HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning August 17, 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 17, 2003 Donna Dembowski Donna K. Dembowski, 85, of Unionville, passed away Tuesday evening, August 12, 2003. She was born in Auburn on July 11, 1918, the daughter of Charles "Ed" and Victoria (Deford) Guenther. She married Otto Dembowski on March 7, 1937. Donna was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Unionville. She enjoyed bowling, golfing and reading. Surviving along with Otto, her beloved husband of 66 years, are their children, Thomas Chesnee, and his wife Carolyn, of South Carolina, Susann Georgi and her husband, Steven, of Irvine, Calif; grandchildren, Julie Epperson, Terri Trickel, Bobbi Nelson, Susan Betancourt, Heidi Pletsch, Jody Ferguson, Jamie Lewis and Tony Winslow; 19 great grandchildren; brothers, Charlie Guenther, of Grayling and Lyle Guenther, and his wife, Jeanie, of Caro; sisters, Elaine Sparks, of Clio and Deloris Tucker, of Alma. Proceeding her in death were her brother, Duane Guenther, and sister, Normal LaFave. Funeral services took place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2003, at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Rev. Michael Allen officiating. Burial followed at the Columbia Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Church or the American Cancer Society. Monday, August 18, 2003 – No obituaries reported Tuesday, August 19, 2003 Bruce Harder Bruce Lee Harder, 72, of Big Rapids and formerly of Hersey and Iron River, passed away Monday, August 18, 2003, at the Metron Nursing Home in Big Rapids. A graveside committal service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2003, at the Grand Lawn Cemetery in Winsor Township, with the Rev. Mike Goforth, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Caseville, officiating. Arrangements are being conducted by the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon. Wednesday, August 20, 2003 Marion Gardner Marion Pudney Gardner, 85, of Caseville, died Monday, August 18, 2003, in Bad Axe. Marion was born in Buffalo, N.Y. on August 20, 1917. She moved to Detroit at age 12. Marion and her late husband, Leslie, were married June 15, 1940. After 27 years at National Bank of Detroit (now Bank One), Marion retired. Marion and Leslie then made their long time summer home in Caseville their year-round home in 1983. Marion is the dearest mother of Barbara Gehring and her husband, Neal; dear grandmother of Jeffrey and Jeremy Gehring. She was preceded in death by her brother, Charles. A memorial service and interment will be at Caseville Township Cemetery at 4 p.m. on Aug. 23, 2003. Arrangements are being conducted by Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon. Memorials may be made to Thumb Bluewater Youth for Christ, Pigeon First United Methodist Church or Huron County Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe. Thursday, August 21, 2003 Denise Schaper Denise Marie Schaper, 64, of Saginaw, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 19, 2003. Denise passed away at home with her husband and children at her side. Denise Marie Maxwell was born September 22, 1938 in Saginaw, the daughter of the late Bernard and Zelima (Vaillancourt) Maxwell. She graduated from SS Peter and Paul High School in 1956. She married Alton D. Schaper on June 21, 1958. He survives her. She had been employed as a payroll clerk with Morton, Brewster and Heinz, CPA. She was an active member of SS Peter and Paul Parish where she served as Eucharistic minister and took communion to shut-ins. She enjoyed craftmaking and spending time with her grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Alton Schaper; two daughters, Pam Jackson, and Laura Groening and her husband, Todd; one son, Steve Schaper and his wife, Lisa; six grandchildren, Alyssa, Cassie, Mac, Haley, Matthew and Seth; two sisters, Rita Gaertner and her husband, Carl, Bernadine Pepera and her husband, Floyd; brother- in-law, Michael Nowaczyk; many nieces and nephews and their families. Funeral mass will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2003, at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Saginaw. The Rev. Fr. Robert DeLand will officiate with burial in St. Andrew Cemetery. Friday, August 22, 2003 Wayne Krohn Wayne A. Krohn, 77, retired Elkton area businessman, died Wednesday evening at his home. He was born Oct. 7, 1925 at the home of his parents, the late Ray and Luella (Steinman) Krohn. On Nov. 4, 1944, he was united in marriage to Kathleen Gettel at the Kilmanagh Methodist Parsonage. She preceded him in death Sept. 10, 2001. Wayne was a farmer. He and Kathleen also owned and operated the Elkton Dairy Bar from 1957 to 1965. In the late sixties, he became an insurance agent with Mutual of Omaha and later Jackson National. They wintered in Florida the past 21 years. Wayne was a member of the Elkton United Methodist Church, charter member of the Elkton Lions Club, a member of Century Oaks Golf Course in Elkton and Seven Springs Golf and Country Club in Florida. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and was an avid golfer. He also enjoyed being partners with his sons on several golf leagues and tournaments for over 20 years. He is survived by his daughter, Kay Thompson and her husband, Floyd, of Elkton; three sons, Terry Krohn and his wife, Cathy, Jim Krohn and his friend, Jean Ruppel, of Elkton, Doug Krohn and his wife, Chris, of Bad Axe; special friend, Lois Bruderick of Elkton; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Marguerite Baber and her husband, Eddie; four sisters-in-law, Anna Marie Krohn, Rosa Mae Krohn, Vi Dembowske, Herta Shope and her husband, Elmer. He was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Kyle Hatfield; two brothers, Don and Bill Krohn. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Elkton United Methodist Church. The Rev. Pete Crawford, pastor, will officiate with burial in Riverside Cemetery, Elkton. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton and after 10 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Memorials may be directed to the church and friends may sign the guest book at www.CFCelkton.com. Helen Steinbis Helen L. Steinbis, 81, of Port Hope, passed away Wednesday evening, August 20, 2003, at her home in Huron Township with hospice care following a long illness. Born in Port Hope on August 20, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Emma (Liedke) Engel. On June 10, 1944, Helen and Erhardt Steinbis were united in marriage in Bad Axe. Erhardt preceded her in death on Nov. 13, 1997. Helen was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope and the ladies auxiliary. She is survived by her children, Elaine Benson, of Burton, Evan Steinbis and Kenneth Steinbis, both of Port Hope; two grandsons, Steven Benson and Mark Benson and his wife, Angela, both of Burton; three great-granddaughters, Jackie, Remington and Montana; three sisters, Lydia Schmidt, of Port Huron, Esther Leese, of Bad Axe, Bertha Leese, of Port Hope; sister-in-law, Esther and Edwin Zick, of Port Hope; brother-in-law, Arnold Steinbis, of Bad Axe; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Walter and Robert Engel; three sisters, Martha Moeller, Annie Gentner and Ida Schultz. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2003, in St. John Lutheran Church, Port Hope, with the Rev. Gregory Eilers, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Marquardt Cemetery, Port Hope. A scripture service will be at 8:30 p.m. tonight in the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. tonight at the funeral home and from 11:30 a.m. until the time of services on Saturday at the church. 1