HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning April 10, 2005 Contributed 2005 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, April 10, 2005 Susie Grifka Mrs. Susie Rose Grifka, 82, of Ubly, passed away Friday night, April 8, 2005, at Covenant Harrison in Saginaw. Susie was born on May 29, 1922 in Harbor Beach to the late John and Gertrude (Pyrek) Glaza. She married Arthur Grifka on September 22, 1940 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Parisville. He preceded her in death on January 27, 1984. She was a graduate of a country school. She moved to the Detroit area to work. She was employed at Frigid Foods in Detroit for 15 years. She was a former parishioner at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Sterling Heights. Susie and Art retired and moved to Ubly in 1980. She was a parishioner at St. John Catholic Church in Ubly and was a charter member of the St. John Christian Mothers, joining Circle 1 St. Ann's. She enjoyed her family and her friends at the Bad Axe Senior Center. She also enjoyed bingo, playing cards, going on trips, and crossword puzzles. Susie is survived by two daughters, Joyce LaNava and her husband, Gary, of Clifford, Lorraine Stabli and her husband, John, of Fremont, California; five grandchildren, Dominic, Joseph, and Michael LaNava, Shannon Erickson, and Erin Long; four great-grandchildren, Anthony LaNava, Vincent LaNava, Alexandra LaNava, and Dominic LaNava, Jr.; two brothers, Walter Glaza and his wife, Delores, of Ubly, and Roman Glaza and his wife, Lucille, of Ubly; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Grace Kosal, Beatrice Sobczak, and Edna Fisher. A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at St. John Catholic Church in Ubly. The Rev. Steve Gavit, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Ruth, will officiate. Burial will be in the St. John Cemetery in Ubly. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. There will be a Christian Mothers Rosary at 7 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Neal Jackson Neal G. Jackson, 94, of San Diego, California and formerly of Port Hope, passed away at his home in San Diego on January 22, 2005. He was born in Port Hope on August 24, 1910. Neal worked as a communications officer for the Detroit Police Department for 25 years. He worked for 13 years for the Aid to International Development where he assisted other countries to develop their police communication systems. The theme of his 2004 Christmas letter was how thankful he was for the wonderful life he had lived along with his cherished wife of 65 years, Donna Bartlett Jackson. She preceded him in death on August 13, 2000. Neal is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Stephen Monfort, of San Diego, California. Cremation has taken place and interment was in the Port Hope Cemetery. Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, handled the local arrangements. Carol Kretzschmer Carol M. Kretzschmer, 89, formerly of Owendale, passed away Thursday, April 7, 2005, at Scheurer Hospital Long Term Care Unit in Pigeon. She was born December 24, 1915, in Lincoln Township to the late Lawrence and Ada (King) Rapson. Carol was united in marriage to Rolla M. Kretzschmer on September 25, 1935. She was a life-long member of the Eastern Star, an artist, and an avid reader. Carol is survived by four children, daughters, Kay Adams and her husband, Loren, of Coral Springs, Florida, Ruth Dunn and her husband, Dick, of Kenton, Dana Martin, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and son, Larry Kretzschmer and his wife, Joyce, of Pigeon; one daughter-in-law, Melody Kretzschmer of Somerset, Kentucky; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; two great-great- grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; two sisters-in-law; and one brother-in-law. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rolla M. Kretzschmer; a son, Rolla J. Kretzschmer; a brother, Edrick "Butch" Rapson (Onalee); and two sisters, Zora Ellis and Ruth McKee (Robert). Funeral services for Carol will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 11, 2005, at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, Pigeon, with Pastor John Heim, of the Owendale United Methodist Church, officiating. Following the service, interment will take place at the Grant Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Monday. Memorials may be made to the Scheurer Hospital Long Term Care Unit. Henry Shleifer Henry Shleifer, 76, of Harbor Beach, passed away Saturday, April 9, 2005, in the long term care unit of Harbor Beach Community Hospital. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 7, 1928, he was the son of the late Jacob and Sophie (Pigtaigorski) Shleifer. On November 5, 1969, Henry was united in marriage to Ruth Arntz in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He participated in protecting our country during World War II, being in the Merchant Marines. Henry was a retired employee of Active Industries in Elkton, retiring in 1989 after working for 33 years. He enjoyed decorating his home and lawn for the Christmas holiday and working on and fixing cars. Henry is survived by his wife, Ruth Shleifer, of Harbor Beach; a brother, Louis Shleifer, of Harbor Beach; step-children, Douglas Jewell and his wife, Dorothy, of Birch Run, and Larry Jewell and his wife, Rita, of Harbor Beach; 7 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and 10 step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Bernard, Martin, and Robert Shleifer; three grandsons and one great-grandson. At Henry's request, there will not be any services. Cremation will take place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City and burial will be in the Rock Falls Cemetery in Harbor Beach. Arrangements are being handled by the Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach. Charles Steele Charles Wesley "Chuck" Steele, 86, of Bay Port, passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2005, at his home. He was born in Bay Port on January 12, 1919, son of the late Judson Grant and Dora Lenore (King) Steele, and graduated in 1937 from Bay Port High School. He actively served with the U.S. Army in France, Belgium, Austria, and Germany during World War II from 1941 to 1946, with the H.H.C. 502 N.D. Parchat.Inf. Regt. 101 S.T. A.B.N. Div. Battle of the Bulge, and was discharged as a first lieutenant from the Army Reserves in 1949. On October 25, 1947, he was united in marriage to Erma Langley in Bay Port. She survives him. Mr. Steele was a construction worker with the Wallace & Morley Company for 44 years, retiring in 1985. He was a member of the Bay Port United Methodist Church. In addition to Erma, his wife of more than 57 years, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Cathy Steele, of Bay Port; two granddaughters, Jaclynn and Erin Steele; a brother, Jack Steele and his wife, Carol, of Virginia; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, J.G. Steele, who was killed in Okinawa during World War II; and three sisters, Ruth Johnson, Ethyle Steele, and Dora Lenore Schwanitz. In keeping with Mr. Steele's wishes, his body was donated to the Wayne State University School of Medicine. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, 2005, at the Bay Port United Methodist Church with the Rev. Doug Mater, pastor, officiating. Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. until the time of service on April 17 at the church. Memorial tributes may be made to Bay Port United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are conducted by Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, Pigeon, a Golden Rule Funeral Home. Duane Susalla Mr. Duane J. Susalla, 49, of Ubly, passed away Friday, April 8, 2005, at his home under hospice care after a battle with cancer. He was born May 14, 1955 in Bad Axe to Jacob and Evelyn (Lamke) Susalla. He married Patricia Balk on November 28, 1981 in Harbor Beach. Duane graduated from Ubly High School. He was a factory inspector at Tower Automotive in Elkton for 32 years. He was a parishioner of St. John Catholic Church in Ubly. He enjoyed snowmobiling, tinkering, building and repairing automobiles. Duane is survived by his wife, Patricia, of Ubly; two sons, Joshua R. Susalla and his wife, Janice, of Bad Axe, Jeremy J. Susalla and his special friend, Krystal Meyer, of Ubly; two daughters, Jennifer L. Susalla and special friend, Tim Laske, of Ubly, Judy T. Susalla, of Ubly; two grandsons, Alexander J. Susalla, of Ubly, and Jace J. Susalla, of Bad Axe; his parents, Jacob and Evelyn Susalla, of Ubly; two brothers, Bryan Susalla and his wife, Tina, of Bad Axe, Darell Susalla, of Ubly; his mother and father-in-law, Melvin and Olive Marie Balk, of Harbor Beach; six brothers-in-law, Melvin Balk, Jr., of Allen Park, Martin Balk and his wife, Dena, of Montana, Gary Balk and his wife, Tammy, of Romeo, Paul Balk and his wife, Kim, of Deford, John Balk and his wife, Cindy, of Dorr, Matthew Balk and his wife, Blanca, of Orlando, Florida; four sisters-in-law, Crystal Schipinski and her husband, Dan, of Shelby Township, Judy Balk, of Circle Pines, Minnesota, Cindy Nowiski, of Bristol, Tennessee, Diann Mazure and her husband, Michael, of Jenison; 49 nieces and nephews; eight great-nieces and nephews. Duane was preceded in death by one brother-in-law, Richard Balk. A Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at St. John Catholic Church in Ubly. The Rev. T.J. Fleming, pastor of Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church in Harbor Beach, will officiate. Burial will be in the St. John Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today, and from 1 to 9 p.m. on Monday at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly, and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the church. There will be a parish vigil service at 7:30 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are requested to the Family Discretionary Fund. Monday, April 11, 2005 Lillian E. Jacoby Lillian E. Jacoby, 90, of Cass City, died Saturday, April 9, 2005, at the Covenant Health Care, Cooper Campus, in Saginaw after a short illness. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City with Chuck Emmert, of Novesta Church of Christ, officiating. Interment will be in Novesta Township Cemetery in Cass City. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 10 to 11 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Northwood Meadows or Covenant Health Care - Cooper Campus. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and stories with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com. Jerry Sniezyk Jerry Sniezyk, 58, passed away on Monday, March 28, 2005. Beloved husband of Rosemary (O'Grady) of Shelby Township and Port Hope. Loving son of Cecilia and the late Walter, of Port Hope. The funeral was conducted on Friday April 1, 2005, at Wujek Calcaterra and Sons, Inc. and at St. Jane Frances DeChantel. Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery. Tuesday, April 12, 2005 – No obituaries reported Wednesday, April 13, 2005 Alma A. Fankhauser Alma A. Fankhauser, 85, a former Huron County resident, passed away on Saturday, February 26, 2005, at the West Branch Regional Hospital in West Branch. She was born on June 29, 1919 in Palms, daughter of the late Frederick and Caroline (Abend) Warczinsky. She married Freeman Fankhauser on June 27, 1942 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Palms. He preceded her in death on January 30, 2004. Alma is survived by one daughter, Sandra Heinz and her husband, David, of Lewiston; one son, Michael Fankhauser and his wife, Regina, of Alanson; six grandchildren; and four great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Walter and William Warczinsky; four sisters, Esther Loss, Theresa Smith, Mildred Myers, and Lucy Lundgren; and two grandsons. A graveside memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2005, at the Marquardt Cemetery in Port Hope. Officiating will be the Rev. Mark E. Girardin, pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church in Harbor Beach. Arrangements are being handled by the Kaufman Funeral Home in Bad Axe. Natalie C. Martin Natalie C. Martin, 80, of Port Austin, died Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe. Natalie was born March 17, 1925 in Garwood, New Jersey to the late Stanley and Josephine Tomczyk. She was raised and schooled in New Jersey. She married the late Daniel Martin II on December 22, 1946 in New Jersey. Her husband died in 1984. After many years of visiting the Port Austin area, Natalie retired there permanently in 1990. She enjoyed volunteering in schools and working with children. She was a foster-grandparent to many children in the area. Natalie is survived by her son, Dan III and his wife, Lynn, of Port Austin, and daughter, Christine Matthews and her husband, Wayne R., of Massachusetts; grandchildren, Dan IV, of Grand Blanc, Audra, of Sterling Heights, Michael, of Port Austin, Patrick Martin Matthews, of Massachusetts, and Carrie Ann Groves, of Kentucky; and great-grandchildren, Mikayla and Memory Groves. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dan II; her brothers, Stanley T. and Edward; and a sister, Haline Latawiec. At Natalie's request, there will be no public services. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Champagne Funeral Chapel of Caseville. The family requests that memorials be made to the Human Development Commission of Huron County, Senior Services Personal Care/Homemaking, 1171 S. Van Dyke, Bad Axe, Michigan 48413. Doris E. Hughes Doris E. Hughes, 78, of Freeland, passed away Wednesday morning, March 23, 2005, at Covenant HealthCare-Cooper after a brief illness. A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2005, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Freeland. Per Doris' request, cremation has taken place. Arrangements were made by the Cunningham/Taylor Funeral Home, 310 E. Washington, Freeland. Thursday, April 14, 2005 John Both John "Bubber" Both, 64, passed away at his home in Cedar on Sunday, April 10, 2005. John was born August 30, 1940 in Harbor Beach and lived there until he went into the Navy in 1959. He served on the U.S.S. Helena until he was honorably discharged. He and Susan Luchstead were married in 1963. They had five children. They resided in Roseville, where he was a pipe fitter for 18 years. In 1978, they moved to Cedar and he taught electrical occupations at TBA Career Tech Center and was a part-time ranger at Mistwood and Sugar Loaf golf courses. In May 1993, he had a massive heart attack and spent four months at Cleveland Clinic on a heart mate, while he waited for a new heart. On August 5, 1993, he had a heart transplant. His goal was to be able to play in the Arctic Open in Harbor Beach that October and he did. He battled cancer twice and won. Now he sees the face of God and his family is grateful for his life and love. He never lost his smile and sense of humor and lived for his wife, children, family and golf. His wife, Sue, was his pillar of strength and she has been at his side through it all and he never could have lived this long without her. She is what the vow "Till death do us part" is all about. Surviving is his wife, Susan; two sons, Cliff, of Cedar, Gary, of Traverse City; three daughters, Laura O'Brian and her husband, Bill, of Traverse City, Tammy Gushurst and her husband, Chris, of Lake Ann, Cindi Both, of Traverse City; and daughter-in-law, Johanna Bruce; two brothers, Ken Both and his wife, Robyn, of Henderson, Nevada, Don Both, of Cedar; and one sister, Gail Woody, of Harbor Beach; and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford, in 1999, Myrtle, in 1997, and a brother Stuart Both, in 1959. Following cremation, there will be a memorial service for family and friends. Memorial tributes may be made in his name to East Huron Ambulance, P.O. Box 28, Harbor Beach, Michigan 48441. Mary Ellen Finley Mary Ellen Finley, 72, of Bad Axe, passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at the Hospice Home in Marlette surrounded by her family. Mary was born October 14, 1932 in Corunna to the late Loren and Freda (Schneider) Bigelow. She was united in marriage to Norman Finley on November 29, 1974. Mrs. Finley graduated from Western High School in Detroit. She moved to Bad Axe in 2002 from Westland. She was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bad Axe. She worked as bank cashier and office worker. Mary enjoyed sewing, reading, working puzzles, playing cards and visiting with family and friends. She is survived by her husband, Norman, of Bad Axe; daughter, Sandra Brinkman, of Port Austin, and her special friend, Robert Carpenter; one brother, Gerald Bigelow and his wife, Joan, of Howell; two sisters, Carol Bigelow, of Garden City and Nancy Zimmer, of Florida; sister-in-law, Naomi Bigelow, of West Bloomfield; six grandchildren, Arthur Brinkman, Jr. and his wife, April, of Caro, Chris Brinkman and his wife, Mary, of Cass City, Amber Rose Brinkman, of Bad Axe, Brittany Brinkman, of Kinde and her special friend, Tim Drexler, Shaun and Patrick Brinkman, of Port Austin; great-grandson, Braeden Loren Brinkman, of Bad Axe. She was preceded in death by a brother, Jack Bigelow, and brother-in-law, Tom Zimmer. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 15, 2005, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bad Axe. Officiating will be the Rev. Kenneth Lueke, pastor. Burial will be in the Mt. Hope Memorial Gardens in Livonia. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday at the church. Memorials may be offered to Our Savior Lutheran Church or the Family Discretionary Fund. Ida Schave Ida Schave, 86, of Port Hope, passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at Harbor Beach Community Hospital Long Term Care Unit. Born in Port Hope on November 29, 1918, she was the daughter of the late Herman and Ella (Eggert) Koglin. Ida and Herbert Schave were united in marriage on May 20, 1944 in Port Hope. Together they farmed near Port Hope. Herb preceded her in death on August 26, 1989. She was a riveter building B-16 Bombers at the Budd Wheel Company in Detroit during World War II and did domestic work in Detroit. She was a former employee of the Port Hope Mill and is a member of the St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope and the LWML. Ida is a Honorary Life Member of the AmVets Post of Port Hope. Ida is survived by her children, Sylvia Cooper and her husband, Douglas, of Bad Axe, Herbert Schave and his wife, Carlotta, of Winchester, Kentucky, David Schave, of Port Hope, Daryl Schave and his wife, Debra, of Warren, and Duane Schave, of Port Hope; 11 grandchildren, Douglas, Todd, Matthew, and Jeremy Cooper, Tina Gremel, Rodney, Christopher, Jordon, Breanne, Jason, and Jennifer Schave; nine great-grandchildren, Sarah, Jordyn, Amber, Shane, and Devin Cooper, Justin, Kyle, Brandon, and Madison Schave; one great-great-grandson, Landon Aikens; and one brother, Alvin Koglin and his wife, Leah, of Port Hope. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Michael D. Cooper; and three sisters, Argenia McNeil, Everine Scherret and Elda Koehn. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2005, in St. John Lutheran Church, Port Hope, with the Rev. Gregory Eilers, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Marquardt Cemetery. A White Clover Ceremony by the AmVets will be at 5 p.m. and a scripture service at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home and from noon until the time of services on Saturday at the church. Anna Pieniadz Anna Pieniadz, of Bad Axe and formerly of Hamtramck, passed away Monday, April 11, 2005, at Courtney Manor Nursing Home in Bad Axe. Services will be at Lady of the Queen of Apostle Catholic Church, 3851 Prescott in Hamtramck with burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. on Friday at Orlikowski Funeral Home, 2721 Holbrook Street, Hamtramck. Friday, April 15, 2005 Thomas O'Connor Thomas Ivan "Ike" O'Connor, 85, of Port Austin, died Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe after a long illness. A funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 18, 2005, at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City with the Rev. Dale Parsons presiding. Interment will be in the Elkland Township Cemetery with military honors under the direction of the Cass City VFW Post #3644. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Family and friends may share memories, prayers, and stories with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com. Frederick Schimmelpfenig Frederick James "Fritz" Schimmelpfenig, 78, of Caseville, passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at Longevity Care in Sandusky. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 18, 2005, at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home. A complete obituary will be in Sunday's Huron Daily Tribune. 1