HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning March 19, 2006 Contributed 2006 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 19, 2006 Norman G. Hotton Norman G. Hotton, 75, of Sand Point, died of cancer at his home on Saturday, March 18, 2006, while under the care of Heartland Hospice. Norman was born March 25, 1930 in Detroit to the late Camille and Antonia (Bourget) Hotton. He married Maryann Hall, of Detroit, on September 9, 1950. She preceded him in death on February 18, 1965. He married Dolores Przybylo, of Warren, on August 16, 1974 in Sterling Heights. Norman worked in the automotive field in the Detroit area for his entire career. He retired to a home he had built on Sand Point in 1999, after having vacationed in the area since the fifties. He enjoyed building, fishing, boating and making stained glass. Norman is survived by his wife, Dolores; daughters, Susan and Sandra, both of Chicago, and Veronica, of Honolulu; grandchildren, Nicole Theisen, of Canton, and Eric and Adam Cardamone, of Macomb; brothers, Rene "Joe" (Clara), of Sand Point, Lionel (Jenny), of Sterling Heights, Philip, of Sterling Heights; and sister, Lorette (Joe) Pawloske, of Sand Point. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Pamela Cardamone; a brother, Antonio; and a sister, Lorraine Krumholz. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at the Champagne Funeral Chapel of Caseville with Fr. Ken Yaroch officiating. Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. on Monday. Memorials may be made to the St. Roch Catholic Church. Condolences may be shared online at www.cfcCaseville.com. Jordan J. Sobel Jordan J. Sobel, 82, of Bay Port and formerly of Saginaw, died Friday, March 17, 2006, at the Bay Medical Center in Bay City following a brief illness. He was born July 29, 1923, in Saginaw, son of the late Philip and Esther (Kohn) Sobel. He was a graduate of General Motors Institute in Flint and later received his master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. He was united in marriage to Susan D. Doerfner on July 17, 1944 in Saginaw. She preceded him in death in November 2000. He lived in Saginaw until moving to Bay Port in 2002. He was employed at Saginaw Steering Gear as a supervisor before retiring in 1989. He also operated the Esther Shop in Saginaw for many years. He was a former member of the Saginaw Bay Power Squadron and of the Germania Club in Saginaw. Jordy was an avid woodworker, enjoyed golf, boating, fishing, and playing bridge. Surviving are four daughters, one son and their spouses, Dorothy Ann Schaack, of Bay City, Susan Esther Wery, of Bono, Arkansas, Elizabeth (James) Schnettler, of Bay Port, Jordan Philip (Mindy) Sobel, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jenny L. (Michael) McFadden, of Oakland; a special niece, Margaret Janssen, of Okemos; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Amy Mesack. The funeral service will take place at noon on Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. The Rev. Douglas Mater will officiate with cremation to follow at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City. Inurnment will take place later at the Old Bay Port Cemetery in Bay Port. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. on Tuesday until the time of the service at noon at the funeral home. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the American Lung Association. Monday, March 20, 2006 George Adkins George Adkins, 75, of Pigeon, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2006, at his home in Pigeon. He was born in Oak Hill, Ohio on March 30, 1930, son of the late Gory and Minnie Adkins. Mr. Adkins was a retired welder and enjoyed traveling throughout the United States. He moved to Arizona in 1975 and returned in 1996 to the area to be near his daughters. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie No. 3690, Caseville. He is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Renda and Jerry Jaworski, of Elkton, and Valerie and Douglas Fritz, of Sebewaing; four grandchildren, Steven Jaworski, of Midland, Shana Adkins, of Croswell, Kristine (Michael) Tedrow, of Fenton, and Cory Fritz, of Sebewaing; and two step-grandchildren, Adam (Crystal) Fritz, of Pigeon, and Mandie Fritz, of Elkton. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon with the Rev. John Britt, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Pigeon, officiating. The Fraternal Order of Eagles Memorial Service will be conducted at 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials for Mr. Adkins may be made to the family discretionary fund. Tuesday, March 21, 2006 Joseph Charles Merrick Joseph Charles Merrick, 74, of Sand Point, died Sunday, March 19, 2006, at Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon. He was born May 2, 1931 in Filion, son of the late Charles and Vera (Pettit) Merrick. Joe served in the United States Marine Corps from 1949 to 1973. He served a tour of duty in Korea and three tours in Vietnam, where he was a drill instructor. He returned to Huron County after retiring from the Marine Corps and spent time enjoying his horses. Joe is survived by his significant other, Judy Zeidler; two daughters, Pam Rillstone and Bobbie Farnsworth, both of Florida; one step-son, Robert Merrick, of New Hampshire; four step-daughters, Colleen Thor, of Jackson, Karen Paul, of North Carolina, Kathy Arntz, of Georgia, and Carla Johnson, of Virginia; five grandchildren, Christopher, Amy, and Ryan Rillstone and Tristan and Vera Deaux; and seven step-grandchildren; his brother, Donald (Lila) Merrick, of Filion; and two sisters, Alma Pitcher, of Filion, and Betty Grecian, of Kinde. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Alice Deaux, and his sister, Dorothy McPhee. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2006, at the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde. Burial will follow at Colfax Township Cemetery. There will be visitation from 2 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Marion Violet Smith Marion Violet Smith, 88, of Port Richey, Florida and formerly of Lapeer and Kinde, passed away on Friday, March 17, 2006. She was born on December 8, 1917 in Caseville to Peter and Elizabeth (Ahearn) Leneway. She married Henry J. Smith on October 16, 1937 at the St. Felix Catholic Church. Mrs. Smith was a production line worker at Hamill Manufacturing in Bad Axe. She is survived by nine children, Marie (Ray) Weingartz, of Macomb, Jean (Jerry) Messing, of Clarkston, Jane (Bob) Peruski, of Ubly, Ruth Ann (Eugene) Duda, of Port Richey, Florida, Christine (Mike) Higgins, of Lapeer, Doris (Roger) Rindge, of South Pasadene, California, Leo J. (Lynda) Smith, of Sterling Heights, Lawrence (Barbara) Smith, of Caseville, and Edward Smith, of Warren; daughter-in-law, Terrie Smith, of Caseville; 40 grandchildren (23 girls and 17 boys); 77 great-grandchildren (38 boys and 39 girls); brother, Edward Leneway, of Bad Axe; sisters, Veronica Helen Mayhew, of Port Richey, Florida, and Rita Krueger, of Bad Axe; and many, many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband after 56 years of marriage, Henry Smith, in 1994, her parents; a son, Donald Smith; four infant children, Cecilia, Grace, Henry, and Anthony; three grandchildren, Judy, and Grace Smith, and Laura Ann Duda; three great-grandchildren, Nicholas Periso, Julie Radtke, and Jacob Weingartz; sisters, Bernice Ebert, and Kathleen Horton; brothers, Joseph, Wilbur, Francis, and Donald Leneway; and her daughter-in-law, Sharon (Hyzer) Smith. The funeral service took place at 11 a.m. today at Immaculate Conception Church in Lapeer with Father Douglas Terrien officiating with burial in St. Felix Catholic Church Cemetery, Pinnebog. Muir Brothers Funeral Home in Lapeer handled the arrangements. Memorials may be made to a Hospice organization of your choice. Joseph "Bud" A. Wyese Joseph "Bud" A. Wyese, 79, of Huron Township near Grindstone City, passed away at his home on Monday, March 20, 2006. He was born October 18, 1926 in Wayne to the late Joseph and Margaret (Huesse) Wyese. Joseph and Shirley Davis were united in marriage in Toledo, Ohio in 1975. Mr. Wyese served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. During his career, he earned two college degrees and was employed by General Motors for over 28 years before moving to this area in 1979. He was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and the Grindstone-Port Hope Sportsmen's Club. Joseph did volunteer work for Social Services and the Probate Court in Bad Axe. Bud was an accomplished musician and could play any instrument by ear and enjoyed playing with a country western band. He also enjoyed playing bingo at the casinos, fishing, woodworking and playing cards. Joseph is survived by his wife of 30 years, Shirley; three sons, Michael, of Ypsilanti, Joseph L. and his wife, Vicky, of Hillsdale, and Fred and his wife, Diane, of Grant; one daughter, Jody Brodie, of Adrian; four step-daughters, Diane Fork, of Barstow, California, Frances Nowak and her husband, Mike, of Bay City, Elaine Nowak and her husband, John, of Ann Arbor, and Elizabeth Nowak and her husband, Donald, of Chicago, Illinois; eight grandchildren, Crystal (Greg) Fowler, Jessica and Jeremy Brodie, Stephanie, Chloe, Mitch, Azalea Wyese, and Emily Anes; six great-grandchildren, Andrew and Cayla Wyese, Abigail Fowler, Kendal Douglas, Kaelyn Brodie and Dylan Benn; five step-grandchildren, Rebecca, John, Rick, Ben, and Amber; four step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one step-daughter, Sylvia Sweeney. Funeral services will be conducted at MacAlpine-Gage Chapel at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2006, with Fr. Rob Pare officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today, and from 10 a.m. until the time of services on Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in New River Cemetery, Port Austin. Memorials may be offered to the Family Discretionary Fund. Jacob Robert Gucwa Infant Jacob Robert Gucwa, passed away Saturday, March 18, 2006, at the Huron Medical Center. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2006, at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 22, 2006 Clayton E. Krause Clayton E. Krause, 88, of Elkton, died this morning, Wednesday, March 22, 2006, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility. He was born February 23, 1918 at the home of his parents, the late Samuel and Lydia (Ramseyer) Krause in Chandler Township. Clayton worked at Buick in Flint in his youth and moved back to Elkton shortly after he was married. He and Madalyn Seley were united in marriage on June 24, 1941. He had been employed at the Elkton Tile Plant until 1950. That year he began working at the Wallace and Morley Elevator in Elkton retiring in 1983. Clayton was a member and usher at the Elkton United Methodist Church. He was a good family man, coaching little league, attending all his kids and grandkids athletic and school functions. Clayton enjoyed playing baseball, golf and meticulously working in his yard and garden. Surviving are his wife of almost 65 years, Madalyn; two children, Kathleen (Jack) Ginter, of Elkton, and Michael (Grace) Krause, of Bad Axe; six grandchildren, Kelly, Shelly, Jackie, Ryan, Abbie and Lindsey; nine great grandchildren, Steven, Austin, Jonathan, Autumn, Christian, Jordan, Kelsey, Jackson and Teagan. Also surviving are two brothers, Roland (Grace) Krause, of Berkley, and Olin (Ora) Krause, of Apollo Beach, Florida. Preceding him in death were his sister, Verda Kreh, and three brothers, Harold, Pete and Orville Krause. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Elkton United Methodist Church. The Rev. Pete Crawford, pastor, will officiate with burial in Riverside Cemetery, Elkton. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Friday at Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton, and from 10 a.m. on Saturday until the time of the service at the church. Memorials may be directed to the church. Words of condolence may be left at www.cfcElkton.com. Thursday, March 23, 2006 Maurice Edmund Cash Maurice Edmund Cash, 39, of Harbor Beach, passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2006. He was born on July 27, 1966 in Mount Clemens, son of Maurice and Stephanie (Swartz) Cash. He enjoyed archery, fishing, motorcycles, dirt bikes, and music. He is survived by his parents, Maurice and Stephanie Cash, of Harbor Beach; one son, Damon Cash, of Richmond; one daughter, Nicole Cash, of Richmond; and four sisters, Sally Cash, of Sterling Heights, Kelly (Peter) Conway of Shelby Township, Elaine Mansfield of Sterling Heights, Jacqueline Jurek, of Clearwater Beach, Florida; and several nieces and nephews. Services will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. tonight, March 23, 2006, at the Kaufman Funeral Home in Bad Axe. Officiating will be Father James Carlson, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bad Axe. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Rapson. Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Kay E. Johnson Kay E. Johnson, 63, of Harbor Beach, passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at her home. Born in Holly on October 22, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Alberta (Ballard) Parks. On December 30, 1972, Kay and Vern Johnson were united in marriage in Decker. He preceded her in death on April 21, 1988. Surviving are her children, John A. Johnson, Ray Johnson, John R. Johnson, Cheryl Johnson, Rose Johnson, and Elly Mae Andrews and her husband, Jay Jr.; six grandchildren, Desiree K. Bosley, Amanda M. Schollart, Lorenzo Andrews, Heather, Jennifer, and John Johnson, Jr.; two sisters, Emma Messer and her husband, Paul, and Ethel Smith and her husband, Don; and a brother-in-law, Dale Spear. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Kathy and Sandy, in 1979; and a brother, Glen Parks, and a sister, Betty Spear. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2006, at the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, with the Rev. Paula Timm, pastor of the United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Christian Memorial Cemetery in Peck. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m.until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home. Herbert L. Thoms Herbert L. Thoms, 88, of Harbor Beach, passed away on Thursday, March 23, 2006, at Harbor Beach Community Hospital. Born in Port Hope on October 28, 1917, he was the son of the late Leo and Clara (Bock) Thoms. He is survived by his brother, Albert Thoms and his wife, Dorothy, of Port Hope; and several nieces and nephews. Herb was preceded in death by a sister, Laura Weiss; and two brothers, Gilbert and George Thoms. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2006, at the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, with his nephew, the Rev. Leo Thoms, officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Bay Cemetery near Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the time of services on Saturday at the funeral home. Nelda Alberta (Wolfe) Schlabach Nelda Alberta (Wolfe) Schlabach, 74, of Knoxville, Tennessee and native of Owendale, died Wednesday, March 22, 2006, at St. Mary's Residential Hospice. She is the daughter of the late Henry and Frieda Decker Wolfe. She was a member of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church where she was a member of the church choir and the Speak Out Sunday School class. She was past president of Women in the Church. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Earl Schlabach; son, Dennis Schlabach and his wife, Ann; daughter, Debi Robinson and her husband, Steve, all of Knoxville; grandchildren, Erin and Zach Beaver, Levi and Justin Schlabach, Sara Doucett and her husband, Bruce, Sherry and Amanda Razo; great-grandchildren, Grace and Avery Doucett, Alyse and Sha'nae Razo; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ina and Harold Dye, of Chelsea, Eileen and Robert Sasse, of Midland; brother and sister-in-law, Lloyd and Ruth Wolfe, of Bradenton, Florida; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday March 25, 2006, at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee with the Rev. Vernon Holstad officiating. Interment will follow at Cedar Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel in Knoxville, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, Mission Fund, 9132 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37923. Charles Albert Spitale Mr. Charles Albert Spitale, 82, of Palms, passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at his residence under hospice care. Charles was born November 7, 1923 in Detroit to the late Guiseppe and Maria (Leo) Spitale. He married Toini Laitala on July 6, 1946 at Mother of Consolation Catholic Church in Detroit. He attended the Shaw School in St. Louis, Missouri. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, was wounded in Germany, and received a purple heart. He worked for the Chrysler Corporation for 33 years as a machine repairman at the Lynch Road Plant, retiring in 1979. He has lived in the Palms area for 26 years, where he was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. He was a lifelong member of the Disabled American Veterans and worked for the Sanilac County Veterans Affairs Office. He enjoyed bingo and bowling at Gillis Lanes in Minden City for many years. Charles is survived by his wife of 59 years, Toini Spitale, of Palms; three sons, Joseph Spitale and his wife, Patricia, of Vero Beach, Florida, Frank Spitale and his wife, Mary Ann, of Waterford, Samuel Spitale and his wife, Bernadette, of St. Clair; one daughter, Mary Casey and her husband, Troy A., of Minden City; one daughter-in-law, Carolyn Spitale, of Sterling Heights; seven grandchildren; two great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, John Spitale, in 2004. A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2006, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Palms. The Rev. Thomas McNamara, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery in the spring. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Friday at the Smigielski Funeral Home on Cass Avenue in Minden City and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at the church. There will be a parish vigil service at 7 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Friday, March 24, 2006 David Carl Parrish Master David Carl Parrish, 3 days old, of Lake Wales, Florida, died on Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2006, at the Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Wales with the Rev. Larry Wallace officiating. Interment will follow at the Lake Wales Cemetery. Marion Nelson Funeral Home, of Lake Wales, Florida, is in charge of the arrangements. Anthony Richard Zaleski Anthony Richard Zaleski, 76, of Owendale, died Wednesday, March 22, 2006, at the Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon following a brief illness. He was born September 23, 1929 in Detroit, son of the late Joseph and Frances (Galazka) Zaleski. He was married to Pearl L. Sherman on July 22, 1961 in Ubly. Dick had been employed at Sebewaing Industries for 45 years before retiring in 1995. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He farmed in the Owendale area, enjoyed gardening, bird watching, fishing, and hunting, and especially loved being around his family. Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Pearl; three sons, two daughters and their spouses, Joe (Dawn) Zaleski and Christine Powell, of Owendale, Beverly (Keith) McCreedy, of Pigeon, Steve (Alice) Zaleski, Mark (Teri) Zaleski, all of Gagetown; 11 grandchildren; three great- grandchildren; two sisters, Theresa Bartkowiak, of South Lyon, Irene Zale, of Lake Orion; two brothers, Paul (Kathy) Zaleski, of Bad Axe, John Zaleski, of Tucson, Arizona; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one brother, Joseph Zaleski; four sisters, Helen Eddelman, Josephine Gayari, Mamie Williams and Toni. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2006, at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, Sheridan Corners, Ubly. Fr. Joe Griffin will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Military graveside committal will be under the auspices of the Sebewaing V.F.W. Post No. 4115. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Friday at Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. He will lie in state at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. 1