HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan

Copyright © 2001 by Carol Morrison. This copy contributed for use in 
the MIGenWeb Archives.  

 

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Local obituaries for the week beginning December 30, 2001


Sunday, December 30, 2001


Ervin Briolat 
Ervin J. Briolat, 66, of Ubly passed away Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, at his home.  He was 
born on Dec. 28, 1935 in Ubly to the late Roman and Pauline (Pollum) Briolat. On Nov. 
28, 1959, he married Joann Parish at St. Felix Catholic Church of Pinnebog.  Ervin 
graduated from Ubly High School in 1954 and farmed until he retired in 1999. He was a 
lifelong member and usher at St. John Catholic Church in Ubly. He was a member and 
former board member of the Ubly Fox Hunters Club.  He was a former member of the 
Bad Axe Knights of Columbus and a current member of the Ubly/Sheridan Corners 
Knights of Columbus. He served as a Bingham Township Trustee for years. He enjoyed 
golfing, hunting, fishing and spending time with his grandchildren and family.  Ervin is 
survived by his wife, Joann, of Ubly; four sons, Gary Briolat and his wife, Kathy, of 
Ubly, Ken Briolat of Joneburg, Mo., Jeff Briolat and his wife, Shelly, of Ubly and Dennis 
Briolat and his wife, Jan, of Unionville; three daughters, Lynn Talaski and her husband, 
Rodney, of Decker, Sherry Mixture and her husband, Steve, of Howell, Judy Booms and 
her husband, Ben, of Harbor Beach; 15 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; one step-
great-grandchild; six sisters, Gertrude Glaza of Ubly, Martha Krug of Tennessee, 
Florence Mattis and her husband, Frank, of Dearborn Heights, Ruth Krug and her 
husband, Richard, of Ubly, Sophie Soule and her husband, Ken, of Sterling Heights, and 
Louise Gibson and her husband, Raymond of Ubly.  He was preceded in death by three 
brothers, Stanley, Clemence and Henry Briolat; two sisters, Ann Leppek and Irene 
Osentoski.  The funeral mass for Ervin Briolat will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 31, 
2001, at St. John Catholic Church in Ubly. The Rev. T.J. Fleming, pastor will officiate. 
Burial will be in the church cemetery. There will be a vigil service at 7:30 p.m. today at 
the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly.  Visitation will be from 1-9:30 p.m. today 
and 8-9 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. 

Marion Brown 
Marion A. Brown, 72, of Sebewaing died on Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, with her immediate 
family at her side at Covenant HealthCare Cooper in Saginaw following a three-year 
illness.  She was born on Feb. 19, 1929, in Oliver Township, the daughter of the late John 
H. and Augusta (Heck) Schweitzer.  She was united in marriage to Walton "Josh" Brown 
on April 30, 1949, in Linkville.  Marion was employed by the Michigan Department of 
Agriculture in Lansing for 25 years before retiring in 1996.  She was a member of St. 
John Lutheran Church in Kilmanagh. She was a member of the Farm Bureau, also.  
Surviving are her husband, Walton "Josh" Brown of Sebewaing; one daughter, Beth 
Brown of Bedford, Mass.; two sons, Kim Brown and his wife, Cynthia, of Columbiaville, 
and Lee Brown and his wife, Suzy, of Prescott; five grandchildren, Amy, Megan, 
Andrew, Jessica and Kathryn Brown; numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded 
in death by four brothers, Carl, Arnold, Wilbert and John "Jack" Schweitzer; five sisters, 
Ella Gabart, Sally Beers, Betty Barley Worczak, Ida Mae Heck and Helen Leinweber. 
The funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at St. John 
Lutheran Church in Kilmanagh. The Rev. Jim Nihifer will officiate with burial in the 
church cemetery.  Visitation is from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the Dinkel-Juengel 
Funeral Home in Sebewaing and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service Monday at 
the church.  Memorials may be made to the St. John Handicapped Fund. 

Evelyn Butler 
Evelyn A. Butler, 88, of Cass City died on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at Hills & Dales 
General Hospital in Cass City.  Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, 
Dec. 31, 2001, at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City with Dr. Philip Rice of Cass City 
United Methodist Church officiating.  Visitation is from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today 
at the funeral home. 

Earl Cummins 
Mr. Earl Cummins, 98, of Bad Axe and formerly of Harbor Beach, passed away on 
Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe.  Funeral arrangements are being 
handled by Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly.  A complete obituary will appear 
next week in the Huron Daily Tribune. 
 
Dean Keller 
Dean E. Keller, 96, of Pigeon died on Monday Dec. 23, 2001 at Scheurer Hospital in 
Pigeon.  Mr. Keller resided at Country Bay Village in Pigeon for two and a half years.  
He is survived by a daughter, Bette Savage and her husband, Donald, of Bad Axe; five 
grandchildren; five great grandchildren.  Services took place on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001, 
at A.H. Peter's Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Woods.  Internment was at Franklin 
Cemetery in Franklin. 

Pauline Musolff 
Pauline A. Musolff, 82, of Meade Township died on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001, at Huron 
Medical Center in Bad Axe.  She was born on June 8, 1919, in Port Hope to the late 
Albert and Ida (Lawitzke) Jahn.  Pauline and George Musolff were united in marriage on 
June, 22, 1946.  Pauline grew up in Port Hope and lived her entire life in Meade 
Township. She was a lifelong member of Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church and 
was active in the women's league and Farm Bureau. Her hobbies were spending time with 
her grandchildren, sewing and crocheting. She created more than 80 afghans. Pauline 
worked at Zenith Carburetor during World War II and for Harvard Prof. William Lyon 
Phelps.  She is survived by her husband, George; two sons, David and his wife, Deb, of 
Bad Axe, and Don and his wife, Lynn, of Bad Axe; two sisters, Elsie Schelke of Sun 
City, Ariz. and Ester Segedy and her husband, James, of Sun City, Ariz.; six 
grandchildren, Amanda, Dan, Emily, Ellen, Shannon and Jamie Musolff, all of Bad Axe, 
three step-grandchildren, Jack Robert Gordon and his wife, Shelly, of Minneapolis, 
Minn., Heather Wolschager and her husband, Chris, of Essexville and Tim Gordon and 
his wife, Denise, of Bad Axe; four step-great-grandchildren, Logan and Hannah 
Wolschager of Essexville, and Nick and Rebecca Gordon of Bad Axe.  Funeral services 
will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 31, 2001 at Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church 
in Bad Axe. The Rev. Kenneth Lueke will officiate. Burial will follow at New River 
Cemetery in Port Austin.  Visitation is from 1-9 p.m. today at MacAlpine Funeral Home 
in Bad Axe and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.  Memorials may 
be made to the family discretionary fund. 

Monday, December 31, 2001 – None

Tuesday, January 1, 2002 – None posted on New Year's Day

Wednesday, January 2, 2002 – None

Thursday, January 3, 2002       

Vickie McGee 
Vickie (Victoria Rose) McGee, 15, of Frankenmuth passed away Monday evening, Dec. 
31, 2001, at Covenant Healthcare due to injuries received in an automobile accident.  
Vickie was born March 4,1986 in Saginaw. She was a student at Frankenmuth High 
School and was a member of its Science Club. Exceptionally artistic, she enjoyed 
painting and drawing. Vickie was a member of the Catholic faith and will be remembered 
for her quick wit and comforting warmth.  Surviving are her parents, Max and Michele 
McGee of Frankenmuth; younger sister Molly Shannon; grandparents Bert and Dottie 
Rivette of Zilwaukee and Joe and Orla McGee of Bad Axe; great-grandmother Phoebe 
Rivette of Florida; several aunts, uncles and cousins; dear friends Meredith Masters and 
Matt Schinco; and her pet Iris.  Her loving aunt, Lucille Bauer, preceded her in death.  
Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, 2001, at Blessed 
Trinity Catholic Church in Frankenmuth. Fr. Robert Shine and Sister Maxine McGee will 
officiate with burial in Frankenmuth Township Cemetery.  Visitation will be 1 to 5 p.m. 
and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Cederberg Funeral Home in Frankenmuth, and from 9 a.m. until 
the time of services Saturday at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made 
to Special Needs Vision Clinic, 3660 Southfield Dr., Saginaw MI 48601, or Michigan 
Eye Bank, 10001 Wall St., Ann Arbor MI 48102-1994. 

Martha Miller 
Martha Divo Miller, 98, of Lansing, formerly of Elkton, passed away on Wednesday, 
Dec. 26, 2001.  She was born April 30, 1903, the daughter of Andrew and Katherine 
Divo. Martha married John Roy Miller on May 21, 1932, and he preceded her in death, 
along with two sisters and two brothers.  Martha is survived by a daughter, Arlene 
Bergemann of Lansing; and a son, Ronald Miller and his wife, Bonnie, of Elkton; eight 
grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.  Funeral 
services were conducted on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at Faith United Methodist Church in 
Lansing. Interment was in Riverside Cemetery in Elkton.  Memorials may be made to 
Faith United Methodist Church.  Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel handled 
arrangements. 

Gail Phillips 
Gail Irene Phillips, 65, of Bad Axe died Dec. 31, 2001, at St. Mary's Medical Center in 
Saginaw.  She was born Aug. 16, 1936, in Bad Axe to the late Earl and Violet 
(Wendland) VanCise.  Gail enjoyed bingo, lottery, coin collecting, crossword puzzles and 
spending time with her friends and family.  She is survived by five sons, John Phillips 
and Mitch Phillips of San Antonio, Texas, Vernon Phillips of Bad Axe, Ben Phillips and 
his wife, Donna, and Wayne Phillips of Winston-Salem, N.C.; four daughters, Laura 
Heeman of St. Louis, Mo., Carolyn Dorsch and her husband, Mitch, of Pigeon, Teresa 
Kennedy and her special friend, Kai, of Bad Axe, and Pamela Vuillemot and her 
husband, Earl, of Bad Axe; a sister, Joan Woolner and her husband, Carl, of Bad Axe; 
two sisters-in-law, Margaret VanCise of Greenwood, S.C., and Cleo VanCise of Filion; 
11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and many 
friends.  She was preceded in death by her brother, Earl VanCise.  According to her 
wishes, Gail will be cremated and a memorial service will take place at a later date. 
Arrangements are being handled by MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe.  Memorials 
may be offered to the Family Discretionary Fund. 

Friday, January 4, 2001

Harold Guinther 
Harold I. Guinther, 77, of Cass City died in his home on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002.  He was 
born Aug. 23, 1924, in Redford Township to John and Marion (Brown) Guinther. He 
married Esther E. Esckilsen on Nov. 21, 1946, in Cass City.  Harold served in the U.S. 
Army, serving three years in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. Harold worked for 
Reed and Patterson Meat Market, Wesley's Creamery and then worked as a meat 
inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was a former Little League coach, a 
member of the Cass City VFW Post No. 3644 and a volunteer fireman for 10 years. 
Harold served one term on the village council. He was a member of Cass City United 
Methodist Church and held several positions with the church as well as singing in the 
choir. He enjoyed hunting and sports of all kinds. He loved music, especially gospel. 
Harold loved to travel.  Harold is survived by his wife, Esther; children, Beverly Terry 
and her husband, James, of Fort Wayne, Ind., Christine Weippert and her husband, Ron, 
of Cass City, and Thomas Guinther and his wife, Kay, of Cass City; grandchildren, 
Andrea Occhiuto and her husband, Charles, Angela Shepard and her husband, Scot, 
Pamela Kimmel and her husband, James, Lynn Adkins and her husband, Mike, Matthew 
Weippert and his wife, Lindsey, Kerry Guinther and Amanda Guinther; great-
grandchildren, David, Christopher, Nicholas, Tyler, Ryan, Ashly, Jason, Carson and 
Jenna; brothers, Lyle Guinther of Caro, Stanley Guinther and his wife, Melva, of Cass 
City, Richard Guinther and his wife, Penny, of Cass City, and James Guinther and his 
wife, Joann, of Cass City; sisters, Irene Doerr and her husband, Jack, of Cass City, 
Norma Szarapski and her husband, Richard, of Cass City, and Marilyn Young and her 
husband, James, of Caro; sisters-in-law, Elfrieda Guinther of Cass City, Sharon Guinther 
of Caro, Rose Hancock and her husband, Dennis, of Cass City, and Lynda Guinther of 
Tucson, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by brothers 
John Jr., William, Roger, Lawrence and Charles Guinther; and a sister, Evelyn Gruber.  
Funeral services will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002, at Cass City United 
Methodist Church with Dr. Philip Rice officiating. Interment will be in Elkland Township 
Cemetery in Cass City. Veteran services will be under the direction of the Cass City 
VFW Post No. 3644.  Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m. this evening, and 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 
9 p.m. Saturday at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City, and 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at the 
church.  Memorials may be made to United Hospice of Marlette or Cass City United 
Methodist Church. 

Clara Pettit 
Clara M. Pettit, 97, of Port Austin died Friday, Jan. 4, 2002, at Courtney Manor in Bad 
Axe.  The funeral mass will take place Monday, Jan. 7, 2002, at St. Michael's Catholic 
Church in Port Austin. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Knoblock 
Funeral Home in Kinde.  A complete obituary will appear in Sunday's Huron Daily 
Tribune. 








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