1939
Clara
2012
Clara "Punkey" Stimac
February 9, 1939 — July 11, 2012
Munising
Clara "Punkey" Stimac, age 73, of 111 Hickory Street, Munising, died on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising following a long, heroic battle with cancer. She was born on February 9, 1939 in Shingleton, Michigan to the late Cecil and Anabell (Monroe) Burley. Clara was raised in Shingleton and Stueben, and she attended school in Cooks and Shingleton before graduating with honors from Wm.G. Mather High School in 1957. After high school she worked at the Munising Paper Company for 1 ½ years before marrying Ronald W. Stimac on April 30, 1960. A devoted wife, mother and homemaker, Clara was from a generation that honored the noble task of staying home to raise her children and tending her home. In 1976 she returned to the work force as an employee of Timber Products where she retired as a veneer inspector in 2005. Clara was a member of Sacred Heart Church and a woman of strong, quiet faith. Her faith sustained her during the darkest times of her lengthy illness. She loved to read. Clara and Ron enjoyed traveling with her sister and brother-in-law. She loved the beauty of nature in our great Upper Peninsula and proudly called herself a "Yooper". In the summer she enjoyed picking berries and there were many autumn weekends when she and her family would scout and collect pinecones for the forest service. Drives through the woods, especially during the beauty of fall, were a favorite activity. Day trips to hike, and visit the parks of this area, were something that she enjoyed with her family. Clara and her husband Ron could be spotted most days taking a walk through Munising and stopping for coffee and a chat with their friends at Falling Rock. Her greatest source of pride and joy was her children and grandchildren. Clara was a devoted, loyal supportive fan in all that they attempted throughout life. From band concerts and class plays, to the countless hours of sporting events, she was always in attendance... their biggest fan. Becoming a grandmother was such a joy for her and her grandchildren were the "icing on the cake" of her life. They provided her, and she provided them with an endless source of love.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years - Ronald W. Stimac of Munising; children - Donna Burley (Charles "Hersh" Glass) of Carrollton, TX, Ronald Stimac, Jr., of Munising; Michael Stimac of Munising, and Scott (Molly) Stimac of Munising; grandson - Scotty; siblings - Fred (Pat) Burley of VanMeer, Gloria Semski of Oak Creek, WI, Audra True of Milwaukee, WI, Dale (Karen) Burley of Chatham, MI, and Robert (Deborah) Burley of Waukesha, WI; mother-in-law - Eunice "Toots" Stimac; sisters and brother-in-law - Judy (Jim) Hill and Babe Stimac; and numerous nieces and nephews. Clara was preceded in death by - her parents; grandson - Preston Sean Burley; brother - Earnest (Sharon) Burley; father-in-law - George Stimac; brothers and sister-in-law - Erwin Semski, Michael True, Joe and Ida Grave, Charles Stimac, and Dennis Stimac.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Sunday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A Parish Vigil service and time of sharing stories will be held at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Chris Gardiner on Monday, July 16, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising. Internment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising and she will be escorted by her nephews: Kenneth Burley, Randy True, Troy Ortiz, Patrick Fath, Patrick Semski, Dale Burley, Jr. and alternate Larry Upton.
Clara "Punkey" Stimac, age 73, of 111 Hickory Street, Munising, died on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising following a long, heroic battle with cancer. She was born on February 9, 1939 in Shingleton, Michigan to the late Cecil and Anabell (Monroe) Burley. Clara was raised in Shingleton and Stueben, and she attended school in Cooks and Shingleton before graduating with honors from Wm.G. Mather High School in 1957. After high school she worked at the Munising Paper Company for 1 ½ years before marrying Ronald W. Stimac on April 30, 1960. A devoted wife, mother and homemaker, Clara was from a generation that honored the noble task of staying home to raise her children and tending her home. In 1976 she returned to the work force as an employee of Timber Products where she retired as a veneer inspector in 2005. Clara was a member of Sacred Heart Church and a woman of strong, quiet faith. Her faith sustained her during the darkest times of her lengthy illness. She loved to read. Clara and Ron enjoyed traveling with her sister and brother-in-law. She loved the beauty of nature in our great Upper Peninsula and proudly called herself a "Yooper". In the summer she enjoyed picking berries and there were many autumn weekends when she and her family would scout and collect pinecones for the forest service. Drives through the woods, especially during the beauty of fall, were a favorite activity. Day trips to hike, and visit the parks of this area, were something that she enjoyed with her family. Clara and her husband Ron could be spotted most days taking a walk through Munising and stopping for coffee and a chat with their friends at Falling Rock. Her greatest source of pride and joy was her children and grandchildren. Clara was a devoted, loyal supportive fan in all that they attempted throughout life. From band concerts and class plays, to the countless hours of sporting events, she was always in attendance... their biggest fan. Becoming a grandmother was such a joy for her and her grandchildren were the "icing on the cake" of her life. They provided her, and she provided them with an endless source of love.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years - Ronald W. Stimac of Munising; children - Donna Burley (Charles "Hersh" Glass) of Carrollton, TX, Ronald Stimac, Jr., of Munising; Michael Stimac of Munising, and Scott (Molly) Stimac of Munising; grandson - Scotty; siblings - Fred (Pat) Burley of VanMeer, Gloria Semski of Oak Creek, WI, Audra True of Milwaukee, WI, Dale (Karen) Burley of Chatham, MI, and Robert (Deborah) Burley of Waukesha, WI; mother-in-law - Eunice "Toots" Stimac; sisters and brother-in-law - Judy (Jim) Hill and Babe Stimac; and numerous nieces and nephews. Clara was preceded in death by - her parents; grandson - Preston Sean Burley; brother - Earnest (Sharon) Burley; father-in-law - George Stimac; brothers and sister-in-law - Erwin Semski, Michael True, Joe and Ida Grave, Charles Stimac, and Dennis Stimac.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Sunday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A Parish Vigil service and time of sharing stories will be held at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Chris Gardiner on Monday, July 16, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising. Internment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising and she will be escorted by her nephews: Kenneth Burley, Randy True, Troy Ortiz, Patrick Fath, Patrick Semski, Dale Burley, Jr. and alternate Larry Upton.
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