James Angus Sweeney

James Angus Sweeney, 75 of Ubly passed away suddenly Thursday, March 28, 2013 at the Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe while under hospice care He was born on June 27, 1937 in Ubly, son of the late Angus and Abina (Garety) Sweeney. He was united in marriage to Kathryn “Kay” R. Tschirhart on August 28, 1965 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Ruth. Jim was a dairy farmer until an auto accident left him blind 1990. He was a 1955 graduate of Ubly High School and attended Michigan State University. In his younger years, Jim was a member and drummer of the Guza Trio polka band and was very proud to be an Irishman in a polka band. He was a past officer, delegate and Outstanding Young Dairy Couple chairman with MMPA and a former trustee for Sheridan Township. Jim was a very active lifelong member of St. Columbkille Catholic Church where he was a Eucharistic Minister, usher and dedicated worker at the annual parish chicken barbeques. Jim is survived by his wife of 47 years, Kathryn of Ubly; six children, Douglas and his wife, Elizabeth of Clermont, Fla., Mary Kay Ritter and her husband Daniel of Elkton, Bruce and his significant other, Amelia Peltier of Ubly, Sally Bell and her husband, Patrick of Cheboygan, Eric and his wife, Heidi of Ubly, Wayne and his wife, Kate of Beverly Hills, MI.; nine grandchildren, Alex Ritter, Elizabeth Ritter and her fiancé Christopher Hardenburg, Brandon, Nicole and Brett Sweeney, Lauren and Katelyn Bell, Samantha and James Sweeney; one brother, Kenneth and his wife, Jane of Ubly; one brother-in-law, Richard Tschirhart and his wife, Beatrice of Berkley; his mother-in-law, Frances Tschirhart of Bad Axe. He was preceded in death by his twin brother, Arthur and brother Freddie, one sister, Mary Louise and her husband James; his father-in-law Herbert Tschirhart. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 am Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church of Sheridan Corners. Rev. Joseph Griffin, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly on Monday from 2-9 pm and from 10-11 am Tuesday at the church only. A parish vigil service will be held Monday evening at 7 pm at the funeral home. Memorials have been requested to St. Columbkille Cemetery Fund.