HURON COUNTY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning October 17, 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, October 17, 2004 John L. Himmel John L. Himmel, 82, of Caseville, died Friday evening, October 15, 2004, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility. He was born June 17, 1922 at the home of his parents, the late John and Theresa (Gintner) Himmel, in Caseville Township. On March 8, 1947 he was united in marriage to Mary E. Guster at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Pigeon. Mary preceded him in death October 6, 1995. John farmed most of his life on the family farm. In his younger years he also helped his father in the blacksmith shop in Caseville. He then started working construction with Willie Stein as a mason and builder. After 17 years, he joined Local 9 Brick Layers Union, working with them from 1966 until 1973, retiring at that time for health reasons. He was a member of St. Roch Catholic Church. Surviving are his children, Janice Pionk, of Caseville, Sandra Torres and her husband, John, of Lapeer, Marsha Hartz and her husband, Jerry, of Caseville, Dennis Himmel and his wife, Jane, of Bay Port, and John Himmel, of Caseville; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Frances Richmond, of Pigeon, and Barbara Dell and her husband, Pat, of Caseville; and a brother, Jerry Himmel, of Mud Creek. Preceding him in death was a daughter, Hope Quinn; and two brothers, Robert and Duane Himmel. A funeral mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 19, 2004, at St. Roch Catholic Church, Caseville. The Rev. Fr. Kenneth Yaroch, pastor, will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Caseville, and after 10 a.m. at the church on Tuesday. Memorials may be given to the church. Those unable to attend may sign the guest book at www.cfcCaseville.com. Leslie Beach Leslie C. Beach, 95, of Gagetown, died Thursday, October 14, 2004, in the Tuscola County Medical Care Facility. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 18, 2004, in Gagetown United Methodist Church with the Rev. John Heim officiating. Interment is in Grant Township Cemetery, Gagetown. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City, and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday in the church. Memorials may be made to the Tuscola County Medical Care Facility. Monday, October 18, 2004 Leo J. Geiger Leo J. Geiger, 85, of Harbor Beach, passed away on Sunday, October 17, 2004, at his home following a three-year battle with cancer under the care of Heartland Hospice. He was born on June 7, 1919 at his residence of 85 years to the late Charles and Lena (Hessling) Geiger. Father George Flanagan united Mr. Leo J. Geiger and Lucille Schroeder in marriage on October 4, 1941 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Helena. Leo was a former member of the St. Anthony's ushers club, a member of the Ruth Knights of Columbus, council #3823. He farmed all of his life from childhood until he retired in 1997. In addition to farming, he did custom bean and grain thrashing and silo filling in the mid-1940's. He was employed at Harbor Lite and Wick's Bar from 1955 to 1969. He was employed at Dott Manufacturing in Deckerville from 1969 to 1979 and Michigan Sugar Company from 1983 to 2001. He is survived by his wife, Lucille, of 63 years; children, Dorothy Brey and her husband, Steve, of Dexter, Ray Geiger and his wife, Pat, of Bad Axe, Marjorie Cervenan, of Northville, Ann Marie Geiger, of Glendale, Arizona, Sharon Fisher and her husband, Ron, of Brighton, Jerry Geiger and his wife, Debbie, of Glendale, Arizona, and Carol Geiger, of Wyandotte; grandchildren, Mark Kriska, Cheryl Strzyzewski and her husband, Tom, Tamara Geiger, Cindy Dunleavy and her husband, Sean, Dale Geiger and his wife, Jessica, Heidi Geiger, Paul Cervenan and his wife, Claudia, Tricia Cervenan, Heather Fisher, Kevin and Bryan Geiger; eight great- grandchildren; one brother, Clarence Geiger, of Harbor Beach; three sisters, Rita Booms, Carolyn LeGault and her husband, Ray, all of Harbor Beach, and Evelyn Kraft, of Clinton Township; one brother-in-law, Elmer Schroeder and his wife, Dorothy, of Harbor Beach; one sister-in-law, Roseann Coules and her husband, Jim, of Eastpoint. He is preceded in death by one grandson, Steven Cervenan; two brothers, George Geiger and his wife, Selma, and Norman Geiger, of Harbor Beach; one sister, Emma Gentner and her husband, Leland, of Ruth; three brothers-in-law, Clarence Schroeder and his wife, Isabella, of Cleveland, Ohio, Lawrence Schroeder and his wife, Alma and Franklin Schroeder and his wife, Marie, both of Harbor Beach; two sisters-in-law, Sabina Stacer and her husband, Anthony, and Angeline Swartz and her husband, Norman, both of Harbor Beach. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on October 20, 2004 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church of Helena. Father Andrzej Boroch will officiate with burial in St. Anthony's cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. today, from 1 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday at Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today lead by the Knights of Columbus and the St. Anthony's Men's Club. A wake service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be offered to the charity of your choice. James Morley James Morrison Morley, 36, of Paden, Oklahoma, died suddenly on Thursday, October 7, 2004, after a long illness. Mr. Morley was born May 8, 1968 in Detroit. James was a 1986 graduate of Reeths Puffer High School, Muskegon, where he was very active on the wrestling team. In September of 1986, he joined the Air Force and was stationed in San Antonio for a short time. He worked for Pinkerton Security in Michigan and Oklahoma. He is survived by his mother, Merrily (McGuirk) Kirchen and step-father, Michael Kirchen, of Georgetown, Texas; grandparents, Bernard and Cecelia Morley, of Bad Axe; aunt, Nancy Holz and her husband, Robert, of Bad Axe; sisters, Patricia and Hassan Sleiman, of Norman, Oklahoma, Bridget and Dewayne Tolson, of Noble, Oklahoma, Heather and Barry Long, of Oklahoma City, Erika and Dirk Peterman, of Greenfield; brother, Bernard J. Morley, of Muskegon; step-brothers, Michael Kirchen, Jr., of Denver, Colorado, Jon and Heather Kirchen, of Moore, Oklahoma; one niece and several nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his father, Edwin James Morley. A memorial service will be conducted at the First Presbyterian Church in Bad Axe with interment at Colfax Township Cemetery. The date for the memorial service is to be determined. Tuesday, October 19, 2004 Henry L. Doe Henry L. "Hap" Doe, 88, of Sturgis, died Monday, September 27, 2004, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born September 17, 1916 in Elkton to Henry S. and Catherine (Curtain) Doe. On October 23, 1937, he married Esther Ann D'Haene in Detroit. Hap moved to Sturgis in 1958 from Flint. He and his brother, Richard "Dick" Doe, established Doe Distributing Company in Sturgis, a business they operated until 1986. Prior to that Hap sold beer for a distributor in Detroit and Flint. He also drove a Greyhound bus in Detroit where he developed his nickname "Hap." For many years, he had been a member of the Holy Angels Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and the Klinger Lake Country Club. Hap enjoyed playing cards, both euchre and bridge, and playing golf. He loved time spent with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Esther; three sons and their wives, Jerry and Vicki Doe, of Estero, Florida, Robert Doe, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Michael and Debbie Doe, of Sturgis; one daughter, Joannie Doe and her special friend, Ron Brock, of Sturgis; six grandchildren, Cathy M. Doe, of Benson, Arizona, Connie Ann and Mike Ware, of Benson, Arizona, Chris Doe, of Naples, Florida, Alex M. Doe, of Sturgis, Sara A. Doe, of Sturgis, and Kayla E. Doe, of Sturgis; eight great-grandchildren; brother, Leo Doe, of St. Clair Shores; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers and a sister. The funeral mass celebrating the life of Henry L. "Hap" Doe was conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 1, 2004, at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Sturgis with the Rev. Fr. Stanley Witek officiating. Prayers before Mass were conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the Hackman-Foglesong Funeral Home in Sturgis. Memorial donations may be made to Holy Angels Catholic Church or School, 402 S. Nottawa, Sturgis. Harold Hammerle Harold "Hulin" Hammerle, 73, passed away on Thursday, October 14, 2004, in Bullhead City, Arizona. He was born on June 17, 1931 in Paris Township to the late Martha (Helewski) and Walter Hammerle. Harold graduated in 1949 from Ubly High School and retired from General Motors after 30 years of service. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus. He is survived by one daughter, Jennifer Case and her husband, Richard, of Holland; two grandsons, Matthew and Calob; six sisters, Delores Talaski, of Bad Axe, Mildred O'Parka and her husband, Irwin, of Ruth, Jeanette Danielski and her husband, Leo, of Ubly, Rose Bullock and her husband, Jerry, of Mogadore, Ohio, Elaine Varosi, of Sandusky, and Darlene Gornowicz and her husband, Rod, of Ubly; four brothers, Elwood Hammerle and his wife, Marlene, of Bad Axe, Kenneth Hammerle and Wayne Hammerle, both of Ruth, and Gary Hammerle, of Ubly; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one brother, Frank; and one sister, Ardis Wrubel. Cremation has taken place. Wednesday, October 20, 2004 Carolyn Ann Albrecht Carolyn Ann Albrecht, 69, formerly of Pigeon, passed away on Friday, October 15, 2004, at Landis Homes, Lititz, Pennsylvania, after an extended illness. She was born January 26, 1935 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late Jonas and Dorothy Swartz. She grew up in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania with her three siblings. She spent most of her adult life in Pigeon, (from approximately 1956 to 1990) married to the late Duane, who died in 1989, and raising her family. She moved to Lancaster in 1990 after her husband's death. She enjoying living in her own home until 1998, after which time she was unable to live by herself and began living with family. In April of 2003, Carolyn moved to her last earthly home, Landis Homes. Carolyn was a devoted wife, mother, homemaker, foster care mother and hostess to many meals in her home, both in Pigeon as well as in Lancaster. She loved reaching out to others and especially enjoyed telling others of her joy in Jesus. She was a previous member of Pigeon River Mennonite Church and Fairhaven Mennonite Church and ended up as a member of West End Mennonite Church in Lancaster attending with her youngest son, Charlie, and his family. She was extremely fond of all of the churches she attended. Her hugs and smiles and open acceptance of everyone she met will be greatly missed. She is survived by four children, Frank, of Colombia, South America, Judy Albrecht-Bunting, of Pocomoke City, Maryland, Chuck, of New Danville, and Linda Albrecht, of Kinde; 11 grandchildren; and three siblings, Gladdie Keener, of State College, Pennsylvania, Lil Knouse, of Richfield, Pennsylvania, and Carol Swartz, of Oregon. Memorial services will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 24, 2004, at Pigeon River Mennonite Church. There will be no viewing. All are invited to the memorial service celebrating the life of Carolyn and praising her God. Anastasia "Mrs. Gordon" Lasceski Anastasia Lasceski, 77, resident of Kinde, passed away Tuesday, October 19, 2004, at Huron Medical Center, Bad Axe. Anastasia was born on April 21, 1927 to the late Thomas and Cecilia (Horetski) Fischer. Anastasia Fischer and Gordon Lasceski were united in marriage on November 3, 1945 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin. They were married 35 years. Gordon preceded his wife in death on August 24, 1980. Mrs. Lasceski was a parishioner of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Dwight, and was a member of the church's Holy Rosary Sodality, Polish church choir. She enjoyed cooking, polish dancing with her husband and being with her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Mrs. Lasceski is survived by her two sons, Walter Lasceski and his wife, Jo Ann, of Port Austin, Thomas Lasceski and his wife, Diane, of Port Austin; two daughters, Cecelia Szuran and her husband, Andrew, of Saginaw, Veronica Duda and her husband, Frank, of Kinde; several grandchildren, Gordon Lasceski, of Port Austin, Andrew Szuran, of Saginaw, Thomas Duda and his wife, Lisa, of Kinde, Sherry Fischer and her husband, Thomas, of Kinde, Lynette Moore and her husband, Jeff, of Kinde, Veronica Peterson and her husband, Dennis, of Pinnebog, Kristie Lasceski and her special friend, Jeff Champagne, of Elkton, Thomas Lasceski, Jr. and his special friend, Vanessa Krug, of Ubly; two step-grandchildren, Brian Hoody and his wife, Tina, of Port Austin, Kerry Hoody and his wife, Julie, of Imlay City; several great-grandchildren, Tommy, Alexis, Quinn, Brianna, Frankie, Tyler; several step-great-grandchildren, Sara, Laken, McKenna, John, Brad, Nikki; one sister, Louise Yaroch, of Port Austin; four sisters-in-law, Dorothy Fischer, Regina Lasceski, Mary-Ann Murawski, Beatrice Lasceski; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Leo Fischer and Paul Fischer; three sisters, Delphine Leavine, Margaret Horetski, and Rose Ventline; several brothers-in-law, Cass Yaroch, Edward Horetski, Peter Ventline, Paul Lasceski, Michael Lasceski, Edward Lasceski, Harry Lasceski, Ray Lasceski, John Lasceski, Charles Murawski, and Michael Makowski; several sisters-in-law, Sadie Makowski, Virigina Lasceski, Anna Lasceski, Gertrude Lasceski, Helen Lasceski, and Gertrude Polega; two grandchildren, Michael Christopher Szuran, and Andrea Marie Szuran. Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 22, 2004, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dwight. The Rev. Mieczyslaw Oniskiewicz, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today, 1 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, and 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday at MacAlpine Funeral Home-Gage Chapel in Kinde. A Holy Rosary Sodality service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. today and a parish wake scripture service will be conducted at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Emma Cecilia Mazure Mrs. Emma Cecilia Mazure, 87, of Smith Corners, passed away Monday night, October 18, 2004, at Courtney Manor of Bad Axe. Emma was born July 23, 1917 in Ubly to the late John and Emma (Heilig) Maurer. She was united in marriage to John R. Mazure on October 6, 1937 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Smith Corners. He preceded her in death on September 22, 1986. Emma resided in Paris Township all her life. She was a graduate of a country school. She was employed as a waitress at the Huron Inn and as a meat packer at Maurer Meat Processors. She was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Smith Corners and was a member and former president of the Most Holy Trinity Altar Society. She also sang in the choir, did sacristy work and flower arranging for the church. She was also a member of the Daughters of Isabella Fidelis Regina Circle No. 608 and the League of Catholic Women. Emma loved her animals, especially her kittens. She also loved playing cards, cooking, baking, flowers, and gardening. Emma is survived by her children, Edward Mazure and his wife, Betty, of Tennessee, Eugene Mazure and his wife, Elaine, of Ubly, Robert Mazure and his wife, Phyllis, of Ubly, Fred Mazure and his wife, Mary Ann, of Bad Axe, Donald Mazure, of Ubly, Richard Mazure and his wife, Alicia, of Ubly, Patricia Geiger and her husband, Raymond, of Bad Axe, John Mazure and his wife, Joyce, of Ubly; 29 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; two brothers, John Maurer and his wife, Joan, of Ubly, Fred Maurer and his wife, Grace, of Ubly; two sisters-in-law, Betty Maurer, of Ubly, Margaret Maurer, of Harbor Beach. Emma was preceded in death by one daughter-in-law, Elaine (Wehner) Mazure; one grandson, Jeffrey Mazure; five brothers, Raymond, Edward, Anthony, Neil, and Elmer Maurer; three sisters, Kate True, Helen Oberski, and Clara Polk. A funeral mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 23, 2004, at the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Smith Corners. The Rev. James Carlson, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, from 1 to 9 p.m. on Friday, and from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. There will be a joint rosary at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday by the Most Holy Trinity Altar Society and the Daughters of Isabella Fidelis Regina Circle No. 608. There will be a parish vigil service at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Both services will be at the funeral home. Thursday, October 21, 2004 Kenneth Joseph Craig Kenneth Joseph Craig, 68, of Port Austin, died Wednesday, October 20, 2004, at Sunny Acres Nursing Center in Bad Axe. Kenneth was born on June 7, 1936 in Hume Township, son of the late John and Isabelle (St. George) Craig. He and Mary J. Krull were married on August 29, 1959 at the United Protestant Church in Port Austin. Kenneth was a United States Army Veteran. He worked for Clancy Brothers Excavating and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife, Mary, of Port Austin; three children, Kenneth J. Craig, of Port Austin, Kim Craig and his wife, Michelle, of Kinde, and Kevin Craig and his wife, Sally, of Bad Axe; five grandchildren, Kenneth III, Adrienne, Cody, Michael, and Nicholas Craig; seven sisters and brothers, Francis Lenaway, of Kinde, John Craig and his wife, Larraine, of Bad Axe, Elaine Smith, of Au Gres, Robert Craig and his wife, Elsie, of Bad Axe, Eugene Craig and his wife, Alice, of Kinde, David Craig and his wife, Marge, of Kinde, and Gary Craig, of Warren. Kenneth was preceded in death by his brother, Harvey, and his sister, Dorothy Gembarski. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, October 23, 2004, at 11 a.m. at the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde. The Rev. David Putz will officiate. Burial will follow in the Port Austin Township Cemetery. Visitation will be conducted from 7 to 9 p.m. today, from 1 to 9 p.m. on Friday, and from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Durell M. Gilbert Durell M. Gilbert, 59, of Edgewood, Maryland, died at University of Maryland Medical Center on Tuesday, September 21, 2004. He was born April 20, 1945 in Bad Axe, the son of the late Leonard "Ducky" Gilbert and Vera (Toner) Gilbert. Durell worked as an electronic engineer. He served his country in the Army during the Vietnam Conflict. He is survived by one daughter, Lynette Montague and her husband, Farrell; two sons, Brian Gilbert and Christopher Gilbert, all of Norfolk, Virginia; one grandchild, Felicia Chapman, of Abington, Massachusetts; step-mother, Fay Gilbert, of Bad Axe; one brother, Burton Gilbert and his wife, Mary, of Bad Axe; three sisters, Linda Jimkoski and her husband, Kenneth, of Kinde, Pamela Hanson and her husband, Dennis, of Norfolk, Virginia, and Anna Gilbert, of Mount Pleasant. Preceding him in death were two infant brothers. There will be a memorial service at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 24, 2004, at the Bad Axe Free Methodist Church. Visitation will be at 1:30 p.m. until the time of service at the church. Kathleen Saundra Smith Kathleen Saundra (Lincoln) Smith, 65, of Saginaw and formerly of Bay Port, died Tuesday morning, October 19, 2004, at Covenant Healthcare-Cooper Campus. She was born on August 21, 1939 in Lincoln, daughter of the late Fredrick David and Thelma (Procunier) Lincoln. She lived most of her life in Bay Port, and was active with the Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Huron Circle Tour. While living in Bay Port, she was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church and was a member of the Munger Community Bible Church. She loved God and truly enjoyed raising her family and grandchildren as well as the neighbor children. She also had volunteered caring for the elderly. Surviving are her children, David Smith and his wife, Mary, of Clio, Paul Smith, of Caro, Mark Smith, of Saginaw, Rosemary Anderson and her husband, Mark, of Saginaw, Saundra Buchinger and her husband, Mike, of Saginaw, Tim Smith and Donna Arnott, of Bad Axe, Julie Smith and Bob McIntosh, of Union City, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Chad, Angela, Justin, Trista, Victoria, Johnathon, Noah, Benjamin, Chase, Job, Karissa, Rebekah, Zachary, Tanner; great-grandchildren, Ashley, Tia, Trey and her special friend, Ed Smith, of Saginaw. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 22, 2004, from the Munger Community Bible Church. Pastor David Krick will officiate with cremation to follow. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home, 9940 Saginaw Street, Reese, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Friday at the church. Memorials may be made to Munger Community Bible Church. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at the funeral home, church or through waresmithwoolever.com. Friday, October 22, 2004 Marilyn Smith Marilyn Smith, 65, of Bad Axe, passed away on Thursday, October 21, 2004, at St. Mary's Hospital, Saginaw. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and are being handled by the MacAlpine Funeral Home of Bad Axe. A complete obituary will appear in Sunday's edition of the Huron Daily Tribune. 1