Claire Ruth Grifka

Claire R. Grifka, 89 of Austin Township passed away Tuesday morning, April 24, 2012 at the Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe under hospice care. She was born May 17, 1922 in Tyre, daughter of the late Joseph and Lylan (Herdell) Weltin. She married Clarence Grifka on November 29, 1939 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Smith Corners. He preceded her in death on September 13, 1969. Claire was a graduate of Ubly High School. She farmed with her husband for 30 years. After he passed away, she worked for many years with various priests as a housekeeper and cook. She was a parishioner at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Argyle where she was a member of the Altar Society, a religious education teacher and Eucharistic minister. Claire was a past Austin Township Supervisor. She truly enjoyed making quilts for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also loved gardening and planting her many flowers. Claire is survived by four daughters, Loretta Wojtalewicz of Shelby Twp., Joyce (Ray) Reetz of Sand Creek, Emily (Larry) Flannery of Sterling Heights, Tina (Jim) Baumer of Metamora; one son-in-law, Dareld Schick of Rose City; one daughter-in-law, Diana Grifka of Ubly; 24 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by on son, Charles, one daughter, Deana Schick, one son-in-law, Gerald Wojtalewicz, grandchildren, Ren Reetz and Clarence Grifka, one great granddaughter, Bailey Reetz; brothers, Aaron, Jim, Alfred and Calvin Weltin, sisters, Lylan Messing, Marie Abraham, Helen Maurer and Joan Mahoney. Mass of Christian Burial will be 12 noon, Saturday April 28 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Argyle. Rev. Joseph Griffin, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly on Friday from 1:30-9 pm and Saturday from 10-11 am. There will be a rosary by the St. Joseph Altar Society on Friday evening at 7 pm. at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to Heartland Hospice, St. Ignatius Cemetery Fund or the donor’s choice.