EMMETT E. HIXON
Emmett Hixon, 85, of East Lansing, formerly from Birmingham, died May 10, 2002, in East Lansing. He was born May 28, 1916 in Hattiesburg, Ms.
He graduated from New Mexico State University. During World War II he was an executive in manufacturing military explosives and trained management personnel to operate other government ordinance plants. He was employed by Hercules, Inc. as director of the Transportation Industry Marketing Division. Mr. Hixon was active in many automotive industry societies, SAE, SPE, SPI and ACS and worked on many plastic applications. He received the Outstanding Alumni Award from New Mexico State University; served on the Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Transportation in Washington, D.C., and worked with NASA. Mr. Hixon was an avid golfer at Oakland Hills Country Club in Birmingham; a member of the Detroit Athletic Club, the Wilmington Delaware Country Club and Walnut Hills Country Club in East Lansing.
He is survived by wife, Marie J.; daughter, Patricia Ann (M.David) Campbell; grandson, Malcolm D. , III; and siblings, Joe of Houston, Texas and Kay Allen of Austin, Texas.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Gorsline-Runciman Company in East Lansing. Interment
at Acacia Memorial Park Mausoleum in Birmingham. Memorial tributes may be sent to Burcham Hills Foundation, 3700 Burcham, East Lansing, Mich. 48823 or to the First United Methodist Church of Birmingham.
ERIC A. ENGBLOM
Eric Engblom, 79, of Bloomfield Township, died April 21, 2002 at home. He was born Dec. 10, 1922, in Detroit.
He graduated from Royal Oak High School and Wayne State University. He was in the US Army Infantry WW II Europe, wounded at the Battle of the Bulge and awarded the Purple Heart. Mr. Engblom was a retired staff engineer from GM Tech Center and a consulting engineer.
He was a registered professional engineer-State of Michigan. He was on the board of directors of Christian Family Services for 25 years and president for 10 years; a member of Highland Park Baptist Church where he served as deacon, Sunday school teacher and choir member. He was also a member of Military Order of the Purple Heart and Disabled American Veterans.
Mr. Engblom is survived by wife, Georgina; children, Suzanne Elizabeth (Gary) Johnson of Novi Township, Eric Albert (Cheryl) of Bloomfield Township and Edith Ingrid (Kirk) Landstrom of Madison Heights; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and siblings, Douglas (Rita) of Marshall, Mich., and Stella Van Hove of Lapeer.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home in Berkley. Interment
at Roseland Park Cemetery in Berkley. Memorial tributes may be sent to Christian Family Services.
FRANK MC LAUGHLIN
Frank McLaughlin, 77, of Florida, died April 19, 2002, at Wm. Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. He was born Dec. 21, 1924, in Detroit.
Mr. McLaughlin is survived by sons, Mike (Judy), Bill (Gail) and Bob (Connie) and grandchildren, Matt, Chris, Jason, Katie and Rob.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Lynch & Sons in Clawson. Interment
was at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit. Memorial tributes may be sent to Karmanos Cancer Institute, 18831 West 12 Mile Road, Lathrup Village, Mich. 48076-9806.
LILLIAN BEATRICE HARTKOPF
Lillian Hartkopf, 86, of Birmingham died April 19, 2002, in Birmingham. She was born Sept. 10, 1915, in Marion, Ill.
She was employed as an assistant manager for Birmingham Seaholm cafeteria. She was a member of the Michigan Education Association. Her interests included, gardening and collectibles.
Mrs. Hartkopf is survived by her children, Virgil (Jacqueline) of Birmingham, James Henry of Pacific Grove, Calif., Shirley of Flushing, Mich., and Patricia Ann (Robert) Henke of Farmington; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; and a sister Eva Jean Blankenship.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Thayer-Rock Funeral Home in Farmington. Interment
was at Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorial tributes may be sent to Michigan Humane Society or Arthritis Foundation.
DOROTHY HOLSTEIN
Dorothy Holstein, 91, of Bloomfield Hills, died April 21, 2002, at Wm. Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. She was born Nov. 5, 1910, in Montreal, Canada. She grew up in Windsor, lived in Detroit and Bloomfield Hills. Mrs. Holstein was a member of St. George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Southfield for over 75 years.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Filo, and son, John (Patricia) Vitta, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Lynch & Sons in Clawson. Interment
in Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit.
MABEL AILEE ELIZABETH MORNING ALEXANDER
Mabel Alexander, 101, died April 24, 2002 at Charter House Nursing Home in Farmington Hills. She was born in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.
She was a talented musician and composer who studied music at the Toronto Conservation of Music and taught several generations of students in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Milford. She was a long-time member of West Oakland Music Teacher Association, also an honorary member.
Mrs. Alexander is survived by daughters, Ann Mitchell and Isabel Johnson; 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Harris Funeral Home in Livonia.
HUBERT JAMES "MIKE" QUINN
Hubert Quinn, 79, of Greenville, S.C., died April 20, 2002. He was born July 3, 1922 in St. Catherine's, Ontario, Canada.
He attended Culver Military Academy and Michigan State University. He was a First Lt. in the U.S. Army in WW II and Korea. Mr. Quinn was past president of Junior Chamber of Commerce in Birmingham. Before his retirement, he was a real estate broker in Florida and South Carolina.
While in Florida, he served as past state president of the Florida Association of Realtors Associates Division and past president of Pompano Beach Realtors Associate Division. He was later associated with Yeargin Construction Company in Greenville, S.C., as personnel director. He was a Communicant of the Church of the Redeemer Episcopal.
Mr. Quinn is survived by his wife, Rev. Carolee Sproull-Quinn; children, Wendy Lee Quinn (Dr. B. Paul) Kellett, Michael William (Deborah) of Winnsboro and Steven Hubert of Greenville; and a sister, Suzanne Quinn (Michael James) Conner.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Mackey Mortuary in Greenville, S.C. Interment
was at Oakdale Cemetery in Hendersonville, N.C. Memorial tributes may be sent to Church of the Redeemer, P.O. Box 8155, Station A, Greenville, S.C. 29604.
MATTHEW W. REID
Matthew Reid, 45, of California, died April 7, 2002 at UCLA Cancer Center of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He was born June 12, 1956.
Mr. Reid attended the Birmingham Schools, then moved to Boulder, Colo., and on to Washington State and from there to California. He was a skier, hiker and biker, once riding from Boulder to Birmingham. He played the piano, bagpipes and fiddle, attending fiddle camps in Scotland, Ireland and the U.S.
Mr. Reid is survived by his parents, Bob and Marietta Reid of Bloomfield Village; brothers, Rick of Birmingham, Chris and Rob of Seattle, Wash.; and his long-time companion, Gretchen Buck of California.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, May 3, 2002 at 11 a.m. at Christ Church Cranbrook, where he was baptized and confirmed.
LINDA H. KNAPPENBERGER
Linda Knappenberger, 54, of Bloomfield Hills, died May 18, 2002, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Clinton Township. She was born Aug. 10, 1947, in Woodbury, N.J.
Mrs. Knappenberger was a graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. She was a homemaker and active member at First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham.
She is survived by husband, John J.; children, Jay W. and Thomas D.; mother, Janet E. Jackson of New Jersey; siblings, Kathleen Beaty of Connecticut, Janet Darazsdi of Maryland, Loretta Jackson of New Jersey and Mary Muldoon of New Jersey.
Funeral arrangements were handled by A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home in Royal Oak. Interment
at First Presbyterian Church-Columbarium. Memorial tributes may be made to the American Cancer Society.
MERRY MARGARET LAHER
Merry Laher, 83, of Birmingham and Largo, Fla., died May 14, 2002, at Lake Orion Nursing Home, Lake Orion. She was born August 18, 1918 in Grand Haven, Mich.
Mrs. Laher was an active charter volunteer for Hospice of Florida. She was a former professional model for Jam Handy film and print. She enjoyed fine dining and entertaining.
Mrs. Laher is survived by children, Leslie (Robert) Lazzerin of Bloomfield Hills and Lindy (Burton) Pomerantz of Boca Raton, Fla.
A memorial service will be Saturday, June 1, 2002 at 11 a.m. at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, 32515 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak. Internment was at White Chapel in Troy. Memorial tributes may be sent to National Stroke Association, 9707 East Easter Lane, Englewood, Colo. 80112.
IRENE DENADEL
Irene Denadel, 101, Bloomfield Hills, formerly of Kalamazoo, died May 18, 2002, in Bloomfield Hills. She was born May 2, 1901, in Kalamazoo.
Mrs. Denadel is survived by daughter, Virginia (Allan P.) Hascall of Bloomfield Hills; grandsons, Alan (Nancy) of Otsego, Mich., and John (Brenda) of Bloomfield Hills; great-grandchildren, Erik, Jill, J.D. and Kayla.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Wm. R. Hamilton Company in Birmingham. A private interment
was at Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo.
DR. MICHAEL KIRK NICOLA
Dr. Michael Nicola, 75, of Livonia, died May 18, 2002, at Botsford General Hospital. He was born April 15, 1927 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Dr. Nicola attended St. Mary's of Redford and Cooley High School. He graduated from the University of Detroit and the University of Detroit School of Dentistry. He joined the Army and was stationed in post-World War II Germany during the occupation.
Dr. Nicola was known as "The Singing Dentist," he would sing as he had patients in the chair, making the experience go easier on his patients. He had offices in Detroit and Livonia. He was an avid golfer and was a member of the Redford Western Golf & Country Club. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, music and played the uke and banjo. He belonged to St. Maurice Catholic Church in Livonia.
Dr. Nicola is survived by children, Dianne (David) Ambrose of Chicago, Kirk (Laurel) of Beverly Hills, Nancy (Bob) of Orlando, Fla., James "Mickey" (Beth) of Redford and Michele (Robert) Kraska of Livonia; eight grandchildren; sisters, Emeline Fikany of St. Clair Shores and Elaine Hernwick of Grosse Pointe Woods; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Neely-Turowski Funeral Home in Livonia. Interment
was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. Memorial tributes may be sent to Catholic Central High School, 14200 Breakfast Drive, Redford, Mich. 48239.
MARILYN MALIN
Marilyn Malin, 60, of Birmingham, died May 20, 2002. She was born February 15, 1942.
She graduated from Western Michigan University. Mrs. Malin was co-owner of Staff Solutions, a Detroit company that linked low-income people with jobs in the suburbs.
Leadership Detroit, a training arm of the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce honored her with its Leadership Challenge Award for her charitable work on behalf of Samuel Gompers Elementary School in Detroit. She was also a recipient of Alternatives for Girls Role Model of the Year in May. Mrs. Malin served in Leadership Detroit; a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) former president and named one of the 10 Women of Distinction by NAWBO for leadership in civic affairs. Her firm won the Mass Mutual Blue Chip Enterprise Award and she was also on the Inc. Magazine top 500 fastest growing companies in the United States and the top 100 inner city companies in the United States.
Mrs. Malin is survived by husband, James; children, Mark (Cindy) of Chicago, Brett of Vail, Colo., Helena (Eric) Sillman of Clarkston, Suzanne (Jack) Connelly of Milford and Jamie (Kelly) of West Bloomfield; grandchildren, Merideth, Allie, Morgan, Gabriella, Haylee, Caroline, Liam, Evan, Christopher, and Clare; and brothers, Peter, Tom, and James Scheid.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Lynch & Sons in Clawson. Interment
was at St. Joseph Cemetery in Watervliet, Mich. Memorial tributes may be sent to, Samuel Gompers Elementary School, 20601 West Davison, Detroit, Mich. 48223 or Alternatives for Girls, 1950 Trumbull, Detroit, Mich. 48216.
JOANN E. TEWILLIAGER
Joann Tewilliager, 71, of Birmingham, died May 26, 2002, at home. She was born Dec. 31, 1930 in Pontiac.
Mrs. Tewilliager was employed at Wallace Plumbing and Birmingham Golf Courses. She was a member of St. Columban Catholic Church, Birmingham; Ladies Pinochle Group; an avid card player and golfer and a homemaker.
Mrs. Tewilliager is survived by husband, Herbert; children, Jerry (Teri), Jan, Jeff (Tracy), Joni (Pete) and Jim (Debbie); grandchildren, Adam, Lauren, Britta, and Emma; and brothers, Paul and Owen Smith.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Wm. R. HamiltonCo. in Birmingham. Memorial tributes may be sent to the American Lung Association or Hospice of Southeast Michigan.
MARY SUE BEE CHURCH
Mary Sue Bee Church, 76, of Orlando, Fla., formerly of Birmingham, died May 24, 2002, in Orlando. She was born April 21, 1926 in Detroit.
Mrs. Church is survived by children, James B. Leahy, Jr. of Orlando, Robert A. Leahy of New Haven,Conn., Lu (Les) Lupovich of Ivoryton, Conn., and Frank (Darcy) Leahy of Palmetto, Fla. ; grandchildren, Brian, Kevin, Hannah and Abigail.
A memorial service was held in Bradenton, Fla. Memorial tributes may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association.
JOHN C. SECREST
John Secrest, 79, of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Bloomfield Hills, died May 26, 2002, in Boynton Beach. He was born June 11, 1922 in Lakewood, Ohio.
Mr. Secrest graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University and Harvard Business School after serving three years in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was employed 13 years at Ford Motor Co. before joining American Motors Corporation. When he retired from AMC, he was group vice president in charge of Administration, Finance, International and Corporate Development. In 1980 and 1981, Mr. Secrest served as the only automotive representative on the United States Treasury Chrysler Loan Board.
He was an avid tennis player and continued to play some golf when possible.
Mr. Secrest is survived by wife, Harriet; children, Paul P. of Bloomfield Hills, Jeffrey A. of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. and Carol Chaikovsky of Englewood, Colo.; and five grandchildren.
A memorial service, followed by a reception, was held at the Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church, 1340 West Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills on June 3.
Memorial tributes may be sent to The National Parkinson's Foundation, 1501 N.W. 9th Avenue, Miami, Fla. 33136.
SALAMEH "SAM" F. ZAWIDEH
Sam Zawideh, 75, died May 27, 2002 in North Oakland Medical Center in Pontiac. He was born Dec. 11, 1926 in Madaba, Jordan.
Mr. Zawideh came to America in the 1950s and worked as a chemist at Pontiac Motors. From there, he opened and owned several different restaurants, Encore Restaurants, Cordoba Restaurant, in Livonia, Kingsley Inn Hotel and Restaurant and Dad'z Chicken. He retired, then entered real estate brokering with Century 21 commercial brokerage services.
He is survived by wife, Alice; children, Marwan, Jerry (Hanan), Layla (Hamid) Mohyi, Sonia (Michael) Basin and Robert (Arlene); 11 grandchildren; and siblings, Gabe, Shafiq, Ikbal Alamat, Shafiqa and Abla.
Funeral arrangements were handled by A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home in Royal Oak. Interment
at Pine Lake Cemetery, West Bloomfield. Memorial tributes may be sent to American Diabetes Association.
EDWARD FRANCIS SIMON
Edward Simon, 74, of Birmingham, died June 1, 2002, at Providence Hospital in Southfield. He was born July 25, 1927 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. Simon was a U.S. Army veteran. He was employed by General Motors as a photographer.
He is survived by wife, Patricia; children, Mary Beth (Clinton) Avant and Paul; grandchildren, Christopher and Daniel Simon; and siblings, Joseph, Richard and Cecelia.
Funeral arrangements were handled by A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home in Troy. Interment
at Greenwood Cemetery in Birmingham.
ROBERT BRUCE RICHARDS
Robert Richards, 72, of Bloomfield Hills, formerly of Royal Oak, died June 2, 2002, at Wm. Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. He was born June 19, 1929 in Detroit.
Mr. Richards was a graduate of Birmingham High School, Lawrence Tech and Michigan State University. He was a U.S. Army veteran in the Korean Conflict-regimental combat. Mr. Richards was a member of the Troy American Legion and the Eagles in Gaylord. He was retired from General Motors as a mechanical engineer. He enjoyed auto racing, traveling, (especially to Gaylord, Florida and Calif.) hunting, and was an antique car buff.
Mr. Richards is survived by children, Geoffrey of Calif., Janet (Gary) Garofalo of Calif., Ronald B. of Gaylord and Robin (Kevin) Maloney of White Lake, Mich.; grandchildren, Barbra Dunkley, Lynette Berman and Caitlin Maloney; great-grandchildren, Anika and Taryn Dunkley; and brother, Peter Michael of Florida.
Funeral arrangements were handled by A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home in Royal Oak. Interment
was a private cremation. Memorial tributes may be made to American Diabetes Association.
HELENE R. MORRIS
Helene Morris, 93, of Alaska, formerly Birmingham, died May 25, 2002, in Sidotna, Alaska. She was born March 15, 1909 in Ludington, Mich.
Mrs. Morris was a longtime member of Holy Name Parish.
She is survived by children, Clara Miller of Alaska, Nancy Morris of Calif., and daughter-in-law, Jane Lewis of Illinois; grandchildren, Robert Lewis, Donna Dobrovits, Jane Grant, Warren Lewis, James Miller and Jody Notley; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Saturday, June 8, at the Oakland Avenue Chapel of the Huntoon Funeral Home, 79 Oakland Avenue, Pontiac. There will be a visitation period Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time. Interment
at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac.
EDWARD J. GEHRINGER
Edward Gehringer, 89, of Beverly Hills, died May 30, 2002 at Wm. Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. He was born Oct. 25, 1912, in Richmond, Mich.
He graduated from the University of Detroit. He also served in the U.S. Navy for five years during World War II. Mr. Gehringer was a watchmaker and jeweler and owned The Gehringer Jewelers at Oakland Mall. He was a member and past president of Alpha Sigma Nu (A National Jesuit Honor Society), member and past president of Michigan Retailers Association; co-founder and past president of Michigan Jewelers Association and a long time member of Red Run Golf Club.
Mr. Gehringer is survived by wife, Marie Zanoli Gehringer; children, Maryann (Hank) Roeglin, Dr. Edward (Carol), Joseph (Donna) Zanoli and Michael (Suzanne) Zanoli; three grandchildren; and brother, Dr. Norman F. Gehringer.
Funeral arrangements were handled by The Wm. R. Hamilton Co. in Birmingham. Interment
at White Chapel Memorial Cemetery in Troy.
WILLIAM JOHNSON HARAHAN III
William Harahan, 71, Sarasota, Fla., formerly Birmingham, died June 3, 2002, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Fla. He was born Jan. 26, 1931 in New York City.
Mr. Harahan graduated from St. Benedictine Military Academy; attended Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and graduated from the University of Detroit. He was a captain in the Air Force in 1952-1954.
He loved tennis, football and rowing. He rowed at the Detroit Boat Club in the 1950s and was an assistant manager of the U.S. Rowing Team at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He also received a "Pat on the Back Award" from Sports Illustrated for his efforts supporting and promoting rowing in Detroit and nationally.
He was employed at Ford Motor Co. as a director of Technical Planning, often traveling to Japan. After retiring from Ford, Mr. Harahan was an executive vice president of manufacturing for Denso, a Tier 1 Japanese automotive supplier.
He was a life member of the Bloomfield Open Hunt Club; the Society of Automotive Engineers; and past president of "Friends of Detroit" Rowing. He was also the editor and publisher of a weekly Harahan Family Clan Report.
Mr. Harahan is survived by wife, Brenda; children, Catharine (Steven) McConnell, Susannah (James) Szabo, Mary Ann (Lawrence) Kosciulek, Meighan Harahan, Cynthia (Reed) Breland, Gretchen (Bruce) Kolbezen and William Johnson, IV (Rebekah); and nine grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in his honor at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church in Birmingham on June 15, 2002, at 11 a.m. Memorial tributes may be made to the Monastery of the Poor Clares, 3501 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland, Ohio, 44111.
ERIC A. BARRON
Eric Barron, 41, of Bloomfield Hills, died May 23, 2002, in Ferndale. He was born July 9, 1960, in London, England.
Mr. Barron was a self-employed landscaper and painter.
He is survived by parents, Robert and Anna Rita; sisters, Jennifer (David Wells) and Gail (Milot)Faria; nieces and nephews, Leron, Paul, Elisabeth, Anna and Andre.
Funeral arrangements were handled by A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home in Royal Oak. Interment
at Lakeview Cemetery, Torch Lake, Mich. Memorial tributes may be sent to Insight Recovery Center, Life Preserver Fund, 1110 Eldon Baker Drive, Flint, Mich. 48507.
HELEN L. WISE
Helen Wise, 86, of Birmingham, died June 5, 2002, at Wm. Beaumont Hospital. She was born April 4, 1915, in Detroit.
Mrs. Wise was retired from JL Hudsons and was also a volunteer at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak for 10 years.
She is survived by children, Mary Lou E. Steur, Susan P. (Richard) Trumble, Thomas V. and Ronald R.; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Lynch & Sons Funeral Home in Clawson. Interment
at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy. Memorial tributes may be made to Gilda's Club Metro Detroit, 3517 Rochester Road, Royal Oak, Mich., 48073.
