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Obituaries

EUGENE F. ORNATOWSKI

Eugene F. Ornatowski, passed away on June 6, 2023 at the age of 87 (he insisted he was 87 although he was still 86), in Alpena, Michigan. Born on Sept. 17, 1936, in Standish, Michigan. Gene’s professional career was head of the meat department with The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P) for 40 years before retiring in 1994. Gene was a hard worker his whole life! Due to being raised by his grandfather on the farm. To this day Gene is not a fan of milk due to spending so much time milking the cows. Thank God for the Aunties that were in his life growing up! They took care of Gene ...

JOHN RICHARD (DICK) WILSON

John Richard (Dick) Wilson passed away in Fort Myers, Florida on May 18, 2023. Dick was born in Alpena, Michigan on April 26, 1928. He graduated from Alpena High School and went on to graduate from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1950. Following graduation, at age 22, Dick joined the U.S. Air Force and trained to become a Fighter Pilot. In 1952 he was sent to the Korean War and flew 100 combat missions in an F-80 Fighter Dive Bomber. He was discharged in 1954 with an active rank of 1st Lieutenant. Dick married Audrey Bailey of Alpena in 1953. After being discharged from the service ...

REGINA BEDNARZ

Regina Bednarz of Ossineke passed away at age 97 on June 7, 2023, surrounded by her loving family at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena. Regina was born May 18, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan where she grew up and attended Detroit Pershing High School. She married the love of her life, Frank Richard Bednarz on June 4, 1949, and they were happily married until his passing in May 2014. “Aunt Reggie” was the youngest of seven siblings and was known affectionately as “Aunt Babe” by her many nieces and nephews. She was loved dearly by her surviving sons, David Brian (Edwina) Bednarz and ...

PATRICIA P. GAJEWSKI

Patricia P. Gajewski, age 71, of Rogers City passed away unexpectedly at home on June 7, 2023. She was born May 20, 1952 in Cheboygan to Alfred and Veronica (Haidysh) Horrocks. Patty graduated from Cheboygan Catholic High in 1970. She obtained her Licensed Practical Nursing Degree from Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. Leo and Patty Gajewski were married on May 26, 1973 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cheboygan, Michigan and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Patty worked as a nurse at both Cheboygan and Rogers City Hospitals. She was a devoted wife, ...

REAY LYNN BARKLEY

August 20, 1932 - June 6, 2023 Reay Lynn (Wixon) Barkley, 90, of Hubbard Lake, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and went to be with her Lord and Savior on June 6, 2023. She was born to Evelyn (Young) and Lewis Wixon on Aug. 20, 1932, in the same house as her mother in Alpena, Michigan. The Wixon family moved to Flint in the late 1930s, where Lynn graduated from Flint Technical High School. She married Harvey Barkley in 1952 and they raised their four children in Flushing, Michigan, and spent their summers at their cottage at Hubbard Lake. In their early ...

GERALD ROY LeBARRE

Gerald Roy LeBarre, 86, of Alpena, passed away at home peacefully with his loving family at his side on June 6, 2023. Jerry was born Nov. 25, 1936 in Rochester, Michigan to the late Robert and Hazel (Nunn) LeBarre. He graduated from Rochester High School in 1955 and went on to attend Central Michigan University. He married his high school sweetheart; Edna May Thom, on June 15, 1957. The two of them headed north to Alpena which they happily called home. Jerry is survived by his wife; Edna May, his two sons; David (Pam Tvrdik) of Alpena, Jon (Kathy Paull) of Greenville, Michigan, his ...