HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning December 25, 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, December 25, 2005 – Christmas Day Holiday Monday, December 26, 2005 Anna M. Essenmacher Anna M. (Messing) Essenmacher, 102, of Bad Axe, died Saturday, December 24, 2005, at Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe. She was born in Sherman Township, Huron County, on May 27, 1903 to the late Henry T. and Helen "Lena" Tenbusch Messing. Anna married Henry E. Essenmacher on November 12, 1924 in Sherman Township at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Henry preceded her in death on September 12, 1969. Anna enjoyed cooking, baking, and sewing. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She is survived by two daughters, Naomi Rogers, of Bad Axe, Helen M. Lemanski, of Port Austin; one son, Marvin Essenmacher, of Bad Axe; one step-daughter, Louise Zdrojewski and her husband, Danny, of Palms; 12 grandchildren; 22 great- grandchildren; two brothers, Leonard Messing and his wife, Theresa, of Bad Axe, Andrew Messing, of Bad Axe; one sister, Dorothy Roggenbuck, of Helena; and many nieces and nephews. Anna was preceded in death by one son, Robert H. Essenmacher; four brothers, Leo, Walter, Arthur, and Lawrence Messing; five sisters, Clara Clor, Helen Kirsch, Magadalain, Kranz, Eleanor Adler, and Irene Samulski. Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2005, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe. Fr. Jim Carlson will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe. There will be a scripture at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Memorials may be offered to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the donor's choice. Alton Edward Lyons Alton E. Lyons, 100, of Kingston, died Saturday, December 24, 2005, in Tuscola County Medical Care Facility, Caro. He was born November 22, 1905, in Macomb County to Harry and Mary (Schank) Lyons. He married (Olive) Myrtle D'Arcy on February 5, 1927 in Romeo. She died March 29, 1993. Alton farmed until 1943, then he moved to Kingston. He worked as a meat cutter for 15 years for Walter Legg Meat Market. He was employed by Kingston Farm Service until his retirement in 1971. Alton was a Kingston School Board member for 15 years and a charter life member of Kingston Wesleyan Church and a member of Wesleyan Men's Club. Alton is survived by his children, Rev. Morris (Ova) William Lyons, of Bear Lake, and Edward (Lisa) Alton Lyons, of Kingston; daughter-in-law, Janet Lyons (John) Barden, of Kingston; 12 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; eight great great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Donald D'Arcy Lyons in 1953 and two sisters, Margaret and Ruth, and a brother, Harry. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2005, in Kingston Wesleyan Church, Kingston, with the Rev. Ken Sanderfur officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. today at Kranz Funeral Home, Kingston. Memorials may be made to Kingston Wesleyan Church. Family and friends may share memories, prayers, and stories with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com. Orville Dean Nickerson Orville D. Nickerson, 63, of Cass City, died Friday, December 23, 2005, in his home. He was born January 17, 1942 in Cass City to James and Leotta (Dean) Nickerson. He married Alice Mae Spencer on July 6, 1994 in Caro. Orville served in the US Army during the Vietnam War. Over the years, he worked for Michigan Oven in Caseville, Yale Products, Deckerville Plastic, Brown City Casting, Hemans and Elkton Elevators. Orville enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a member of the National Hunters Association. Orville is survived by his wife, Alice; children, James (Christy) Garcia, of Caro, Julie Ryan, of Cass City; step-children, Evelyn (Jack) Crandall, of Cass City, Tina (Mike) Myers, of Ubly, Tammy (RC) Smith, of Cass City; 8 grandchildren; 10 step grandchildren; one great granddaughter; sisters, Vida (Darrel) Drago, of Omaha, Nebraska, Nora Jackson, of Warrensburg, Missouri, Margaret (Terry) Williams, of Grand Rapids, Melva Forman, of Caseville, Mary Nickerson, of Gagetown, Barbara Ciesielski, of Elkton, Doreen (Jim) Costello, of Elkton; brothers, Russell Nickerson, of New Port Ritchie, Florida, James A. Nickerson, Jr., of Bay Port; sister-in-law, Barbara Nickerson, of Bay Port. He is preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Nickerson; brothers-in-law, Carl Forman, James Ciesielski and 'Jack' Gerald Jackson. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2005, in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, with Chuck Emmert, of Novesta Church of Christ, officiating. Visitation is from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment is in Novesta Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and stories with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com. Tuesday, December 27, 2005 Wesley Wixson Eickholdt Mr. Wesley Wixson Eickholdt, 82, of Cedar, passed away at his daughter's residence in Deckerville on Sunday morning, December 25, 2005, under hospice care. Wesley was born January 15, 1923 in Detroit to the late Wesley S. and Belle May (Wixson) Eickholdt. He married Anna Figurski on July 14, 1946 in Detroit. He attended high school in Detroit. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the overseas theater. He worked at D & E Display in Detroit, where he became a member of Local 687 Carpenters Union. He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church in Traverse City since 1985. He was also member of the Traverse City VFW. Wesley is survived by his wife of 59 years, Anna, of Cedar; his children, Mark B. Eickholdt and his wife, Sharon, of Brandon, Keith J. Eickholdt and his wife, Lisa, of Georgia, Pamela Spencer and her husband, Rick Jr., of Deckerville; eight grandchildren, Stacia Eickholdt, Alissa Eickholdt, Jack Eickholdt, David Roberts, Brooke Spencer, Angela Bohle, Jeremy Eickholdt, and Joshua Eickholdt; four great-grandchildren, James Bohle, Phillip Bohle, Emma Eickholdt, and Jacob Eickholdt; one daughter-in-law, Karen Eickholdt, of White Lake; four brothers and three sisters. He was preceded in death by his son, Kevin Eickholdt, in 2003. A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2005, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Palms. The Rev. Paul Bala, pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Port Sanilac, will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Patrick Cemetery, Palms, in the spring. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at Smigielski Funeral Home on Cass Avenue in Minden City, and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday at the church. There will be a parish vigil service with the Rev. Bala at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Harold E. Koch Harold E. Koch, 75, of Gagetown, passed away Monday morning, December 26, 2005, at his residence. He was born in Grant Township on August 16, 1930, a son of Herman J. and Erma (Sting) Koch, and remained a lifelong resident. On January 1, 1954, he married Hilda Meyer in Bach. Harold had retired from American Hoist and Derrick Company in 1985 after 30 years of service. He had also been a truck driver with Terra International, of Fairgrove, was a farmer and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and woodworking. He was also an excellent wine maker. Surviving along with Hilda, his loving wife of 51 years; are his son, Raymond and his wife, Diana, of Gagetown; daughter, Janet Tuin and her husband, Craig, of Freeland; four grandchildren, Ariana and Hope Tuin, and Rayana Koch and Gary Adams; a brother, Franklin (Betty) Koch; and sister-in-law, Selma Koch. A brother, Nelson Koch, is deceased. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2005, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Cass City, with the Rev. Gerald Myers officiating. Interment will be in St. Peter Cemetery, Bach. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Gagetown Funeral Chapel and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday at the church. The family has suggested memorials to the Good Shepherd Church organ fund or the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. Richard G. "Dick" Sakon Richard G. "Dick" Sakon, 56, of Unionville, died early Monday morning, December 26, 2005, at Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon following a 1 1/2 year illness. He was born January 25, 1949 in Unionville, son of Anna (Koepf) Sakon and the late Joseph Sakon. He was united in marriage to Sally J. Romanik on May 18, 1972 in Bad Axe. Dick had been employed at the Grey Iron Foundry in Saginaw for 29 years before retiring one year ago. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Conflict. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Sebewaing. He loved to hunt, fish and tinker in his garage. Surviving are his wife, Sally, of Unionville; one daughter, two sons and their spouses, Kelly (Joe) Wise, Kris (Cheryl) Sakon and Josh Sakon, all of Unionville; his mother, Anna Sakon, of Sebewaing; seven grandchildren, Rebecca Torres, Jamie Harder, Chuck Harder, Samantha Wise, Sandi Wise, Megan Rochefort, and Jason Rochefort; four great-grandchildren; three sisters, three brothers and their spouses, Linda (Mike) O'Hare, of Bay City, Geraldine (Dave) Binder, of Tennessee, JoAnn (Tom) Collins, Joe (Rosemary) Sakon, Anthony (Cindy) Sakon, all of Unionville, John (Karen) Sakon, Glennie; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2005, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Sebewaing. Fr. John Weis will officiate with burial in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Unionville. Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. today at Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. He will lie in state from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday at the church. A graveside military committal service will be conducted under the auspices of the Unionville, Sebewaing V.F.W. and American Legion Posts. David John Williston David John Williston, 73, of Bad Axe, passed away on Sunday, December 25, 2005, at Bay Regional Medical Center in Bay City, following a long illness. He was born on October 9, 1932 in Flint, son of the late Harland "Bill" and Dorothy (Bohms) Williston. He married Nancy Gowen on August 28, 1954 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bad Axe. His family had moved to Bad Axe in 1947 and David graduated from Bad Axe High School in 1951. He worked at Bill Williston and Sons in Bad Axe from 1957 to 1978, at which time he established a Gambles Store in Harbor Beach until 1984. He then sold life insurance and real estate. He was an avid hunter and shooting fan. He was a member of Wilson's Gun Club, Gateway Sportsman's Club, Thumb Sportsman, and Harbor Beach Gun Club. He was a life member of the Michigan Trap Association, the American Trap Association, and the National Rifle Association. He was a member of the Bad Axe Lions Club and the Bad Axe Moose Lodge, and Our Savior Lutheran Church. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. David is survived by his wife, Nancy, of Bad Axe; one son, David F. (Vicki) Williston, of Walled Lake; six grandchildren, Chad Williston, of Freeland, Adam (Marni) Sawicki, of Atlanta, Georgia., Heather Sawicki, of Freeland, Tammy (Kevin) Keeley, of Clarkston, Cindy (Dale) Barnhart, of Commerce Township, and Kim Ryan, of Canton; 10 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Shirley Pasant, of Lansing, Janet (Henry) Saikin, of Glenview, Illinois, Phyllis Clutter, of Evanston, Illinois; two brothers, William (Claire) Williston, of Bad Axe, and Wade F. (Lillian) Williston, of Essexville; several nieces and nephews; special friends, Misty Shepherd, and Connie Fowler, of Freeland, Eric Goebel and family, of Bad Axe, and Emily Deering, of Bad Axe. Preceding him in death were two brothers, James Williston and Harland Williston Jr. Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2005, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bad Axe. Officiating will be the Rev. Kenneth Lueke, pastor. Interment will be in Colfax Mausoleum. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Kaufman Funeral Home in Bad Axe and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the church. Agnes Frances Warchock Mrs. Agnes Frances Warchock, 100, of Kalkaska and formerly of Ubly, passed away Sunday night, December 25, 2005, at the Kalkaska Long Term Care. Agnes was born August 13, 1905 in Tyre to the late John and Frances (Lautner) Sadro. She married George Warchock. He preceded her in death on August 6, 1948. She farmed all her life. In 1974, she moved to Kalkaska and became a member of St. Mary's of the Woods. Agnes is survived by one son, LaVern Warchock and his wife, Shelby, of Kalkaska; four grandchildren, Cheri Bootz and her husband, Dan, of Kalkaska, George W. Warchock and his wife, Sonia, of Jackson, Janet Root and her husband, Rick, of Williamsburg, Tami Hendericks and her husband, Chris, of Kalakska; and ten great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Beatrice Fox; one sister, Mary Osantowski; two brothers, Mike and Leonard Sadro Sr. A Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2005, at St. John Catholic Church in Ubly. The Rev. Joseph Griffin, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the church. Wednesday, December 28, 2005 Timothy W. Burns Timothy W. Burns, 78, of Sebewaing, died Tuesday morning, December 27, 2005, at Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon. He was born May 28, 1927 in Detroit, son of the late Frederic R. and Gertrude (Jahr) Burns. He received his bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Michigan State University in 1951. Tim was a branch manager for the Michigan Employment Security Commission for 19 years before retiring and moving to Sebewaing on October 31, 1989. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II; he was Master Sergeant with the Fifth Army in the European Theater. He was a past post commander and life member of Fortiers-O'Grady V.F.W. Post No. 147; and past president of American Legion Post No. 284 both of Detroit; a member of the Disabled American Veterans. He was president of the Lake Huron Community Arts Council in Sebewaing of which he was a driving force to help develop. He was an award winning photographer and expert marksman in national matches with high powered rifle at Camp Perry, Ohio; and was a life member of the National Rifle Association. He will be dearly missed by family and friends. Surviving are two nieces and one nephew, Richard F. Burns Jr., of Bloomfield, Hillary C. Burns and her husband, Richard Kamischke, of Grand Haven, Gabrielle M. Burns, of Austin, Texas. He was preceded in death by one brother, Major Richard F. Burns. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 30, 2005, at Holy Family Catholic Church. Fr. John Weis will preside with burial in Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Cemetery in Sebewaing. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today and 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. He will lie in state from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday at the church. Memorials may be made to National Rifle Association or Lake Huron Community Council for the Arts. Thursday, December 29, 2005 Herbert J. Gettel Jr. Herbert J. Gettel Jr., 83, of Pigeon, passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2005, at his home. He was the second son of Dora and Herb Gettel, Sr., born March 11, 1922 and raised on the family farm on Sturm Road near Pigeon. He graduated from Pigeon High School in 1938. He married Doris A. Stoll from Unionville on November 2, 1946. Together with his father and brothers, Herb farmed the home acreage until 1950, when the family founded Gettel Implement Company, a John Deere dealership in Pigeon with Herb as the co-owner and salesman. Later locations included dealerships in Sebewaing and Bad Axe. During the years prior to 1950, he also worked odd jobs and sold cars for Sebewaing Motor Sales, seed for Wallace & Morley Company, and enrolled in short courses at Michigan State University. In 1973, Herb and his brothers diversified and purchased the GM car dealership in Sebewaing, and a few years later, they bought the GM dealership in Reese. Herb also was involved in community affairs. He was co- founder of the Sebewaing Sugar Festival, served on the Chamber of Commerce, the USA school board for 10 years, was a member and past president of the Sebewaing Rotary Club, and a member of the Caseville United Methodist Church. He was director and past president of the Michigan Equipment Dealers Association and also director and president of the National Farm and Power Equipment Dealers Association. Herb remained active on the Saginaw Valley State University Board of Fellows, was a member of the Scheurer Hospital Board for eight years, and a Director of First of America Bank for eight years. He is survived by his wife of more than 59 years, Doris, of Pigeon; two sons and their wives, Kent and Kari Gettel, and Mark and Cindy Gettel, all of Pigeon; two daughters, Janet Weatherhead, of Lake Zurich, Illinois, and Karen and her husband, Michael Millerwise, of Chandler, Arizona; nine grandchildren, Kevin, Jason, Marshall, and Kelson Gettel, Morgan, Kylie and Chelsey Weatherhead, and Graham and Sydney Millerwise; a sister, Dorothy and her husband, Charles Parks, of Port Austin; a brother, Douglas Gettel and his wife, Judy, of Bloomfield Hills; a sister-in-law, Mary Gettel and her husband, Gordon Guyer, of East Lansing; a brother-in-law, Don Stoll and his wife, Marie, of Unionville; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Gary, in 1990; and brothers Loren and Clarence. A private family committal service will take place at Grand Lawn Cemetery in Pigeon. A funeral memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 30, 2005, at the Caseville United Methodist Church with the Rev. Philip Voss, pastor, officiating. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. today at Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon and from 1 p.m. until the time of the service on Friday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Scheurer Hospital Herb and Gary Gettel Fund, Heartland Hospice, or Caseville United Methodist Church. Eugene J. Gumbleton Eugene J. Gumbleton, 70, of Caseville, died Wednesday, December 28, 2005, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe of lung cancer. Burial will be Tuesday at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2005, at St. Leo Catholic Church in Detroit. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Champagne Funeral Chapel of Caseville. Lucille Marie Wright Lucille M. Wright, 83, of Cass City, died Tuesday, December 27, 2005, at Covenant Medical Center's Cooper Campus in Saginaw. She was born November 1, 1922 at home in Tuscola County to Henry and Etta (Wright) McLellan. She married Louis Ray Wright August 23, 1940 in Cass City. He died August 21, 1994. Lucille worked in the cafeteria of the Cass City Middle School for over 15 years and for Rawson Memorial Library for 15 years. She enjoyed crocheting, needlepoint and gardening, especially working in her flower gardens with her roses. Lucille loved spending time with her family. Lucille is survived by her children, Shirley (Albert) Griffen, of Deford, Dennis Wright, of Cass City, and Lois "Jean" Bliss, of Cass City; grandchildren, Morley Griffen, Angela (Thomas) Sontag, William (Lorie) Wright, and Christina Wright; great grandchildren, Courtney Doerr, Brandon Wright, Louis Ray Wright II, Jordan Sontag, and Ally Wright; sisters, Gladys (Stanley) Cook, of Caro, and Florence (George) Wright, of Forester; sister-in-law, Wilma McLellan, of Caro; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by an infant son, Charles Arthur Wright; grandson, Laurel R. Griffen; son-in-law, Raymond Bliss; brothers, Don McLellan, Robert McLellan, and James McLellan. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 31, 2005, at Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City with Chuck Emmert, of Novesta Church of Christ, officiating. Interment will take place in the spring in Elkland Township Cemetery in Cass City. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and stories with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com. Friday, December 30, 2005 Donald H. Gabriel Donald H. Gabriel, 85, of Port Austin, died Wednesday, December 28, 2005, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe. He was born on July 27, 1920 in Detroit, son of the late Albert and Evaline (Sipple) Gabriel. He and Esther Dahlberg were married on November 20, 1943 in Detroit. Donald served in the United States Army during World War II. After years of coming to Port Austin camping, hunting and fishing, he and Esther moved from Detroit of Port Austin in 1991. Donald was a member of the VFW 7573 in New Baltimore and of the U & I Club in Port Austin. He loved hunting and fishing. He is survived by his wife, Esther; one son, Charles (Susan) Gabriel, of St. Johns; one daughter, Janice (Robert) McKenzie, of St. Clair Shores; and seven grandchildren, Jason and his wife, Kelia, Nicholas, Lauren, Molly, Becca, Beth, and Mike. He was preceded in death by his sister, Eunice Gabriel. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 31, 2005, at the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde. Burial will follow at Port Austin Township Cemetery. There will be visitation from 2 to 9 p.m. on Friday and from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Jerome J. Romzek Jerome J. Romzek, 66, of Harbor Beach, passed away Thursday, December 29, 2005, at his home in Harbor Beach after a short illness. Born in East Detroit on May 11, 1939, he was the son of the late Lawrence and Theresa (Kociba) Romzek. Jerome was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force serving in the late 1950's. He was a retired employee of the J & L Steel Company retiring in 1992. Jerome was a member of Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church in Harbor Beach. Surviving are his children, Michael Romzek and his wife, Wendy, of Ruth, Cheryl Kelly and her husband, Kristopher, of Grand Blanc, and Scott Romzek and his wife, Traci, of Millington; ten grandchildren, Cody, Kyle and Allison Romzek, William III, Kaila, Elyssa, Kaitlyn, and Emily Kelly and Andrew and Zachary Romzek; two brothers, Duane Romzek, of Harbor Beach, and Robert Romzek, of Flint; and four sisters, Gloria (Robert) Elkins, of Deland, Florida, Moreen Foagle, of Canton, Barbara (Dave) Romzek-Greenmeyer, of Lawrence, Kansas, Kathy (Floyd) Shottwell, of Shelby Township; and a brother-in-law, Ray Abraham, of New Haven. Jerome was preceded in death by Marilyn Abraham. A Funeral Mass will be at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 1, 2006, in Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church, Harbor Beach, with Fr. T.J. Fleming, pastor, officiating. Cremation will follow in Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City and interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Saturday in the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, and from 12:30 p.m. until the time of service on Sunday at the church. Mary Barbara Stephenson Mary Barbara Stephenson, 58, of Bad Axe, passed away on Thursday afternoon, December 29, 2005, at St. Mary's Hospital in Saginaw. She was born March 17, 1947 in Harbor Beach to the late Thomas and Gertrude (Uhl) Oswald. She married James Stephenson on May 21, 1977 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Bad Axe. Mary was a graduate of SS. Peter and Paul Elementary School and the Ubly High School. She had worked for Hamill Manufacturing in Ubly and for the last 10 years at the McDonalds Golden Arches Restaurant of Bad Axe. Mary was a member of Sacred Heart Parish since 1977. She had taught Catechism at Sacred Heart for many years. She enjoyed playing cards and visiting with family and friends. Mary is survived by her husband, James, of Bad Axe; two sons, Brian Stephenson and his wife, Kelly, of Lansing, and John Stephenson, of Bad Axe; two brothers, Tom Oswald and his wife, Joann, of Chicago, and Gerald Oswald, of Warren; father-in-law, Gerald Stephenson, of Bad Axe, and many nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in death by her infant son, Eric, on September 6, 1984; and her mother-in-law, Doris Stephenson. A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 2, 2006, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Bad Axe. The Rev. James Carlson, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery of Ubly in the spring of 2006. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Sunday at the Zinger- Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Monday, January 2, 2006, at the church. A parish vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the donor's choice or to the family discretionary fund. Marjorie F. Harwood Marjorie F. Harwood, 68, of Bad Axe, passed away on Thursday, December 29, 2005, at the Huron Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe. A memorial service will be conducted at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by the Kaufman Funeral Home in Bad Axe. 1