HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning September 12, 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 represent- ative 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, September 12, 2004 Terrence J. Fry Terrence J. Fry, 47, of Columbiaville, died Thursday, September 9, 2004, at his home. A memorial service will be at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, September 13, 2004, at Fischer Funeral Home, 24501 Five Mile Road, Redford Township. Cremation has taken place. Memorials may be made to Dennis O'Dowd Scholarship Fund, Ironworkers, in care of Local 25, P.O. Box 965, Novi, Michigan 48376. Monday, September 13, 2004 Lucille R. DiCamillo Lucille Rita DiCamillo, 80, of Pigeon, formerly of Evart and the Detroit area, passed away Saturday afternoon, September 11, 2004, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility near Bad Axe. Although her illness was lengthy, "Lu" was able to remain in her own home until September 1. She was born in Detroit on September 8, 1924, daughter of the late Arthur and Theresa (Ortmann) Wenzel. On February 13, 1954, she was united in marriage to Armando DiCamillo at Sweetest Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Detroit. He preceded her in death on September 18, 1981. Mrs. DiCamillo worked as a caterer in the Detroit area for many years. She also owned and operated Mamma Lucia's Restaurant in Evart for 10 years. She was formerly active in church and school work, and had many hobbies. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, the cha-ching of slot machines and growing plants and roses. She also enjoyed traveling to Europe twice, cruising, and taking a United States cross-country rail tour. She especially loved her grandchildren and would "shop until she dropped" for them. Her survivors include a daughter, Lisa DiCamillo, of Pigeon; two sons, Felix DiCamillo and his wife, Nancy, of Penfield, New York, and Dino DiCamillo and his wife, Martha, of Harleysville, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren, Nicholas, Joseph, Peter, Bianca, and Alexis; several nieces and nephews; and her exceptional caregivers, Margaret and Bob Dean, Terri Freilach and Kay Adams. She was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Wenzel. Funeral Mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 14, 2004, at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Pigeon with Fr. John Weis officiating. A scripture service will be led by Sr. Theresa Fox, O.P., at 7 p.m. today at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 10 a.m. until the time of mass at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the church. Memorials for Mrs. DiCamillo may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Scheurer Hospital, Scheurer Hospital Ambulance, Huron County Medical Care Facility or the charity of the donor's choice. Bertha A. Lange Bertha A. Lange, 88, of Port Hope, was called to her heavenly home Friday, September 10, 2004. She died at home following a short illness. Bertha "Bert" was born May 16, 1916 in Bloomfield Township to Herman and Hannah (Nichol) Pleiness. She married Theodore Lange on June 16, 1937. He preceded her in death on April 24, 2004, after 66 years of marriage. Bertha enjoyed farming and running a Holstein dairy operation with her husband in younger years. She also used to love gardening, baking, cooking, and canning and was well known for her cream pies. In winter months, she was involved with embroidering and quilting, but her main joy in life was being with family and friends. She always enjoyed playing cards, bingo, fishing, and used to bowl. She was an organist at Lutheran churches in Huron County over a span of 62 years. She taught Sunday School for several years at both Bloomfield Township Lutheran Church and Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Harbor Beach and was in charge of funeral lunches for several years at St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope. She was a member of the Port Hope Retirees. Survivors include four children: Norman Lange and his wife, Bernice, of Harbor Beach, Harold Lange and his wife, Elaine, of Clinton Township, Joann Yott, of Bad Axe, and Diane Diehl and her husband, George, of Troy; four grandchildren, Duane Lange and his wife, Sue, of Marlette, Deborah Weidman and her husband, Troy, of South Lyon, Jeffrey Diehl and his wife, Melissa, of Macomb, and Michael Lange and his wife, Dawn, of Mt. Clemens; 10 great-grandchildren, Garrett, Jenna, and Kolby Lange, Zachary, Conner and Nathan Weidman, Ryan, Morgan, Carter and Alexis Diehl; two brothers, Walter Pleiness, of Harbor Beach, and Harold Pleiness, of Port Hope; one sister, Dorothy Roberts, of Harbor Beach; two brothers-in-law; five sisters-in-law; several nephews, nieces and cousins. Bertha was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; two brothers, Herman II and August Pleiness; and one sister, Minnie Hearit. Funeral services will be conducted at noon on Saturday, September 18, 2004, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church with the Rev. Mark Girardin, pastor, and the Rev. Eugene Koessel, former pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at the Lakeview Cemetery, Port Hope. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Friday at Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach and from 11 a.m. until the time of services on Saturday at the church. Scripture service will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran School and Preschool, Eastern Huron Ambulance, and Harbor Beach Library. Tuesday, September 14, 2004 Officer John K. Gunsell Officer John K. Gunsell, 43, of Gaylord, died Sunday, September 12, 2004, due to injuries sustained in an auto accident while on duty with the Otsego County Sheriff's Department. He was born December 2, 1960 in Detroit. He was a 1979 graduate of Unionville-Sebewaing Area High School. John then attended Delta College and Oakland University where he received his deputy training. He was employed with the Caseville Police Department for 12 years and had been an officer with the Otsego County Sheriff's Department since 1999. While living in Caseville, he was also a firefighter and received recognition as "Firefighter of the Year." John enjoyed hunting, fishing, and will be remembered for his lively sense of humor. Surviving are his children, Karissa, Joshua, Jordan and Levi; the mother of his children, Kelly Gunsell, of Gaylord; his parents, Gerald and June Gunsell, of Sebewaing; one brother, Gerald "Butch" Gunsell, of Sebewaing; maternal grandmother, Emma Stark, of Sebewaing; aunts and uncles, Vivian Horst, Susan Gunsell, Maude Haag, Frank Gunsell and his wife, Barb, and Geri Loncar, all of Sebewaing, Donna Gunsell, of Owendale, Janet Loncar, of Venice, Florida, Darlene Loeffler and her husband, Richard, of Pontiac; many cousins; nephew and niece, Evean and Marlee Gunsell. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, John Stark; and paternal grandparents, Frank and Elsie Gunsell. The funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 16, 2004, at the Gaylord Evangelical Free Church. The Rev. James Mathis will officiate. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Nelson Funeral Home in Gaylord, and he will lie in state from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. on Thursday at the church. Another funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 18, 2004, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Sebewaing. The Rev. Arthur Stone will officiate with burial in Silverlawn Cemetery in Sebewaing. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday at the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. He will lie in state from 11 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to Gunsell Children Memorial Fund. Wednesday, September 15, 2004 Florence R. Kelly Florence R. Kelly, 80, of Caseville, died Tuesday afternoon, September 14, 2004, at the Saginaw Home of Compassionate Care. She was born September 17, 1923 to the late Robert and Irene (Perry) Portice in Saginaw. Florence grew up in Saginaw and was a 1942 graduate of Arthur Hill High School. She was united in marriage to Del Deloach in Saginaw in 1949. He preceded her in death in 1961. She had been employed at the Dailey Pickle Company in Saginaw for 22 years, retiring in 1964. On May 11, 1963, she was united in marriage to Martin Kelly in Saginaw and lived in Saginaw until Martin retired in 1979, moving to Caseville a short time later. He preceded her in death on June 29, 2003. She was a member of the Bay Port United Methodist Church, the Caseville Eagles Auxiliary, the Caseville Retirement Club and the Sebewaing VFW Auxiliary. Surviving are two children, Pat Shabluk and her husband, Bob, of Saginaw, and Dave Kelly and his wife, Julie, of Bay City; nine grandchildren and spouses, Mike and Lisa, Steve and Amy, Dave and Billie Joe, Jennifer and Matt, Sean, Emily, Abigail, Catherine, and David; six great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mary Ulrich, Irene Simon, Joyce Bittner and her husband, Arnie, all of Saginaw. A brother, Robert Portice preceded her in death. A celebration of her life will be conducted at 11 a.m. on her birthday, Friday, September 17, 2004, at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Caseville. The Rev. Douglas Mater, pastor of the Bay Port United Methodist Church, will officiate with burial in the Caseville Township Cemetery. An Eagle Auxiliary service will be conducted at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening at the funeral home. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursday and after 10 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the Bay Port United Methodist Church, the Caseville Eagles Scholarship Fund or the donor's choice. Friends may sign the guest book at www.champagnefuneralchapel.com. Thursday, September 16, 2004 John A. Workman John A. Workman, 63, beloved husband of 40 years of Darlene J. (Laidlaw) Workman and loving father of his three daughters, Corie Patterson, Nicole Hagedorn and Heidemarie Gregoriev, went to be with his Lord on Monday, September 13, 2004, after struggling with multiple myeloma. He is survived by his mother, Iva; his sister, Bonnie; his wife and three daughters; and three grandchildren. John loved the Lord and put Him first in his life. He was a devoted family man, a dedicated optometrist, and a very active member of his church. Other activities he enjoyed with his family were flying, sailing and traveling. John and Darlene lived in Plano, Texas, but both grew up in Bad Axe. A memorial service in celebration of his life will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 19, 2004, in the Prestonwood Baptist Church Chapel. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday at the Sparkman/Dickey Funeral Home, Dallas, Texas (972) 407- 6070. Donations in his honor can be made to the John Workman Scholarship Fund, Prestonwood Christian Academy, 6801 W. Park, Plano, Texas 75093. Friday, September 17, 2004 William J. "Bill" Ahearn William J. "Bill" Ahearn, 80, of Bad Axe and formerly from Hume Township near Kinde, passed away on Wednesday, September 15, 2004, at the Huron Medical Center, from injuries he sustained from an automobile accident. He was born August 24, 1924 in Hume Township, son of the late James Ahearn and Emma (Weise) Ahearn. Mr. Ahearn married Alva (Badgley) Ahearn on November 22, 1946. She preceded him in death on April 10, 1979. He attended Bates Country School. Mr. Ahearn was a forklift operator for an automotive company in Detroit. He also was employed at Active Industries, Elkton, for 15 years. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bad Axe. He enjoyed watching the Detroit Tigers baseball games, playing cards, and visiting family and friends. He is survived by two sons, David Ahearn and his wife, Linda, of Roseville, Daniel Ahearn and his wife, Karen, of Bay City; one daughter, Carol Swanson, of Clinton Township; two brothers, Larry Ahearn and Gerald Ahearn, of Kinde; three sisters, Gert Ignash, of Centerline, Irene McIntosh and her husband, Gene, of Bad Axe, Ann Mae Angonese and her husband, Dick, of Macomb County; several grandchildren, Mark Ahearn and his wife, Laurie, of Midland, John Swanson, of Clinton Township, David Ahearn, Jr. and his wife, Stacy, of New Baltimore, Jason Ahearn, of Roseville, Brandon Ahearn, of Roseville, Shawn Ahearn, James Ahearn; and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Ahearn was preceded in death by his wife, Alva Badgley Ahearn; a brother, Francis Ahearn; and a sister, Leona Elliott. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 18, 2004, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe. Officiating will be the Rev. James Carlson, pastor. Burial will be in St. Michael's Cemetery in Port Austin. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today with a wake scripture service at 7 p.m. at the MacAlpine Funeral Home, Bad Axe. Memorials may be offered to the Family Discretionary Fund. 5