Lynch & Sons Clawson Chapel Funeral Home




	May 09, 2008
		OBITUARIES Clifford T. Robinson age 78, a 44 year resident of Clawson, died May 7, 2008, at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy. Mr. Robinson was born April 22, 1930, in Detroit. He graduated from Log Cabin School, Clawson in 1948. Mr. Robinson proudly served in the United States Army as a Military Policeman during the Korean Conflict. On February 20, 1953, he married Dorothy Dean of Centerline. Mr. Robinson retired from Service Diamond Tool of Ferndale in 1992, after 40 years of dedicated service. He was an active member of Starr Presbyterian Church in Royal Oak, where he was a former Deacon and Elder of the Board and he was a member of the American Legion Post 167 in Clawson. Mr. Robinson enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking and bowling but especially enjoyed spending time with his family. Mr. Robinson is survived by his children, Debbie (Ray) Eldridge of Macomb, Tom (Diana) of Clawson, Al (Karen) of Hazel Park and Tina (Paul) Ulmer of St. Clair Shores and grandchildren, Jennifer Shellhammer, Ray Eldridge, Stacia Vanetta, Cassie Olson, Adam Robinson and Paul Ulmer. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Ashley, Kaylia, Nathan, Shelby, Lorna, Harleigh, Lauren, Dalin, Kenzie and Noah, brother, Carl (Judy) Robinson and sister, Virginia Robinson. Mr. Robinson is preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Dorothy. Funeral at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Road (Between 14-15 Mile Rds.) Saturday 10am. Visitation Friday 2-9pm. Interment in Roseland Park Cemetery, Berkley. Memorials appreciated to Starr Presbyterian Church, 1717 W. Thirteen Mile Road, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073 or Michigan Humane Society, 26711 Northwestern Highway, Suite 175, Southfield, Michigan 48034. Click here to offer your condolences. Joseph F. Wrobel age 87, a resident of Royal Oak for 56 years, died May 1, 2008, at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy. Mr. Wrobel was born October 30, 1920, in Hamtramck. He attended Pershing High School in Detroit and served proudly in the United States Marine Corp. during WWII. On November 27, 1947, Joseph married Ilean Dyczkowski in Detroit. He was a member of St. Dennis Catholic Church in Royal Oak for 45 years, where he served as an usher. Mr. Wrobel retired from Energy Conversion Devices after 35 years of dedicated service. He enjoyed gardening and was a big Nascar and Tigers fan but he especially enjoyed spending time with his family. Mr. Wrobel is survived by his children, Margaret (Mel) Hurt, James (Sheryl) and Janice (Tom) Neely and grandchildren, Eric, Lauren, Ryan, Katelynn, Rachael, Renee, Kristen and Rebecca. He is also survived by his sister, Lillian DesRosiers. Mr. Wrobel is preceded in death by his wife, Ilean and son, Matthew. Funeral at St. Dennis Catholic Church, 12 mile @ Stephenson Hwy., Royal Oak, Monday 10:30am. Friends may visit at church beginning at 10am. Visitation at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Road (Between 14-15 Mile Rds.) Saturday 4-9pm and Sunday 2-9pm. Scripture Service Sunday 7pm. Interment in Guardian Angel Cemetery, Oakland Twp. Memorials appreciated to the Thumb Area E.B. Foundation, 3694 Newcastle Drive, Rochester Hills, Michigan 48306. Click here to offer your condolences. David A. Johnson age 57, died at his home in Ferndale, May 1, 2008. Mr. Johnson was born December 2, 1950, in Detroit. He proudly served in the United States Army during Vietnam. Mr. Johnson was a truck driver for many years. Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Maureen (nee Blinstrub). Funeral at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Road (Between 14-15 Mile Rds.) Sunday 2pm. Friends may visit Sunday beginning at 12pm. Click here to offer your condolences. Frederick J. Pfahler age 75, a long-time resident of Birmingham and Troy died May 8, 2008 at his home in Troy. Mr. Pfahler was born December 20, 1932 in Madison, Wisconsin and graduated from Madison West High School where he was an all-state baseball player. He then proudly served in the United State Army during the Korean conflict. Mr. Pfahler met and married his sweetheart, Lorraine Thomas on April 28, 1956 in Birmingham, Michigan. He was the Controller of Roger Rinke Cadillac in Centerline for 31 years before his retirement in December of 1996. He was a member of St. Anastasia Catholic Community, Troy and The Lost Lake Woods Club in Lincoln, Michigan where he had a home. Mr. Pfahler was an avid Green Bay Packard Fan who especially enjoyed spending time with his family. Mr. Pfahler is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Lorraine. His four children; Yvonne (Grant) Norris, Andrea (Michael) Pacheco, Lisa (Michael) Fritsch and Marshall Pfahler. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Funeral from St. Anastasia Church, 4571 John R., Troy, Monday 9:30am. Friends may visit at church beginning at 9am. Visitation at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Rd. (between 14-15 Mile Rds.) Sunday 3-9pm. Scripture service Sunday 7pm. Contributions appreciated to Leader Dogs for the Blind, P.O. Box 5000, Rochester, MI 48308. Click here to offer your condolences. Elizabeth Andrews Tessem died April 18, 2008 at her home in Royal Oak. Elizabeth Tessem was a resident of Royal Oak since 1941 when she came from Kansas to teach French and Spanish at Dondero High School. It was at Dondero that she met Sylvanus L. Tessem, teacher of world history. They married in 1948. After the birth of their only child, Rolfe, Mrs. Tessem left teaching for a decade and then returned to teach part time at Roper City and Country School for gifted children in Bloomfield Hills. In 1964 she returned to secondary education at Wylie E. Groves High School in Birmingham, where she taught French until her retirement in 1978. Mrs. Tessem received the highest honors in her field; she was named teacher of the year in 1977, and in 1978 the French government awarded her the Palmes Academiques, officer level, for her efforts in encouraging excellence in the French language and culture in her French classes and French Club activities. Mrs. Tessem was born November 2, 1912 in Emporia, Kansas (daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Andrews). She attended Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University) in Emporia and received her master's degree from Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont. She also studied at the Sorbonne and the University of Paris, and traveled extensively in France. Mrs. Tessem's husband preceded her in death in 1980. She is survived by her son, Rolfe S. Tessem, television producer and co-owner of Lucky Duck Productions in New York City, and his partner in work and life, Linda Ellerbee. Mrs. Tessem, had thought she would miss her students when she retired. She later said that she had the best of two worlds: the leisure of retirement and still the friendship of many of her former students who would not let her forget them. Holidays brought gatherings to her home and she was the guest at many of their social events. On the occasion of her 90th birthday, former students came from all across the country to help her celebrate. Burial will be private. Friends who wish to celebrate her life and share memories of Elizabeth Tessem may do so at the memorial service, which will be held Tuesday, April 22, at 2pm, at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Rd., (Between 14-15 Mile Rds.) . Memorial contributions en lieu of flowers: SHERMAN T. ANDREWS MEMORIAL PARK, NEOSHO RAPIDS, KANSAS, OR THE NEOSHO RAPIDS COMMUNITY CENTER c/o BOOSINGERS, RR 1, BOX 6, NEOSHO RAPIDS, KANSAS 66864. Click here to offer your condolences. Shirley I. Thomas age 73, of Troy, died April 18, 2008, at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Mrs. Thomas was born August 14, 1934, in Greenfield, New Brunswick, Canada. Mrs. Thomas is survived by her husband, Ray and children, Debbra (Jerry) Pankey, Rayma (Dwayne) Bilicki, Sandra (Mike) Kuhn and Tonyia (Gary) Seeland. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Heather, Jonathan, Matthew, Austin, Thayne, Adam, Dylan, Thomas and Katelyn and brother, A. Sterling (Janet) Lamoreau. Funeral at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Road (Between 14-15 Mile Rds.) Tuesday 12noon. Visitation, Monday 2-4pm and 6-9pm. Interment in White Chapel Cemetery, Troy. Memorials appreciated to American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, Illinois 60674 Click here to offer your condolences. George H. Leonard, Jr. age 77 of Commerce Township, formerly of Troy, died April 11, 2008 at his home. Mr. Leonard was born May 8, 1930 in Grosse Pointe Park to George and Helen Leonard. Mr. Leonard founded the Cavity Craft Inc., tool & die company, of Hazel Park in 1964. He later moved the company to Troy where he continued to manage the company until his retirement in 1998. Mr. Leonard was also a veteran of the United States Army. Mr. Leonard is survived by his companion Darlene Dallas. His loving children Robert Leonard, Thomas Leonard, Steve (Tammy) Leonard, Toni Dallas and his grandchildren Brian, Dan and Brad Leonard. Mr. Leonard is also survived by his brother Fred Leonard. Funeral from Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Rd. (between 14 - 15 Mile Rds.) Wednesday 10am. Friends may visit Tuesday 2-8pm. Memorials appreciated to the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674. Click here to offer your condolences. Click here to offer your condolences. Martin J. Reddy age 86, of Beverly Hills, died April 10, 2008, at Woodward Hills Nursing Home in Bloomfield Hills. Mr. Reddy was born January 29, 1922, in Detroit. A native Detroiter and life-long resident of Metro Detroit Martin J. Reddy, Sr. was baptized at Holy Redeemer in southwest Detroit and attended grade school through high school at Visitation on the corner of Webb and 12th Sts. During his years at Visitation he played football, baseball and basketball for the Viceroys until graduating in 1939. Mr. Reddy then started college, playing the guard position in freshman football for the U of D Titans before suspending study of Philosophy to answer our nation’s call in WW II. He served as 1st Sear gent in the US Army 1608th Labor Supervision Company stationed in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) responsible for prisoners of war. Honorably discharged in the fall of 1946, he returned to Detroit and his wife, Phyllis (Watson) Reddy to meet his 1 year old son, Martin J. Reddy, Jr. After finishing his degree at the University of Detroit he continued a long life of commitment to family, faith and our community highlighted by his over 63 year marriage with his lifelong love, Phyllis. During his 25 year management career at Campbell-Ewald Advertising rising to Vice President, he also directed the efforts of the New Center Action Council helping re-build and revitalize our city serving a term as Council President. After retirement in 1987, he continued his commitment to the community by mentoring inner city businesses and assisting Catholic Social Services, St. Vincent DePaul Society and running bingo for retired women residents of St. Elizabeth’s Briarbank. Martin J. Reddy, Sr.’s life was focused on faith and family. He had continuing interests in reading (American history, Irish folktales, and adventure tales) and family golf. He loved the outdoors - land and sea. His joy was family focused travel - near and far. We all loved joining him on any journey - on the road or listening to stories of his life - always told with a smile and even a song. One could have no better husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, boss, co-worker, supervisor, team mate, mentor or friend. Greatly admired and loved he shall be missed most dearly. May he rest in Eternal Peace. Well done, Good and Faithful Servant of GOD. Martin is survived by his wife, Phyllis W. Reddy and children, Martin J. (Maureen) Reddy, Jr., Dr. Daniel (Dr. Diane) Reddy, Kathleen (Thomas) Butkovich and Dr. Patrick (Christine) Reddy. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Michael (Stephanie), James, Caitlin, Daniel, Theresa, Deborah (Karl), Meghan, Erin and Patrick, his great-grandchildren, Dylan and Hazel, and his sister, Jean (Patrick) Flannery. Mr. Reddy is preceded in death by his sister, Naomi Reddy, and his brother, John Reddy. Click here to offer your condolences. Frances E. Rollins age 79, died April 10, 2008, in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Mrs. Rollins was born July 7, 1928, in Highland Park, Michigan and graduated from Highland Park High School. Some of the things she enjoyed included, travel, books, movies, crafts, T.V. shows and animals, especially her pet dogs. Mrs. Rollins loved being a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Mrs. Rollins is survived by her husband, Clark T. Rollins and children, Linda (Dr. Lawrence) Miller of St. Petersburg, Florida, John (Elsa) Savage of Clinton Twp., and Cindy (Fred) Howell, of Wildwood, Missouri. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren and step-children, “Lee” (Vicki) Rollins and D’Arcy (Brendan) Molloy, both of Sylvan Lake, Michigan. Funeral from Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Road (between 14-15 Mile Rds.) Saturday 11am. Visitation Friday 4-8pm. Interment in Oakview Cemetery, Royal Oak. Memorials appreciated to Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, Florida 33760. Click here to offer your condolences. William H. Burgum age 93, of West Bloomfield, died April 13, 2008, at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Mr. Burgum was born November 13, 1914, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was a veteran of the United States Navy, #118 Construction Batalian, serving in the South Pacific, New Guinea, Philippines and Australia from 1942-1945. Mr. Burgum was a civil engineer. He was a resident of Birmingham for 65 years where he served as Planning Commissioner, 1951-1958, City Commissioner, 1958-1964 and Mayor, 1963-1964. Mr. Burgum was a member of the Birmingham Rotary since 1960, serving as president, 1964-1965. He was a strong supporter of the YMCA and the Community House in Birmingham. Mr. Burgum is survived by his wife, Louise and children, Thomas L. (Bonnie) Burgum and Katherine (Robert) Schneider. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jill, Stacy, Tom (Melissa) Burgum, Robin (Steve) Hauck, Robert Schneider, Martha (Andy) Enright and Benjamin Shealey and 3 great-grandchildren. Memorial service at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 1800 W. Maple, Birmingham, Thursday, April 24th at 11am. Memorials appreciated to Rotary Foundation, c/o Birmingham Rotary, 380 S. Bates, Birmingham, Michigan 48009 or Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 1800 W. Maple, Birmingham, Michigan 48009. Click here to offer your condolences.