cass City died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001, in Huron Memorial Hospital, Bad Axe. He was born on Dec. 24, 1920, in Cass City, to Fred and Lydia (Clark) White. He married Mae E. Karr on June 22, 1946, in Cass City. She died on March 8, 1991. Bud married Grace (Beutler) Hyatt on Sept. 7, 1991, in Cass City. Bud served in the United States Army during World War II. He retired from Saginaw Steering Gear in 1981, after more than 30 years. He painted houses after his work at the shop, also. He was a member of Deford Community Church. Bud enjoyed camping, fishing, helping people and meeting new people. Bud is survived by his wife, Grace; his children, Duane White and his wife, Sally, of Birch Run, Kenneth White and his wife, Marie, of Elkton, Thomas F. White and his wife, Kim, of Colman, Robert White and his wife, Barb, of Cass City, Fran Sampson and her husband, Jim, of Saginaw, Joann Martindale and her husband, Roger, of Gagetown, Jane Wass of Cass City, Lisa Mester and her husband, James, of Cass City; step-children, Eugene Cook and his wife, Ann, of Tennessee, Larry Hyatt of Decker, Judy Brock of Flint, Barbara MacAlpine and her husband, Harold, of Snover; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; nine step- grandchildren; 13 step-great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his sisters, Wretha White, Cora Fleenor, Isla Cook, Ethel Buehrly and Mary Rich. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2001, at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City with Pastor David Mercer of Deford Community Church officiating. Interment is in Elkland Township Cemetery. Military services under the direction of Cass City V.F.W. Post #3644. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today. Memorials may be made to Deford Community Church or Cass City V.F.W. Post No. 3644. 1