HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning July 13, 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, July 13, 2003 Ruth Green Ruth I. Green, 86, lifelong resident of Bad Axe, died Saturday, July 12, 2003, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility. She was born in Bad Axe on Dec. 18, 1916 to the late William and Greta (Bowerman) Nelson. Ruth Nelson and Charles Green were married Dec. 2, 1942 in the MacAlpine Funeral Home chapel. Ruth was a Michigan Bell operator and worked as a teller and bookkeeper for Hubbard State Bank, presently Independent Bank. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Bad Axe. She was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Association, V.F.W. Auxiliary, 69th Infantry Auxiliary Association, and a life member of Verona Hills Golf Club. She enjoyed golf, bridge, cooking, baking and visiting with family and friends. Ruth is survived by her husband, Charles, of Bad Axe; one son, Mark, and his wife, Michelle, of Bad Axe; two grandchildren, Lisa Town and her husband, Taggart, of Grand Rapids and Brian Green, of Saginaw; one sister, Alta MacAlpine, of Bad Axe; and several nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by two sisters, Geraldine Nelson, Mabel Eyth and her husband, Harold; one brother-in-law, Alden "Mac" MacAlpine; one brother-in-law and sister-in-law Raymond and Delores Green. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 14, 2003, at the MacAlpine Funeral Home of Bad Axe. The Rev. William Wright, pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Bad Axe, will officiate. Visitation will be from 1 to 6 p.m. today and 10 a.m. until the time of service Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Colfax Township Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Bad Axe or the Family Discretionary Fund. Monday, July 14, 2003 Nancy Weippert Nancy Elaine Weippert, 53, of Cass City, died Sunday, July 13, 2003, in Covenant Health Care-Cooper, Saginaw. She was born June 12, 1950 in Cass City to Ellit Ray and Freda Elizabeth (Miller) Auvil. Nancy graduated from Central Michigan University with a master's degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in science. She also attended courses at Saginaw Valley State University. She worked for Cass City Public Schools as a school teacher since the fall of 1972 and was the Cass City Education Association treasurer. She was a TCC representative and president. She was a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and their Board of Education. She was active in the Thumb Area Compassionate Friends as secretary and treasurer and also treasurer of the United Way. She acted as treasurer of the Cass City Boy Scouts Parental Committee. Nancy enjoyed golfing, boating, reading and walking. Nancy is survived by her son, Jeremy Weippert, of Cass City; siblings, Steven Ray Auvil and his wife, Jane, of Allentown, Pa., Kathy Keaton and her husband, Al, of Tallahassee, Fla., Janet Giles and her husband, Donnell, of Philadelphia, Pa.; ten nieces and nephews; dear friend, Pat Fox. She was preceded in death by her son, Nathan. A rosary service will be conducted at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at Kranz Funeral Home. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, with the Rev. David Anthony, of Grace Lutheran Church, officiating. Interment is in Elkland Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight and from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Multiple Sclerosis Society-Michigan Chapter, or Thumb Area Compassionate Friends. Tuesday, July 15, 2003 Clayton Brinker Clayton E. Brinker, 86, a former resident of Bad Axe and Kinde, died Sunday, July 13, 2003, at Cantebury-on-the-Lake Nursing Center in Waterford Township after a brief illness. Clayton was born Nov. 22, 1916 in Kinde to the late William and Lucy (Stoner) Brinker. He was a graduate of Kinde High School and the Detroit Business College. While attending college, he traveled with and played saxophone in the Johnny Mercer Orchestra. On April 25, 1936, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth May (Aisthorpe) McDonald of Kinde at LaGrange, Ind. In the spring of 1944, Clayton and Elizabeth moved to Bad Axe where they resided until the late 1970s. During World War II, Clayton traveled throughout the United States and South America under commission by the U.S. government to locate and purchase timber for military use including the lumber used in aircraft carrier flight decks. Clayton was the owner and manager of the Brinker Lumber Company with yards in Bad Axe, Cass City, Kinde and Saginaw. He constructed the McDonald IGA Foodliner in 1954 and founded Northgate Plaza in 1957 when the new Brinker Lumber Company yard was built on the site presently occupied by Mortimer Lumber. He designed and built many homes and buildings throughout Huron County. He retired from the Braver Lumber Company in the mid-1980s and worked as a consultant and independent architectural designer into the 1990s. Clayton was a member of the Kinde Presbyterian Church and the First Presbyterian Church of Bad Axe. He was also a member of Verona-Huron Mason Lodge #365 F&AM, Bad Axe. Clayton was a member of the Bad Axe Industrial Development Corporation and served as a trustee, and on the Bad Axe Board of Education. He was also a member of the Verona Hills Golf Club for many years. Surviving are his daughters, Kaye McDonald and her husband, David, of Bad Axe, Charlotte Patton and her husband, Jack, of Lake Orion, Carmen Ferguson and her husband, Robert, of Seward, Ala., Kirsten Brinker and her friend, Michael Mundth, of Pontiac; ten grandsons; two granddaughters; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth (Betsy); son, William Kurt Brinker; and daughter, Constance Elizabeth Wilson. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 18, 2003, at the MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe. The Rev. Theresa Cutler, pastor, will officiate. A Masonic memorial service will follow at 1:30 p.m. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service at 1 p.m. Interment will be at New River Cemetery. Memorials may be offered to the Alzheimer's Association, 20300 Civic Center Drive, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48076. Bette Ann Dubs Bette Ann Dubs, 62, of Pigeon, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2003, at her home with her family while under hospice care. Bette was born Aug. 3, 1940 to Arthur and Dorothy (Hilyer) Lobdell in Sebewaing. On Aug. 24, 1957, she was married to Wilbert "Pete" Dubs at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Linkville. Bette enjoyed her grandchildren, playing cards with friends and traveling. She was a longtime member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Linkville, the Golden Agers, the choir and Ladies Aid. During her working career, she was employed with the Polewachs store, Laursen's Drugstore and Bay Port State Bank. She is survived by her husband, Pete; her children, Patricia Diebel and her husband, Jay, of Pigeon, Jerry Dubs and his wife, Angie, of Owendale, Michael Dubs and his wife, Tracy, of Bad Axe, and Cindy Dubs, of Pigeon; eight grandchildren, Jeremy, Jeff, Chad and his special friend, Sarah, Becky, Derek, Aaron, BreeAnna and Kevin; two great-grandsons, Mason and Jerome; a brother, Robert Lobdell, of Roseville and his special friend, Peggy; a sister-in-law, Linda Lobdell, of Ohio; many brothers-in- law and sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Dorothy Lobdell; a brother, Wallace; and a half-sister, Lucille Herrington. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Linkville, with the Rev. Lee Wenskay, pastor, and the Rev. James Nihiser officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. tonight at Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Linkville. Memorials for Mrs. Dubs may be given to the American Diabetes Association, St. Paul's Lutheran Building Fund or United Hospice. Mable Fisher Mable K. Fisher, 93, of Ubly and formerly of Minden City, passed away Monday, July 14, 2003, at Huron County Medical Care Facility of Bad Axe after a long illness. Mable was born on Oct. 12, 1909 in Ubly to the late Michael and Nora (Periso) Osentoski. She married Stanley A. Fisher on June 25, 1929 at St. John Catholic Church of Ubly. He preceded her in death on May 25, 1998. Mable was a graduate of Ubly High School. She received her teaching certificate from County Normal. She taught in the country school system for a few years. She cleaned for the Michigan Peat Office. She worked at Clements Manufacturing in Deckerville for ten years. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church of Parisville from 1929 to 1989. She then moved from the farm in 1989 to Ubly. Since then, she has been a parishioner at St. John Catholic Church of Ubly and a member of St. John Christian Mothers Circle 2, St. Monica Circle. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella Fidelis Regina Circle No. 608 for more than 50 years. She enjoyed bowling for the Farmers Elevator in Minden City. She loved to travel to Hawaii, Florida, New Jersey and California. She also loved gardening and canning. Mable is survived by one son, Melvin Fisher and his wife, Carol, of Saginaw; two daughters, Rosemarie Horan and her husband, Robert, of Port Huron, Suzanne Kroetsch and her husband, Gerald "Joe", of Snover; one sister, Maxine Archer, of Brighton; one brother-in- law, Evans Quigg, of Ubly; 14 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; three great-great- grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; two step-great-great-grandchildren. Mable was preceded in death by her husband; one infant daughter; one great-granddaughter; four sisters, Eunice Quigg, Luella Rumptz, Ione Weltin and Helen Osentoski. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 17, 2003, at St. John Catholic Church of Ubly. The Rev. T.J. Fleming, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. There will be a parish vigil service at 7 p.m. and a joint rosary by the Daughters of Isabella and the St. John's Christian Mothers at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Both services will be at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home of Ubly. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Emery Kady Mr. Emery S. Kady, 84, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2003. He was born in Bad Axe on Aug. 28, 1918, the son of James and Marcella (Molnar) Kady. On March 20, 1941, he married Anna Golis. Mr. Kady had been a lifelong farmer. He was a member of the Farm Bureau and of St. Agatha Catholic Church in Gagetown. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Anna; sons, Eugene and his wife, Melanie, of Owendale, and Ronald and his wife, Joann, of Gagetown; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers, Bill and Steve; and sister, Gladys Laetz. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at St. Agatha Church with Fr. Steve Fillion officiating. A vigil service will take place at 7 tonight at the Gagetown Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 tonight at the funeral chapel. Mr. Kady will lie in state from 10 a.m. until mass time Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be directed to the church or to the charity of the donor's choice. Robert Lemanski Robert Lemanski, 80, resident of Dwight Township, died July 13, 2003, at the Huron Medical Center. He was born in Detroit on Aug. 26, 1922 to the late Edward and Ida (Horetski) Lemanski. Robert Lemanski and Helen Essenmacher were married Nov. 18, 1961 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe. The late Msgr. Charles Roark celebrated the marriage. Mr. Lemanski has served as the Dwight Township deputy treasurer, trustee, clerk and recently supervisor/assessor for a number of years. He also recently served as a board member of the Kinde area fire department. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dwight. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Bad Axe Council No. 1546. Robert is survived by his wife, Helen; one daughter, Bobbi Arnold and her husband, Peter, of Vienna, Va.; one granddaughter, Catherine Arnold; one brother, Clarence Lemanski and his wife, Mary, of Redford Township; and five nieces and nephews. Robert was preceded in death by one brother, Anthony Lemanski. Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2003, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dwight. Fr. Mieczyslaw Oniskiewicz, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at MacAlpine Funeral Home-Gage Chapel in Kinde. A parish wake scripture service will be at 7 p.m., followed by a rosary at 8 p.m. by the Knights of Columbus. Memorials may be offered to St. Mary's Catholic Church or the donor's choice. Alice Nowaczyk Alice Katherine Nowaczyk, 92, of Pigeon, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2003, at Tendercare of Cass City. She was born in Gaylord on Feb. 8, 1911, daughter of the late Thomas and Maryann (Wiesenberger) O'Rourke. On Nov. 26, 1928, she was united in marriage to Mack Nowaczyk in Allegan. He preceded her in death on March 13, 1960. From 1957 to 1974, Mrs. Nowaczyk worked at and managed Harry's Tavern in Pigeon, which later became Alice's Bar. She enjoyed bowling and playing pool until the age of 86 as well as gardening. She was a member of St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Pigeon. She is survived by three sons, Jerome Nowaczyk and his wife, Grace, of Mesa, Ariz., Gerald Nowaczyk and his wife, Bonnie, of Owendale, Richard Nowaczyk, of Pigeon; nine grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by nine brothers, Mike, John, Maynard, William, Vincent, Marcus, Stephen, Clement and Joseph O'Rourke. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2003, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Gaylord with Fr. Dan Gallagher officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The vigil service will be at 7 p.m. tonight at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon, with Sr. Theresa Fox, O.P., of St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Pigeon, officiating. The rosary will be at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the Nelson Funeral Home in Gaylord. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. tonight at Meyersieck Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon and from 2 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at Nelson Funeral Home in Gaylord. Abagail Wolschlager Abagail Lee Wolschlager passed away at her birth into the Kingdom of Heaven on Thursday, July 3, 2003. She is survived by her parents, Todd and Gaye Wolschlager, of Port Huron; her grandparents, Thomas and Maxine Bachman, of Port Huron and Bernard and Carol Wolschlager, of Bad Axe; great-grandparents, William and Annette Nugent, of Bad Axe, Lois Wolschlager, of Bad Axe; aunts and uncles, David Bachman, of Utica, Lisa Bachman, of Port Huron, Chris and Heather Wolschlager, of Akron; two cousins, Hannah and Logan Wolschlager; and several great aunts and great uncles. Family services have taken place. Interment was in Lakeside Cemetery. Contributions may be made in Abagail's memory to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Port Huron Hospital Acheson Family Birthplace or the Bereaved Parents. Wednesday, July 16, 2003 Ada Eisinger Ada Rose Eisinger, 84, of Pigeon, passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe. She was born in Bay Port on Aug. 8, 1918, daughter of the late Herbert Oscar and Daisy Wealthy (Petty) Deming, and graduated from the Snell School. On May 13, 1934, she was united in marriage to Clarence Eisinger in Bay Port. He preceded her in death on Sept. 22, 1986. Mrs. Eisinger worked with her husband in the tiling business. She was also a homemaker throughout her lifetime, especially enjoying her family as well as bird watching, reading and current events. She is survived by four daughters, Rose Voss, of Pigeon, Betty Rapson and her husband, Darrel, of Pigeon, Iris Fricks, of Bridgeport, and Lola Walker and her husband, Keith, of Elkton; two sons, Gary Eisinger and his wife, Helen, of Port Austin and Clarence Dale "Pete" Eisinger and his wife, Karen, of Laingsburg; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Elsie Miller, of Dunellon, Fla., Evelyn Haag, of Bad Axe, Genevieve King, of East China, and Dorothy Ruby, of Silver Springs, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Daisy Cottrill; her sister, Beatrice Hewitt, and her twin sister, Ida Haag; and four brothers, Albert, Edward, Harold and Donald Deming. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2003, at the Meyersieck- Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon with the Rev. Don Stroud, pastor of the Bad Axe Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. tonight and from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Huron Memorial Hospice or to the charity of the donor's choice. Thursday, July 17, 2003 Douglas Finkbeiner Douglas C. Finkbeiner, 45, of Traverse City and formerly of Linkville, passed away Monday, July 14, 2003. The funeral service will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, July 21, 2003, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Linkville. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday at the church. Arrangements are being conducted by the Meyersieck- Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon. Hezekiah Schmidt Hezekiah Edward Schmidt went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 11, 2003. He is survived by his parents, Edward and Tanya Schmidt, of Ubly; one step-sister, Whitney Jarson, of Elkton; paternal grandparents, Joseph and Susan Schmidt, of Ubly; maternal grandmother, Patricia Hinds, of Bad Axe; maternal grandfather, Danny Hinds, of Kingsley; paternal great-grandmothers, Lillian Schmidt, of Bad Axe and Louise Walsh, of Ubly; maternal great-grandmothers, Dorothy Roach, of Caro and Patricia Roelke, of Port Huron; many uncles, aunts and cousins. Private funeral services were conducted Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. The Rev. Ronald Landenburg, pastor of New Life Ministries Church of Filion, officiated. Burial was in St. Ignatius Cemetery in Freiburg. Friday, July 18, 2003 Anthony Baranski Anthony J. "Tony" Baranski, 95, of Port Austin, died Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at his home. He was born on July 15, 1908 in Port Austin, son of the late Joseph and Mary (Ignash) Baranski. He married Viola Yaroch on Nov. 23, 1938 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin. Tony was a lifelong farmer in Port Austin and a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife, Viola; two daughters, Connie Baranski, of Port Austin, and Barbara (Vern) Allen, of Munising; on granddaughter, Cheryl Allen, of Ypsilanti; sister, Mary Baranski; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Angeline Baranski; and two brothers, Sylvester and John Baranski. A Funeral Mass will be take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 21, 2003, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin. The Rev. Robert Pare will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Monday at the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde. There will be a vigil at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Martha Janderwski Martha V. Janderwski, 71, lifelong resident of Kinde and Colfax Township near Bad Axe, died at her home Wednesday, July 9, 2003. She was born Nov. 21, 1931 in Bad Axe to the late Hiram and Viola (Hall) Toner. Miss Martha Toner and Raymond Janderwski were united in marriage July 9, 1949 in Pigeon. Mrs. Janderwski was a member of St. Edward's Catholic Church in Kinde. She also attended St. Columbkille Catholic Church, Sheridan Corners. She was employed for a time at the Kinde Telephone Company. Together with her husband, Raymond, she was a co-manager of the Huron County Light House Park near Huron City. Martha enjoyed knitting, playing cards, gardening and visiting her family and friends. Mrs. Janderwski is survived by her husband, Raymond; one son, Robert Janderwski and his wife Kathy, of Standish; two daughters, Pamela Kennedy and her husband, Alan, of Reese, Cindy Gucwa and her husband, Adam, of Bad Axe; one brother-in-law, Richard Miller, of Kinde; one sister-in- law, Virginia Toner, of Kinde; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and three step grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Emily Janderwski; one sister, Mary Jane Miller; one brother, Raymond Toner; and an infant sister. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, July 21, 2003, at MacAlpine Funeral Home Gage Chapel in Kinde. Fr. Mieczysiaw Oniskiewicz, pastor of St. Edward-St. Mary's Catholic Church, will officiate. The cremains will be interred at St. Edward's Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Bruce Wixom Bruce H. "Buzz" Wixom, 69, of Caseville, formerly of Keego Harbor and Clarkston, died Wednesday, July 16, 2003. He is survived by his children, Bruce H. Wixom, Jr., of Pontiac, Jody Whittaker, of Colorado, Ann Woolman and her husband, Charlie, of Texas, Tina Weaver and her husband, Andy, of Traverse City, and Laura Wixom, of Clarkston; brother, Charles Wixom, Jr., of Chicago. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Buzz was a graduate of Pontiac High School. He retired from Michigan Bell in 1993. He was an active member of the Caseville Eagles and formerly the Clarkston Eagles. Mr. Wixom loved fishing and boating. The funeral service will be Tuesday, July 22, 2003, at 10 a.m. at Coats Funeral Home in Waterford. Visitation will take place Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and Monday 3 - 5 and 7 - 9 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Karmanos Cancer, envelopes available at the funeral home. Jacquelyn Lankey Jacquelyn Lankey, 78, of Caseville, died Friday morning, July 18, 2003, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility. There will be no visitation or funeral service at this time. Cremation will take place at Sunset Valley Crematory, Bay City. Friends may sign the guest book at www.champagnefuneralchapel.com. A complete obituary will be in Sunday's Huron Daily Tribune. Laura Laskie Laura E. Laskie, 93, of Caseville, died Friday morning, July 18, 2003, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility. She had requested that there be no visitation. A graveside service will be conducted Monday afternoon at the Caseville Township Cemetery. Friends may sign the guest book at www.champangefuneralchapel.com. Margaret Summers Margaret A. Summers, 80, of Grant Township, died Friday morning, July 18, 2003, at her home while under hospice care. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 21, 2003, at the Gagetown Church of the Nazarene. Visitation will take place at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton from 2 to 9 p.m. on Sunday. A complete obituary will be in Sunday's Daily Tribune or can be seen at www.champagnefuneralchapel.com. 9