HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan Local obituaries for the week beginning November 30, 2003 Contributed 2003 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, November 30, 2003 – No obituaries reported Monday, December 1, 2003 Frances Carkner Frances Carkner, 87, of Caseville, died Friday, November 14, 2003, of cancer at Marlette Hospice House. Frances was born to the late Annie LoCicero on September 16, 1916 in Detroit. Frances was a hair dresser for 45 years and upon retiring, she moved to the Caseville area in 1978. She opened a bed and breakfast at the edge of the village park called Carkner House. Francis was the proprietor for 23 years. She is survived by a son, Joseph Maceri; she was the sister of Patrina Almashy, Nancy Brinkman, Thomas LoCicero, Rose Witkowski, Joseph LoCicero and Eleanor Miller; aunt of James Almashy, Charles Almashy, Mary Ann Racz, Paul Finley, Nancy Perri, Sal LoCicero, Antoniana Ramsey and Joseph LoCicero. Memorial mass will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3, 2003, at St. Rock Catholic Church in Caseville. Megan Cronk Megan Colette Cronk, 18, of Cass City, died Friday, November 28, 2003, in an automobile accident on her way to work in Saginaw. She was born August 12, 1985 in Normal, Illinois to Samuel J. and Sarah A. (Black) Cronk. Megan graduated from Cass City High School in May of 2003. She was currently completing her first semester at Delta College in Bay City, studying law enforcement. While in high school, Megan enjoyed volleyball and softball and was a member of the soccer team. She played the clarinet in band, and also the piano. She had a beautiful voice and sang with the Cass City High School Choir. She currently worked on the ICS Team at the Wal-Mart Super Center in Saginaw. Megan enjoyed four-wheeling and spending time with her family and friends. She was a kind, loving girl who enjoyed life. Megan is survived by her mother, Sarah (Dave Flynn) Cronk, of Cass City; father, Samuel (Tana) Cronk, of Standish; brothers and sisters, Matthew Cronk, of Cass City, Monica Cronk, of Cass City, Ryan Jammer, of Bay City, Keith Jammer, of Auburn, Stephanie Jammer, of Standish; grandparents, Bernice Cronk, of Saginaw, Charles and Janet Black, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Ernest and Mary Howden, of West Branch; aunts, Susan Black, Sandra (Tom) Button, Connie Alore, Sally (Tom) Allen, Tammy Avery; uncles, Ralph Cronk, Edward Cronk, Louis (Kathy) Cronk; and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Louis Cronk. Funeral services to be conducted at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3, 2003, in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, with the Rev. Scott Kreh officiating. Megan's body will be buried in Elkland Township Cemetery in her home town of Cass City to be near her family and friends. Pallbearers for Megan: her father, Samuel Cronk; brother, Matthew Cronk; Dave Flynn, Rick Ricklefs, Jeremy Parker and Norman Parker. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City. Memorials may be made to the Family Discretionary Fund. Joseph Leavine Joseph "Polka Joe" Leavine, 68, of Dwight Township near Port Austin, died Saturday, November 29, 2003, at his home while under hospice care. Mr. Leavine was born March 20, 1935 in Dwight Township. He was the son of the late Lewis and Gertrude (Andreski) Leavine. He attended Kelly Rural Country School, Dwight Township. Joseph was a parishioner of St. Michael's Catholic Church, Port Austin, and a lifelong farmer. He was a licensed builder. He was a musician and loved to play the accordion with Clem Zurek, Pat Hoody and others at weddings, anniversaries, and the Huron County Medical Care Facility. He enjoyed playing cards, visiting with his family and friends and was a former member of the Grindstone-Port Hope Sportsman's Club. Surviving are one son, Michael Leavine, of Port Austin; three daughters, Rosalie Bitterling and her husband, Gary, of Ubly, Linda Gembarski and her husband, Mark, of Port Austin, and Valerie Schramski and her husband, James, of Bad Axe; six grandchildren, Dawn Eller and her husband, Eric, of Cadillac, Marie Waldi and her husband, Kevin, of Warren, Vanessa Gembarski and Jody Gembarski, both of Port Austin, Aaron Schramski and Breann Schramski, both of Bad Axe; two great-grandchildren, Brandon and Heather Eller; and one brother, Philip Leavine, of Port Austin. Joseph was preceded in death by one brother, Gerald Leavine. Mass of Christian burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2003, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Port Austin. Fr. Robert J. Pare, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The parish wake scripture will be offered at 7 p.m. tonight at the MacAlpine Funeral Home-Gage Chapel in Kinde. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may be offered to St. Michael's Catholic Church or the Family Discretionary Fund. Tuesday, December 2, 2003 Richard Grifka Richard C. "Bear" Grifka, 58, of Warren, passed away Sunday, November 30, 2003, at his residence after an extended illness. He was a resident of Warren for 31 years. Richard was born on April 19, 1945 in Cass City to Olive (Stepka) Grifka and the late Alex J. Grifka. Richard was a 1963 graduate of Ubly High School. He drove gas tankers for 12 years. He was a member of the Teamsters Union and the Carpenters Union. He was a member of the Polish League of American Veterans No. 165 in Warren and a Moose Lodge member. He was a member of the Eagles Club for 30 years, serving as secretary for seven years. He liked to do crosswords, golf, play cards, hunt, and race cars at the Ubly Dragway. He enjoyed all sports, especially football. Richard is survived by one daughter, Tammy Grifka, of Casco; four sons, Jack Grifka, of Warren, Carl Grifka and his wife, April, of Warren, Rick Grifka, of Warren, Bear Grifka and his wife, Amanda, of Marquette; his significant other, Kathy Logan, of Warren; 14 grandchildren; his mother, Olive Grifka, of Snover; six brothers, Anthony "Tony" Grifka and his wife, Jean, of Ubly, Bill Grifka and his wife, Mary, of Chelsea, Ron Grifka, of Ubly, Jim Grifka and his wife, Elaine, of Caro, Lee Grifka and his wife, Sandy, of Deckerville, Tom Grifka, of Sandusky; three sisters, Kay Muma, Ann Shatto and her husband, Walt, and Mae Grifka, all of Snover; and many nieces and nephews. Richard was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Jamie Lee Grifka; his father, Alex Grifka; one brother, Alan Grifka. Funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3, 2003, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Freiburg. The Rev. T.J. Fleming, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. There will be a parish vigil service at 8 p.m. today at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home of Ubly. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 9:30 p.m. today and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Wednesday, December 03, 2003 Bernice Ertman Bernice May Ertman, 73, of Ubly passed away Monday, December 1, 2003, at Covenant Cooper Hospital of Saginaw. Bernice was born May 12, 1930 in Minden City to the late Frederick and Minnie (Stutzky) Seltz. She married Sylvester "Elmer" Ertman on November 13, 1948 at St. Hyancinth Catholic Church in Detroit. Bernice was a graduate of Minden City High School. She worked at Dodge Main in Hamtramck for four years. She was manager at the A.C. Bar in Detroit for 10 years. She moved to Tyre in 1979. She was a typesetter at the Minden Herald in Minden City. She was a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ubly since 1979, as well as a member of St. John Christian Mothers Circle No. 1 St. Ann. She enjoyed euchre, handcrafts, crosswords, canning, gardening, flowers and visiting with her grandchildren and family. Bernice is survived by her husband, Sylvester "Elmer" Ertman, of Ubly; one daughter, Sherri Sadro and her husband, Melvin, of Argyle; four sons, Lance Ertman and his wife, Brenda, of Livonia, Gary Ertman, of Westland, Dean Ertman, of Detroit, and Daniel Ertman, of Westland; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three brothers, Ken Seltz, of Minden City, Jim Seltz and his wife, Carole, of St. Clair, and Jerry Seltz and his wife, Beverly, of Applegate; two sisters, Doris Lapp and her husband, Robert, of Arizona, and Lillian Armstead and her husband, Howard, of Bad Axe. Bernice was preceded in death by one daughter, Debra Ertman; one brother, Howard Seltz; one sister, Phyllis Seltz. Funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 5, 2003, at St. John Catholic Church in Ubly. The Rev. T. J. Fleming, pastor, will officiate. Cremation will follow at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City. There will be a Christian Mothers rosary at 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Thursday, December 4, 2003 – No obituaries reported Friday, December 5, 2003 Melva L. Benson Melva L. Benson, 87, died on Tuesday, November 18, 2003, in Sebastopol, California following a brief illness. Born to Egbert and Vera Hall in Filion, Melva worked for University Hospital, Ann Arbor, and Huron Memorial Hospital, Bad Axe. Melva retired in 1981 and later moved to Sebastopol to be with her family. She enjoyed the California coast, gardening, music, barbecues and photography. She was preceded in death by first husband, Martin Nelson; second husband, Owen Benson; daughter, Norma Nelson; sister, Wilma Blackmore; and brother, Glenn Hall. She is survived by her children, Ken Nelson and his wife, Carolyn, Lynn Nelson and his wife, Jean, Sandy Nelson, Carol Nelson; 10 grandchildren; 11 great- grandchildren; sisters, Mildred Van Reken, Edith Miner, Helen Woodthorp, Ardith Wooster; brothers, Don Hall and Dale Hall; several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made in Melva's name to the charity of your choice. George "Pete" DeFrain George "Pete" DeFrain, 93, of Harbor Beach, passed away at his home with hospice care on Thursday, December 4, 2003. Born in Bay City on February 9, 1910, he was the son of the late George and Catherine (Murray) DeFrain. George and Bernice Schornack were united in marriage on July 9, 1949 in Harbor Beach. Bernice preceded him in death on February 24, 1999. Pete was a 1929 graduate of Harbor Beach High School and after graduation worked in the A & P Store as well as working for his father at the Huron Milling Co. in the Cooper Barrel Shop. As World War II was progressing, Pete joined the Army and participated in various European conflicts including the Normandy Invasion at Utah Beach. Following the service, he was the co-owner of the American House with "Red" Hunter for a short time. Pete worked at the Huron Milling Co. and Hercules, and retired from the machine shop at Hercules in 1972 after working for 30 years. Following retirement, Pete and Bernice enjoyed traveling and spending their winters in Florida. He was an avid golfer all his life. He even played in Europe during his duty in World War II. Pete was a member of the Verona Hills Golf Club for 56 years. He enjoyed playing rummy, euchre and doing jigsaw puzzles after he stopped playing golf. He also enjoyed doing yard work and working in his flower gardens. Pete was a life member and charter member of the VFW Post 9344 of Harbor Beach and was a continuous member for 59 years of the American Legion Post 197 of Harbor Beach, and he was a long time member of the Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church of Harbor Beach. Surviving are his son, Alan DeFrain and his wife, Jean, of Odessa, Florida; brother, Leonard DeFrain, of Harbor Beach; three sisters, Agatha Sullivan, of St. Petersburg, Florida, Kathryn Widdows, of Sun City, Arizona, and Sarah Healy, of Harbor Beach. Pete was preceded in death by five brothers, Murray, Wilson, Arthur, Raymond and Russell DeFrain; and a sister, Ferande Hopton. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church, Harbor Beach, with Fr. Gerald Kukla, pastor, officiating. Burial with military honors by the VFW and American Legion will be in the church cemetery. A parish vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. today in the Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the service time at the church. Memorials may be given to the OLLH Church or School, Heartland Hospice, or Harbor Beach Hospital. Ruth Speelman Ruth Audrey Speelman, 87, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, died Thursday, December 4, 2003, at Pardee Subacute Care Facility in Hendersonville. Ruth was born in London, Ontario, Canada on August 7, 1916, the youngest daughter of the late Ruth Perry Hills and John Taylor Hills and wife of the late Harry Speelman. She was also preceded in death by three sisters, Ida Mary Blanchard, Blanche Courville and Marjorie Johnstone. Her mother died when Ruth was an infant, and she was raised by her eldest sister, May Blanchard and her husband, T.A. Ruth worked in advertising in the Fischer Building in Detroit for many years, and her husband, Harry Speelman, was a captain of the Michigan State football team. He played a few years for the Detroit Lions and taught school in Detroit where he retired as Director of Attendance for the Detroit Public Schools. They lived in Gross Pointe Farms and retired to Pigeon. Ruth moved to Hendersonville almost 20 years ago. Her sister, Margie, lived with her until she passed away in February 1998. She loved to play bridge and shop and she has many friends in Hendersonville who will surely miss her. She leaves her loving family of nieces and nephews, Mary Amanti and her husband, John, of Sarasota, Florida and Salem, Massachusetts, Betty Adams, of Royal Oak, John Johnstone, of Patterson, North Carolina, Donald Johnstone, of Otisfield, Maine, and Susan Briggs, of Williamstown, Massachusetts; and many grand and great- grand nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be conducted at St. James Episcopal Church. Father Robert Salamone and Deacon Jerry Beschta will officiate. Her niece Mary, wishes to express her heartfelt appreciation to Four Seasons Hospice and the wonderful dedicated staff of the Subacute Care Center at Pardee for their loving care. Memorials may be made to St. James Episcopal Church, 766 N. Main St., Hendersonville, North Carolina 28792 or to Four Seasons Hospice, PO Box 2395, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28793. Shuler Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. 1