LaVerne John Schefka

Mr. LaVerne “Verne” Schefka, 79 of Sterling Heights and formerly of Parisville, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe. He was born on May 2, 1932 in Parisville to the late John and Alma (Rumptz) Schefka. He married Marion B. Guitar on June 27, 1953 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe. Verne attended Ubly High School. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War and received his high school diploma from the US Navy. He farmed in Paris Township for 12 years, from 1958 until 1970. He started in 1967 as an electrical contractor for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Locals No. 17 and No. 58. He worked for them for 27 years, before he retired in 1994. He was a current parishioner at St. Blaise Church in Sterling Heights and was a former parishioner at St. Mary Catholic Church in Parisville. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, visiting casinos, playing card games, visiting with family and friends. Verne is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marion of Sterling Heights; 6 children, Kurt and his wife, Linda of Birch Run, Randy of St. Louis, MO, Bruce and his wife, Val of Imlay City, Colleen Kubacki and her husband, Mark of Ubly, Rick and his wife, Tammy of Cass City, Chad and his wife, Kelli of Adrian; 13 grandchildren, Danielle Schefka (fiancé, Craig Bushmann, Justin and Taylor Schefka, Samantha, Abby and Jenna Schefka, Kylee, Chelsey and Hailey Kubacki, Sydney and Brody Schefka, Ben & Nick Schefka; one sister, Audrey Ignash and her husband, Ervin of Bad Axe; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Viola Galia of Mt. Clemens, Ray (Vivian) Guitar of Clinton Twp., Lou (Ed) Duda of Troy, Kathleen Pawloski of Washington, MI. He was preceded in death by one son, Keith James Schefka in December of 1978, one sister, June Yageman, infant brother, Joseph Schefka, his wife’s family, Nickolas, Frances and Emma Guitar, Eugene and Angeline Guitar, Albina Guitar, B. Chuck Galia, Stella and Wilbert Leppek, Rita and John Coaster, Jerry Pawloski, Nicholas Guitar Jr. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 am Thursday, January 19 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Parisville. Rev. Dennis Kucharczyk of Sacred Heart Church in Caro will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Mary Cemetery in Parisville with graveside military honors. Visitation will be at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly on Wednesday form 1-9 pm and Thursday from 10-11 am at the church only. There will be a parish vigil service on Wednesday at 7 pm at the funeral home. Memorials have been requested to the Capuchin Fathers or Huron Relay for Life.