HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning May 23, 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, May 23, 2004 – No obituaries reported Monday, May 24, 2004 Ruth Willett Ruth Marie Willett, 85, of Bad Axe, died Saturday, May 22, 2004, at Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe. She was born August 9, 1918 in Detroit to the late Donald and Cleo (Shoemaker) Littlefield. Ruth married Tom Lenehan on April 4, 1942. He preceded her in death on November 1, 1989. She married Cliff Willet on September 23, 1995. Ruth received a bachelor of arts degree from Wayne College in Detroit. Ruth was an art teacher in the Detroit Public and Southfield Public Schools for over 35 years. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bad Axe, United Methodist Women Sodality, the Bad Axe Historical Society, Genealogy Society, and the Michigan Log Cabin Society. She enjoyed crocheting, sewing, drawing, flowers, gardening, and planting trees. Mrs. Willett is survived by her husband, Cliff; two sons, Kevin Lenehan and his wife, Carol, of Maryland, Brian Lenehan and his wife, Joy, of Ann Arbor; one daughter, Donna McCatty and her husband, Jim, of Oxford; one brother, Donald Littlefield and his wife, Delores, of Grosse Pointe; seven grandchildren, Deanne Lenehan, of Westminster, Maryland, Lauren McCatty, of Oxford, Andrea McCatty, of Oxford, Kelly Lenehan, of Valparaiso, Indiana, Andy Lenehan, Alyssa Meyer, Emily Meyer, all of Ann Arbor; three step-daughters, Bonnie Ligrow and her husband, Louis, of Bad Axe, Connie Respondek and her husband, Larry, of Whittemore, Linda Jury and her husband, Darrell, of Bad Axe; one step-son, Larry Willett and his wife, Jackie, of Ypsilanti; nine step-grandchildren, Michelle Pollinger and her husband, Jeff, of Alden, New York, Jody Ligrow and his wife, Rebecca, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Shannon Tetreau and her husband, Lynn, of Bad Axe, Sheree Boone and her husband, Walter, of Bad Axe, Heather Jury, of Ubly, Jacob Respondek, of St. Petersburg, Florida, Ryan Respondek and his friend, Jolynn Piotter, of Bad Axe, Tara Hoeksema and her husband, Patrick, of Redford, Cory Willett and his friend, Danita King, of Milan, Billy Sinkule, of Ypsilanti; 11 step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 26, 2004, at Bad Axe First United Methodist Church. The Rev. William Wright will officiate. Burial will be in Colfax Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 1 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe, and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be offered to the Bad Axe First United Methodist Church or the Bad Axe Historical Society. The web tribute for Ruth may be accessed at www.macalpine.yourtribute.com/RuthWillett. Tuesday, May 25, 2004 – No obituaries reported Wednesday, May 26, 2004 Estella C. Cooklin Estella C. Cooklin, 95, of Bradenton, Florida and formerly of Cass City, died Monday, May 24, 2004, in Tendercare Nursing Facility, Cass City. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 27, 2004, at Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, with Lecil Sullivan and Darren Briggs officiating. Interment is in Ellington Cemetery, Caro. Pallbearers for Mrs. Cooklin are Larry Smith, Scott Shaw, Ryan Shaw, Nick Pohlod, Henry Cooklin and Stephen Cooklin. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City. Memorials may be made to the Tendercare Nursing Facility. Thursday, May 27, 2004 John Matula John Matula, 81, of Bad Axe, loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away Wednesday, May 26, 2004, after a lengthy illness in Bad Axe. John was born in St. Charles on February 15, 1923, the son of Paul and Susan (Koziel) Matula. He grew up on the farm in Fremont Township, Saginaw County. John served with the United States Navy from 1941 to 1945. He was very proud of his service to his country. His awards include the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal. He worked as a farmhand and as a boat builder in St. Charles. John worked for 39 years at Consumer's Power Company in both Saginaw and Bad Axe retiring in 1986. He loved boating, fishing and hunting. John was a member of VFW Post No. 02236 of Pigeon. He is survived by his children, Thomas E. Matula and his wife, Jean, of Saginaw, Ted P. Matula and his wife, Elaine, of Rapid City, Robert J. Matula and his wife, Kelle, of Midland, Richard A. Matula and his wife, Annette, and Susan F. Matula, of Bad Axe; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brothers, Joseph Matula and his wife, Theresa, of St. Charles, and Frank Matula and his wife, Eunice, of Midland. Preceding him in death was a son, Gary Lee Matula. Arrangements are being handled by MacAlpine Funeral Home. Cremation will take place with a memorial service pending. Visit the web tribute for John at http://www.macalpine.yourtribute.com/JohnMatula. Contributions may be made to Heartland Home Health Care and Hospice located at 1171 S. Van Dyke Road, Bad Axe, Michigan 48413. Dad, until we meet again may you find peace in Heaven's hand. Friday, May 28, 2004 Michael Robert Goretski Michael Robert Goretski, 92, of Port Austin, died Thursday, May 27, 2004, at his home. He was born on September 12, 1911 in Dwight Township, son of the late Andrew and Mary (Ignash) Goretski. Michael and Julia Gannons were married on February 11, 1944 in St. Patrick's Church in Brighton. Michael was a life-long farmer. He was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin. He served on the Port Austin Board of Education for 12 years and on the Volunteer Firemen's Board of Trustees for nearly 30 years. His favorite pastime was the game of euchre. Michael is survived by his wife, Judy, of Port Austin; five of their seven children, Michael Goretski, Jr., and his wife, Kathy, of Howell, Kathleen Diaz and her husband, Tim, of Ogalala, Nebraska, Kevin Goretski and special friend, Bonnie Prill, of Port Austin, Mary Williams and her husband, John, of Brighton, and Bridget Harris and her husband, Robert, of Novi; one son-in-law, Robert Steinman, of East Lansing; one daughter-in-law, Grace Goretski, of Howell; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Elizabeth "Bess" Guillespi, of Florida. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Colleen Steinman, formerly of East Lansing; one son, Sean Patrick Goretski, formerly of Howell; and one brother, Philip, formerly of Port Austin. A funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 29, 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. There will be a vigil led by Sister Margaret Ann Roggenbuck at 7 p.m. today at the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde. Visitation will be conducted from 2 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Donations may be made to Heartland Hospice. Edna M. Reinhardt Edna M. Reinhardt, 64, of AuGres, died Wednesday, May 26, 2004, at her home. She was born January 12, 1940 in Saginaw, daughter of James and Mary Kamhout. Edna was a volunteer for the Senior Companion Program for the past 5 years. She is survived by her husband, Harold, of 47 years; three sons, Brian Reinhardt and his wife, Deb, of Bay City, Brad Reinhardt and his wife, Kelly, of Montrose, and Bart Reinhardt and his wife, Dawn, of Little Lake; three sisters, Nancy Himmelein, of Saginaw, Josephine Gunter and her husband, Reb, of Zephyrhills, Florida, Karen Wilson and her husband, Ray, of West End, North Carolina; and seven grandchildren. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 1, 2004, at AuGres United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the church. Arrangements are being handled by the Forshee Funeral Home in AuGres. John DiVincentis John DiVincentis, 83, of Caseville, passed away suddenly on Thursday, May 27, 2004, at Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon. Funeral services are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, June 1, 2004. Meyersieck- Bussema Funeral Home, Pigeon, is conducting the arrangements. 1