Fred Heimstra Balch, 77, of Vicksburg, formerly of Onaway, died March 21, 2015.

He was a member of the Onaway High School Class of 1957.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of friend’s choice.

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Teresa G. Meyer, 63, of Onaway, died at home Thursday March 19, 2015. Cremation arrangements were in care of the Chagnon Funeral Home.… Read Full Story

John A. Allan, known to many as Jack, died Thursday, March 19, 2015 at McLaren Northern Michigan hospital in Petoskey. Jack was born May 23, 1941 at his family home in Forest Township to John Thomas and Donna Shirley (Siddle) Allan.

Surviving Jack is his wife Mary Lou Allan of Onaway; sons Samuel (Kimberly) Allan and Charles Allan, both from North Carolina; as well as his grandchildren Christina, Paul, C.J., Ryan, Shawn and Sammy. He also leaves sisters Jane (Robert) VanDoren of Manchester and Barbara (Fred) Lamberson from Lake Placid, Florida. Also surviving are his twin brother Richard Allan of Onaway and brother Samuel (Gail) Allan of Waterford; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Monday, March 23, 2015 at the Chagnon Funeral Home in Onaway. Elder Faye Barrette officiated. Condolences may be shared with Jack’s family at www.chagnonfh.com.  Those considering an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a donation to the family of Jack Allan.

Alvin G. Zampich, 87, of Millersburg died at home April 11, 2015 surrounded by his loving wife of 65 years and all four of their children. The son of Edward and Emma (Verick) Zampich, Alvin was born in Rogers City June 12, 1927.

Alvin is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Shirley Zampich of Millersburg; sons, Gary (Carolyn) Zampich of Millersburg and Dale (Marietta) Zampich of Alpena; daughters, Pam (Tim) Mason of Tower and Vicki (Mike) Domke of Millersburg. Also surviving are grandchildren, Dan (Angela), Paul (Sarah), Chris (Andrea) and Bradley (Samantha) Zampich, Dawn Hoffmeyer, Sarah (Terry Strang) Mason, Shannon (Cory) Grzesikowski, Jennifer (Mark) Jacobs and Erika (John) George; 16 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his brother, Kenneth as well as a sister-in-law, Delores Zampich.

Visitation was held at the Chagnon Funeral Home in Onaway Tuesday, April 14. Visitation resumed Wednesday, April 15, at the Millersburg United Methodist Church. The Rev. Carmen Cook officiated. Alvin’s final resting place was at Riverside Cemetery in Millersburg. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider donations to honor Alvin’s memory to Hospice of the Sunrise Shore or to the Millersburg United Methodist Church. Condolences may be shared with Alvin’s family at www.chagnonfh.com.

Kenneth D. Kuznicki, 63, of Gaylord, went home to be with his Lord Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Born in Rogers City July 14, 1951, Ken was the son of Joseph and Blanche (Nowicki) Kuznicki. He was a 1971 graduate of Rogers City High School.

In addition to his wife, Dawn; Ken is survived by his daughters, Melanie (Stephen Wikaryasz) Kuznicki of Gaylord and Traci (Brad) Newland of Elmira; sons, Jon (Melissa) Kuznicki of Johannesburg and Stephen (Amy) Kuznicki of Gaylord; grandchildren, Aleah (Kyle), Michayla, Lexi, Sierra, Kara, Kelsey (Russ), Kierstan, Braden, Brittany, Brad, Nathan, EmmaRay, Morgan, Max, Sam and Tori; a great-grandson, Gavin; sisters, Joan Zemblowski, Janice (Art) Rasche and Donna (Rich) Goupell; and brothers, Rich (Louise) Kuznicki, Ed (Joyce) Kuznicki, Ben (Judy) Kuznicki, Francis (Karen) Kuznicki, Mike (Bev) Kuznicki, Don (Sally) Kuznicki, Dean (Sandy) Kuznicki, Bob (Nicki) Kuznicki and Jerry (Laura) Kuznicki. He is also survived by his mother and father-in-law, Walter and Audrey Vekaryasz; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dale (Duane) Luetzow, Steve (Mary) Vekaryasz and Diane Delkta; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Ken was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Madeline Kortman; a brother, Jim Kuznicki and a brother-in-law, Dave Delkta.  Memorial services for Ken were Sunday, April 12, at Gaylord Evangelical Free Church, 2649 M-32 East, where the family received friends.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions to Ken’s family to be used for the purchase and planting of a memorial tree. Arrangements are by Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 850 North Center Ave. Please share your memories and personal messages with Ken’s family at www.gaylordfuneralhome.com.

Rena Pearl Kidman, 86, most recently of Toledo, Ohio joined her Lord and Savior in Glory April 11, 2015.

Her home-going celebration was Tuesday, April 14, at Urbanski Funeral Home, 5055 Secor Road, Toledo with the Rev. Jemiamah Musyoka officiating. Friends gathered April 13 also at Urbanski’s. Arrangements have been entrusted to Merkle Funeral Service, Erie, (734) 848-5185. Procession to Deerfield Cemetery followed.

Rena Stevens was born November 10, 1928. She married Guy N. Goff December 14, 1946.

Rena is survived by her sisters, Muriel Stevens and Twila Shoemaker; her children, Gerald L. (Donna) Goff, Ila Mae (John) Heil and Twila J. Reiser; Lynn’s children, Sharon Wing, Bob Kidman, Ron (Becky) Kidman, Randall (Tina) Kidman and Russell (Cathy) Kidman; many grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dwelling Place Diner.

While the family mourns, Jesus welcomes an old friend home.

David J. Sherman, 71, of Millersburg, died at his home Thursday, April 9, 2015. The son of Benjamin P. and Catherine (Easton) Sherman, David was born September 25, 1943 in Pontiac.

Surviving David is his wife, Mary Lee of Millersburg; sons, David (Jennifer) of Texas and Richard of Lake Orion; a daughter, Lisa (Shane) Ivey of Lake Orion; and stepson, Barry Wiley of Royal Oak. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Benjamin (Eileen) of Pontiac; and a sister, Catherine Sherman also of Pontiac. He was preceded in death by both his parents; a daughter, Tracey Sherman; three brothers; and a sister.

Visitation was held at the Chagnon Funeral Sunday April 12. A luncheon was held immediately following the visitation at the Case Township Community Center in Millersburg. Those considering an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a donation to Hospice of the Sunrise Shores. Condolences may be shared with David’s family at www.chagnonfh.com.

Warren G. Gleason, 78, of Rogers City passed away Tuesday April 7, 2015 at McLaren Northern Michigan hospital in Petoskey.

The son of Grant and Mabel Gleason, was born January 28, 1937 in Gulf Port, Mississippi.

Surviving are his wife Vonnie; a son Patrick (Cindy) of Bangor, Maine; two daughters, Jennifer (Tom) Nielsen of Oregon, and Lisa Gleason of Rogers City; three grandsons, Grant Gleason, Warren Nielsen and Justin Gleason; and a granddaughter, Sophia Nielsen.

Cremation arrangements are in care of Hentkowski Funeral Home. There will be a memorial service in honor of Mr. Gleason at a later date. Condolences can be made to the family at www.hentkowskifuneral.com.

Memorials are suggested to The Warren Gleason Memorial Fund at the Rogers City High School.

John C. Dreffs, 94, of Onaway, died Friday, April 10, 2015 in Tawas. The son of Vincent and Rose (Tomaszewski) Dreffs, John was born May 6, 1920 in Gaylord.

Surviving John is his son, Donald (Peggy) Dreffs of Ypsilanti; daughters, Rita (Armando) Villanouvea of Allen Park and Regina (Richard) Kibat of Greenbush; as well as seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation was at the Chagnon Funeral Home in Onaway Monday, April 13, with a rosary/wake service held that evening. Funeral Mass took place Tuesday, April 14, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Onaway. The Rev. Peter Eke officiated. Gaylord Veterans  of Foreign Wars Post performed military honors. John’s final resting place will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Vanderbilt. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a donation in memory of John to the American Cancer Society or Tawas Village Assisted Living. Condolences may be shared with John’s family at www.chagnonfh.com.

Kenneth E. Wells, 87, of Huron Beach passed away at home March 15, 2015

He was born in Toronto, Canada November 22, 1927 to Merrit and Doris (Brimcombe) Wells.

Ken is survived by his wife, Sylvia; three children, Michael, Carol and Kathy; many grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; two stepchildren, Jeffrey Dunn and Claudia Guilford; and a brother, Keith.

Friends may visit at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Ocqueoc Township Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. through time of his memorial service at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Denise Sheer officiating. Onaway Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5857 will accord military honors at church following services.

Inurnment will take place next to his son at Ocqueoc Township Cemetery.

Arrangements are in care of the Beck Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be addressed through www.beckfuneralhome.org.

Eugene Paul “Butch” Domke age 69 of Alpena passed away April 19, 2015 at the Aleda E. Lutz V.A. Medical Center in Saginaw.

He was born April 3, 1946 in Alpena to Herbert and Amanda (Kreft) Domke.

Butch is survived by three children, Lisa (Carl) Urlaub of Sparta, Lori (Mitch) Wagner of Saginaw and Eric of Millersburg; five grandchildren; a sister, Judy Wozniak of Rogers City; a brother, Jerry Domke of Rogers City; special friends, Carol Zielaskowski and Fritz the cat; several aunts, uncles and nephews.

Beck Funeral Home will announce his memorial service in the fall when the date is set.

Online condolences may be addressed through www.beckfuneralhome.org

Helen Myers, 94, of Rogers City passed away April 18, 2015 at Hospice House in Cheboygan.

She was born November 3, 1920 in Rogers City to Fade and Lena (Danel) Tapovic.

Mrs. Myers is survived by a daughter, Constance Gosselin of Cape Coral, Florida; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.

Friends may visit at St. Ignatius Catholic Church Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. through time of Mass at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Sylvestre Obwaka officiating.

Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to St. Ignatius Catholic School in memory of Helen Myers.

Arrangements are in care of the Beck Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be addressed through www.beckfuneralhome.org.

Rylan Emmet Riley, 2, of Onaway, died at home the morning of Friday April 17, 2015. The son of Jesse and Sierra (Peters) Riley, Rylan was born January 12, 2013 in Petoskey.

He is survived by his parents, Jesse and Sierra Riley; and his big brother, Blake Riley. He also leaves his grandparents, Ron Riley (Dawn Fenstermaker) and Darlene Peters (Hal Roberts), all of Onaway and Gary Peters of Alpena; great-grandparents, Theodore Riley of Millersburg and Lillian Peters of Alpena; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation was at the Chagnon Funeral Home Monday, April 20, until the time of the funeral service with Elders Rod and Amy Fullerton officiating.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a donation in memory of Rylan to the Onaway Community of Christ Church. Condolences may be shared with Rylan’s family at www.chagnonfh.com.

Betty Jean Combs left the bonds of this earth April 25, 2015 to join her husband, Norman “Dean” Combs, daughter, Denise Idella Combs and granddaughter, Amara Jean Heyno who all preceded her in death. Betty was born April 29, 1925.

Betty was surrounded at her passing by her other four children, Norman Dean Combs II of Tower, Deanne Naomi Mikols (Tom) of Leroy, Bonny Marie Lee of Tower and Becky Ann Perkins (Dave) of Onaway. Also surviving are a brother, Clair Brown of Appleton, Wisconsin; and a sister, Janice Dayton of Kingston, New York.  Betty also leaves nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Betty’s favorite charity, The Salvation Army, may be made through the Nelson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, P.O. Box 1548, Gaylord, MI 49734.

The Rev. Chester J. Pilarski died Thursday, April16, 2015. He was 89 and had been a priest for 65 years.

He was born May 10, 1925 in Rogers City to the late Walter and Agnes Pilarski.

He is survived his brothers, and sister-in-law, the Rev. Raymond Pilarski and Walter R. and Jacqueline (Wozniak) Pilarski; his nephews and nieces, Gary M. and Mary Therese Pilarski, Robert Pilarski, William and Shelley Pilarski, Cathryn and Greg Haines, Mary Jo and Jim Monroe, Jennifer and Jim Tilton; and his grandnieces and grandnephews, John, Hannah, Thomas and Eric Pilarski, Daniel, Rebecca and Lauren Haines, Emily, Megan and Sarah Monroe, and Cole and Kate Tilton.

His funeral Mass was Tuesday, April 21, at Sacred Heart Church in Kawkawlin. Bishop Joseph R. Cistone presided and the Rev. Harold Sikorski preached the homily.

Michael D. Dombrowski, 63, of Onaway, formerly of Saginaw, died at home Tuesday April 21, 2015. The son of John D. and Margaret M. (Werschky) Dombrowski, Mike was born April 12, 1952 in Saginaw.

He is survived by his wife, Annette Dombrowski of Onaway; two sons, Daniel and Kevin (Kim) Dombrowski of Saginaw; a daughter, Kristina (Kyle) Neville also of Saginaw; stepdaughters, Veronica Weir of Onaway and Loretta Ellis of Petoskey; stepson, David Ellis of Cheboygan; former wife, Gloria Dombrowski of Saginaw; as well as his grandchildren, Ethan Neville, Michelle Ostwald, Aerionna-Marie and Serenity Ellis. Mike also leaves his sisters, Diane (Jack) Nurnberg, Shirley Lesniak, Ann (Lonny) Jago, Odette (John) Rabideau, Janet, Suzette (Liz) and Patricia Dombrowski; brothers, Robert (Cathy), Joseph (Christine), Richard (Emma), James (Theresa), Ronald (Debbie) and Terry Dombrowski; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation was at the Chagnon Funeral Home Sunday, April 26, 2015 until the time of the funeral service with the Rev. William Goldsborough officiating. Mike’s final resting place was at North Allis Township Cemetery in Onaway. Those considering an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a donation, in lieu of flowers, to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Condolences may be shared with Mike’s family at www.chagnonfh.com.

Margaret Jane Dembny, 82, of Posen passed away April 25, 2015 at Rogers City Tendercare.

She was born July 2, 1932 in Alpena to Anthony and Theresa (Krajniak) Berant.

Mrs. Dembny is survived by her husband, Leonard; five daughters, Linda Harrison of Alpena, Barb Dembny-Hill of Posen, Paula (John) Darga of Rogers City, Patricia (Lynn) Rhodes of Sweet Home, Oregon, and Sharon Rouze of Black Hawk, Colorado; 15 grandchildren, Bret (Joelene) Bradford, Anthony Bradford, Dawn Allmendinger, Carrie Dembny-Reinke, John Darga, Matthew Darga, Danielle Darga, Thomas Darga, Andrew Darga, Justin Rhodes, Jennifer Rhodes, Jessica (Fransisco) Tanoco, Erin Dembny, Eric Dembny and Kaitlynn Dembny; many great-grandchildren; two sisters, Blanch Forton of North Port and Ellie Rygwelski of Grand Lake; and a brother, Eugene (Sharon) Berant of Macomb.

Visitation was at the Beck Funeral Home Tuesday with rosary and parish wake service that evening. Visitation resumed at St. Casimir Catholic Church Wednesday through time of Mass with the Rev. Arthur Duchnowicz officiating.

Interment followed at St. Casimir Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to St. Casimir Catholic Church or a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be addressed through www.beckfuneralhome.org.

Anthony Walter “Tony” Konwinski, 73, of Posen passed away Friday, April 24, 2015 at his hunting camp of an apparent heart attack.

He was born December 23, 1941 in Alpena to Frank and Theodosia (Lewandowski) Konwinski.

Mr. Konwinski is survived by his loving wife of almost 50 years, Joyce; four children, Sheila (Geoff) Rettig of Midland, Michelle Konwinski of Presque Isle, Tony Konwinski Jr. of Presque Isle and Greg Konwinski of Alpena; two grandsons, Andrew Rettig and John Rettig; a brother, Arthur (Elaine) Konwinski of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; and a sister-in-law, Marie Konwinski of Alpena.

Visitation was at the Beck Funeral Home Monday with a parish wake service that evening. Visitation resumed at St. Casimir Catholic Church Tuesday through time of Mass with the Rev. Arthur Duchnowicz officiating. Memorials may be given to St. Casimir Catholic Church in memory of Tony Konwinski. Online condolences may be addressed through www.beckfuneralhome.org.

“Got time for a quick one?”

Istvan (Steve) Varga, 76, passed comfortably at home with his wife, Janice, his daughter, Christina and Hospice Care at his side. He was born June 29, 1938, in Hungary and came to the United States in 1956.

He is survived by his wife, Janice, of 50 plus years; his three children, Christina Libner of Floral City, Florida, Steve J. (Barri) Varga of Greenfield, Indiana and Valarie Peltz of Rogers City. Steve has seven grandchildren, Nicholas (Kacy) and Eric Koss, Travis and Braydon Varga, Cody Elowsky, and Benjamin and Kaitlyn Peltz; and a great-granddaughter born to Cody, Leah M. Elowsky.

Still in Hungary his surviving family include his sister, Aranka Feteke; his two nephews, Pista and Sanyi (Lilla) Feteke; two great-nieces Zsofi (Zsolti) Csehi and Livi (Bala’zs); a great-nephew, Pista Feteke Jr.; and a great-great-nephew, born to Zsofi, Adam.

Steve will be cremated and memorials will be held in Florida at the Elks Lodge in Hernando April 26 from 1 – 4 p.m. and in Rogers City with dates, and time to be announced at a later date through Beck Funeral Home.

Winifred Sue Konieczny, 92, of Metz passed away March 6, 2015 at Alpena Regional Medical Center.

She was born March 27, 1922 in Alpena Arthur and Abbie (Wynn) Smith.

Mrs. Konieczny is survived by three sons, Jerry Hubert of Georgia, Leon (Suzanne) Konieczny of Warren and Lawrence (Donna) Konieczny of Georgia; 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Friends may visit at the Beck Funeral Home Thursday, May 14, from 4 until 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. conducted by Sister Mary Michelz. Visitation will resume Friday at St. Dominic Catholic Church from 9 a.m. through time of Mass at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Arthur Duchnowicz officiating.

Interment will take place at St. Dominic Catholic Cemetery following Mass.

Online condolences may be addressed through www.beckfuneralhome.org.