HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Copyright © 2001 by Carol Morrison. This copy contributed for use in the MIGenWeb Archives. MIGENWEB 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 MIGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the MIGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/huron/hdt/obituary/25nov01.txt Local obituaries for the week beginning November 25, 2001 Sunday, November 25, 2001 James Bieri James Thomas Bieri, 36, of Bay Port died Thursday afternoon, Nov. 22, 2001, at Bay Medical Center, Bay City, after a short battle with cancer. He was born June 17, 1965 in Warren to Lucille (Shepherd) Bieri and the late Lawrence A. Bieri. Jim grew up in the Warren area but lived near Bay Port as often as possible, spending all of his weekend and spare time there. In November of 1998 he moved there permanently. He was very involved with his children and their activities. He worked with his oldest son's wrestling team both in Warren and, after they moved, at Lakers. Jim was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Warren, Caseville Rod & Gun Club, and an avid NASCAR fan. He also drove stock cars at Owendale, and loved snowmobiling and deer hunting - a sport he did this season until last Sunday when he went to the hospital. Surviving are his life partner, Pam Sears; his children, Jimmy at home, twins, Derek and Tera of Warren, Robby Sears and his friend, Courtney, Craig Sears and his wife, Tina, Jason Sears, and Krissi Sears, all of Bay Port, and his grandson Bryce. Also surviving are his mother, Lucille Bieri, of Pigeon; two brothers, Dennis VanPoole and his wife, JoAnn, and Pete Bieri of Pigeon; three sisters, LuAnn O'Connell and her friend, Kevin, of Tennessee, Cindy Bieri of Warren, and Darlene Bieri of Pigeon; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. today, Nov. 25, 2001 at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Caseville, with burial in New Bay Port Cemetery. Visitation will be after noon on Sunday. Memorials may be given to his children's education fund. William Lindeman William H. Lindeman, 82, of Sebewaing died unexpectedly Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2001, at Kettering Memorial Hospital in Kettering, Ohio. He was born Jan. 3, 1919 in Sebewaing, son of the late Alfred E. and Amanda (Nimtz) Lindeman. He was a lifelong resident of Sebewaing. He was united in marriage to Ethel M. Neuman on Nov. 13, 1941 in Sebewaing. Bill had been a farmer in the Sebewaing area for many years. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing and the Farm Bureau. He was an avid baseball fan, enjoyed cards, dominoes, current events and politics. Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Ethel, of Sebewaing; one daughter, Patricia Seabrook and her husband, Ed, of Dayton Ohio; two sons, Wayne Lindeman of Oviedo, Fla., and Mark Lindeman and his wife, Denise, of Rochester Hills; four grandchildren, Stacie and William Lindeman of Oviedo, Fla., and Grant and Matthew Lindeman of Rochester Hills; several nieces and nephews; and will also be dearly missed by many friends. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Yachim and Nora Wissner. The funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26, 2001, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing. The Rev. Gerald Meyer, vacancy pastor, will officiate with burial in Silverlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in Sebewaing from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. He will lie in state at the church from 9:30 a.m. Monday until the time of service. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Immanuel Lutheran Church or the American Heart Association. Monday, November 26, 2001 Ervin Ignash Ervin Sylvester Ignash, 74, lifelong resident of Dwight Township, died Saturday, Nov. 24, 2001, at Select Specialty Hospital in Flint. He was born on Sept. 18, 1927, in Kinde, the son of the late Casmir and Mary (Inda) Ignash. Ervin worked in construction and farmed from the 1950s through the 1970s. He retired from farming in 1987. He loved to grow his garden, raise chickens and cruise around the section in his pickup. He was a member of St. Edward's Catholic Church. He is survived by his five children, Gerry Ignash and his wife, Barb, of Frankenmuth, Larry Ignash and his wife, Sharon, of Kinde, Bill Ignash and his wife, Ann, of Bay City, Debbie Craig and her husband, Bob, of Bad Axe, and Steve Ignash and his wife, JoAnn, of Kinde; two sisters, Helen Baranski and Gustavia Sosnoski, both of Bad Axe; he will be greatly missed by his 10 grandchildren, Magi, Michael, Brady and Hannah Ignash, Heather and Bryan Ignash, Andrew Ignash, Cpl. Stephen Huddleston and Ashley Craig, and Jessica Ignash. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harry and Raymond Ignash; and two sisters, Agnes Jaworski and Rita Koroleski. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001, at the MacAlpine Funeral Home-Gage Chapel in Kinde with Fr. Robert Pare officiating. Cremation will take place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City following the service. A rosary will take place at 7 p.m. this evening at the funeral home. Visitation will be 2 to 9 p.m. today and 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Erwin Schlabach Erwin Schlabach, 97, longtime Elkton farmer, died Saturday evening, Nov. 24, 2001, at N.H.C. Health Care in Knoxville, Tenn. He was born Feb. 2, 1904, in Oliver Township at the home of his parents, the late Noah and Mattie (Schwartendruber) Schlabach. Erwin was the bookkeeper at the Elkton Elevator several years before he married. On Sept. 1, 1927, he was united in marriage to Leetta B. Bedford in Elkton. They moved to the Flint area where he was the bookkeeper at the Grand Blanc Elevator. Four years later, in the early 30's, they moved back to Elkton to run the family farm. They sold the dairy part of the farm in 1965 and continued to crop farm until he reached age 65. Leetta died May 7, 1983. He then married Buelah Herford Motz in Elkton on March 31, 1984. She preceded him in death on April 21, 1994. In the 1940s, he was elected to the Elkton School Board and served for many years. Mr. Schlabach also served as Oliver Township supervisor, on the Huron County Board of Commissioners, and was a lifelong active member of the Elkton Missionary Church. Surviving are two sons, Earl Schlabach and his wife, Nelda, of Knoxville, Tenn., and Clark Schlabach and his wife, Delma, of Pine Mountain Club, Calif.; his daughter, Anne Sandison and her husband, Darrell, of Cocoa, Fla.; nine grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; three stepsons, Leon Motz and his wife, Kristy, of Fennville, Jay Motz and his wife, Mary, of Pigeon, and Dale Motz and his wife, Barb, of Portage; nine step-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Loren and Elmer; and a sister, Ellen. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001, at the Elkton Missionary Church. The Rev. Larry Salsburey, pastor, will officiate with burial in the Colfax Township Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton, and after 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be given to the church or Outreach Center. Tuesday, November 27, 2001 Carl Heilig Mr. Carl William Heilig, 69, of Minden City passed away Monday, Nov. 26, 2001, at Marlette Community Hospital after a long courageous battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. Carl was born on Oct. 11, 1932, in Minden City to Theodore "Ted" Heilig and the late Grace (Jaskowski) Heilig. He married Maxine Jock on Oct. 13, 1956, at Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church in Harbor Beach. Carl was a graduate of the Wilbur Wright Trade School and the Ritz Electronic School. He was employed by Detroit Edison for 14 years before returning to Minden City in 1962. He then worked at the Regional Educational Media Center of Cass City for 18 years before retiring in 1998. He was a member of St. Mary Parish of Parisville. He enjoyed playing the lottery, and cooking for and visiting with family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Maxine; one son, Tom Heilig of Newberry; two daughters, Carol Walsh and her husband, Lawrence "Larry," of Bad Axe, and Cathy Meredith and her husband, Gary, of Bad Axe; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; his father, Theodore "Ted" Heilig of Howell; two sisters, Eleanor Chaperon and her husband, Jack, of Howell and Delores Ciampa and her husband, Nelson, of Farmington Hills; and a brother, Joseph Heilig and his wife, Camielle, of Macomb Township. He was preceded in death by his mother, Grace Heilig, on July 13, 1996. The funeral mass will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, 2001, at St. Mary Catholic Church of Parisville. The Rev. Charles Hammond, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery with graveside military honors. There will be a vigil service at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Smigielski Funeral Home in Minden City. Visitation will be 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. this evening, from 1 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the Family Discretionary Fund. Wednesday, November 28, 2001 Ernest Makowski Mr. Ernest Vincent Makowski, 73, of Center Line passed away Monday, Nov. 26, 2001, at St. John's Macomb Hospital of Warren. He was born July 26, 1928, in Harbor Beach to the late Vincent and Josephine (Wisneski) Makowski. He married Lorraine Gosdzinski on Sept. 17, 1955, at St. Mary's Catholic Church of Parisville. Ernest was a graduate of the Ulfig Country School. He sailed on the Great Lakes for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. before serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After he married, he moved to Center Line to work at the Stroh's Brewery Co., retiring in 1985. He was a parishioner of St. Clement's Catholic Church of Center Line and a member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post No. 6756 of Center Line. He enjoyed gardening and playing euchre with family and friends. Ernest is survived by his wife, Lorraine, of Center Line; two sons, Ronald Makowski and his wife, Sandy, and Steven Makowski, both of Center Line; one daughter, Sharon Braun and her husband, Doug, of Macomb Township; five grandchildren, Eric and Paul Makowski, and Curtis, Jackie and Ryan Braun; one brother, Alfred Makowski of Pensacola, Fla.; one sister, Margie Majeski and her husband, Alfred, of St. Clair; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Makowski. The funeral mass will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30, 2001, at St. Mary's Catholic Church of Parisville. The Rev. Charles Hammond, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery with graveside military honors. Visitation will be 1 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday at Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Lee Proctor Lee Merrill Proctor, beloved husband of Virginia (Ginny) Proctor, died Sunday, Nov. 25, 2001. He was born Dec. 11, 1924, in Tampa, Fla., to Clyde and Jessie Minchin Proctor. Mr. Proctor spent many years in Huron County as an Auto Owners insurance claims adjuster. He resided in Bad Axe from 1964 to 1969 when he was transferred to Bradenton, Fla. He moved to Melbourne, Fla., in 1984. A graduate of Alma College, he served his country in World War II with the U.S. Navy. Mr. Proctor was past president of Zeta Sigma fraternity at Alma College and the Bradenton/Sarasota Adjusters Association. He also was a long-time volunteer at the South Brevard Sharing Center. While in Bad Axe, he was a member of the Bad Axe Lions Club. Besides his wife, Ginny, he is survived by two sons, Chris and his wife, Melanie, of Sarasota, Fla., and Clay of Germantown, Md.; four daughters, Vickie Tipling of Frederick, Md., Brook Hoge and her husband, George, of Marietta, Ga., Beth Hendley and her husband, Dan, of Palm Bay, Fla., and Holly Floyd and her husband, Steve, of Bradenton, Fla.; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; many nieces and nephews; and two sisters, Margaret Buerge and her husband, Harold, of Hastings and Nanette Sutton of Marne. A sister, Phyllis Gronlund, of Barefoot Bay, Fla., preceded him in death. A celebration of his life will take place at 5 p.m. today, Nov. 28, 2001, at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Palm Bay, and at a later date in Michigan. Memorials may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church, Hospice of Health First, Inc., 1900 Dairy Road, Melbourne, FL 32904, or South Brevard Sharing Center, 17 Hibiscus, Melbourne, FL 32901. Palm Bay Funeral Home handled arrangements. Thursday, November 29, 2001 – None Friday, November 30, 2001 - None 1