HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning February 8, 2004 Contributed 2004 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, February 8, 2004 Jill M. Anderson Jill M. Anderson, 52, of Pigeon, passed away Friday, February 6, 2004, at Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon following a long illness. Born in Pigeon on November 16, 1951, she was the daughter of Mildred Damm and the late Merlin Damm. Jill is a graduate of Laker High School Class of 1969. On September 6, 1969, Jill and Charles Anderson were united in marriage in Pigeon. She is a member of the Salem United Methodist Church in Pigeon. Jill enjoyed gardening, shopping, playing cards, trips to the casino, going to the family cabin up north, reading and spending time with family and friends. Jill is survived by her husband of 34 years, Charles Anderson, of Pigeon, her daughter, Traci Anderson and her special friend, Rich Wisenbach, of Bad Axe; her mother and step- father, Mildred and Walter Rosenthal, of Pigeon; sisters, Janet Henne and her husband, Dennis, of Bay Port, Jane Pobanz and her husband, Cliff, of Pigeon; mother-in-law, Lois Anderson, of Caseville; a sister-in-law, Karen Elsesser and her husband, Jim, of Charlotte; a brother-in-law, John Anderson and his wife, Marla, of Asheville, North Carolina; and several nieces and nephews. Jill was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Tammy Jo; her father, Merlin, and father-in-law, Wayne Anderson. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 9, 2004, in the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, Pigeon, with the Rev. Michael Sawicki, pastor of Salem United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Grand Lawn Cemetery, Pigeon. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Sunday in the funeral home, and from 10 a.m. Monday until the time of service. Josephine M. "Dolly" Anthes Dolly M. Anthes, 90, of Cass City, died Saturday, February 7, 2004. She was born April 3, 1913 in an apartment over the old Vance Store in Cass City to Owen and Ethel (Wanner) Kilbourn. Her mother died three days after her birth. At the age of one month, Dolly and her brother, Mark, were adopted by John and Ida (Hubel) Wright. They moved into the Wright home where she would live the rest of her life. She married Roy Anthes on September 21, 1940 in Cass City. He died June 16, 1992 after 51 years of marriage. Dolly attended the McConnell School. She worked for several people in Cass City and raised and sold strawberries and raspberries. She retired in 1972. She was a devout Christian and liked to read her Bible. Dolly was a member of Mizpah Missionary Church. She enjoyed making quilts. Dolly is survived by her two half-brothers, William Kilbourn and his wife, Clara, of Marlette, and Clare Kilbourn and his wife, Lucille, of Guthrie, Oklahoma; a brother-in-law, Paul Anthes and his wife, Ludi, of Conway, Alaska; sister-in-law, Alice Gottsleben and her husband, Edwin, of Bad Axe; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her son, Lawrence Anthes, who died February 12, 1986; brothers, Mark Kilbourn, Lester Kilbourn and Ernest Kilbourn; a sister-in-law, Lucille Bush; and a brother-in-law, Harold Anthes. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2004, in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, with the Rev. JT Mabe, of Mizpah Missionary Church, officiating. Interment will take place in the spring at Elkland Township Cemetery in Cass City. Honorary pallbearers for Mrs. Anthes are Claude Campbell, Donald Bush, James Anthes, Dennis Anthes, Keith Mitchell and Brent Mitchell. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, February 10, 2004, from 1 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Mizpah Missionary Church. Kenneth Henne Kenneth J. Henne, 78, of Frankenmuth and formerly of Bay Port, died Friday, February 6, 2004, at the Lutheran Home in Frankenmuth following a lengthy illness. He was born July 28, 1925 in Bay Port, son of the late William and Erma (Beaver) Henne. He was united in marriage to Mary Louise LeClair on May 4, 1946 in Bay Port. She preceded him in death on June 19, 1983. Ken owned and operated a dairy farm near Bay Port until 1975. He then worked for ADI distributors as a warehouse manager between 1975 and 1977; also Farm Bureau as a warehouse manager between 1977 and 1983; and Frankenmuth Pretzel Factory from which he retired in May 1995. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a hard-working, kind, loving and charismatic man who embraced his life, family and friends with a calm strength and dignity. He brightened lives with his humor and always had a wave and smile for everyone. We were blessed with the time we were given with him and he will be with us forever. Surviving are three sons, one daughter and their spouses, Kent Henne and his wife, Mary Ann, of Pigeon, Leon Henne and his wife, April, of Bay Port, Carl Henne and his wife, Pam, of Clarkston, and Julie Durkee and her husband, Richard, of Birch Run; 12 grandchildren, Deborah, Tammy, Michele, Matthew, Samantha, Derek, Aubrey, Eric, Jeff, Alan, Melanie and Allison; 10 great-grandchildren, Stephanie, Christian, Patrick, Dorian, Devon, Jenna, Adam, Kyle, Emily and Michaela; one brother, two sisters and their spouses, Glenn Henne and his wife, Audrey, of Bay Port, Letha Chamberlain and her husband, Bill, of Saginaw, Grace McGillivray and her husband, Floyd, of Clio; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one grandson, Jason Henne, two brothers, baby brother, Gilbert Henne, Roland Henne; four sisters, LeEtta Lupp, Hilma McCaskey, Dolores Lukasiak and Lorraine Kohl. The funeral service will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2004, at Bay Port United Methodist Church. The Rev. Douglas Mater will officiate with burial in New Bay Port Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. on Sunday until the time of service at the church. Monday, February 09, 2004 Robert Thorp Robert E. Thorp, 72, of Owendale, died Sunday, February 8, 2004, at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Saginaw following a six-month illness. He was born July 21, 1931 in Reese, son of the late Ambrose and Laura (Dorrance) Thorp. He was married to Marie Wilson (Harbuck) on July 22, 1961 in Roswell, New Mexico. Robert was a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving in Taiwan during the Vietnam War. He was employed for almost 20 years at Evans Products and later for Gagetown Rail Car Inc. before retiring in 1992. He enjoyed playing cards, dancing and volunteering with his wife at the Reese Senior Meal Site. Surviving are his wife, Marie; five children, Miles Thorp and his fiance, Amy, of Owendale, Angela Thorp, of Gagetown, Terry Thorp, of Bad Axe, Tena Gai and her husband, Joseph, of Macomb, Debra Schad and her husband, Dell, of Sebewaing; four step-children, Mary Kimble and her husband, Thomas, of Cayce, South Carolina, Donna Noroit and her husband, James, of West Branch, Robert Harbuck and his wife, Carrie, of Pigeon, Jerry Harbuck and his wife, Michele, of Sebewaing; 11 grandchildren; 13 step-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; three sisters and three brothers, Colleen Hawley and her husband, Leonard, of Cass City, Vera Markhart, of Reese, Harriett Creason and her husband, Gerald, of Deford, Paul Thorp and his wife, Arlene, of Sanford, Fredrick Thorp and his wife, Barbara, of Owendale, Ward Thorp and his wife, Vede, of El Paso, Texas. He was preceded in death by one brother, Jack Thorp; and one brother-in-law, Donald Markhart. The funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2004, at the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing under the auspices of the U.S. Air Force from Selfridge Air Force Base. Burial will take place later at the Veterans Administration Cemetery in Holly. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, from noon to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans. Tuesday, February 10, 2004 Kenneth Layher Kenneth A. Layher, 63, of Sebewaing and longtime Sebewaing businessman, died unexpectedly Sunday, February 8, 2004, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana while visiting his son and family. He was born May 2, 1940 in Sebewaing son of Leona L. (Rhode) Layher and the late Arnold E. Layher. He was a 1958 graduate of Sebewaing High School, attended Michigan State University, Trenton Jewelry School and the Gemological Institute of America. He was united in marriage to Nancy A. Louis on April 18, 1964 in Unionville. Ken had worked with his father, Arnold, in the Jewelry Store in Sebewaing from 1956 until taking ownership in 1990. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, had been on the Board of Christian Education, Finance Board and Youth Board; also had worked on the Sebewaing ambulance; the Sebewaing Fire Department for 15 years, member of the Sebewaing Chamber of Commerce, former member of the Sebewaing Rotary Club and had served as president and also a member of Michigan Retailers Association. He served in the Michigan National Guard. Surviving are his wife, Nancy, of Sebewaing; one son, Michael Layher and his wife, Michele, of Granger, Indiana; two daughters, Lisa Gremel and her husband, Michael, Michele Schember and her husband, Brian, all of Unionville; seven grandchildren, Jacob, Dylan, Noah, and Brady Layher, Jessica and Kayla Gremel, Nichole Schember; mother, Leona Layher, of Sebewaing; one sister, Joanne M. Smith, of Sebewaing; two nephews; and one niece. The funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2004, at Immanuel Lutheran Church. The Rev. Daniel Hahn will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from noon to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing, and from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday at the church. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Radio Mission Fund, Immanuel Lutheran Church or the charity of the donor's choice. Robert Steve Robert C. Steve, 70, of Caseville, died Monday morning, February 9, 2004, at Scheurer Hospital, Pigeon. He was born December 15, 1933 in Detroit to the late Clarence and Ella (Bremer) Steve. Bob received his bachelor's degree from Wayne State University in 1959. He also served in the U.S. Naval Reserves for eight years. On September 13, 1958, he was united in marriage to Nancy C. Hankus at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Church in Hamtramck. Bob was a safety engineer with Travelers Insurance for 33 years, retiring in 1993. In November of 2001, they moved to the cottage in Caseville that his wife's family had built in the early fifties. Bob was a very active and athletic man, jogging and exercising daily. He joined the Caseville Rod and Gun Club immediately where he enjoyed target shooting. He was a member of the Rivers Edge Church in Caseville and the Christ Gospel Tabernacle in St. Clair Shores. Surviving are his wife; three brothers-in-law, Gerald Hankus, of Warren, Thomas Hankus and his wife, Debbie, of Bellaire, Maryland, and Martin Hankus and his wife, Sandy, of Caseville; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his only child, Cheri Lynn, on September 29, 1972. She died of a brain tumor. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2004, at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Caseville. The Rev. John Gunden and the Rev. John Ray will officiate with burial in Caseville Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, and after 10 a.m. on Thursday. Memorials may be given to the Rivers Edge Church. Wednesday, February 11, 2004 Marlin Blumerich Marlin L. "Red" Blumerich, 78, of Pigeon, passed away Monday, February 9, 2004, at Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon. He was born in Oxford on December 15, 1925, son of the late Benjamin and Beatrice (Beavner) Blumerich. During World War II, he served with the United States Army in Germany and France. He was united in marriage to Dorothy T. Trocksa in Lake Orion in November 15, 1975. She survives him. Mr. Blumerich worked with I.T.T. Higbie from 1950 to 1986 and was a member of the U.A.W. C.I.O. Local No. 174. He was a member of the VFW Pigeon Post No. 2236. He will be sadly missed by his wife, Dorothy; four daughters, Vicky Brookins and her husband, Randy, Sandy Neph and her husband, Bob, of Millington, Karen Wood and her husband, Dennis, of Amarillo, Texas, and Marlene Ashton; nine grandchildren, Ann, Tamy, Mike, Todd, Brad, Jason, Mark, Natalie, and Chris; and many great-grandchildren; two sisters, Bonnie Patten and her husband, Ken, of Florida, Darlene Teachout, of Otisville; his mother-in- law, Julian Trocksa, of Bay Port; several nieces and nephews; and many wonderful friends. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Richard Blumerich, William Koehler and Curley Koehler. He will be missed and loved by his family and all who knew him. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 13, 2004, at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, Pigeon, with the Rev. Michael T. Sawicki, pastor of Salem United Methodist Church in Pigeon, officiating. Burial will be in Mount Avon Cemetery, Rochester. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Memorials for Mr. Blumerich may be made to St. Judes Children's Hospital. Aurelia Krumenaker Aurelia J. Krumenaker, 85, of Port Austin, died Tuesday, February 10, 2004, at Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe. She was born on June 1, 1919 in Detroit, daughter of the late Marion and Eleanor (Rozanski) Justewicz. Aurelia married Wilfred J. Krumenaker in May of 1946. He preceded her in death in March of 1960. Aurelia was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin. Aurelia is survived by her children, Patricia Peplinski, of Colorado Springs, Marion Zuckschwerdt, of Port Austin, Diane Schulte, of Ubly, and Butch (Kathy) Krumenaker, of Saginaw; nine grandchildren; and 11 great- grandchildren; sister, Irene Knoblock. She was preceded in death by her son, Donald Krumenaker; her sister, Regina Ignash; brother, John Justewicz; special friend, Leo Zimpkoski. A funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 13, 2004, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin. Officiating will be the Rev. Robert Pare', pastor. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be conducted from 2 to 9 p.m. on Thursday at the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde and from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. on Friday at the church. There will be a vigil at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Thursday, February 12, 2004 Howard Taylor Howard S. Taylor, 77, of Bad Axe, died Tuesday, February 10, 2004, at his residence after a long illness. He was born September 12, 1926 in Gary, Indiana, son of the late John C. and Frances G. (Stark) Taylor. Howard Taylor and Shirley Wertz were married October 11, 1952 in Bad Axe. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bad Axe and a retired employee of General Motors. He loved hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. Surviving are his wife, Shirley; four sons, Robert S. Taylor and his wife, Charlene, of St. Clair, Kenneth L. Taylor and his wife, Julie, of Port Huron, Gary H. Taylor and his wife, Bonnie, of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Randall W. Taylor and his wife, Gina, of Cheyenne, Wyoming; two daughters, Kathryn A. Hunter and her husband, Richard, of Cocoa, Florida, and Janet M. Zurek and her husband, Wayne, of Anna, Ohio; 12 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; one brother, William B. Taylor and his wife, Hattie, of Port Huron; and one sister, Nancy A. Harmer, of Port Huron; and several nephews and one niece. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2004, at the H. W. Weitenberner Funeral Home, Bad Axe. The Rev. Jay Barsaleau, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bad Axe, will officiate. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of service on Saturday at the funeral home. In keeping with Mr. Taylor's wishes, private cremation services have already been conducted. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice of Bad Axe and/or the First Baptist Church. Earl Culp Earl Culp, 82, resident of Bad Axe, died this morning, February 12, 2004, at Grand Rapids Home for Veterans in Grand Rapids. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. They are being handled by MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe. A complete obituary will be published in Friday's edition of the Huron Daily Tribune. Friday, February 13, 2004 Leonard Niebel Leonard F. Niebel, 87, of Pigeon, passed away Friday, February 13, 2004, at Scheurer Hospital Long Term Care, Pigeon. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2004, at the First United Methodist Church, Pigeon. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday at Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, Pigeon. A complete obituary will appear in Sunday's Huron Daily Tribune. 1