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 beginning July 28, 2002 Sunday, July 28, 2002 Sue Baker Sue A. Baker, 59, of Cass City, went home to be with her Lord on Thursday, July 25, 2002, at Harper Hospital in Detroit after a long battle with cancer. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, July 29, 2002, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cass City with the Rev. Gerald Meyer officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City and from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Monday at the church. Joseph McGee Joseph L. McGee, 79, prominent Bad Axe businessman and resident of Colfax Township, died Friday, July 26, 2002, at Courtney Manor Nursing Center in Bad Axe. Mr. McGee was born Aug. 30, 1922, in Pinnebog, to the late Charles A. and Johanna (Grace) McGee. Joseph and Orla M. Yageman were united in marriage on Feb. 26, 1949, by the late Msgr. Charles Roark at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe. Mr. McGee lived in Bad Axe for the past 53 years. He attended Bates Rural County School. He served in the United States Navy in both the European and Pacific theaters. Joseph was a long-time parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a former member of the church council and Usher's Club. He was a member also of the Huron Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and a member of Verona Hills Golf Club. Joe and his wife, Orla, owned and operated the Bad Axe Hardware Co., retiring in 1984. He enjoyed golf, visiting and socializing with his family and friends. Joe and Orla spent many winters in Palm Harbor, Florida. Joseph is survived by his wife, Orla, of Bad Axe; three sons, Michael McGee and his wife, Martha, of New York, Patrick McGee and his wife, Jeanie, of Caro, and Max McGee and his wife, Michele, of Frankenmuth; one brother, Donald McGee of Oakly, Calif.; two sisters, Eunice O'Malley and her husband, Alex, of Livonia, and Sr. Maxine McGee, S.S.J. of White Pigeon; five grandchildren, Josie McGee, Matt McGee, Molly McGee, Katie McGee and her fiance, Jeff Hinderer, and Carrie McGee. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Jack McGee and Robert McGee; one sister, Lucille Powers; an infant son, Charles; two granddaughters, Maggie and Vickie McGee. A memorial mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2002, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe. Fr. Robert Shine, long-time friend of the family and pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albee, will officiate. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the mass at the church. Cremation took place earlier. MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe is handling the arrangements. Memorials may be offered to the Bad Axe Library or Sister of St. Joseph Nazareth. Alice Whitenack Alice Whitenack, 70, of Port Austin, passed away Thursday, July 25, 2002 at St. Mary's Hospital in Saginaw. She was born on Jan. 29, 1932 in Marblehead, Ohio, the daughter of Francis and Ethel Goretski. She was united in marriage to David Whitenack on Oct. 22 1966, in Port Austin. Alice worked for the Human Development Commission at the Port Austin Senior Center. She is survived by two daughters, Jo-K Wilkos and her husband, Michael, of Flushing, and Cheryl Ratajczak of Grand Blanc; two sons, David Whitenack, Jr., of Port Austin, and Richard Bergquist and his wife, Cindy, of Kinde; six grandchildren, Kristy, Ryan, David, Katie, Jacob, and Jordan; four great-grandchildren, Bruce, Chelsey, Avry, and Hannah; one sister, Vivian Ramm, and her husband, Roger, of Cansfield, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, and her grandson, John David. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2002, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin. Cremation took place earlier. Memorials can be made to the American Lung Association or the Port Austin Library. Monday, July 29, 2002 Jason Henne Jason Alan Henne, 29, of Wayland and formerly of Bay Port, died unexpectedly Saturday morning, July 27, 2002, at Metropolitan Hospital in Grand Rapids. He was born April 20, 1973 in Pigeon, son of Leon J. and April (Roeber) Henne. He was a 1991 graduate from Laker High School and then attended Ferris State University in Big Rapids for two years. He was united in marriage to Rebecca Jo Kropp on Dec. 26, 1992, in Bay Port. Jason was employed as a direct care worker for Transitional Living Services in Wayland for the past three years. He was a member of Bay Port United Methodist Church. He enjoyed NASCAR and was involved in Magic cards and Battletech figurines. Surviving are his wife, Rebecca, of Wayland; two sons, Christian and Patrick Henne, both at home; one sister, Samantha Edgerton of Bad Axe; his parents, Leon and April Henne of Bay Port; grandparents, George and Virginia Roeber of Bay Port and Kenneth Henne of Frankenmuth; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Mary Louise Henne on June 19, 1983. The funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2002, at the Bay Port United Methodist Church. The Rev. Alan DeGraw will officiate with burial in the New Bay Port Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today and 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Meyersieck- Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon. He will lie in state from 11 a.m. Tuesday until the time of service at the church. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the family discretionary fund. Geraldine Laming Geraldine Laming, 83, of Cass City died Saturday, July 27, 2002, in her home at Northwood Meadows in Cass City. She was born Sept. 8, 1918, in Sanilac County to Hiram and Pearl (Allan) Sweet. She married Frank A. Laming on April 6, 1935, in Port Huron. He died Jan. 15, 1999. Geraldine helped her husband on the farm and did all that a farmer's wife needs to do. She was a member of Greenleaf Extension and card club. Geraldine was also a member of Hills and Dales Hospital Auxiliary and the Argyle United Methodist Church. She enjoyed sewing and gardening, especially flower gardening. Geraldine is survived by her daughter, Janice J. Chippi and her husband, Duane, of Cass City; granddaughter, Debbie Leitch and her husband, Jerry, of Bad Axe; grandson, Bill Chippi and special friend, Patsy Bulla, of Cass City; great-grandchildren, Eric Chippi, Nicholas Chippi, and Amiee Hodge; sisters, Belva Smith, Gertrude English and her husband, Warren, Aileen Matter, and Connie Krueger; many nieces and nephews; longtime friend, Frances Lapeer. She was preceded in death by brothers Allan Sweet, Jack Sweet, and Leroy Sweet; and sister Marion Graves. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2002, at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City will the Rev. George Ward of Cass City United Methodist Church officiating. Interment is in Elkland Township Cemetery. Pallbearers for Mrs. Laming include Duane Chippi, Bill Chippi, Jerry Leitch, Eric Chippi, Nicholas Chippi, and John Bulla. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 12 to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to United Hospice of Marlette, Northwood Meadows, or the charity of the donor's choice. Tuesday, July 30, 2002 Veronica Gaszczynski Veronica (Danko) Gaszczynski, 83, of Cass City passed away Monday, July 29, 2002, in her son's home. She was born Sept. 8, 1918, in Acosta, Pa. to John and Elizabeth (Kopko) Danko. She married Chester C. Gaszczynski on June 8, 1948, in Detroit. He preceded her in death on April 22, 1980. Veronica moved to Czechoslovakia with her parents when she was a baby. At the age of 13, she boarded a ship to New York. After six days, she arrived and went through processing at Ellis Island. Veronica got a job working for a family who taught her how to speak English. She moved to Hamtramck when she was 19, where she met Chester Gaszczynski. Veronica was the owner/operator of Veronica's Restaurant for 25 years. She was Business and Professional Women Woman of the Year and a member of St. Pancratius Catholic Church. She enjoyed cooking, being outside, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Veronica is survived by her children, Chester Gaszczynski Jr. and his wife, Cheryl, Leonard Gaszczynski, Michael Gaszczynski and his wife, Bethann, all of Cass City; grandchildren, Charity, Lindsey, and Stacey; brothers, John Danko and George Danko of the Czech Republic; sister Anna Babakovia of the Czech Republic; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Timothy Ted Gaszczynski; and brothers Michael Danko and John Danko. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, 2002, at St. Pancratius Catholic Church with the Rev. Julius Spleet officiating. Interment is in Elkland Township Cemetery. There will be a vigil service at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City. Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m. today and 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and 12 to 1 p.m. Thursday in the church. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. Wednesday, July 31, 2002 Esther I. Allstead Esther I. Myers Allstead, 91, of Westland and formerly of Harbor Beach, passed away Monday, July 29, 2002, in Garden City Hospital. Born October 17, 1910, in Harbor Beach, her maiden name was Fraser. Surviving are two sons, Kenneth Myers and his wife, Sally, and Earl Myers; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. A service will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2002, in the Uht Funeral Home in Westland. A second service will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, 2002, at 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 is from 2 p.m. until the time of services today at the Uht Funeral Home and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Ramsey Funeral Home. Dorothy Olson Dorothy M. Olson, 78, of Bad Axe, passed away on Tuesday morning, July 30, 2002 at Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe. She was born Jan. 16, 1924, in Detroit, daughter of the late Otto and Ida (Michel) Kaufmann. She married Lloyd A. Olson on Nov. 25, 1946 in Detroit. He preceded her in death on April 13, 1995. Dorothy is survived by her children, Kathi Raftery and her husband, Dave, of Bad Axe, and Gary Olson of Ann Arbor; four grandsons, Kevin Curtis of Zephyrhills, Fla., Scott Curtis and his fiancee, Julie Kipp, of Mishawaka, IN, Brian Curtis and his wife, Pamela Mills, of Auburn Hills, and Chad Raftery and his wife, Amanda, of Sterling Heights; three granddaughters, Tammy Cushard and her husband, Dave, of Marshall, Jaimie Olson and Taylor Olson of Dexter; four great-granddaughters, Tori, Heather, and Amanda Cushard of Marshall, Madison Raftery of Sterling Heights; one great-grandson, William David Mills-Curtis of Auburn Hills; one brother, Norman Kaufmann and his wife, Charlotte, of Lake; and one sister, Phyllis Wyrzykowski of Clinton Twp. A graveside memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Colfax Cemetery in Bad Axe, with the Rev. Richard Shuart, pastor of Colfax United Methodist Church, officiating. Cremation has taken place at Sunset Valley Crematory. Visitation will be before 11 a.m. Saturday at the cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Huron County Relay for Life, Huron Memorial Auxiliary, or to the Stockbridge Area Ambulance Association. Memorials may be mailed to the Kaufman Funeral Home at 84 Westland Drive, Bad Axe. Arrangements are being handled by Kaufman Funeral Home in Bad Axe. Irene Stapleton Irene M. Stapleton, 85, of Harbor Beach passed away Monday, July 29, 2002, in the Huron County Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe following an extended illness. Irene was born November 7, 1916, in Harbor Beach to the late Andrew and Emma (Kosal) Schulte. She married John Stapleton on Dec. 30, 1939, in Harbor Beach. John preceded her in death on July 29, 1991. Irene was a member of Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church in Harbor Beach and was a member of the Altar Society. Irene also organized the Huron County Mothers March for Muscular Dystrophy in the early 1960s. She was a retired employee of the Harbor Beach Community Hospital. Irene enjoyed sewing projects. Irene is survived by her children, Rosalee Weiss and her husband, Kenneth, of Port Hope, Tom and Kathy Stapleton of Belfast, Tenn., Ann Wright and her husband, Roderick, of Gaylord, Robert Stapleton and his wife, Georgia, of Eaton Rapids, Maureen Morell and her husband, Lynn, of Ubly, Barbara Geiger and her husband, Warren, of Harbor Beach, Dean Stapleton of Tucson, Ariz., and Deanna Wruble and her husband, William, of Corunna; 23 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; one sister Loraine Lackowski of Parisville. Irene was preceded in death by two sons, Gregory and Dennis Stapleton; two grandsons, Kenneth and Robert Weiss; and two great-grandsons, Daniel and Timothy Lewthwaite; seven brothers, Vincent, Raymond, Andrew, Lawrence, Balerian, Ivan, and Rudolph Schulte; four sisters: Cecilia Chateau, Margaret Weir, Delores Wolshleger, and Rosaleen Schulte. Funeral mass for Irene will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, 2002, in Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church of Harbor Beach with the Rev. Gerald Kukla officiating. Burial will follow in the OLLH Cemetery. A parish vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Ramsey Funeral Home of Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home and from 10 a.m. until the time of service Friday at the church. Thursday, August 1, 2002 Daniel Williams Daniel Wayne Williams, 49, of Cass City died peacefully in his home on Tuesday, July 30, 2002. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, 2002, at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City with Debra L. Kranz, Funeral Service Celebrant, officiating. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. Eva Wise Eva Mae Wise, 63, of Cass City passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2002, in her home after a long illness. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, 2002, at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today and 12 to 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice. Friday, August 2, 2002 Thomas Cain Thomas F. Cain, 87, father of Bernadette Cain of Cass City, died Thursday afternoon, Aug. 1, 2002, at St. Joseph Hospital in Mt. Clemens. Funeral services and burial will be in New York City on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton. In lieu of flowers or memorials, the family requests that you do an act of kindness for someone. Harry Ford Harry R. Ford, 86, of Monroe died at 5:25 a.m. Saturday, July 27, 2002, at Mercy Memorial Hospital in Monroe. Funeral services were 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2002, at Pomeroy Funeral Home in Lexington. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. 1