HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning April 22, 2007 Contributed 2007 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, April 22, 2007 – No obituaries reported Monday, April 23, 2007 Gilbert "Gil" L. Guillett Gilbert L. " Gil" Guillett, 61, of Oconto, Wisconsin, died Friday, December 8, 2006, at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay after a major stroke. He was born September 23, 1945 in Gagetown, son of Herb and Elsie (Maholic) Guillett. He graduated from Owendale High School in 1963. He enlisted in the United States Navy and served during the Vietnam War. In 1966, he was united in marriage to Rebecca Preston of White Creek, West Virginia. Gilbert started his married life in Gagetown where they resided for 14 years. They then moved to Escanaba for two years before moving to Oconto, Wisconsin where they have resided since. He was employed as a truck driver for 30 years until his health forced his retirement. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Oconto and the Gladstone American Legion Post. Surviving are his wife, Rebecca, of Oconto, Wisconsin; three children, April (Sean) Maroney, of Green Bay, Kathy Guillett, of Little Suamico and Corby Guillett, of Oconto, Wisconsin; four grandchildren, Leroy Dean Osgood, Ryan Michael Guillett, Brandon Lee Guillett, and Madeline Grace Maroney; one sister, Janice King, of Gagetown; and one brother, Robert (Janett) Guillett, of Texas. He was preceded in death by brother-in-law, Ronald King; and mother-in-law, Mae Preston, of Ceredo, West Virginia. A graveside memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, 2007, at Grant Township Cemetery, Gagetown, with the Rev. Charles Kuhl officiating. Military committal services will be conducted under the auspices of the Sebewaing V.F.W. Post No. 4115 and the Sebewaing American Legion Post No. 293. Arrangements are being handled by the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing. Iva M. Hildinger Iva M. Hildinger, 81, formerly of Cass City, died Thursday, April 19, 2007, in Marlette Hospice residence. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 23, 2007, in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, with Pastor David Pratt, of Heritage United Methodist Church, Snover, officiating. Interment will be in Moore Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Marlette Extended Care Facility or United Hospice of Marlette. Raymond A. Krueger Raymond A. Krueger, 78, of Harbor Beach, passed away Saturday, April 21, 2007, at the Lakeview Extended Care and Rehab Center of the Harbor Beach Community Hospital. Born in Harbor Beach on January 5, 1929, Ray was the son of the late Albert and Margaret (Gerstenschlager) Krueger. Ray was united in marriage to Beverly Scherret on January 20, 1951. Beverly preceded him in death on March 29, 1982. On July 29, 1983, Ray and Connie Schultz were united in marriage in Harbor Beach. Ray was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church being a trustee for many years. He was a Sand Beach Township farmer, a former employee of Wagner Ready Mix and a retired employee of the Department of Public Works for the city of Harbor Beach. He is survived by his wife, Connie, of Harbor Beach; and three daughters, Cheryl Lasceski and her husband, Gary, of Vassar, Kathy Herzog and her husband, James, of Frankenmuth, Karen Andreski and her husband, Duane, of Bad Axe; six grandchildren, Jennifer (Jay) Hegemann, Joshua Lasceski, Heidi (Todd) Rice, Katie Andreski, Sarah Herzog, and Kayla Herzog; one great grandchild, Beau Hegemann; stepchildren, Dale (Barb) Schultz, of Harbor Beach, Deborah (Rodney) Nisbett, of Corunna, Ontario, Canada, Diane (Larry) Johnson, of Tacoma, Washington, and Doreen (Don) Healy, of Tacoma, Washington; three stepgrandchildren, Rachel Essenmacher, Laura Essenmacher, and Kenneth Schultz; brother, Leroy Krueger and his wife, Cherye, of Auburn; sisters, Helen Reinke, of Leesberg, Florida, Lorraine Larson and Shirley Rueger, both of Harbor Beach. He was preceded in death by a stepson, Daniel Schultz, in 1989. A funeral service will be at noon on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Zion Lutheran Church, Harbor Beach, with the Rev. Gregory Eilers officiating. Burial will be in the Rock Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, and from 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday at the church. A scripture service will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Clarence E. Rumptz Clarence E. Rumptz, 94, of Ubly, passed away on Saturday, April 21, 2007, at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe. Clarence was born on April 7, 1913 in Tyre to the late Joseph and Catherine (Pelot) Rumptz. He married Vivian Leppek on November 20, 1937 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Parisville. Clarence was a graduate of a rural country school. He was in the Civilian Conservation Corps for one and a half years. He farmed, worked for Leppek Distributing, and retired from Draves Distributing in 1978. Clarence was a parishioner at St. John Catholic Church in Ubly where he was an usher. He was a member of the Bad Axe Knights of Columbus Council NO. 1546. Clarence enjoyed spending time with his family, polka dancing, playing cards and traveling. Clarence is survived by his wife of 69 years, Vivian, of Ubly; one son, Michael Rumptz and his wife, Linda, of Ubly; seven daughters, Patricia Adams and her husband, Luther, of Kinde, Joan Jackson and her husband, Robert, of Ubly, Marie Grifka, of Ubly, Linda Tittjung and her husband, Tony, of Sterling Heights, Virginia Bukowski and her husband, Richard, of Lake Orion, Susan Mergl, of Shelby Township, Deborah Kulish and her husband, Donald, of Shelby Township; 20 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; six stepgreat grandchildren; one brother, Archie Rumptz and his wife, Blanche, of Ubly. Clarence was preceded in death by one son, Edward; one son-in-law, Jerry Grifka; one granddaughter, Tammy Grifka; five sisters; two brothers. A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, 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 6:30 to 9 p.m. today, from 1 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 Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:30 tonight and a parish vigil service at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Both services will be at the funeral home. Memorials are requested to Heartland Hospice or the Family Discretionary Fund. Tuesday, April 24, 2007 Raymond John Barylak Raymond John Barylak, 75, of Kinde, formerly of Detroit area and Flushing, Ohio, passed away Sunday, April 22, 2007, at his home under hospice care. He was born on February 23, 1932 in Flushing, Ohio, son of the late Joseph and Frances (Bucsak) Barylak. He was united in marriage to Betty Marie Douglass on November 24, 1954 in Maryland. Raymond was a graduate of Flushing High School. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War in Morocco. He was a subcontractor for the Fairway and Filmore Construction Companies before retiring to the Kinde area. While living in Huron County, Raymond was a volunteer driver for Human Development Commission, a member of the Council of Aging, reached third degree status of Council No. 1546 and fourth degree status in the Knights of Columbus Assembly No. 0487, a member of The American Legion Post No. 0499, and was a member of the Huron County TRIAD. He was also the president of the Kinde Senior Citizens. He enjoyed hunting, feeding birds, picking mushrooms, taking care of his dog, Spud; he loved working at the Knights of Columbus fish dinners, gardening and casino trips. He is survived by his wife, Betty, of Kinde; one brother, Theodore Barylak, of Flushing, Ohio; three sisters, Martha Chesla, of West Lake, Ohio, Violet Swohla, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Wanda Nagroski, of St. Clairsville, Ohio; one brother-in-law, Dennis (Bobbie) Douglass, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; one sister-in-law, Evelyn Grimes, of St. Clairsville, Ohio; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Joseph Barylak, William Barylak, Chester Barylak, and Edward Barylak; one sister, Frances Dixon; sister-in-laws, Juanita Barylak, Jean Barylak, Mae Barylak, Norma Barylak, and Theresa Barylak; brothers-in-law, Joseph Grimes, Adolph Nagroski, and Joseph Chesla, and many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dwight. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the MacAlpine Gage Chapel in Kinde. There will be a rosary at 2:30 p.m. by the St. Mary Holy Rosary Sodality, a scripture service at 7 p.m. and a rosary at 8 p.m. by the Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabella on Tuesday at the funeral home. Lillian M. Gremel Lillian M. Gremel, 72, of Sebewaing, died Monday, April 23, 2007, at her home following a 4-year illness. She was born November 24, 1934 in Detroit, daughter of the late Kornilo and Anna (Jurek) Horun. She was united in marriage to Harold K. Gremel Jr. on November 27, 1953 in Detroit. Lillian and her husband operated the family farm of over 1,000 acres in addition to dairy farming for many years. In her active role in the daily farm work, she recognized early on the importance of promoting the product they worked so hard to produce. She was a charter member of the Huron County Dairy Diplomats and the Huron County Dairy Promotions, which fund scholarships for students pursuing agricultural education. She was involved with Project RED (Rural Education Day) programs along with Adopt-A-Cow and Ag in the Classroom farm visits. She was committed to the youth in the community and served as 4-H leader for 40 years and spent 20 years as a member of the State 4-H programming committees on Dairy as well as Foods and Nutrition. Lillian was also in the Kellogg New Horizons Program. She and her husband were recipients of the West Huron MMPA Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award, MMPA Outstanding Young Dairy Couple Award, MSU Dairy Farmer of the year and were charter members of Quite-A Bunch, a Huron County Farm Bureau community action group. She also received the UDIM Lifetime Achievement Award. Lillian was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing. Surviving are her husband, Harold; two sons, two daughters and their spouses, Walter Gremel, Kathy and Darwin Sneller, all of Sebewaing, Marie Giacomaggio, of Long Island, New York, Larry and Mary Gremel, of Northville; seven grandchildren, Emily, Matthew and Eric Sneller, Louis Lepore, Sabrina Giacomaggio, Rachel and Jack Gremel; one sister, Sophie Hinton, of Bad Axe; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one brother, Anthony Horun. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 27, 2007, at Immanuel Lutheran Church. The Rev. Daniel Hahn will officiate with burial in New Bay Port Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday at the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. on Friday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Radio Mission Fund, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Huron County Dairy Memorial Fund, Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation. Dorothy B. Lerash Dorothy B. Lerash, 84, of Port Austin, died Sunday, April 22, 2007. She was born on November 28, 1922 in Detroit, daughter of the late Arnott and Florence (Berryman) Jones. Dorothy married Stanley J. Lerash on February 2, 1945 in Bay City. He preceded her in death on August 26, 1992. Dorothy and her husband, Stanley, owned the Lerash Hotel in Kinde from 1945 until 1956 and they owned and operated the Chalet Restaurant in Livonia for 13 years before retiring to Port Austin in 1987. She was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin. She enjoyed baking and cooking, crocheting, and loved gardening and visiting with her family, especially her grandchildren. Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Marilyn K. Bruce and special friend, Don Pascarella, of Port Austin; her son, Robert (Julia) Lerash, of Port Austin; five grandchildren, Jody Bruce, Casey Bruce and his fiancée, Erica Tolbert, Brian, Kevin, and Kelly Lerash; nieces and nephews, Robert Jones Jr., Lorrie Hawker, Amy Mucci, and Julianna Jones; her in-laws, Delphine (Walter) Karsmarski, Eddie (Delores) Lerash, Rose (James) Gottschalk, Archie (Linda) Lerash, Eileen Lerash, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her stepfather, George McIntosh; her brother, Robert Jones Sr.; her sister-in-law, Margaret Jones; her niece, Bridget; her in-laws, Ernest Lerash, Virginia and Harry Bolda, and Raymond Lerash. A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 26, 2007, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin. Officiating will be the Rev. Robert Paré. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday at the church. There will be a rosary led by the Holy Rosary Sodality at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and a vigil will be conducted at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Wednesday, April 25, 2007 Anthony "Tony" O. DePodesta Anthony "Tony" O. DePodesta, 87, of Bad Axe, passed away Monday, April 23, 2007, at his home. He was born December 20, 1919 in Italy to the late George and Mary DePodesta. Anthony and Linda Johnson were united in marriage on July 25, 1974 in Nashville, Tennessee. Tony was an avid bowler and bowled a 300 game at age 74. He is survived by his wife, Linda; four stepsons, Jeffrey (Irene) Smith, of London, Ontario, Jay (Teresa) Smith, of Kitchener, Ontario, Joel and Jerrol Smith, of Sarnia, Ontario; eight grandchildren, Lynnette, Steve, and Timothy, of Paris, Tennessee, Jeffrey, Terence, Adam, Courtney and Cassey; two great grandchildren, Dustin and Nicholas. Anthony was preceded in death by a daughter, Laurel DePodesta. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Thursday with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe. Cremation will take place at Sunset Valley Crematory, Bay City. Memorials may be offered to Visiting Nurse Services of Michigan at 3140 W. Campus Drive, Bay City, Michigan 48706. Lewis Dale Zemanek Lewis Dale Zemanek, 72, of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, died Monday, April 23, 2007, at his home. He was born February 14, 1935 in Morrill County, Nebraska to Dale William and Margaret (Gartman) Zemanek. He graduated from Minatare High School with the class of 1952 and also received his Future Farmers of America State Farmer Degree that same year. He married Janet Laree Lynch in 1954. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1956 with a bachelor of science degree in vo-ag education and later received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry. He taught one year in Curtis, Nebraska at the Nebraska State High School as a vo-ag teacher. He also taught vo-ag and chemistry for six years at Minatare High School as well as serving as the principal. From 1963 to 1988, he worked in the sugar industry as a chemist, factory manager, and as district manager for Great Western Sugar Company and Western Sugar. In 1979, he married Phyllis McCaffree Williams. In 1998, he served as plant manager of a dicalite operation in Lompoc, California. He later went to Sebewaing as factory manager for the Michigan Sugar Company. He became an insurance and investment advisor in 1996. Lewis was a member of the Mitchell United Methodist Church and was involved with 4-H, church activities, and NAIFA. In 1973, 1974 and again in 1977, the sugar factory, under his management, received the Great Western Pennant Award in Sterling, Colorado, and in 2007, he received the Nebraska NAIFA Distinguished Service Award. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; his mother, Margaret Zemanek, of Mitchell; children, Lynn Zemanek and her friend, Joe, of Sterling, Colorado, Cathy Good and her husband, Glen, of Oakley, Kansas, Bill Zemanek and his wife, Bobbie, of Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Robert Zemanek, of Hillsboro, Oregon; stepchildren, Glen Williams and his wife, Kris, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Paul Williams and his friend, Betsy, of Laughlin, Nevada, Christine Clare and her husband, R.D., of Loma, Colorado, and Catherine Jensen and her husband, Jim, of Omaha, Nebraska; 15 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Dale W. Zemanek; and his brother, Glen M. Zemanek. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 27, 2007, at the Monument Bible Church in Scottsbluff, Nebraska with Pastors D. Jake Roberts and Sheila Taylor officiating. Interment will follow in the Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Jolliffe Funeral Home with the family being present from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be made to the Oakley FFA Scholarship (Oakley, Kansas) the Bayshore Church Camp in Sebewaing, and to the Mitchell, Nebraska United Methodist Church. His obituary may be viewed online at www.jolliffefuneralhome.com where online condolences may be left for the family. Thursday, April 26, 2007 Wesley Benjamin Boyl W. Ben Boyl, 66, of Kingston, died unexpectedly Tuesday, April 24, 2007, in Marlette Regional Hospital. A funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 27, 2007, in Kingston United Methodist Church with Pastor Rick Brown officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, and from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday. Memorials may be made to Kingston High School Scholarship Fund or Kingston United Methodist Church. Interment will be in Kingston Cemetery. Patrick L. Fleming Patrick L. Fleming, 52, of Grand Rapids and formerly of Bad Axe, passed away Tuesday, April 24, 2007. He was born in Midland. Pat led a full and productive life through the services of Hope Network and Thresholds. He had many friends at the Benson Group Home, DECC, and Northwest Center. Through these agencies, Pat had the training and opportunities to grow as an individual and a contributing member of society. He and his family greatly appreciated the love and caring he received. Pat enjoyed working, especially sweeping. He liked being on the go, whether to movies, picnics, the zoo or out to dinner. Trips to Disney World, Germany, Hawaii and cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska were the highlights of his life. But his favorite activity was relaxing with a bottomless cup of coffee. Surviving are his mother, Angelia; sisters, Deanna (Larry) St. John, of Caledonia, Cheryle (Ronald) Hess, of Great Falls, Virginia, and Carlene (A Benton) Sifford, of Hickory, North Carolina; nephew, Thomas Hess; niece, Heather (Scott) Yanoska; and great nephew, Nickolas Yanoska. He was preceded in death by his father, Bernard; and brother, Michael. Our special angel is now home in heaven and he will be greatly missed. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 27, 2007, at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2750 Burton Street SE, with Msgr. Ernest Schneider presiding. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Bad Axe. A Rosary will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Visitation from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the O'Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Funeral Home, 3980 Cascade Rd SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Thresholds or Hope Network. Irene Kree Irene Kree, 83, of Sand Point and South Lyon, passed away Tuesday, April 24, 2007. She was born October 24, 1923 to the late Michael and Ruth Kellaher. She was a loving and caring wife and mother. She was an avid gardener, and truly enjoyed her flower garden. She loved boating when she was in Caseville. Irene is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Eugene; her children, Gary (Marilyn) Kree, Cheryl (Marc) Daniels; grandchildren, Scott, Justin, Matt, Julie and Kathryn; two nephews; a niece; and many dear loving friends. She was preceded in death by her sister and parents. A Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 27, 2007, with final visitation at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 830 Lafayette, South Lyon. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. on Thursday at Phillips Funeral Home, 122 West Lake Street (Ten Mile), South Lyon. Friday, April 27, 2007 Bonnie Irene Pomeroy Bonnie Irene Pomeroy, 83, of Decker, died Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Bay Special Care Hospital, Bay City. She was born February 4, 1924 in Bloomfield Township to Alfred and Irene (Weaver) Weiss. She married Carlyle Pomeroy on March 2, 1946 in Reese. He died June 11, 2000. Bonnie worked for Snover Stamping for five years and was an Avon lady. She was a volunteer driver for the elderly taking many to doctor appointments and shopping. Bonnie and Carlyle wintered many years in Bradenton, Florida. While there, she was the president of her hobby club, participated in Bingo, Pokeno, bowling, shuffleboard, embroidery, beading and many other crafts. Bonnie is survived by her children, Carol (Charles) Fackler, of Mayville, William (Laura) Pomeroy, of Caro, Linda (Francis) McKennon, of Rhodes, Joan Fritz (fiancé, Joe Morris), of St. Charles, Donna Keys (fiancé, Rod Chappel), of Kingston, Ronald (April) Pomeroy, of Vassar, Nancy (Darin) Fackler, of Fostoria, Bonnie (George) Hoggard, of Decker, Connie (John) Rock, of Portland; 38 grandchildren and 45 great grandchildren; special friend, Jim Pionk, of Bad Axe; many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her son, Donald Pomeroy; son-in-law, Danny Fritz; grandson, Michael Pomeroy; great grandchildren, Joshua and Mia; brothers, Donald and Duane Weiss, who died as infants, Lester Weiss; and sister, Alice Cormendy. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 29, 2007, in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, with Pastor JT Mabe, of Mizpah Missionary Church, officiating. Interment will be in Elkland Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on today and from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. Chuck Connors Chuck Connors, 79, of Filion, passed away, Friday, April 27, 2007, at Huron Medical Center. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 30, 2007 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bad Axe. Pastor Lueke will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Sunday at MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe. Private First Class Garrett Knoll Private First Class Garrett Knoll, 23, of Verona, was killed Monday, April 23, 2007, while on duty near Baghdad, Iraq. Arrangements are pending at this time. MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe is handling the arrangements. A complete obituary will be published in the Huron Daily Tribune on Monday. 1