HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning December 24, 2006 to end of December 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 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, December 24, 2006 – No obituaries reported Monday, December 25, 2006 - Christmas Holiday Tuesday, December 26, 2006 Minnie Keillor Minnie M. Keillor, 99, of Waterford, passed away Friday, December 22, 2006. She would have celebrated her 100th birthday on December 28, 2006. She was the beloved wife of the late James G. Keillor; loving mother of Arlene Reissig (the late Lawrence), Gordon (Sue) Keillor and Lois Weston (the late Jack); the beloved sister of Myrtle Belle Hagan; she was also survived by 18 grandchildren; several great grandchildren and several great great grandchildren. Mrs. Keillor was retired from Winkleman's Department Store and was a member of the Order of Eastern Star. She was a lifelong active member of the Central United Methodist Church since the day she was born. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 27, 2006, at the Central United Methodist Church, 3882 Highland Road, Waterford. Officiating will be the Rev. Jim Kellermann and the Rev. Thomas Hampton. Interment will be at Colfax Cemetery in Bad Axe. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Riverside Chapel, Simpson- Modetz Funeral Home, 5630 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford. Visitation will continue from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. The online guest book can be viewed at www.modetzfuneralhomes.com. Stanley Martin Stanley Martin, 92, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, died Thursday, December 21, 2006, at the Hospice in Port St. Lucie. He was born in Fremont, Ohio and had been a 34-year resident of Port St. Lucie moving from Detroit in 1972. He was a retired Detroit police sergeant and a member of St. Lucie Catholic Church. Survivors include his wife, Stella, of Port St. Lucie, Florida; daughter, Diane Krystoforski, of Detroit; sons, Robert S. Martin and Donald Martin; sister, Dolores Toronek; 10 grandchildren; five great grandchildren. A Memorial Mass will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 30, 2006, at St. Lucie Catholic Church in Port St. Lucie. Florida. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Treasure Coast Hospices. Arrangements were entrusted to Aycock Funeral Home, Port St. Lucie, Florida. Lillian E. Pagel Mrs. Lillian E. Pagel, 88, of Palms, passed away Sunday, December 24, 2006, at Autumnwood of Deckerville. She was born May 26, 1918 in Palms to the late William and Elizabeth (Kerbybson) Warczinsky. She married Lawrence Pagel on September 24, 1938 at St. John Lutheran Church in Palms. He preceded her in death on January 17, 2004. Lillian was a graduate of the Hunt Elementary School. She farmed with her family. She was employed at Clements Manufacturing. She was a custodian at the Deckerville Community Schools for 12 years. She was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church in Palms where she was a member of the Ladies Aide. She enjoyed sewing and quilting. Lillian is survived by one son, Wayne Pagel Sr. and his wife, Jane, of Palms; one daughter, Carol Smith and her husband, Jack, of Port Huron; seven grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; one great great grandson; one brother, Wilford Warczinsky, of Palms; one sister-in-law, Leona Pagel, of Sandusky; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter and one brother, Arnold Warczinsky. A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Thursday, December 28, 2006, at St. John Lutheran Church in Palms. Pastor Henry J. Hales, of St. John Lutheran Church, will officiate. Cremation has taken place. Burial will be in the church cemetery in the spring. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 1 p.m. on Thursday at St. John Lutheran Church in Palms. Memorials are requested to St. John Lutheran Church or the Cemetery Fund or Heartland Hospice. Arrangements are being handled by the Smigielski Funeral Home in Minden City. Gladys Lillian Spence Gladys Lillian (Niebel) Spence, 92, of Pigeon, passed away at St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City early morning on Saturday, December 23, 2006. She was born in Pigeon on January 7, 1914, daughter of the late Fredrick and Salomi (Tschumi) Niebel. Gladys graduated from Pigeon High School in 1933. On March 30, 1938, she was united in marriage to Dr. Robert Carlyle Spence in Toledo, Ohio to whom she was married for over 58 years. Dr. Spence preceded her in death on January 23, 1996. Mrs. Spence was a homemaker throughout her lifetime and supported her husband as an optometrist and co-proprietor of the Pigeon Telephone Company, which his family had owned since 1921, until his retirement in 1972. Mrs. Spence was a member of the Pigeon First United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She was an honorary and lifetime member of the Pigeon Worthwhile Club, a member of the Scheurer Hospital Humanitarian Club, and a former member of the Scenic Golf and Country Club. Surviving her are her two children, a daughter, Deann (Duane) Spence Walters; and a son, Robert J. Spence, both of Tawas City; five grandchildren, Tracy (Paul) Stevelink, James Walters, Lisa (John) Schmidt, Amy (Kim) Amesbury, and Tricia (Patrick) Woods; seven great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Stanley, Loren, Leonard and Ralph Niebel. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 28, 2006, at the Pigeon First United Methodist Church with the Rev. John Britt, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Grand Lawn Cemetery in Pigeon. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon, and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Pigeon First United Methodist Church, Scheurer Hospital, or the Pigeon District Library. Wednesday, December 27, 2006 Joseph J. Ballard Joseph J. Ballard, 61, of Sebewaing, died Saturday evening, December 23, 2006, at his home following a seven-month illness. He was born October 6, 1945 in Pigeon, son of the late Emerson M. and Betty J. (Farrell) Ballard. He served in the U.S. Navy in Panama from 1963 to 1966. Joe was an avid fisherman, he loved to hunt and he enjoyed playing and watching baseball. Surviving are his wife, Ruth, of Sebewaing; two sons, one daughter and their spouses, Eric Ballard, Paul (Michelle) Ballard, and Wendy (Jason) Volk, all of Sebewaing; grandchildren, Taylor Clawson, Brendan, Heather and Braylon Ballard, Spencer and Lance Carter; and stepgrandchildren, Tristin, Austyn, and Sebastien Volk; three sisters, three brothers and their spouses, Peggy Rinnert and Thomas Ballard, both of Pigeon, Betty (Gary) Sy, Sue (Robert) Klimkowski and Gary (Connie) Ballard, all of Unionville, Diane (Donald) Schember, of Elkton, Brad (Donna) Ballard, of Sebewaing; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; also his best friend, his dog, Duke. He was preceded in death by one brother, Bill Ballard; and two sisters, Mary Patricia Hilipsysisler and Kay Ballard. As he wished, there will be no visitation or service. Cremation has taken place at Sunset Valley Crematory. Arrangements are being handled by the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. Thursday, December 28, 2006 Henry Herrington Beam Henry Herrington Beam, 68, of Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 21, 2006, in his home due to heart failure. Henry was born December 7, 1938 in Detroit, the son of Henry J. and Dorothy (Herrington) Beam. Henry was employed by Western Michigan University, Haworth College of Business, Management Department. Members of Henry's family include his wife of 39 years, Judy; three children, Caroline Beam (Scott Wynter), of Pleasant Hill, California, Catherine Beam, of San Francisco, California, and Henry H. Beam, Jr., of Lansing; two granddaughters, Elli and Maggie Wynter. Cremation will take place and there will be no services. Learn more about Henry and visit with his family and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on Thursday at the Life Story Funeral Home-Betzler-Kalamazoo, (800) 822-7594. Visit Henry's web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read his life story, archive a favorite memory, upload photos, sign the guest book, or make a memorial contribution to the Henry J. Beam Memorial Scholarship Fund at Lawrence Technological University, 21000 West Ten Mile Road, Southfield, Michigan 48075. Thomas W. MacKillop Thomas W. MacKillop, 68, of Royal Oak and Port Hope near Lighthouse Park, passed away Tuesday, December 26, 2006, in the Harbor Beach Community Hospital. Born in Pontiac on October 19, 1938, he was the son of the late Duncan and Alice Leah (Fitzpatrick) MacKillop. Thomas and Anna Darleen Anderson were united in marriage on May 20, 1961 in Newberry. Surviving are his wife, Anna, of Royal Oak and Port Hope; two daughters, Jacqueline Smith, of Waterford, and Debra Jackson, of Hazel Park; two sons, Kenneth MacKillop, of Royal Oak, and Michael MacKillop, of Royal Oak; three grandchildren; and a sister, Carol Alderton, of Bonita Springs, Florida. Thomas was preceded in death by a brother and two sisters. Cremation has taken place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City. Arrangements are being handled by the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach. Irene M. O'Parka Irene M. O'Parka, 96, of Tyre, passed away Wednesday, December 27, 2006, at Tendercare in Cass City. She was born June 23, 1910 in Parisville, to the late Joseph and Josephine (Gliniecki) Ertman. She married Aloise O'Parka on July 15, 1933 at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Detroit. He preceded her in death on December 5, 2001. Irene was a graduate of a country school. She worked for Mechanical Mailing in Detroit for a few years. She moved to Deckerville and worked for the Detroit Midwest Rubber Company for a few years as a hot knife operator before moving to Tyre in 1970. She was a former member of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Detroit for 24 years. She was currently a member at St. John Catholic Church in Ubly. She enjoyed cards, gardening, casinos, quilting and visiting with family and friends. Irene is survived by two daughters, Elaine Wodwaski and her husband, John, of Parisville, and Bernadette Schwalm and her husband, Robert Sr., of Tyre; three sons, LaVerne O'Parka and his wife, Angeline, of Madison Heights, Arnold O'Parka and his wife, Rose Marie, of Algonac and Timothy O'Parka and his wife, Nancy, of Madison Heights; 25 grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; 39 great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; two sisters, Eleanor Wasielewski, of Bad Axe, and Florence Bismack, of Minden City. She was preceded in death by seven brothers, Archie, Clemens, Isadore, Walter, John, Ervin "Chick" and Sylvester "Bob" Ertman; one sister, Bertha Ertman. A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 30, 2006, 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 1:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday at Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. There will be a parish vigil service at 7 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. George R. Rosinski George R. Rosinski, 64, of Taylor, passed away Monday, December 25, 2006, at a foster home. He was born December 23, 1942 in Detroit to the late Aloysius and Dorothy (Parrott) Rosinski. He never married. George is survived by his brother, Walter Rosinski and his wife, Shirley, of Cincinnati, Ohio; two sisters, Jalaine Rosinski, of Ortonville, and Elizabeth Johnson and her husband, Alva, of Middletown, Ohio; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 28, 2006, at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. The Rev. Joseph Griffin, pastor of St. John Catholic Church in Ubly, will officiate. Burial will be in St. John cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 2 p.m. today at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Friday, December 29, 2006 Beatrice L. Beaver Beatrice L. Beaver, 89, of Bad Axe, died Thursday afternoon, December 28, 2006, at Courtney Manor, Bad Axe, with her family at her bedside. She was born November 30, 1917 at the home of her parents, the late Frederick and Winifred (Radke) Stanley in Detroit. After high school, Bea was employed at Consumers Power Company for three years and then National Twist Drill in Rochester for eight years in production control. On November 28, 1946, she was united in marriage to Paul C. Beaver in Pontiac and moved to Elkton in July 1947. Paul preceded her in death on August 23, 1956. From 1956 until the end of 1982, she worked in Elkton at Michigan Lumber Fabricators as the bookkeeper with 26 years of service. In her free time, Bea liked to sew, read and listen to music. She also enjoyed baking and visiting with her friends and especially her grandchildren. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bad Axe, and a former member of St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church and Altar Society, Pigeon. Surviving are her son, Richard (Lauri) Beaver, of Bad Axe; five grandchildren, Josh Beaver, of Davison, Kristy, Jessica, Emily and Arianna Beaver, all of Bad Axe; her brother, Robert Stanley, of Tucson, Arizona; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Wilma, Elvera and Shirley. Preceding her in death were three brothers, Harold, Fred and Don Stanley. A Funeral Mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 30, 2006, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bad Axe. The Rev. Fr. James Carlson, pastor, will officiate with burial on the family lot in Grandlawn Cemetery, Pigeon. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton, and after 10 a.m. on Saturday at the church. A parish scripture service will be conducted at 7 p.m. today by Sr. Marcia, pastoral administrator of St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church and the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton. Memorials may be directed to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bad Axe, or St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Pigeon. Words of condolence may be shared online at www.cfcElkton.com. Thomas E. Fisher Thomas E. Fisher, 85, of Kinde, died Wednesday, December 27, 2006, at Courtney Manor Nursing Home in Bad Axe. He was born January 28, 1921 in Port Crescent to the late Alex and Catherine (Miller) Fisher. He was united in marriage to Matilda Koroleski on September 27, 1947 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dwight Township. Mr. Fisher was a resident of Kinde where he farmed. He also worked at Mozek Tool and Dye in Filion. He was a volunteer fireman in Kinde and a church member at St. Edwards. He enjoyed watching his grandsons sporting events, gardening, fishing, watching Nascar and playing the instant lottery. He was a World War II veteran serving in the Army from 1942 to 1945. He received the Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with three Bronze Battle Stars, five overseas service bars, and one service strip, Good Conduct medal and Ranking Tec 5. He is survived by his wife, Matilda, of Kinde; four sons, Tom (Sharon) Fisher, of Reese, Gary (Jean) Fisher, of Columbia, Tennessee, Dale Fisher and his special friend, Kristen Zeisermer, of Bay City, and Lenny (Carol) Fisher, of Kinde; three daughters, Diane (David) Romain, of Caro, Debra (Larry) Savedge, of Kissimmee, and Lynette (Doug) Pedler, of Caseville; two sisters, Bernice (Mack) McRae and Virginia (Gene) Coates; three brothers, Raymond (Maxine) Fisher, Robert (Delores) Fisher, and Clarence "Trigger" Fisher; grandchildren, Chad, Jill, Amy, Brent, Breanna, Scott, Shannon and Jason; three great grandchildren, Ryan, Adam, and Anna; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Delores Zelkowski, Irene Yaroch, and Dorothy Helewski; and four brothers, Ben Fisher, John Fisher, Stanley (Pete) Fisher and Alex Fisher. Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 30, 2006, at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Kinde. Fr. Mieczyslaw (Mietek) Oniskiewicz will officiate. Burial will be at St. Felix Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the MacAlpine Funeral Home Gage Chapel in Kinde. A vigil service will be conducted at 7 p.m. today. Memorials may be offered to the Family Discretionary Fund. Barbara Jane "Aunt Bub" Richmond Barbara Jane "Aunt Bub" Richmond, 75, of Saginaw, passed away Tuesday, December 26, 2006, at Covenant Hospital Cooper in Saginaw. She was born in Cass City on October 23, 1931, daughter of the late Robert Royal and Evelyn M. (Schember) Richmond. She graduated from Pigeon High School in 1949 and later graduated in 1951 from the Lansing Practical Nurse School. She worked as a licensed practical nurse until her retirement in 1994. She was an avid reader and enjoyed country music. For the past years, Barbara had lived at Tendercare in Saginaw where she was president of the Residents Council and had many friends. She is survived by two sisters, Margaret Schwalm, of Weston, and Donna Limberger, of Pigeon; a brother, James M. (Madge) Richmond, of Saginaw; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her stepfather, Floyd "Chib" Langley. A private family service has taken place with burial at Grandlawn Cemetery, Pigeon. Those wishing to make a donation in her memory are asked to consider the Saginaw Salvation Army. Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home, Pigeon, conducted the arrangements. Roman Joseph Sniecikowski Roman Joseph Sniecikowski, 86, of Caseville Township (Pigeon), passed away Thursday, December 28, 2006, at St. Mary's Medical Center, Saginaw. Meyersieck- Bussema Funeral Home, Pigeon, is conducting the arrangements. Clara E. Peters Clara E. Peters, 89, of Ubly, passed away Friday, December 29, 2006, at her daughter's residence in Shelby Township. She was born September 13, 1917 in Austin Township to the late John and Rosa (Schmitt) Hund Sr. She married Roy Peters on June 1, 1940 at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Freiburg. He preceded her in death on December 6, 2005. Clara was an eighth grade graduate of the Freiburg Country School. She worked for Hamill Manufacturing for several years. She earned her GED in the 1970s. Clara farmed with her husband and family. She assisted her husband as sexton of the St. Ignatius Cemetery. She was a member of the Cumber School Board for many years. Clara was currently a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Freiburg where she was a former member and officer of the Altar Society. She was also a catechism teacher at St. Ignatius. She was a member of the Argyle Senior Citizen's Club. Clara enjoyed playing euchre and other card games, cooking, quilting, gardening, traveling to other states and visiting with her family and friends. Clara is survived by her children, Jane E. Osentoski and her husband, Richard, of Kawkawlin, Emilie M. Heleski and her husband, James, of Ubly, James T. Peters and his wife, Marilyn (Bradshaw), of Snover, Lucille A. Kubacki and her husband, Martin, of Ubly, Alan B. Peters and his wife, Patricia (Holcomb), of Deford, Patrick R. Peters, of Ubly, Aleta C. Matteson and her husband, Robert, of Shelby Township, Brian J. Peters and his wife, Pam (Sweeney), of Cass City, Kenneth R. Peters and his wife Patricia, (Irwin), of Ubly; one daughter-in-law, Marlene (Osentoski) Peters, of Lake Orion; 25 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; two brothers, Francis Hund, of Ubly, and Phil Hund and his wife, Lillian, of Rochester; three sisters-in-law, Nora Peters and Helen Peters, both of Ubly, and Rachel Hund, of Livonia. She was preceded in death by two sons, Daniel, in 1958, and William, in 2006; three brothers, Henry, Jacob, and John Hund; two sisters, Mary Kolar and Cecelia Cook; three sisters-in-law, Irene, Stella and Edna Peters; four brothers-in-law, John, Joseph, Albert and Emmett Peters. A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2007, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Freiburg. The Rev. Joseph Griffin, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, from 1 to 9 p.m. on Monday, and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. There will be a parish vigil service at 8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. 8