Irvin J. O'Parka

Mr. Irvin O’Parka, 81 of Ruth, passed away Thursday, December 25, 2014 at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe. Irvin was born on December 17, 1933 in Paris Township to the late Bernard and Monica (Spitza) O’Parka. He married Mildred Hammerle on August 30, 1958 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Smith Corners. Irvin attended Ubly High School worked on the family farm. He worked for Clarence Stomack’s Greenview Farms for 30 years. He also did road construction for a few years. Irvin then worked for Al Hanson Motors from 1992 until he retired in 2005. He was a former member of the Ruth Knights of Columbus. He bowled for the Parisville Hotel in Minden City. He enjoyed polka music, playing cards, scratch off lotto cards and making homemade wine. Irvin is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mildred O’Parka of Ruth; eight children, Michael O’Parka and his wife, Elizabeth of Virginia Beach, VA, Irvin O’Parka Jr. and his wife, Sunny of Texas, Kimberly Dorsey and her husband, Gary of Texas, Charlene Hanson and her special friend, Brian Smalley of Bad Axe, Pauline Messing of Ubly and her special friend, Sam Kiroski, Nancy Peruski and her husband Randy, of Ubly, Renee Wrubel and her husband, Jerry of Ubly, Tracy Hessling and her husband, Ken of Harbor Beach; 14 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; two sisters, Bernice Navock and her husband, Alvin of Utica, Mary Ann Halifax and her husband, John of Minden City; his in-laws, Delores Talaski of Bad Axe, Jeanette Danielski of Ubly, Jerry and Rose Ann Bullock of Ohio, Elaine Varosi of Sandusky, Rodney and Darlene Gornowicz of Ubly, Elwood and Marlene Hammerle of Bad Axe, Kenneth Hammerle of Ruth, Gary Hammerle and his special friend Wanda, of Caro. Irvin was preceded in death by an infant son, Walter, infant brother, August, three brothers-in-law, Harold, Wayne and Frank Hammerle, one sister-in-law, Ardis Wrubel. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 am Tuesday, December 30 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church of Holy Apostle Parish in Ruth. Rev. Donald Eppenbrock will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Parisville. Visitation will be at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly on Monday from 1:30-9:00 pm and Tuesday from 10:00-11:00 am at the church only. There will be a Daughters of Isabella rosary Monday afternoon at 4:00 pm and a parish vigil service Monday evening at 7:00 pm. Both services will be at the funeral home. Memorials have been requested to the Family Discretionary Fund. Please visit www.smigielskifuneralhomes.com to express your sympathy and sign the guest book for Irvin’s family.