HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning August 10, 2003 Contributed 2003 by Carol Morrison for use in the USGenWeb Archives. USGENWEB 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 USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Sunday, August 10, 2003 Frank F. Piot Frank F. Piot, 81, of Hazel Park, died Friday, August 8, 2003, at home. He was born in Detroit on March 13, 1922. He was fond of fishing and gardening. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a beloved husband and a loving father and step-father. He is survived by his wife, Johanna (Spitza-Osantowski); children, Carol Thompson and her husband, Charles, of Sparks, Nev., Eileen Mitchell, of Traverse City, Darlene Pellow and her husband, Wesley, of Hazel Park and Marcia Lynn, of Warren; step-children, Stanley Osantowski, Daniel Osantowski, Raymond Osantowski and his wife, Elvera, Roman Osantowski and his wife, Evelyn, Gary Osantowski and his wife, Cindy, Thomas Osantowski and his wife, Joann, Roy Osantowski and his wife, Barbara, and Sharon Knapp and her husband, Larry; eight grandchildren; 32 great- grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; siblings, Michael Peters and Katie Piotrzkiewicz. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 11, 2003, at St. Mary Megdalen in Hazel Park, where he was a long-time parishioner. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today at Hopcroft Funeral Home, 23919 John R. Road, in Hazel Park. Milton R. Powell Milton R. Powell, 83, of Owendale, died Friday morning, August 8, 2003, at Hills and Dales General Hospital in Cass City following a lengthy illness. He was born Sept. 8, 1919 in Sheridan Township, son of the late Roy and Florence E. (Duffield) Powell. He was united in marriage to Esther L. Hoffman on March 13, 1948 in Kilmanagh. He had been a farmer in the Owendale area for several years and also had been an auto mechanic. He was employed by the Huron County Road Commission for 11 years before retiring in 1984. Mr. Powell had served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Linkville, the Pigeon VFW Post 2236, and had been a Boy Scout leader and served on the Owendale Fire Department. He was an avid gardener and enjoyed woodworking. Surviving are his wife, Esther, of Owendale; seven sons, Leonard Powell and his wife, Margaret, of Springdale, Ark., Roger Powell, and Michael Powell and his wife, Amy, all of Owendale, Daniel Powell and his wife, Deborah, of Calverton, Va., Patrick Powell, of Bad Axe, Morris Powell and his wife, Pamela, of Cass City, Richard Powell and his wife, Terri, of Centennial, Colo.; one daughter, Sandra Salcido and her husband, Joseph, of Owendale; 28 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; one sister, Rosella Kretschmer, of Owendale; two sisters-in-law, Rita Powell, of Cass City and Earline Powell, of Elkton; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Sanford, Vern and Dean Powell; one sister, Virginia Allison. The funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2003, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Linkville. The Rev. Lee C. Wenskay will officiate with burial in Grant Township Cemetery near Gagetown. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 tonight and noon to 9 p.m. Monday at Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing, and he will lie in state from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or the charity of the donor's choice. Monday, August 11, 2003 – No obituaries reported Tuesday, August 12, 2003 John Adams John R. Adams, 54, of Bad Axe, passed away on Monday, August 11, 2003, at his home in Bad Axe. He was born on Feb. 12, 1949 in Sigel Township, son of the late Floyd and Dorothy (Hiller) Adams. He was owner of John Adams Painting in Bad Axe. He was a member of the Bad Axe High School Class of 1968. He enjoyed playing pool, deer hunting, building projects, gardening, playing cards and golfing. He is survived by one daughter, Lori Neumann and her husband, John, of Bad Axe; one son, Kyle Adams, of Bad Axe; two brothers, Ken Adams and his wife, Mariann, of Munger, Tom Adams and his wife, Susan, of Blue Springs, Mo.; three sisters, Jean Kiehl and her husband, Robert, of Verona, Joyce Metzger and her husband, Leonard, of Owendale, Karen Britt and her husband, Perry, of Bad Axe; four grandchildren, Dean Scoviac, of Bad Axe, Jacob Bambach, of Bad Axe, Ryan Bambach, of Kinde, Alexis Adams, of Lansing; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Todd W. Adams, on January 12, 1998; and one brother, Jim Adams. Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003, at the Kaufman Funeral Home in Bad Axe. Officiating will be the Rev. Jan G. Dykshoorn, pastor of the Bad Axe First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Colfax Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and from 10 a.m. until the service time on Thursday at the funeral home. Ronald Chew Jr. Ronald T. Chew, Jr., 22, of Bad Axe, died unexpectedly on Saturday, August 9, 2003, as a result of an automobile accident. He was born Nov. 6, 1980 in Royal Oak, son of Ronald T., Sr. and Mary (Cohenour) Chew, of Bad Axe. Ron was a 1998 graduate of Bad Axe High School where he played on the varsity football team. He was employed at Harbor Beach Wire. Ron loved to fish, just started golfing and enjoyed being with his family and friends. He is survived by his parents; three sisters, Denise McNeil and her husband, Bill, of Madison Heights, Rhonda Dunham and her husband, Kevin, of Clinton Township, and Cindy Olvera, of Bad Axe; seven nieces and nephews, Marina and Billy McNeil, Jacob, Sarah and Matthew Dunham, and Emily and Nathan Olvera; his longtime girlfriend, Penny Freeman, of Bad Axe; his best friend, Bob Arnott III, of Bad Axe; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2003, at the H. W. Weitenberner Funeral Home in Bad Axe. The Rev. Eric Holgren, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Cass City, will officiate. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Elkton. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. tonight, from 2 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday. Chelsea Pleiness Chelsea Rose Pleiness, 17, of Harbor Beach, passed away on Monday, August 11, 2003, in St. Mary's Medical Center in Saginaw from injuries sustained in an auto accident on Sunday near Harbor Beach. Born in Bad Axe on Jan. 14, 1986, she is the daughter of Dennis and Marjorie (Buerkle) Pleiness. Chelsea was a member of the senior class of Port Hope Community School and participated in many school events. She was very active in the drama club, cheerleading, the Oceanography Team, Quiz Bowl, track and was on the yearbook staff. She also was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope. She was employed by the Harbor Beach Resort and was a member of the Young Marines of Port Hope. She enjoyed creating crafts and was an avid reader. She is survived by her parents, Dennis and Marj Pleiness, of Harbor Beach; a sister, Emily Pleiness, of Harbor Beach; a brother, Jacob Pleiness, of Harbor Beach; grandparents, Raymond and Marjorie Buerkle, of Kissimmee, Fla. and Walter Pleiness, of Harbor Beach; aunts and uncles, Catherine and Jim Flores, of Gladstone, Raymond and Debbie Buerkle, of Sandusky, Mary Anne and Joe Laeder, of Hartland, Thomas and Leslie Buerkle, of Sandusky, Sandy Klee, of Port Hope, Kelly Grocholski, of Midland, Donna Roggenbuck, of Harbor Beach, and Connie and Gerald Tschirhart, of Ubly; godparents, Dave Schelke and Mary Jane Pleiness; special friends, Neal and Colleen Emerick, Duane and Marcia Dice, and Larry and Geri Loree; and by many cousins and friends. Chelsea was preceded in death by her grandmother, Bernetta Rose Pleiness; uncle, Steve Roggenbuck; great-grandmothers, Ann Snelson and Aldoria Buerkle. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2003, in St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope with the Rev. Gregory Eilers, pastor, and the Rev. Larry K. Loree, Sr., officiating. Burial will be in the Lakeview Cemetery in Port Hope. A scripture service will be at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday in the funeral home and from noon until the time of the service on Thursday at the church. Wednesday, August 13, 2003 George Miller George A. Miller, 66, of Caseville, died Monday evening, August 11, 2003, in Traverse City, while vacationing, after a yearlong battle with lung cancer. He was born June 8, 1937 in Detroit at the home of his parents, the late George and Laura (Klimek) Miller. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. On August 20, 1964, he was united in marriage to Jacqueline Geisz at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Detroit. He and Jacci moved to Caseville in 1975, where they raised their family. After their children left home, they moved to Walled Lake. George was employed at Aerotek in Pontiac as a Controls Engineer and recently stepped down for health reasons. While in Caseville, George was very active in his community. He was a former Boy Scout leader, member of Knights of Columbus, St. James Catholic Church, Novi, the Caseville Eagles and very active at St. Roch Catholic Church, where he was instrumental in starting the annual chicken BBQ. He also served as an usher, former sexton of the cemetery, Eucharistic minister and lector. George enjoyed teaching, flying, woodworking and robotics. He is survived by his wife, Jacci; four children, George Miller and his wife, Anna, of South Lyon, Gary Miller and his wife, Angela, of Canton, Yvonne Miller, of Northville and Jill Sherrill and her husband, Bill, of Metamora; six grandchildren, Shannon, George, Jennifer, Andy, Brodey and William; brother, Paul Miller and his wife, Anne, of Ypsilanti; two sisters, Janet Witzke and her husband, Robert, of Sebewaing and Joan Kloka and her husband, Charles, of Clinton Township. A funeral mass will be conducted at noon on Friday, August 15, 2003, at St. Roch Catholic Church. The Rev. Kenneth Yaroch, pastor, will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Thursday at Champagne Funeral Chapel in Caseville and after 11 a.m. on Friday at the church. Memorial gifts may be directed to St. Roch Building Fund or the American Cancer Society. Thursday, August 14, 2003 Walter Binder Walter H. Binder, 79, of Phoenix, Ariz. and formerly of the Bad Axe area, passed away on Monday, August 11, 2003, in Phoenix, Ariz. following an extended illness. He was born on Sept. 10, 1923 in Sigel Township, one of eight children of the late Elmer and Clara (Isler) Binder. He was married to Helen Irene Black on October 12, 1945 in Ubly by the Rev. Robert L. Morton. She preceded him in death on March 25, 1999. He and his wife resided in Huron County until they moved to Arizona in 1996. Mr. Binder served on the Sigel Three Township School Board and was intensely involved serving on leadership boards of his home church, the Bad Axe First Baptist Church. Walter is survived by two daughters, Sheila R. Binder, of Phoenix, Ariz., Cheryl Peterson and her husband, James, of Ovid; one son, Walter Binder II and his wife, Ruth, of Sault Ste. Marie; six grandchildren; one brother, Carl Binder and his wife, Wanda, of Bad Axe; one sister, Irene Weitzel, of Bad Axe; three sisters-in-law, Elizabeth "Betty" Binder, of Bad Axe, Jeanette Binder, of Bad Axe, Donna Wood, of Marlette. He was preceded in death by five brothers, George, Wilfred, Harvey, Clarence and Ernie Binder. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2003, at the Bad Axe First Baptist Church. Officiating will be the Rev. Steve Baker, former pastor of the Bad Axe First Baptist Church. Interment will be in the Verona Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday at the Kaufman Funeral Home in Bad Axe and from 10 a.m. until the service time at 11 a.m. at the church. Memorials may be offered to the One in Christ Church of Cottonwood, Ariz., the Bad Axe First Baptist Church, or the Gideon Fund. Betty Perdue Betty Letitia Perdue, 78, of Port Hope, died Wednesday, August 13, 2003, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility. She was born February 15, 1925 in Port Hope, daughter of the late Thomas and Susan (Bruce) Perdue. Betty worked at Detroit Ball Bearing and General Motors for many years. She retired from General Motors, Cadillac Division, in 1993. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, flowers, the outdoors and traveling. Betty is survived by one brother, Thomas Perdue and his wife, Mary Helen, of Minden City; three sisters, Rose Pomerantz, of Harbor Beach, Leona Muter, of Frankenmuth, Susan Navock and her husband, Stanley, of Port Austin; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one brother, William Perdue; two brothers-in-law, Forrest Muter and Walter Pomerantz; one sister-in-law, Dorothea Perdue. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 15, 2003, at MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe. The Rev. Mark Girardin, from Zion Lutheran Church in Harbor Beach, will officiate. Cremation will take place with burial at New River Cemetery in Port Austin at a later date. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today and from 10 until 11 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be offered to the Family Discretionary Fund. Friday, August 15, 2003 Samuel Jones Samuel N. Jones, 96, of Caseville, died Thursday, August 14, 2003, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe. He was born on January 10, 1907 in Ann Arbor, son of the late Arthur and Ida (Garlinghouse) Jones. He and Evelyn Welch were married on Sept. 9, 1933 in Angola, Indiana. Samuel attended Ferris State College in 1928 and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1933. He worked in sales for National Transit of Detroit from 1948 until he retired in 1968. He then worked in sales for Earl C. Smith Trucking in Bad Axe from 1971 until 1975. Samuel also taught executive public speaking for communications between the United States and Canada and served on the Lake Township Tax Review Board for nine years. He was a past Master of the Hubbard- Winsor Lodge 420 of the Masons of Michigan and a member of the Bad Axe Lions Club. Samuel loved gardening, fishing and public speaking. He is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Evelyn; one daughter, Judy Miller and her husband, LeRoy, of Kinde; two grandchildren, David LeMaster and his wife, Marcie, of Caseville, Dawn Leach, of Tecumseh; four great-grandchildren, Jeanne, Michael, Brandon and Kailyn. He was preceded in death by his son, Raymond Jones. In accordance with the wishes of Samuel and his family, his body has been donated to the University of Michigan Medical School. Arrangements are being handled by the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde. Memorials may be made in Samuel's name to the Bad Axe Lions Club. Willard Rees Willard Joseph Rees, 70, resident of Bad Axe, died Wednesday morning, August 13, 2003, at Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe. He was born March 21, 1933 in Harbor Beach to the late Milton and Agnes (Whipping) Rees. Willard and Suzanne Gentner were united in marriage on October 5, 1957. Willard was a U.S. Army Veteran and served two years mostly in Germany. Mr. Rees was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe where he also was a volunteer. He graduated from Our Lady of Lake Huron High School in Harbor Beach and worked for Chrysler for more than 30 years. Willard was a master gardener. He loved the outdoors, and enjoyed NASCAR. Willard is survived by his wife, Suzanne; six sons, Bruce Rees and his wife, Marcelle, of Imlay City, Robert Rees, of Bad Axe, Mark Rees, of Bad Axe, John Rees and his wife, Susan, of West Bloomfield, Matthew Rees, of Bad Axe, Michael Rees, of Bad Axe; two daughters, Karen Volmering and her husband, Gary, of Ruth, Linda Champagne and her husband, Russell, of Harrisville; one brother, Douglas Rees and his wife, Donna, of Harbor Beach; three sisters, Renattah Brenner and her husband, Richard "Mike", of Novi, Nancy Sobczak and her husband, Joseph, of Linden, Betsy Lemanski and her husband, Daniel, of Harbor Beach; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2003, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe. Fr. James Carlson will officiate. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. A prayer service, led by Jan Rapson, will be offered at 7 p.m. tonight at the MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Memorials may be offered to Sacred Heart Food Pantry. Merle Roller Merle August Roller, 91, of Sebewaing, a retired Unionville area farmer, passed away Wednesday, August 13, 2003, at Bay Medical Care Facility in Essexville. He was born on June 22, 1912 in Akron Township, the son of the late Henry and Rosa (Louis) Roller. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Unionville. On July 26, 1942, he married Vernita Lutz at St. John Lutheran Church in Kilmanagh. Vernita passed away on July 4, 1976. Merle then married Oradell Voss Adam on November 4, 1979, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing, and she survives him. Merle is also survived by one daughter; Karen Bray and her husband, Charles, of Clarkston; Gene Roller and his wife, Joann, of Saginaw, Brian Roller and his wife, Darlene, of Lansing, Larry Roller and his wife, Elizabeth, of Canton, Neal Roller and his wife, Donna, of Essexville; ten grandchildren, Kyle Bray, Tracey Daniels, Scott Bray, Paul, David, Stephen, Sarah, Nathan, Evan, and Melissa Roller; one great-grandchild, Kylie Bray; four step-children, Lloyd Adam and his wife, Evelyn, Larry Adam and his wife, Mary Lou, Marilyn Seibel and her husband, Carl, Mary Kelly and her husband, Kurt, all of Sebewaing. Merle was preceded in death by two sisters and three brothers; Alice Gremel, Demont, Loren, LeRoy and Ruth Gaeth. Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 17, 2003, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing with the Rev. Daniel Hahn officiating. Interment will follow at the Demorest Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 2 to 9 p.m. on Saturday at the Unionville Funeral Chapel and from noon until the time of the service at the church on Sunday. Memorials may be given to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Unionville, Bay Medical Care Facility in Essexville, or the donor's favorite charity. 1