HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan

Local obituaries for the week beginning December 7, 2003


Contributed 2003 by Carol Morrison for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

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Sunday, December 7, 2003


Alta M. MacAlpine 
Alta M. MacAlpine, 93, lifelong resident of Bad Axe, died Friday, December 5, 2003, at 
Huron County Medical Care Facility.   Mrs. MacAlpine was born April 11, 1910 in 
Meade Township near Filion. She was the daughter of the late William and Greta 
(Bowerman) Nelson.   Miss Alta M. Nelson and Alden A. "Mac" MacAlpine were united 
in marriage on March 25, 1932 in Dayton, Kentucky. Mr. MacAlpine preceded his wife 
in death on May 13, 1998. The couple had been married over 66 years.   Mrs. MacAlpine 
was a life member of the First United Methodist Church, Bad Axe.   She was a graduate 
of the Bad Axe High School Class of 1928; a graduate of Huron County Normal College; 
and taught at Farver & Hagle Rural Country Schools from 1930 until 1932. She was a life 
member of Huronia Chapter #81 Order of the Eastern Star; a charter member of the Bad 
Axe Recreation Bridge Club, and served as past President of Verona Hills Golf Course, 
Women's Division. She enjoyed playing golf, bridge, tending to her African Violets, 
cooking and visiting with her family and friends.   Soon after their marriage, Mr. and 
Mrs. MacAlpine established the MacAlpine Funeral Home in 1933. It still remains a 
family operated business in the third generation.   Surviving are one daughter, Ruth Ann 
Gillis and her husband, John, of Havertown, Pennsylvania; two sons, William MacAlpine 
and his wife, Marilyn, and Thomas MacAlpine, both of Bad Axe; eight grandchildren, 
James Gillis, Christina Gillis, Lori Clancy and her husband, Douglas, Clark MacAlpine 
and his wife, Yumi, William MacAlpine II and his wife, Lisa, Martin MacAlpine, Erin 
MacAlpine, Rene Parks and her husband, William; eight great-grandchildren, Andrea, 
Sean and Sara Clancy; Maiya, Ellen, Sydney, Samuel and Nicholas MacAlpine; one 
brother-in-law, Charles Green, of Bad Axe; one sister-in-law, Leola Davis, of 
Indianapolis, Indiana; several nieces and nephews also survive.   Mrs. MacAlpine was 
preceded in death by three sisters, Mabel Eyth, Ruth Green, and infant sister, Geraldine 
Nelson.   Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 2003, at 
the First United Methodist Church in Bad Axe. Rev. William Wright, pastor, will 
officiate. Burial will take place in Colfax Township Cemetery.   An Order of the Eastern 
Star memorial service will take place at 8 p.m. on Monday at the MacAlpine Funeral 
Home in Bad Axe.   Visitation will be at the funeral home from 1-9 p.m. on Monday, and 
at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.   
Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the First United Methodist Church, Huron 
County Medical Care Facility Park Fund, or the Bad Axe Public Library. 

Monday, December 08, 2003 – No obituaries reported


Tuesday, December 9, 2003 – No obituaries reported


Wednesday, December 10, 2003 – No obituaries reported


Thursday, December 11, 2003


James Casey 
James D. Casey, 80, of Kinde, passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2003, peacefully at 
his home surrounded by his family under hospice care.   He was born on March 8, 1923 
in Pinnebog, son of the late James and Bridget (McGee) Casey.   He married Joyce Allan 
on December 23, 1942 in Bad Axe. Mr. Casey was a skilled electrician and was a 
member of IBEW Local 17. He enjoyed his work and took much pride in the fact that his 
son and his grandson chose to work in the same profession. He enjoyed spending time 
with his family and friends and working in his garden. He loved animals, especially his 
dog, Duke. He was very proud of his Irish heritage and enjoyed listening to Irish music, 
which he passed on to his children and grandchildren.   He is survived by his wife of 61 
years, Joyce Casey, of Kinde; three sons, James Casey and his wife, Dorothy, of Cass 
City, Daniel Casey and his wife, Susan, of Sault Ste. Marie, Patrick Casey and his wife, 
Susan, of Gaylord; seven daughters, Maureen Fealko and her husband, William, of Caro, 
Jeanne Krinkie and her husband, Tony, of Bad Axe, Barbara Smaglinski and her 
husband, Gerald, of Shelbyville, Indiana, Kathleen Koroleski and her husband, David, of 
Kinde, Joan Bushey and her husband, Dennis, of Bad Axe, Laurie Matthews and her 
husband, David, of Bad Axe, Lisa Shepherd and her husband, Christopher, of Harbor 
Beach; one sister, Angela Otterbein, of Bad Axe; one brother-in-law, Clifford Humphrey, 
of Bad Axe; 22 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.   He was preceded in death by 
one grandson, Kyle Casey, on March 11, 2003; six sisters; and two brothers.   Services 
will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 12, 2003, at the Kaufman Funeral 
Home in Bad Axe. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.   Visitation will be from 1 to 
9 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until the service time at 11 a.m. on Friday at the funeral 
home. 

Gertrude Castor 
Gertrude F. Castor, 87, of Sand Point, died Monday evening, December 8, 2003, at the 
Tuscola County Medical Care Facility, Caro.   She was born October 14, 1916 in Prescott 
at the home of her parents, the late William and Blanch (Weishuhn) Hanlon. She grew up 
in the Prescott area but traveled to Bay City to attend high school, graduating from Bay 
City Central in 1933.   On April 30, 1938, she was united in marriage to Nicholas J. 
Castor at the First Baptist Church in Bay City.   Mrs. Castor was an account 
representative at the Sears Credit Union for many years. After they retired in 1983, they 
moved to the place they had built on Sand Point. Mr. Castor preceded her in death on 
March 17, 1990.   Surviving are her son, Robert and his wife, Linsay, of Franklin, 
Tennessee; two granddaughters, Nancy Buppert and her husband, William, of Nashville, 
Tennessee, and Jennifer Tiller and her husband, Rick, of Santa Monica, California; two 
great-grandchildren, Nathan and Olivia Buppert; sister, Merle Turnbull, of Albion.   
Preceding her in death was a son, James, her caregiver for many years, on October 26, 
2003, thus forcing her to go to the care facility.   There will be no visitation or funeral 
service at this time, a memorial service for her and Jim, may be scheduled for next 
summer.   Friends and family may sign the guest book at www.CFCcaseville.com. 

Donald Stern 
Donald H. Stern, 74, resident of Elkton, died Wednesday, December 10, 2003, at St. 
Mary's Hospital in Saginaw.   He was born September 29, 1929 in Duluth, Minnesota to 
the late Lerimer and Katherine (Nester) Stern.   He married Sandra Teague in 1994 in 
Bad Axe. She survives him.   A lifelong resident of the Thumb area, Mr. Stern graduated 
from Harbor Beach High School and attended Wayne State University. He served as a 
county undersheriff for two years. In 1954, he started with Active Industries in the 
shipping department and worked his way up to becoming General Manager until his 
retirement in 1993. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Don 
enjoyed woodworking, refinishing furniture, antiques, auctions, hunting and fishing. He 
was a member of several clubs including the American Legion Frank Horetski Post 
#0499 in Port Austin for 25 years, the Moose Lodge #2358 where he was a charter 
member, Mason Verona Huron Lodge #365, Elf Khurafeh Shriner's of Saginaw and the 
Caseville Fraternal Order of Eagles for 10 years.   Mr. Stern is survived by his wife, 
Sandra Stern; two sons, Chris Stern, of Kinde, Don C. Stern, of Bad Axe; two daughters, 
Patricia Matta and her husband, David, of Washington Township, Terri Orban, of Bad 
Axe; one sister, Lorna Belsky and her husband, Peter, of Verona, Wisconsin; six 
grandchildren, Melissa Matta, Jason Matta, Matthew Chicoineau, Ryan Sensenig, Tori 
Orban and Zachary Orban; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.   He was 
preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Ruth Stern; and daughter, Lori Sensenig.   
Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. on Friday, December 12, 2003, at MacAlpine 
Funeral Home in Bad Axe. The Rev. Jerry Sutton will officiate. Burial will be at Colfax 
Township Cemetery.   Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until the 
time of service at 11 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home. A Masonic memorial service 
will be conducted at 6 p.m. today.   Memorials may be offered to Elf Khurafeh Shriner's 
of Saginaw or the American Legion Frank Horetski Post #0499 in Port Austin. 

Friday, December 12, 2003


Betty Fulk 
Betty M. Fulk, 76, of Owendale, passed away Wednesday, December 10, 2003, while 
under hospice care in Cass City.   She was born in Caro on January 6, 1927, daughter of 
the late Harry H. and Ceilia Berneice (Cross) Emery. The family moved to Owendale 
when Betty was 4 years old, and she graduated in 1946 from Owendale High School. On 
July 9, 1949, she was united in marriage to Floyd W. Fulk in Pigeon. He preceded her in 
death on March 11, 1982.   During high school, Betty worked at Fisher Restaurant. She 
was employed at Owendale Manufacturing for 29 years, from 1947 to 1976, and at 
Walbro for 12 years from 1976 to 1988. She enjoyed reading and crocheting.   Her 
survivors include a sister, Barbara McCallum, of Owendale; and several nieces and 
nephews including Rod and Robin McCallum and Ross and Beth McCallum.   She was 
preceded in death by a sister, Irene Wood.   The funeral service will be conducted at 11 
a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2003, at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, 
Pigeon, with the Rev. Gerald Meyer, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cass 
City, officiating. Burial will be in Grant Township Cemetery.   Visitation will be from 
1:30 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. on Saturday 
at the funeral home.   Memorials for Mrs. Fulk may be made to United Hospice of 
Marlette. 

Bette Deike 
Betty Deike, 80, of Forestville, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Thursday, 
December 11, 2003.   Arrangements are incomplete and being handled by Ramsey 
Funeral Home, Harbor Beach. A complete obituary will be in Sunday's Huron Daily 
Tribune or by viewing RamseyFH.Com. 

Virgil Rifenbark 
Virgil Rifenbark, 78, of Bad Axe, passed away on Thursday, December 11, 2003, at St. 
Mary's Medical Center in Saginaw.   Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on 
Monday, December 15, 2003, at the Kaufman Funeral Home in Bad Axe.   Visitation will 
be from 3 to 9 p.m. on Sunday and from 10 a.m. until the service time at 11 a.m. on 
Monday at the funeral home. A complete obituary will be published in Sunday's edition 
of the Huron Daily Tribune. 



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