HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan

Local obituaries for the week beginning September 7, 2003


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

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Sunday, September 7, 2003 – No obituaries reported


Monday, September 8, 2003 – No obituaries reported


Tuesday, September 9, 2003 – No obituaries reported


Wednesday, September 10, 2003


Joleen Clark 
Joleen S. (Wallace) Clark passed over to eternal life on Sunday, August 31, 2003, after a 
courageous struggle with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease.   Joleen was born June 4, 1935 to 
the late Chet and Hazel (Porter) Wallace of Clare.   She married Hugh Clark on June 23, 
1957 in Clare and they made Harbor Beach their home.   Joleen was actively involved in 
the community through Jaycettes and the United Methodist Church.  She was also 
involved in the Scouting program, serving as both a den mother and Brownie leader as 
well as supporting Hugh's work as a Boy Scout leader for 30 plus years. She especially 
appreciated Hugh's passion for carving and was the recipient for 25 plus years of his 
many caricatures.  Joleen retired in 1996 after working 25 years for Hercules, Inc. and its 
successors.   The greatest joys in Joleen's life were her marriage and raising her three 
children. As grandchildren came along, she cherished time with them and they looked 
forward with great anticipation to her visits. Joleen will be most remembered for her 
talents in the kitchen and how she shared her gifts with others. When a new family 
moved into the neighborhood or another family was in need, her Heath Bar coffee cake or 
a meal was on its way.   Hugh and Joleen enjoyed spending time out-of-doors. Their love 
of canoeing led them to spend the past 15 years actively involved in the Wooden Canoe 
Heritage Association, an organization dedicated to the preservation and heritage of 
wooden canoes. When she wasn't canoeing, Joleen could often be found on the golf 
course, an activity she enjoyed with family and friends.   Joleen deeply appreciated the 
love and support that she received from family and friends during her illness, and she will 
long be remembered as a loving and joyful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.   
Joleen is survived by her husband, Hugh; children, Don and his wife, Lynne, of Pulaski, 
Va., Valerie Gerhart and her husband, Bruce, of Midland, and Kathy Richter and her 
husband, Warren, of Rockford; brothers, Bob, Don and his wife, June, and Roger 
Wallace and his wife, Diana; seven grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.   She 
was greeted in heaven by her parents; in-laws; and her close friend, Helen Bosch.   A 
service of remembrance will be conducted on Saturday, September 13, 2003, at 1:30 p.m. 
at the Ramsey Funeral Home of Harbor Beach with the Rev. Clarence VanConant 
officiating. Cremation has taken place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City.   
Visitation with the family will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to noon on 
Saturday.   In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The Harbor 
Beach Lighthouse Preservation Society, the United Methodist Church of Harbor Beach or 
the Heartland Hospice. 

Agnes Shankin 
Agnes Shankin, 96, passed away on September 7, 2003, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital 
Bellbrook in Rochester Hills.   Mrs. Shankin was born on April 19, 1907 in Detroit.   
Agnes learned housekeeping at an early age, she became the family's chief cook and 
bottle-washer when her mother, Susan Glinski, was hired as one of Detroit's first police 
officers. She was well known for her expertise with a needle and thread and her devotion 
to her family. She attended Assumption Grotto Church with her family. A 26-year 
resident of Florida, Mrs. Shankin was a member of St. Marks church in Boynton Beach. 
She also spent her summers at Pointe Aux Barques, starting in 1939.   She is survived by 
William Jr. and his wife, Lois, Donald, Kathleen Bonstrom and her husband, Chuck, 
Norbert and his wife, Joan, and Suzanne Hyatt and her husband, Norris; 31 
grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren.   Agnes was 
preceded in death by her husband, William.   A funeral service will be conducted at St. 
Michaels Church in Port Austin.   Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, 
September 11, 2003, and a mass will follow. Arrangements are being handled by 
Knoblock Funeral Home in Port Austin. 

Frieda Wortman 
Frieda "Fritz" Mae (Stiebe) Wortman was born on August 4, 1924 in Bad Axe.   Prior to 
her move to Tucson in 1967, Frieda lived a global life, wherever the Navy stationed her 
husband, George. She enjoyed work as a medical transcriptionist at St. Joseph's Hospital 
until her retirement. Frieda, known as "Mima" by her grandchildren, was an avid reader 
and game player. She was always there for her family and everyone who walked through 
her door, which was always open. Her generosity and kind heart were felt by those 
around her. An exceptional Mom and Grandmother, she will be dearly missed by her 
family and all who knew her. Frieda was also very involved in the support of Green Hills 
Community Pool, where she spent many summers.   She is survived by her brother, 
Bernard Stiebe; children, Candy Minker and her husband, Chris, Penny Wortman, Debbie 
Teissedre and her husband, Jack, Ileen Isza and her husband, Mark, of Paulden, Ariz., 
Fred Wortman and his wife, Annette; grandchildren, Kimberly, Tim, Jennifer, Mark, 
Daniel, Jeff, Nicole, and Monica; and numerous nieces and nephews.   Frieda was 
preceded in death by her parents, Alice Stiebe Hebner and Robert Stiebe; siblings, Verna 
Stiebe, Thelma Pratt, Ileen Gobel, Ardith Geick, Arthur "Butch" Stiebe; and her husband, 
George Wortman.   In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Green Hills Pool 
Assoc., 7012 E. Rosewood, Tucson, AZ 85710.   A memorial service to celebrate her life 
will be conducted at Fountain of Life Lutheran Church, 710 S. Kolb Rd., Tucson, Ariz. 
on Sunday, September 14, 2003, at 1:30 p.m. 

Thursday, September 11, 2003

Charles Gay 
Charles Gay, 76, of Bad Axe, passed away on Tuesday, September 9, 2003, at the Mid 
Michigan Regional Medical Center in Midland following an extended illness.   He was 
born on January 15, 1927 in Kinde, son of the late Joseph and Stella (Harris) Gay.   He 
married Elizabeth Trombley on June 16, 1948 in St. Michael's rectory in Port Austin.   He 
was a plumber at the former Gay Plumbing and Heating in Bad Axe, a photographer at 
Hearsch's Studio and a machinist at Huron Tool in Bad Axe. He was a former Bad Axe 
Little League coach and enjoyed pheasant hunting, perch fishing, amateur radio 
operations, computers, lawn care, photography and classical music. He served in the U.S. 
Army during World War II.   Charles is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Gay, of Bad Axe; 
three sons, Danny Gay, of Overland Park, Kansas, Douglas Gay and his wife, Linda, of 
Bad Axe, David Gay and his wife, Lou Ann, of Eureka, Missouri; one grandson, Charles 
Gay, of Mount Pleasant; one brother, Alfred Gay and his wife, Irene, of Kinde; two 
sisters, Lota Grindstead, of Orlando, Fla., and Arvilla Arch, of Shelby Township.   He 
was preceded in death by one sister, Eldora Martinson.   Funeral services will be 
conducted at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 13, 2003, at the Kaufman Funeral Home in 
Bad Axe. Officiating will be Fr. James Carlson, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. 
Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.   Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Friday 
and from 9 a.m. until the service time at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.   
Memorials may be offered to the National Kidney Foundation.   

Friday, September 12, 2003
Jasmine Dinsmoore 
Jasmine Renee Dinsmoore, 15, died Wednesday, September 10, 2003, at Genesys in Flint 
from injuries received in an automobile accident near Clarkston.   She was born February 
18, 1988 in Jacksonville, N.C., daughter of William J. and Becky A. (Jamieson) 
Dinsmoore Jr.   Jasmine was a sophomore at Clarkston High School.   Surviving are her 
parents, Bill and Teresa Dinsmoore Jr., of Sebewaing; Becky and Terry Summerlee, of 
Clarkston; five sisters and two brothers, Samantha, Ashley, Nick and Taylor Summerlee, 
Tessa, Breanna and Carissa Dinsmoore; her grandparents, Phyllis Jamieson, of 
Sebewaing, William and Pamela Dinsmoore Sr., of Unionville, James and Susan 
Summerlee, of New York, Bill and Judy Mielke, of Sebewaing; and many aunts, uncles 
and cousins.   The funeral service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 
13, 2003, at Clarkston United Methodist Church in Clarkston.   Visitation will be from 3 
to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday at the Wint Funeral Home, 5929 S. Main St., Clarkston. 
There will also be a visitation from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Dinkel-Juengel 
Funeral Home in Sebewaing . Burial will be in New Salem Lutheran Cemetery near 
Sebewaing.   Memorials may be made to Gift of Life. 









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