Edward Alan Auge
March 8, 1949 – May 7, 2024
Longtime McMillan resident, Edward Alan Auge, 75, died Tuesday morning May 7, 2024 at his residence in the presence of his loving family and the care of North Woods Hospice.
Born March 8, 1949 in Sault Ste. Marie, son of the late Donald and Betty (Becks) Auge, Ed attended Lincoln School in McMillan and was a 1967 graduate of Newberry High School. Ed attended Ferris State University in Big Rapids and later Bay College in Escanaba receiving a degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
As an LPN, Ed was formerly employed at the Applewood Manor in McMillan and later at Helen Newberry Joy Hospital for several years until his retirement.
Ed’s involvement with the community of McMillan included serving on the Columbus Township Board for 45 years, founding member and 40 year volunteer of the Columbus Township Fire Department, the annual Christmas lights decorations of McMillan, various projects at the Columbus Township Hall and playground and organized and operated the annual McMillan clean up days. In recent years, Ed served as a trustee with the Luce County Historical Society following his deep interest in the local history.
In addition to his parents, Ed is preceded in death by his wife Janet on May 4, 2005.
Survivors include his children Laura Auge of McMillan, Alan (Rose) Auge of Rolling Prairie, Indiana and Grant Auge of McMillan; grandchildren Alesha, Amber, Darius, Amy, Abby, Donald, David, Daniel, Dexter, Dylan and Dayton; siblings Ann (Keith) Kalnbach of McMillan, Mike Auge of Roscommon and Robert (Violet) Auge of McMillan.
A gathering of family and friends will take place Wednesday May 22, 2024 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry. Funeral services celebrating the life of Ed will follow at 3:00 pm at the funeral home with Pastor Paul Williams, of Northstar Baptist Church, officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date at the Columbus Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the family in his loving memory.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Richard L. Quinn
February 1, 1949 – April 1, 2024
Richard “Dick” Lawrence Quinn, 75, of Unionville, CT, passed away April 1, 2024.
Born in Rudyard, MI February 1, 1949, to Arthur and Wilma Quinn, the 5th of all children. Dick grew up in Newberry and was a 1967 graduate of Newberry High School. He served in the U. S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He then attended Michigan State University to pursue a medical degree, ultimately leaving to become a carpenter, which he claimed may have saved many lives. He wrote as a journalist for the Farmington Observer in Connecticut, and later published two novels, “The Seedling Papers” and “Blue Aviary.”
He spent his golden years with his companion and best friend Laura Smith.
He is survived by his children: Nicole Quinn of Newberry, Casey Merrington of Wasilla AK, Michael Quinn of Unionville, CT and Kathryn Quinn of Vernon, CT. Siblings: Betty, Pat, Terry, Gloria, Bob, Jim and Tom. Nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Carl Phillip Verrett
January 20, 1952 – May 12, 2024
Carl Phillip Verrett, 72, of Newberry, died Sunday morning, May 12, 2024 at McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey.
Born January 20, 1952 in Newberry, son of the late Racy and Thelma (Cribbs) Verrett, Carl was a graduate of Newberry High School and graduate of Bay College receiving Licensed Practical Nurse certification.
On January 31, 1970, Carl enlisted into the United States Army serving during the Vietnam War until his honorable discharge on January 12, 1972, attaining the rank of Specialist Fifth Class and transferring to the Army Reserve until January 30, 1976.
Carl was employed as a Licensed Practical Nurse for several years, retiring from Bortz Health Care in Ypsilanti in 2016.
Following his retirement, Carl and his wife, Marjorie, moved back to Newberry in 2016 where he enjoyed fishing, boating and ultralight-aircraft aviation.
In addition to his parents, Carl is preceded in death by brothers Steve Verrett and Jimmy Verrett; nephew Kevin Galloway.
Survivors include his loving wife, the former Marjorie Slater, whom he married October 29, 2002; children Lori (Brad) Hendrickson of Eaton Rapids, Carl Verrett Jr. of McMillan and Christopher (Robin) Harkness of Nashville, Illinois; step-children Karyn Cloudman of Seney, Trenton Cloudman of Fenwick and Steven Ash II of Manistique; 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; brothers John Verrett and Ryan Verrett both of Chicago, Illinois; sisters Missy Verrett of Madison, Wisconsin and Tammy (Rick) Matchinski of Engadine; paternal-grandmother Maureen Diffin of Sault Ste. Marie; several nieces and nephews.
Per request, cremation services were accorded. A gathering of family and friends celebrating the life of Carl will be held at a later date.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com.
Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Samuel J. Fowler
December 7, 1929 – May 8, 2024
Samuel “Sam” J. Fowler, 94, of Engadine and Rexton, passed away on May 8, 2024, at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, Michigan.
Sam was born on December 7, 1929, in Lansing, Sam was the son of Silas and Ida M. (Diebert) Fowler. Sam married schoolteacher Kay L. Meier of Dimondale, Mich., at Westover Air Force Base on June 16, 1952. The couple celebrated 50 years of marriage on June 16, 2002.
Wife of 51 years, Kay L. Fowler preceded Sam in death on September. 15, 2003, along with his son, Thomas Lamont Fowler, and Tom’s wife, Katherine Marie (Boardway) Fowler; his brother, Floyd C. Fowler, and sister-in-law, Rebecca (Navarro) Fowler; nephew, Marvin A. Fowler; great-nephew, Michael Piane; foster brothers, Theodore and wife Catherine (Tyler) Spears, Warren Spears, and Harry Morea; foster parents, George and Laura (Burley) Harris; Kay’s parents, Lamont and Leona (Carpenter) Meier; and his parents.
Sam married Patricia Derusha of Rexton on May 12, 2009. Sam and Pat enjoyed many years in Florida during the winter. They loved to dance, fish, ride his Harley and spend time with family and friends. A special thank you to Donna for helping Sam with all his projects and being there for him. She held a very special place in his heart.
Sam is survived by his daughter, Karen Lawler, and her husband Charles A. Lawler, of Okemos and Engadine; grandson, Stephen L. Lawler and his wife Paige Brown Lawler, and great-grandson Benjamin Charles Lawler, all of Midland; granddaughter, Mackenzie Lawler and her fiancé Peter Plaskey, both of Grand Rapids; daughter, Teresa K. Fowler of Naubinway; nephews Lawrence, Brian, and Eric Fowler, and nieces Yvonne (Fowler) Piane and Angela (Fowler) Hebbert; his wife, Pat Derusha Fowler of Rexton; and her children, Gary, Karen, Donna, Glenda (Larry), Sue, and their children and grandchildren.
Sam graduated in 1947 from Morrice High School, where he played varsity basketball and football. Morrice won the basketball district championship during Sam’s senior year.
Sam earned his associate’s degree in farm and grain elevator management from Michigan State University. Years later Sam returned to his alma mater to teach salesmanship in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Sam was a longtime resident of Williamston, where he joined Michigan Glass Lined Storage Inc. in 1969. He became general manager and partner. Sam went on to Lake City in 1982 to open a new dealership, Northern Michigan Harvestore, for parent company A.O. Smith Harvestore Systems Inc., of Arlington Heights, Ill. Sam earlier managed Farm Bureau cooperatives in Byron, Yale, and Howell, and also sold Farm Bureau Insurance. He was a member of Williamston United Methodist Church since 1969.
Sam was a Michigan salesman, sportsman, farmer, commercial real estate broker, pilot and veteran. Sam made the most of his retirement years in the Eastern Upper Peninsula with family and friends at Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club. He was a member of The Club, a 35,000-acre private sporting association, since 1951. He relished stocking the freezer by trout fishing and ice fishing with his grandchildren and his son-in-law. Sam was the family filet meister, who rarely wasted any meat.
Sam pursued his love of aviation during civilian life with his wife Kay. They both attained private pilot and commercial pilot licenses, training at Livingston County Airport in Howell. Sam went on to earn his instrument rating. He loved flying his Piper Cherokee N9540J, and his Piper Archer I, for business and pleasure, especially to airstrips at Lake City and Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club. He said his aerial tours for farmers statewide were the best way to show the benefits of Harvestore farming.
Sam and Kay traveled the world with A.O. Smith Harvestore, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. He also traveled as a public speaker.
Known for his lively sense of humor, Sam often had three or four jokes come to mind for any given topic of conversation. Sam was a devoted Spartan fan. He followed college and professional basketball and football, and especially his granddaughter’s NCAA II women’s lacrosse team at Grand Valley State University.
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Sam enlisted in 1947 and served as flight engineer in the Military Air Transport Service. His three-year enlistment was extended due to the Korean War. He flew out of Westover Air Force Base near Springfield, Mass. The Blue Jay Run took him to Greenland and Iceland on MATS C-54 Skymaster aircraft. Other destinations included Tripoli and Cairo in the Middle East, and England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain in Europe. Sam was active from 1947 to 1951, and received his honorable discharge at the rank of staff sergeant.
A gathering of family and friends will take place Tuesday May 14, 2024 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Naubinway. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 pm at the church with Fr. Jacek Wtyklo officiating. A luncheon will be served at Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club Activity Building immediately following the service.
Rite of Committal will take place at the Union Plains Cemetery in Byron, Michigan.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
