HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning March 20, 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, March 20, 2005 Annabelle Hoover Annabelle Hoover, 68, of Bad Axe, passed away on Friday, March 18, 2005, at her home following a three-year illness. She was born on July 29, 1936 in Sebewaing, daughter of the late Levi and Mary (Matuni) Finkbeiner. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and television. Surviving are one daughter, Denise, and her husband, Shawn Sarka, of Bad Axe, two step grandchildren, Courtny and Drake. Cremation has taken place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City. A committal service will take place at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Sebewaing. Arrangements are being handled by the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. Memorials may be made to the United Hospice of Marlette or Huron Development Commission's meals program, Caro office. Monday, March 21, 2005 Beverly Jean Johnson Beverly Jean Johnson, 80, of Caseville and formerly of Burton, passed away after a short illness Saturday, March 19, 2005, at the home of her daughter, Jeanne Wurst, of Sand Point. Beverly was born in Flint on June 13, 1924, daughter to the late Trevor and Margaret (Vaseau) Sylvester. She married Leroy C. Johnson, of Burton, on July 31, 1943. He preceded her in death on November 12, 1993. Beverly was an avid reader and world traveler, who also enjoyed trips to casinos with her family and friends. She is survived by her daughter, Jeanne and her husband, Keith, of Sand Point; three sons, Leroy and his wife, Sharon, of Burton, Gary and his wife, Candy, of Davison, and Louis and his partner, Michael Smith, of Caseville; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and her brother, Joseph, of Flint. She was preceded in death by her brother, Donald, and sister, Delores. Beverly's family would like to thank her neighbors and friends for their kind prayers and assistance during her illness. They would like to say a special thanks to Mrs. Shannon Guigar and her family for all their help during the family's hour of need. The family also would like to thank the staff at Scheurer Hospital, especially Dr. Shirley Jakubec, who treated their mother like she was her own. They are eternally grateful. A funeral service will be held at noon on Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at Allen Funeral Home, 9136 Davison Road, in Davison, with the Rev. Berniece Matejcek officiating. Beverly will lie in state at the funeral home, where the family will receive visitors from 6 to 9 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, and for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Memorial contributions may be made to United Hospice Service of Marlette. Their services were invaluable during Beverly's illness. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Tuesday, March 22, 2005 Raymond O'Parka Raymond O'Parka, 84, of Elkton, died Sunday afternoon, March 20, 2005, at his home under hospice care. He was born on March 12, 1921 at the home of his parents, the late Stanley and Tillie (Ertman) O'Parka in Paris Township. Ray lived in Huron County all his life. He stayed with the Steve and Marie Peca family for more than 30 years and with the Gerald and Carol Kaufman family for the past 15 years. He had enjoyed farming, gardening, and working in the yard. He also enjoyed ice fishing and having his cats around. Surviving are his adopted family, Gerald and Carol Kaufman, of Elkton, and their children, Sherry Machowicz, Kara and Trisha, Tina Weigand and her husband, Jay, Kaitlyn and Tristia, Marie Shivley and her husband, Frank, and Gala, Paige, and Steve Kaufman. Also surviving is his sister, Leona Peplinski, of Parisville. A funeral Mass will be conducted at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Parisville with burial in the church cemetery. Words of condolence may be left at www.champagnefuneralchapel.com. Vernon W. "John" Stephens Vernon W. "John" Stephens, 87, died Sunday, March 20, 2005, at Tendercare of Cass City following a brief illness. He was born on March 18, 1918 in Sebewaing, the son of the late Bon and Amy (Pitcher) Stephens. He was married to Margaret Auld who preceded him in death. He then was united in marriage to Alma Pitcher on August 21, 1989. Vernon had been employed by General Motors in Flint for 38 years before retiring in 1974. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. Surviving are his wife, Alma, of Sebewaing; one daughter, Dianne Gollnast, of Clio; one step-daughter, Karyl Cole and her husband, Philip, of Traverse City; one step-son, Terry Pitcher and his wife, Jane, of Mesa, Arizona; three grandchildren; several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; also one sister, Cleo Kirbyson, of Saginaw; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one son, William Stephens; one sister, Marie Davenport; and one brother, Bon Stephens. Cremation has taken place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City. A memorial service will take place at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Immanuel Lutheran Church. Wednesday, March 23, 2005 Margaret A. Goniwicha Margaret A. "Peggy" Goniwicha, 77, of Harbor Beach, passed away Tuesday, March 22, 2005, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Saginaw following a brief illness. Born in Harbor Beach on July 19, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Clara (Schrott) Gerow. On November 3, 1945, Peggy and Leo Goniwicha were united in marriage in Our Lady of Lake Huron Church in Harbor Beach. He preceded her in death on December 11, 1992. Peggy was a member of the Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church in Harbor Beach and the Altar Society. She enjoyed working in the yard with her flowers and being with her grandchildren and traveling with her family to the casino. Surviving are eight children, Judy Hazel and her husband, Dick, of Clio, Sharon Gallagher and her husband, Mike, of Birch Run, Diane Pleiness and her husband, Terry, of Harbor Beach, Lynda Neal and her husband, Dave, of Roscommon, Janice Hurren and her special friend, Tom, of Harbor Beach, David Goniwicha and his wife, Lori, of Laingsburg, Patrick Goniwicha, of Harbor Beach, and Connie Roggenbuck and her husband, Ken, of Harbor Beach; 23 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Marie McClure, of Phoenix, Arizona, Betty Brady, of Cassopolis, Dorothy O'Rourke, of Grand Blanc, and Pat Arntz, of Harbor Beach; and by several nieces and nephews. Peggy was preceded in death by a daughter, Shelly, in 1980 and a grandson, Brent, in 1999. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2005, at Our Lady of Lake Huron Church in Harbor Beach with Fr. T.J. Fleming, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A Parish Vigil service will take place at 7:30 p.m. today at the Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday at the church. Memorials may be given to the Ronald McDonald House or the Kidney Foundation. Lorena M. Smith Stahlbaum Lorena M. Smith Stahlbaum, 90, of Holiday, Florida and formerly of Bad Axe, the beloved matriarch of five living generations, died Thursday, February 24, 2005. Her 91st birthday would have been Easter Sunday, March 27, 2005. She was loving, sweet, beautiful, kind, talented, exceptional, and a real lady. She will be dearly missed by loving family, old friends, and anyone privileged to have known her. She was of the Episcopalian Christian faith and last direct family of her generation. Born and raised in Bad Axe, she graduated from Bad Axe High School and was in drama, chorus, and rifle club, earning the expert sharpshooter level. Recently she still corresponded with several classmates. On May 17, 1934, Lorena married her high school sweetheart, Fred, and moved to New Jersey, raising their two children in Matawan, New Jersey. She worked for Avon and the Matawan Bank before moving to Newark, New Jersey, where she worked for 16 years in the personnel and auditing departments of Sears. She retired from Sears in 1972 when Fred retired after 40 years at Prudential Insurance Company. They then moved to Holiday, Florida. Lorena was an excellent homemaker, seamstress, gardener, bead crafter, and an avid reader of five novels a week until recently. She was very quick, bright, and alert all her life. She also still reconciled her own banking statements. She had refinished furniture too. Although widowed, she cooked balanced, healthy meals every day. She was quite a lady. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred W. Stahlbaum, in 1981; her daughter's infant son, Kent William, in 1964; her six siblings and all but one of their spouses. Lorena leaves four living generations to cherish her including three great-grandchildren, four grandchildren and one spouse through her son, Fred T. Stahlbaum and his wife, Barbara, of Lakewood, New Jersey; three great-great-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two grandchildren and one spouse through her daughter, Marilynne Stahlbaum, of Pine Beach, New Jersey. She also leaves her dear sister-in-law, Mrs. Jean M.R. Smith, of Ann Arbor, many nieces and a nephew and their families, and many dear family friends. There were no services at Lorena's request. In lieu of flowers and for one unfulfilled hope (for research and cures for rare light disorders, as inherited by her daughter, Marilynne), remembrance gifts for Lorena may be sent to the Canadian Porphyria Foundation, P.O. Box 1206, Neepawa, MB ROJ1HO, Canada, or by phone at (866) 476-2081. Letters may be sent to Sunny Stahlbaum, Pine Beach, New Jersey 08741. Thank you for caring for and remembering Lorena, our newest angel. Martha A. Willey-Weremiuk Martha A. Willey-Weremiuk, 81, of Caseville, died Monday, March 21, 2005, at her home. Martha was born in Putnam, Connecticut on December 15, 1923 to the late Harold and Alice (Hague) Mansfield. On August 22, 1942, she married Fay Henry Willey, Jr., of the Willey Tool Carbide Family of Detroit. Fay preceded her in death on October 23, 1964. She married John Weremiuk on January 2, 1982 in Caseville. John also preceded her in death on June 9, 2000. Martha moved to Caseville from Birmingham in 1972. She worked at Scenic Nursing Home in Pigeon for five years, retiring in 1981. She was a member of the Caseville United Methodist Church, Caseville Eagles, Scenic Golf and Country Club, and Caseville Retirement Club. She was a volunteer with Community Mental Health and the St. Roch Food Pantry, making scarves for many children. She enjoyed helping and doing good for her community. Martha is survived by her children, Gary Willey and his wife, Linda, of Caseville, Jennifer Montanaro and her husband, Roger, of Long Island, New York, Ray Willey, of Portland, Oregon, Patricia Anderson and her husband, Kurt, of Pigeon, Sharon Weremiuk and Gerry Doppelt, of Lajolla, California, and Kathy Weremiuk and Tal Mirza, of Santa Monica, California; one daughter-in-law, Nancy Willey McKenzie, of Owingsville, Kentucky; 11 grandchildren, Tammy, Jen, Chris, Stephanie, Gary, Justin, Julie, Sasha, Byron, Allison, and Sarah; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Cary, a brother, Alfred Mansfield, and a sister, Grace Campbell. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2005, at the Caseville United Methodist Church with burial in the Grandlawn Cemetery in Pigeon. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Friday at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Caseville and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to the church. Condolences may be shared online at www.cfcCaseville.com Charles Clair Peasley Charles "Bud" Peasley, 84, of Deford, died Monday, March 21, 2005, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Saginaw. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 25, 2005, at the Novesta Church of Christ with Chuck Emmert officiating. Interment will be in the Novesta Township Cemetery in Cass City with military honors under the direction of the Cass City VFW Post No. 3644. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today, and 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday at the Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City, and 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Novesta Church of Christ. Family and friends may share memorials, prayers, and stories with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com. Thursday, March 24, 2005 - No obituaries reported Friday, March 25, 2005 Wayne L. Doyle Wayne L. Doyle, 76, passed away at his home in Harbor Beach with hospice care and his family at his side. Funeral services will be at noon on Tuesday, March 30, 2005, at the Ramsey Funeral Home, where visitation will be from 1 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday. Burial will be in Glen Eden Cemetery in Livonia. A complete obituary will be in Sunday's Huron Daily Tribune or by viewing RamseyFH.Com. 1