A memorial gathering for Charles Appel, a longtime Romeo resident who died May 28, 2009, will be held from 1-6 p.m., Saturday, July 11, at the Bruce Township Hall in Romeo. Arrangements were by Roth-Muir Funeral Home in Romeo.
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Lillian Patricia "Pat" and Allen Edward Gierke of Richmond, died Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at their home. They were both 68 years old.
Pat was born Dec. 15, 1940, in Canada, the daughter of Martin and Annie Slade. Allen was born July 9, 1940, in Lenox Township, the son of Edward and Violet (Englehardt) Gierke. They were married in 1970.
Pat was a former administrative assistant in the Rochester School District. Allen graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor's degree and was a longtime high school government teacher in the Rochester School District. They were members of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Armada.
They are survived by their son, Michael Gierke of Greenwood, Ind., and a grandson. Allen is survived by a brother, Wilbur (Carol) Gierke of Michigan and two sisters, Geraldine McCalla of Marine City and Dorothy (Butch) Lomerson of Lenox Township. Allen was predeceased by a brother, Melvin Gierke.
Services were held Saturday, June 27, at Tiffany-Young and Hauss Funeral Home in Armada. The Rev. Samuel Sherouse, pastor of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Armada, officiated. Burial was in Romeo Cemetery.
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Wesley Kent, 89, a lifelong resident of Armada, died Sunday, June 28, 2009, at Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center.
He was born Charles Wesley Kent on Feb. 14, 1920, in Armada Township, the son of Eli and Esther (Harvey) Kent. On Aug. 8, 1940, he married Katherine McKellard in Disco.
Mr. Kent, along with his father, farmed on the family farm until 1953. He owned and operated West Kent Livestock Trucking for several years and was also a driver for Armada Grain and Mike's Automotive. After 56 years of service, he retired from the Armada Fire Department, where he was a captain. He was a Life Member and Master of the Armada Harmony Masonic Lodge 143 and a member of the Richmond Masonic Lodge 187.
He is survived by his wife, Katherine; a son, David (Vida) of Armada; a sister, M. Katherine Kent; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Eli and Esther Kent; two sisters, Rilla Drinkhorn and Mabel Pettibone; a brother, Harvey Kent; a granddaughter, Lisa Kent Norrish; and a great-grandson, Daniel Schapman.
Visitation will be 2-8 p.m., Wednesday, July 1, with a 7 p.m. Masonic service. Services will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, July 2, at Tiffany-Young and Hauss Funeral Home in Armada. Burial will follow in Willow Grove Cemetery in Richmond Township.
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Genevieve Spehar, 82, a former area resident, died Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at Heartland Oakland Medical Center in Troy.
She was born Sept. 24, 1926, in Baltic, the daughter of Daniel and Anna (Ziegler) Crowley. On May 11, 1946, she married Fred Spehar.
She was a member of the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock.
She is survived by a daughter, Barbara Trbovich of Washington Township; a son, Robert Spehar of Clinton Township; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Fred, in 2003; six sisters, Margaret Andrene, Alvina Hall, Ann Oulette, Elenore Cor, Nellie McCarthy and Mary Gauthier; and two brothers, Edward and Daniel Crowley.
A memorial service will be held at noon, Monday, July 6, 2009, at St. Clement Catholic Church of Romeo. Arrangements were by Henry M. Malburg Funeral Home, Romeo.

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Thomas J. Steiner, 64, a resident of Plymouth and formerly of Rochester, died Monday, June 22, 2009, in Detroit.
He was born July 18, 1944, in Detroit, the son of Joseph and Mary Jo (Mellon) Steiner.
Mr. Steiner graduated from Romeo High School and received a degree in business from Central Michigan University. He served in the United States Navy and worked for more than 25 years as a stock broker, retiring from Smith-Barney Investments in Troy.
He is survived by four children, Sandra (Ron Bishop) Steiner of Oak Park, Ill., Christopher (Sarah) Steiner of Chicago, Ill., Thomas Steiner Jr. of Houston, Texas, and Laura Steiner of Asheville, N.C.; a sister, Nancy (Mike) Engel of Dryden; and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by a sister, Shirley Place.
Services are private. Arrangements were by the Henry M. Malburg Funeral Home in Romeo.
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Emily Jane Simunic, 29, of Rochester and formerly of Flushing, died Thursday, June 25, 2009.
She was born Feb. 26, 1980, in Flint, the daughter of Jim and Pamela Plouffe. On June 6, 2003, she married Zachary Michael Simunic of Romeo at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Flint.
Mrs. Simunic graduated from Carmen Ainsworth High School in Flint and received a nursing degree from Oakland Community College. She was a registered nurse at Crittenton Hospital in Rochester.
She is survived by her husband, Zachary, of Rochester; her mother, Pamela Plouffe of Flushing; her father, Jim of St. Ignace; a brother, James (Kimberly) Plouffe of Flint; a sister, Amy A'lis (Stuart) Richardson of Atlanta, Ga.; and her grandparents, Harley and Marilyn Fortier of Boyne.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be 4-9 p.m., Thursday, July 2, at Rossell Funeral Home in Flushing. A private service will be held.
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Martha Luchtman, 86, of Ray Township, died Wednesday, June 10, 2009.
She was born March 7, 1923, in Saline, Ohio, the daughter of Oliver and Ann Stirling. She married Myron Luchtman.
She is survived by two siblings, Angus (Chris) and Annette (Robert). She was predeceased by her husband, Myron; and six siblings, Jean, Janet, James, Richard, Peter and David.
A service was held June 13, 2009, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Macomb. The Rev. Robert E. Kasper officiated. Burial was in St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery, Macomb Township. Arrangements were by Hauss Funeral Home in Macomb.
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Jack Allen Lee, 72, of Ray Township, died Friday, July 3, 2009.
He was born May 5, 1937, in Henry County, Tenn. He married Beverly Winters on Jan. 25, 1958.
Mr. Lee graduated from Lincoln High School in Ferndale. He helped found Custom Controls in 1959, located in Warren, and later founded International Electric Controls in Troy and sold the business in 1989. He was a longtime member of the North Macomb Sportsmen's Club.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly; a son, Michael (Amy) Lee of South Ozone Park, N.Y.; a daughter, Jennifer (Jeffery) Steger of Livonia; his mother, Annie Pauline Lee of Royal Oak; a brother, Ed Lee of Oak Park; a sister, Joyce (John) Jeffrey of Royal Oak; and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother, Jerry.
Visitation: 2-9 p.m., Sunday, July 5, at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons Inc. in Shelby Township.
Services: 11 a.m., Monday, July 6, at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons Inc. in Shelby Township.
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Vivian Hutchinson, 94, a 42-year resident of Michigan and formerly of Patton, Penn., died Thursday, July 2, 2009, in Michigan
Mrs. Hutchinson worked as a nurse at Conamaugh Memorial Hospital for several years before moving to Michigan.
She is survived by a son, George (Kathleen) Hutchinson Jr.; a daughter, Pamela (Alan) Martin; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, George; a son, James; a daughter, Joan Gates; eight siblings, Bill, Paul, Albert and Phil Crooks, Pearl Gill, Hazel Weakland, Helen "Dolly" Gabrielson, and her twin, Lillian "Toots" Kachmar; and two grandsons, Paul Gates and Alan Martin Jr.
Memorial visitation: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday,July 4, at the Henry M. Malburg Funeral Home, Romeo.
Services: 11 a.m., Monday, July 6, at St. Luke & Thomas Episcopal Church in Patton, Penn.
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Jeanette "Jinny" Priest, 92, a longtime resident of Romeo, died Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at Romeo Continuing Care.
She was born Nov. 19, 1916, in Washington, the daughter of Lynn and Mary Gass. She married Edgar Priest.
Mrs. Priest graduated from Romeo High School and later from Michigan State University. She was periodically a substitute teacher in the Romeo school system and helped at the Macomb County Immunization Clinic.
She is survived by three children, Mary Lynn Walsh of Lexington, Ky., Cynthia Slating of Albuquerque, N.M., and Philip Priest of Denver, Colo.; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Edgar, in 1983.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 11, at the Romeo Congregational Church in Romeo. Arrangements were by the Henry M. Malburg Funeral Home in Romeo.
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