HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning June 22, 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, June 22, 2003 Mary Kirton Mary Agnes Kirton, 99, of Cass City, passed away on Saturday, June, 21, 2003, in Tendercare Nursing Facility, Cass City. She was born on Oct. 14, 1903 in Sanilac County to William and Annie (McGeachy) Handley. She married Benjamin Kirton on Oct. 31, 1924 in Deckerville. He passed away on July 10, 1974. Mary attended Ferris State College. She worked at Eicher's Cleaners and taught in a country school near Deckerville before marrying William. They lived on a farm at Kirton's Corners together. She was a member of Cass City United Methodist Church. Mary is survived by her daughter, Marjorie Jones and her husband, William, of Livonia; grandchildren: Charles Jones, of Dearborn Heights, Cheryl Browning and her husband, Raymond, of Ypsilanti, Ben Jones and his wife, Sherrie, of Westland; great grandchildren: Benjamin, Danielle, Starr, Dustin and Kevin Jones, Monica and Jessica Maxwell; great-great grandson, Elijah Jones; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her siblings: Jack Handley, Margaret Morin and Nancy Kunze. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 23, 2003, at Kranz Funeral Home with Rev. George Wald, of the Cass City United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in the Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Tendercare Nursing Facility. Dolores MacMillan Dolores Margaret MacMillan, 73, of Bad Axe, passed away at home under hospice care surrounded by family and friends Thursday evening, June 19, 2003. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Huron Memorial Hospice for their care. Mrs. MacMillan was born Dec. 17, 1929 in Detroit, daughter of the late James and Gertrude (Farin) LaPratt. Dolores LaPratt and Donald MacMillan were united in marriage on Nov. 10, 1951. He survives her. Dolores was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church for 29 years. She was very active in Al-Anon and started an Al-Ateen group in Bad Axe. Dolores was compassionate to everyone. She enjoyed bingo, casinos, and playing cards with her family. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, family and friends. Mrs. MacMillan is survived by her husband, Donald; two sons, Donald MacMillan and his wife, Joyce, of Bad Axe, Tom MacMillan, of Bad Axe; four daughters, Karen Lasceski, of Bad Axe, Susie Streib and her husband, Bill, of Marion, Ohio, Darlene MacMillan, of Bad Axe, Nancy Ziemba and her husband, Carl, of Bad Axe; two brothers, James LaPratt, Jr. and his wife, Mary Ann, of Eastpointe, William LaPratt and his wife, Debbie, of Sterling Heights; three sisters, Gertrude Madacki and her husband, Ron, of Woodhaven, Virginia "Polly" Elrod and her husband, Gene, of Algonac, Patsy Baird, of Florida; seven grandchildren, Marcy Ervick and her husband, Caleb, Michael MacMillan, Michelle MacMillan, Brian MacMillan, Kevin MacMillan, Stephen MacMillan, Daniel Ziemba; one great-granddaughter, Abby Ervick; several nieces and nephews. Dolores was preceded in death by an infant son; son-in-law, Ronald Lasceski; sister-in-law, Emily Reed; brother-in-law, Frank Baird, and Grandma Croner. Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2003, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe. Fr. John Killop will officiate. Pallbearers will be Mike MacMillan, Brian MacMillan, Kevin MacMillan, Joseph Polly, Carl Ziemba, and Bill Streib. Visitation will be from 12 to 9 p.m. on Monday, and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, at MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe. A scripture service will be offered at 7 p.m. on Monday, with a rosary at 7:30 p.m. Burial will be in St. Columbkille Catholic Cemetery in Ubly. Memorials may be offered to the Family Discretionary Fund. Lillian Roe Lillian Florence Roe, 84, of Port Richey, Fla., passed away Thursday, May 22, 2003, at Bay Front Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. Lillian was born Oct. 11, 1918 in Evergreen, to the late Floyd Henry and Ida (Simmons) Zapfe. Lillian married Gordon E. Roe on Sept. 3, 1937 in Bay Port. He preceded her in death on April 12, 2003. Lillian was the bookkeeper for the "Roe Film" Service she and Gordon owned. They moved to Port Richey, Fla. in 1988 and enjoyed their visits with their family, friends, their many days at the beach, their canasta club and activities in the Jasmine Lakes Community Center. Lillian will be remembered by family and friends for her ability to grow beautiful flowers. Lillian is survived by three children, eight grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren: Avon Marie Kent, of Bad Axe, and her two sons, SMSgt. Kenneth and Faye Kent and Brittany and Stephanie, Fairbanks, AK.; Michael and Shelly Kent and Nicole, of Kinde; Gordon Dennis Roe and his friend, Wendy Thomas, of Saginaw, and his four children, Reid and Sherry Roe and Ryan, Alyssa, Alanna, Morgan, Austin of Colton, Va.; Rick Ballentine, of Lansing; Rae Lynn and John Mitas and Brady, Kaitlyn, Nala, of Holland; Shannon Roe, of Saginaw; Cathy Jean and her husband, George Jr. Torres, of Ft. Worth, Texas. and their two children, Franklin Lerash, of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Amy and Jim Evans, of Houston, Texas; five siblings: Floyd "Bud" Zapfe, of Oscoda, Iris Bauer, of Saginaw, Orval and Helen Zapfe, of West Branch, Deloris and Daniel Thaut, of New Port Richey, Fla., Jeanine and Robert Wurm, of Sebewaing; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by a sister, Doris Louise, and a brother, Harold Lloyd Zapfe. Memorials may be made to The Jasmine Lakes Fountain Fund 7127 Jasmine Blvd., Port Richey Fla., 34668. Monday, June 23, 2003 - No obituaries reported Tuesday, June 24, 2003 Ann Knoblock Ann Knoblock, 94, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and Port Austin, loving wife of Joe, passed away peacefully at their home in Dearborn on June 22, 2003. She is survived by her daughter, Maxine Henry and her husband, Forrest; son-in-law, Ray Gage; sister, Nettie Burkhart; grandchildren, Forrest, Nancy, Raymond, Clay, Dale, Julie, Michelle; and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, JoAnn Gage; sister, Sophie Duzak; and grandchild, Robert. Memorial services will be at McFarland Foss Funeral Home, 5401 Schaefer Road, Dearborn, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. today with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Earl McFarland Earl W. McFarland, 64, of Bay City, passed away early Monday morning, June 23, 2003, at his residence. The son of the late William and Catherine (Edwards) McFarland, he was born Dec. 7, 1938 in Huron County. Earl retired in 1993 from Bay City Powertrain and was a member of Local #362. He had been active in Southwest Little League for the last 35 years. Earl enjoyed bowling and also hunting, especially in Wyoming and Colorado. Earl married the former Beverly J. Arnott on May 9, 1959 and she survives him. He is survived by his children, Vicki and Neal O'Brien, of Saginaw, Rick and Wendy McFarland, of Bay City; five grandchildren, Meagan and Evan O'Brien, and Michael, Kyrie and Catherine McFarland; two sisters, Eva and Lyle Rochefort, of Bad Axe and Isabel and Don Lange, of Saginaw; a brother, Melvin and Dorothy McFarland, of Cass City; mother-in-law, Jean Arnott, of Kinde; three sisters-in-law, Karen and Herm Donovan, of Kinde, Cindy and Rick Bergquist, of Kinde and Marlene Arnott, of Bay City; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Mr. McFarland was preceded in death by a brother, Clarence McFarland. Mr. McFarland's family would like to express their thanks to Heartland Hospice for their extra special care given to Earl and his family. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2003, at the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc., 201 W. Midland St., Bay City. Officiating will be the Rev. Joseph Atchinson. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the services Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, Heartland Home Health Care and Hospice or Southwest Little League. For more information, please go to www.gephartfuneralhome.com. Wednesday, June 25, 2003 – No obituaries reported Thursday, June 26, 2003 Harold Kirsch Harold H. Kirsch, 87, of Flushing formerly of Harbor Beach, passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2003, in Hurley Medical Center, Flint. Born in Harbor Beach on July 13, 1915, he was the son of the late Albert and Bertha (Priemer) Kirsch. Harold was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army from 1940 to 1945. On Dec. 30, 1975, he married Esther Johnson - Shew in Harbor Beach. He was a member of St. Roberts Catholic Church in Flushing, the Knights of Columbus No. 695 of Flint and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles of New Port Richey, Fla. Harold was a retired employee of General Motors after 37 years, retiring in 1975, from the Ternstead Division in Detroit and Flint. He is survived by his wife, Esther Kirsch, of Flushing; three daughters, Carol Hayes, of Flushing, Margaret Gilmour and her husband, Craig, of Carey, Ill., Roberta Wood and her husband, John, of Dublin, Ga.; brother, Eugene Kirsch and his wife, Sophie, of Harbor Beach; sister, Helen Scrase, of Harbor Beach; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 27, 2003, in Our Lady of Lake Huron Church in Harbor Beach with Fr. Brian Spencer officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A parish vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and at 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday at the church. Harry Sauer Harry J. Sauer, 88, of Port Hope, passed away at his home on Wednesday, June 25, 2003. Born in Detroit on Oct. 15, 1914, he was the son of the late Fred O. and Maude (Hanneman) Sauer. On Aug. 24, 1943, Harry and Marjorie Schultz were united in marriage in Detroit. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Coast Guard for over six years. He served in Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Hiro, Japan. Harry was a retired employee of Chrysler Corp. retiring in 1972 after 39 years. He was an active member of the AmVets Post 115 of Port Hope. Harry is survived by a daughter, Diane Perron, of Port Hope; a son, Harry Sauer, Jr., of Detroit; five grandchildren; four great- grandchildren; one sister, Annalouise Roe, of Florida. He was preceded in death by a brother, Fred Sauer. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2003, in the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, with the Rev. Clarence VanConant officiating. Burial will be in the New River Cemetery near Huron City with the AmVets post providing military honors. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Saturday at the funeral home. Friday, June 27, 2003 Timothy Beaver Timothy Joel Beaver, 47, of Rock Springs, Wyo. and former resident of Nampa, Idaho, passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2003. He was born on Nov. 24, 1955 in Bad Axe, the son of Norman and Dorothy Pace Beaver. Mr. Beaver attended schools in Bad Axe. He married Janet Irwin in Riverton, Wyo. on July 27, 1984. Mr. Beaver had worked in the oil field and construction business. His interests include spending time with his family and watching movies. He is survived by his wife, Janet, of Rock Springs, Wyo.; father, Norman Beaver, of Michigan; three daughters, Amanda Rae Beaver, Trista Marie Beaver and Kylie Jo Beaver, all of Rock Springs, Wyo.; two brothers, Rick Beaver and his wife, Kathy, of Ubly, Dean Beaver, of Temperance; five sisters, Martha Arnott and Norma Beaver, both of Mattawan, Georgiana Beaver, of Elkton, JoAnn Alexander and her husband, Faron, of Cass City, Kathy Kowalski and her husband, Chris, of Lewisburg, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother; stepmother, Barb; one brother, Robert; and one niece, Paula. Following cremation at the Vase White Mountain Crematory, a memorial service will be conducted from 1 to 5 p.m. on July 5, 2003 at the home of Rick Beaver at 2406 Main in Ubly, across from Ubly Heights County Club. Larry Dickinson Larry L. Dickinson, 67, of Harbor Beach passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2003, in Port Huron Hospital following a short illness. Born in Harbor Beach on April 10, 1936, he was the son of Beatrice (Ganley) Dickinson and the late Earl Dickinson. Larry was a veteran of the U.S. Army. On June 29, 1974, Larry and Florence Bucholtz were united in marriage in Port Hope. Larry was the owner/operator of the Dickinson Marina for 25 years until 1985, and then operated the Dickinson Center from 1984 to 1990. He was a former member of the Harbor Beach Fire Department, the Thumb Area Steelheaders, drove a school bus for Harbor Beach Schools for 14 years, and enjoyed fishing, woodworking projects making many rocking chairs and watching his grandchildren playing sports. Larry is survived by his wife, Florence Dickinson, of Harbor Beach; his mother, Beatrice Dickinson, of Harbor Beach; children, Robert Kablaitis, of Harbor Beach, Sandy Polega and her husband, Gary, of Harbor Beach; sister, Doris Brown and her husband, Don, of Harbor Beach; three grandchildren, Nicole Conley and her husband, Richard, Kristen Polega, Shane Polega; and a great-grandson, Ashton Conley. Larry was preceded in death by a brother, David Dickinson, on June 9, 2003. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2003, in the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, with the Rev. Clarence VanConant, of United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Our Lady of Lake Huron Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 1 p.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Donald Phillips Donald R. Phillips, 81, of Sebewaing, died Wednesday afternoon, June 25, 2003, at his home following a two month illness. He was born on Feb. 6, 1922 in Saginaw, son of the late Ray G. and Edna Mae (Cherry) Phillips. He was united in marriage to Audrey J. Miller on Jan. 7, 1943 in Port Huron. Don served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was head custodian for the Sebewaing High School for over 20 years before retiring in 1984. He is survived by his wife, Audrey; two sons, Albert R. Phillips and his wife, Donna, of Sebewaing, David T. Phillips and his wife, Sherry, of Palmetto, Fla.; one daughter, Holly J. Bickham and her husband, Steven, of Essexville; ten grandchildren, Keri Miller, Jason and Christopher, David and Daniel Phillips, Rebecca and Stephen and Eric Richmond, MacKenzie and Matthew Bickham; and several nieces and nephews. As Don requested, there will be no visitation or service. Cremation has taken place at the Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City. Inurnment will be in the Silverlawn Cemetery in Sebewaing. Arrangements are being handled by the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. Memorials may be made to Visiting Nurses Association hospice or the charity of the donor's choice. Arno Weiss Arno W. Weiss, Sr., M.D., 89, of Thomas Township, passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2003. Arno was born Sept. 18, 1913 in Port Hope to Benjamin and Mary (Moeller) Weiss. He married Thelma Dibb on Aug. 2, 1941. She preceded him in death in 1992. He later married Jean Witherspoon on Dec. 21, 1993. She survives him. Dr. Weiss was a member of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church and served as elder, and on the board of education there. He served his country as Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II in the European and Pacific Theaters, and the occupation of Japan for 33 months. Prior to his military service, he taught school four years before his pre- med at MSU, graduating in 1939. He was a 1943 graduate of Wayne State University College of Medicine. He served his residency in EENT at Harper Hospital and Children's Hospital, Detroit, completed in 1949. He established his practice in EENT in 1949 in Bad Axe, moving to Saginaw in 1953, where he practiced medicine for 50 years. Dr. Weiss devoted many hours working to help establish a College of Human Medicine at MSU, and was known as "The Father of the Medical School." He shared the philosophy of Dr. John Hannah, former President of MSU, as quoted "No man livith unto himself, for all of the past is invested in him." Dr. Weiss served in the following capacities; Chairman, MSU Alumni Association Development Fund Board, Member Development Fund Council, President, College of Human Medicine Alumni, MSU, Asst. Clinical Professor, Dept. of Surgery, College of Human Medicine, MSU, President, Huron County Medical Society, President, Saginaw Valley Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Chief of Staff, St. Luke's Hospital, Saginaw. Dr. Weiss was a member of The Saginaw County Medical Society, Michigan State Medical Society, American Medical Society, Saginaw Surgical Society, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Honorary Coach at MSU, President's Club at MSU, US Powers Squadron, Saginaw-Bay Chapter and many other medical organizations. He was a past member of the Saginaw County Club and The Germania Town and County Club. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, his cabin on the AuSable, music, as he was a talented organist, oil painting and MSU football and basketball, and he very much enjoyed working for both MSU and SVSU. Arno is survived by his wife, Jean; two sons, Arno W. Weiss Jr., M.D., and his wife, Jill; Dennis Weiss, both of Saginaw; daughter, Cheryl Sokoll and her husband, Dr. Randy, of Bowling Green, Ohio; five granddaughters; two grandsons. He was preceded in death by a son, Kim, in February 2003; and a sister, Helena, at age 9. The funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 28, 2003, at Peace Lutheran Church, 3427 Adams Ave. Rev. Robert Eggers will officiate with entombment to follow at Oakwood Mausoleum. Visitation will be 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. today at the Reitz Herzberg Funeral Home on South Midland Rd. (M-47) and one hour before the funeral at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes expressions of sympathy to be given as memorial offerings to Peace Lutheran Church Choir, or the futures fund for the new elementary school. Doris McGuire Doris McGuire, 85, of Port Austin, died Thursday, June 26, 2003, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Saginaw. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. Arrangements are being handled by the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde. A complete obituary will be in Sunday's edition of the Huron Daily Tribune. Wilbert Sturm Wilbert LaVerne "Bernie" Sturm, 81, of Pigeon, passed away on Thursday, June 26, 2003, at the home of his son, Ronald Sturm, in North Muskegon. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. For additional information contact the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, a Golden Rule Funeral Home, of Pigeon who will be conducting the services. 1