HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan

Copyright © 2001 by Carol Morrison. This copy contributed for use in 
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HURON DAILY TRIBUNE, Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan

Local obituaries for the week of May 20, 2001


Sunday, May 20, 2001


Clara Gregory 
Clara L. Gregory, 98, of Lansing, and formerly of Sebewaing, died Saturday, May 19, 
2001, at Willow Wood Manor Adult Foster Care Center in Lansing following a lengthy 
illness.  She was born on Feb. 13, 1903, in Sebewaing, daughter of the late Charles F. and 
Dora (Uhl) Liken.  She was united in marriage to Alex Lee Gregory on Oct. 5, 1928, in 
Sebewaing. He preceded her in death on Nov. 11, 1993.  They resided in Chicago for 
many years and then Detroit before moving to Sebewaing in 1973.  Clara was a member 
of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sebewaing.  In 1962, while living in Detroit, she was 
co-chair of the 100th anniversary celebration of Harper Hospital.  She is survived by one 
nephew, Charles E. Liken and his wife, Louise, of Lansing; one niece, Mary Jo Schippel 
and her husband, John, of Barrington, Ill.; two grandnephews and two grandnieces.  She 
was preceded in death by one brother, Raymond (Sam) Liken.  The funeral service will 
take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, 2001, at the Dinkel-Juengel Funeral Home in 
Sebewaing. The Rev. Ray McGee will officiate with burial in the Silverlawn Cemetery.  
Visitation is from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. 

Georgia Kerr 
Georgia M. Kerr, 105, of Jackson died on Tuesday, April 17, 2001, following a lengthy 
illness.  Georgia was born on April 11, 1896, on the family farm near Owendale. After 
graduating from Owendale High School, she received her teacher's certificate from what 
is now Central Michigan University. She taught at an elementary school in Royal Oak.  
Georgia M. Kerr lived in Caseville along the shore of Saginaw Bay before moving to Bay 
City. From there she moved to the Vista Grand Villa in Jackson where she lived for the 
past 25 years.  She was preceded in death by her brother, Allan A. Kerr of Caseville and 
sisters, Phoebe Kerr of Jackson and Anna Kerr Fyfe of California.  Funeral services were 
conducted in Jackson. Internment of cremation remains will be at the Grant Cemetery 
near Owendale on June 28, 2001. 

Jonathan Nugent 
Jonathan W. Nugent, 20, died suddenly on Thursday, May 17, 2001, while playing 
softball at Alma College. Jonathan was born on Jan. 19, 1981, in Midland. He was the 
son of Warren and Mary Jane Nugent of Bath. He was a sophomore at Alma College, 
majoring in business administration.  Jon graduated with honors from Bath High School 
in 1999. His accomplishments were many. In addition to being an excellent student, 
Jonathan was an all-around athlete. While at Bath High School, he earned 14 varsity 
letters. He was a member of Bath's cross country, basketball, baseball and track teams. 
He helped his cross country team earn three Class C regional championships, one top five 
in the state award and two top 10 in the state awards. In his senior season, the Bath High 
School basketball squad advanced to the state semifinals, in which he played a key role. 
In track, Jonathan's team earned two regional championships. He qualified for the Class 
C state track meet in two events his sophomore year and all four of his events during his 
junior and senior years.  During Jon's sophomore year of high school, he became an 
Eagle Scout and did volunteer work with the Cub Scouts in Bath. He was a national 
Honor Society officer and earned a military scholarship for college.  While at Alma 
College, Jon earned a varsity letter in cross country and track. He was Alma's top runner 
in the 400 meter and his relay teams were two of the best in the Michigan Intercollegiate 
Athletic Association. What he loved most was playing on his intramural football 
championship team and his softball team. In addition to his family, close friends and team 
mates, the whole community of Bath and Alma mourn their loss.   Jonathan is survived 
by his parents, Warren and Mary Jane Nugent; sister, Kellie, all of Bath; maternal 
grandparents, Del Lorraine Mathers of Mount Pleasant; paternal grandparents, John and 
Dorothy Nugent of Weidman and formerly of Ubly; aunts and uncles, Tom Mathers of 
Texas, Jerry and Diane Nugent of Davison, Judy and Arn Glaza, Elrae and Jerry Herp of 
Ubly; cousins, Mark Nugent, Jennifer Nugent and her fiance, Steve, Melinda and Brent 
Whitman, Greg Kowalski and his fiancee, Tara, Scott Glaza, Chad and Christy Glaza, 
Amy and David Russell, Betsy and Ben Butzbaugh, Lori and Shannon Flippin, Rachel 
Herp and Jeralyn Herp.  Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 21, 2001, at 
the Alma College Chapel. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery.  Visitation is from 2 to 4 
p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Lux-Moody-Wolfel Funeral Home in Alma and from 
noon to 1 p.m. on Monday at the chapel.  Memorials may be made to the family 
discretionary fund through the funeral home at 531 North State Street, Alma MI., 48801. 

Catherine Schultz 
Catherine L. Schultz, 69, of Port Austin died on Friday, May 18, 2001, at the Huron 
Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe.  She was born on July 17, 1931, in Roseville, daughter 
of the late Venus and Ethel (Kirk) Brashaw. She married Lawrence Schultz in 1956 in 
Port Austin. He preceded her in death on Dec. 20, 1997.  Catherine was a member of the 
American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. She liked to read and enjoyed playing euchre and 
bingo.  She is survived by her daughter, Beatrice Harrison of Ovid; son, Howard Schultz 
and his wife, Karen, of Lake Wales, Fla.; six grandchildren, Michael Schultz, and his 
wife, Cristy and Joseph Schultz, all of Lake Wales, Fla., James Harrison and his wife, 
Lori, of Beatyville, Ky., Wendy Harrison, Cody Smith and Tyler Smith, all of Ovid; five 
great-grandchildren, Blake, Jade and Ethan Harrison, Skylar Schultz and McKayla Klatt; 
two sisters, Betty Quick of Port Sanilac and Eva Hubbard of Port Austin; brother, Albert 
Brashaw of Port Austin.  She was preceded in death by sister, Margaret Clancy; two 
brothers, William and John Brashaw; half brother, George Ottinger.  A funeral mass will 
be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 21, 2001, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in 
Port Austin with father Michael Bell officiating. Burial will follow in the church 
cemetery. The American Legion Ladies Auxiliary will conduct a memorial service at 7 
p.m. and a parish scripture service will take place at 7:30 tonight at the Knoblock Funeral 
Home in Kinde.  Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 
10 a.m. until the time of the service Monday at the church. 

Monday, May 21, 2001

Ruby Miller 

Ruby E. Miller, 79, former resident of Rochester and for the past eleven years resident of 
Filion, died Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at her home, after an extended illness.  She was 
born Nov. 19, 1921, at Marion, Ky., daughter of the late Robert Ford and Martie T. 
(Thurmond) Ford.  Miss Ruby E. Ford and Mr. Harles Miller were united in marriage on 
Dec. 1, 1945. They had celebrated 55 years of marriage.  Ruby attended Calvary Baptist 
Church at Caseville. She was a homemaker and enjoyed cooking, sewing, and gardening. 
Surviving are her husband, Harles Miller; two sons, Larry Miller and his wife, Ebbe, of 
Kinde, and Ronald Miller of Flint; one grandson, Kyle Miller; one sister, Juanita Morgan 
of Newburgh, Ind.; and one brother-in-law, Herb Delacy of Port Huron; and several 
nieces and nephews.  Ruby was predeceased by one sister, Naomi Delacy.  A memorial 
service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2001, at the MacAlpine 
Funeral Home in Bad Axe. The Rev. Michael Goforth, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church 
of Caseville will officiate. Cremation took place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City. 
Memorials may be offered to Huron Memorial Hospice, 1100 S. Van Dyke Rd., Bad 
Axe, MI 48413. 


Kerry Shuart 

Kerry Brent Shuart, 54, of Owendale and formerly of Elkton, died unexpectedly Friday, 
May 18, 2001, at his home.  He was born May 11, 1947, in Grayling to Margaret 
(Kilpatrick) Shuart and the late Duane Shuart.  On Oct. 3, 1968, Mr. Kerry Shuart and 
Miss Darla Shepherd were united in marriage.  Kerry was an inspector with the Michigan 
Department of Transportation for many years. He was a graduate of Bad Axe High 
School in 1965. He earned an Associates Degree from Glendale Community College in 
Arizona. He enjoyed golfing and playing cards.   Surviving are his wife, Darla, of 
Owendale; one daughter, Dawn Renee Darland and her husband, Aaron, of Grand 
Rapids; two sons, Shannon "Todd" Shuart and his wife, Sue, of Bad Axe, Shawn Shuart 
and his wife, Susan, of Bay City; his mother, Margaret Elizabeth Shuart of Grand Ledge; 
two grandchildren, Braedon Darland of Grand Rapids and Alexander Ropp of Bay City; 
two sisters, Lucrecia Johnson and her husband, Richard, of Grand Ledge and Beverly 
Schultz and her husband, LeRoy, of Texas; one brother, Cecil Shuart and his wife, Julie, 
of Bad Axe; several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his father, Duane 
Shuart and his brother, Andrew Shuart.  A Memorial Service will be conducted at 2 p.m. 
on Wednesday, May 23, 2001, at Our Savior Lutheran Church of Bad Axe with the Rev. 
Kenneth Lueke officiating.  Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. at the church.  Cremation 
has taken place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City.  Memorials may be made to the 
American Diabetes Association. 


Tuesday, May 22, 2001


John Edwards 
John B. Edwards, 82, of Caseville and former resident of Hazel Park, passed away 
Sunday, May 20, 2001, at Huron Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe. He was born July 4, 
1918, in Detroit.  On March 9, 1940, he was united in marriage to June Ruttan in 
Bowling Green, Ohio.  He served in the Army in World War II. John belonged to Eagles 
in Caseville and the Knights of Columbus in Pigeon.  Surviving are his wife, June; four 
grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by a son, John D. 
Edwards.  Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 24, 2001 at Hopcroft Funeral Home 
at 23919 John R. in Hazel Park.  Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Thursday at 
the funeral home. 

Rev. Zygmunt Gaj 
The Rev. Fr. Zygmunt Ignatios Gaj, 86, passed away at his home on Saturday, May 19, 
2001.  He was born Sept. 16, 1914, to the late Joseph and Anna (Tomalka) Gaj in 
Policzko, County Konskie, Poland.  He received his education in Poland attending 
Sandomierz Seminary at Wisla. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 10, 1941, at 
the Basilica of Blessed Virgin Mary in Sandomierz by the Bishop of Sandomierz, the 
Most Reverend Kanthy John Lorek. He was very proud to celebrate his 60th anniversary 
of ordination to the priesthood in May of this year. On Oct. 2, 1941, six months after he 
was ordained, while visiting his parents he was arrested by the German Gestapo and 
placed in concentration camps of Oswiecim and Dachau were he spent the next four years 
before the American Army liberated the camp on April 29, 1945. After the liberation he 
was assigned as chaplain of the British Army of the Rhine working with displaced 
persons and former prisoners of war. Fr. Gaj was given the opportunity to come to the 
United States in 1950 and served the Saginaw Diocese under the leadership of Bishop 
Stephen Woznicki. He served as assistant pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Bay 
City, St. Helen Church and St. Andrew Church, both of Saginaw. Fr. Gaj served as pastor 
in the Gaylord Diocesan parishes of St. Dominic Church in Metz, St. Ignatius Church in 
Rogers City, Sacred Heart Church in Oscoda, St. John's Church in Ubly and Holy Family 
Church in Klacking Creek. He retired in the summer of 1987. Fr. Gaj was a member of 
the Knights of Columbus Klacking Creek Council No. 8948.  Surviving are one sister, 
Lucjia Gaj of Poland; one brother, Marian Gaj of Poland; many nieces and nephews; and 
close priest friends in the Saginaw and Gaylord Diocese. He also leaves a special friend, 
Rita Lutomski and many other dear friends.  A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. 
on Thursday, May 24, 2001, at the St. Stanislaus Kostka Church at 1503 22nd Street in 
Bay City. Presiding will be the Most Reverend Patrick R. Cooney, Most Reverend 
Kenneth J. Povish, Rev. Fr. William J. Rutkowski, Rev. Fr. Raymond Mulka and Rev. Fr. 
Arthur Mulka with burial in St. Stanislaus Cemetery.  St. Stanislaus parish will pray the 
rosary at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the church followed at 7 p.m. by a parish vigil service.  
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Ambrose Funeral Home, 1200 Garfield Avenue 
in Bay City and from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and from 10 a.m. until 
the time of Mass on Thursday at St. Stanislaus Church.  Memorials may be made to St. 
Stan's Stained Glass Project or the donor's favorite charity. 

Beverly McCrimmon 
Beverly A. McCrimmon, 66, of Goshen, Ind. died Sunday, May 20, 2001, at Goshen 
General Hospital after a year-long illness.  She was born on May 27, 1934, to the late 
William and Anna (Siewert) Schluchter in Wisconsin.  On July 18, 1953, she was united 
in marriage to Hector A. McCrimmon in Pigeon.  She worked in Switches in Goshen 
until 1970 and was also a homemaker. She was a member of Women of the Moose, and 
Goshen Women Auxiliary D.A.V.  She is survived by her husband, Hector; three 
daughters, Victoria Moelhman and her husband, Mark, of Lafayette, Ind., Susan Mason 
and her husband, John, of Port St. Johns, Fla. and Sandra Unhoch and her husband, 
David, of Claypool, Ind.; two grandsons.  Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. 
today at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home in Goshen. The Pastor Jeffery L. Gaustad of First 
English Lutheran Church will officiate. Burial will be at Violett Cemetery in Goshen.

Wednesday, May 23, 2001 - None

Thursday, May 24, 2001 - None

Friday, May 25, 2001


Shawn Siemen 

Shawn P. Siemen, 29, of Chandler Township near Pinnebog died Thursday, May 17, 
2001, at his home.   He was born Jan. 28, 1972, the oldest child of Patrick and MariAnn 
(Prill) Siemen of Pigeon.  Shawn was a 1990 Laker High School graduate and was 
currently employed at Gemini Plastics in Ubly. He served as an altar boy and was a past 
member of St. Felix Catholic Church in Pinnebog. He loved playing and participating in 
all kinds of sports, especially baseball, and also had a great love for cars, racing and 
driving.   Surviving are his wife, Lori; daughter, Kalee; parents, Pat and MariAnn Siemen 
of Chandler Township; two sisters, Michelle Daniels and her husband, Chad, of Cass 
City, Lisa Siemen and her special friend, Scott Horetski, of Bad Axe; one brother, Jason 
and his special friend, Vicki Arnott of Bad Axe; grandfather, LaVern Siemen of Harbor 
Beach; niece and nephews, Chelsy and Matthew Siemen and Joshua Daniels; godparents, 
uncle Richard Schmidt of Bad Axe and aunt Barbara Mosey of Harbor Beach; and 
several aunts and uncles.  Preceding him in death were his grandparents, Alex and Regina 
Prill and Bertha Siemen.  A funeral mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 
26, 2001, at St. Felix Catholic Church, Pinnebog with burial in the church cemetery. 
Visitation will from 2 to 9 p.m. today at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton and 
after 10 a.m. on Saturday at the church. 


Joyce Thick 

Mrs. Joyce A. Thick, 67, of Caseville, formerly of Saginaw, passed away Thursday, May 
24, 2001, at James E. Cartwright Care Center.  Joyce was born on Aug. 6, 1933 to the late 
Edmund F. Miller, Sr. and Ann (Nachtman) Miller in Saginaw.  She was married to 
Donald L. Thick on April 4, 1953.  Joyce was of the Catholic faith. She enjoyed 
crocheting, bingo, NASCAR racing and the Detroit Tigers.  Surviving are her husband, 
Donald L. Thick; three daughters, Gail Parsons and her husband, Edward, of Kawkawlin, 
Karen Grunwell and her husband, Mike, of Kawkawlin, Nancy Martin and her husband, 
Scott, of Saginaw; two sons, Thomas Thick and his wife, Michelle, of Saginaw, Joseph 
Thick and his wife, Linda, of Saginaw; 11 grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; three 
great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; a brother, Dennis Miller and his 
wife, Carol, of Saginaw; and several nieces and nephews.  Joyce was preceded in death 
by a brother, Edmund F. Miller Jr.  Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, 
May 26, 2001, at The Snow Funeral Home at 3775 North Center Road (between Shattuck 
and McCarty). The Rev. Fr. Robert Konopa, O.F.M., will officiate with burial in 
Roselawn Memorial Gardens.  Visitation will be present from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. 
today and from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home. 
Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Hospital Foundation or the Public Libraries of 
Saginaw. 


Laura Booms 

Laura C. Booms, 93, of Harbor Beach passed away Friday, May 25, 2001, in the Long-
Term Care Unit of Harbor Beach Community Hospital following a short illness.  Funeral 
arrangements are incomplete at press time and are being handled by the Ramsey Funeral 
Home in Harbor Beach. A complete obituary will appear in Sunday's Huron Daily 
Tribune. 


Wesley Gebauer 
Wesley Gebauer, 96, long time Elkton plumber and businessman died on Friday, May 25, 
2001, at Blodgett Medical Center in Grand Rapids.  Funeral services will be held at 11 
a.m. on Tuesday, May 29, 2001, at the Elkton United Methodist Church.  Visitation will 
be 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton and 
after 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the church.  


Jesse Lovejoy  

Jesse W. "Skip" Lovejoy, 39, of Deckerville and Harbor Beach passed away Thursday, 
May 24, 2001, in Port Huron Hospital following a short illness.   Funeral services will be 
at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 28, 2001, in Zion Lutheran Church in Harbor Beach.  
Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday at the Ramsey Funeral 
Home in Harbor Beach and on Monday from noon until the time of service at the church. 
A complete obituary will appear in Sunday's Huron Daily Tribune. 
 

  




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