Harold Leo Susalla

Mr. Harold Leo Susalla, 92 of Parisville, was called home by his heavenly father on Saturday, June 4, 2016. Harold was born in Detroit on May 22, 1924 to the late Leo and Julia (Kubacki) Susalla. He married Elizabeth “Betty” Kucharczyk on June 7, 1947 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Parisville. She preceded him in death on September 11, 2015 after 68 years of marriage. He grew up on a farm in Ruth, MI and was the oldest of 10 children, four brothers and five sisters. He attended Filmore School on Purdy Road until the eighth grade. He did not have a ride to high school, so he had to stay home and help take care of the farm and the family. He worked with his father threshing crops for the surrounding area. When Harold turned 18 years old, he was drafted into the US Army during WWII. He served with the 78th Infantry Division. He saw combat in the Battle of the Bulge, participating in the taking of the Remagen Bridge on the Rhine River. Harold was awarded many medals including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his heroic achievements. Harold met his wife, Betty on the dance floor and they later married. Together, Harold and Betty raised five children on their farm in Minden City. While farming, Harold also worked at Midwest Rubber in Deckerville for 28 years. Harold was a life member of the Parisville VFW Post 5740. He held various positions, including Commander and Quarter-Master for many years. He participated in many parades and always strived to make sure veterans were remembered. He personally saw that flags were put on the graves of veterans at the Parisville cemetery on Memorial Day for 35 years. He was a member of the Harbor Beach American Legion Post 197. Harold was a parishioner at St. Mary Catholic Church in Parisville where he was a member of the St. Mary Men’s Club for 55 years. Harold was also a member of the Ruth Knights of Columbus Council 3823 where he had been a past Grand Knight. Harold and Betty enjoyed traveling. They toured Australia, New Zeeland, Germany, Poland and Hawaii. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially porch fishing. Harold had a passion for baseball and a love of gardening. He was an avid Polka music fan and played the drums in a band at an early age. Left to cherish the memory of this warm and loving soul are his children, Leon (Susan) Susalla of Venice, Fla., Judy (Lavern) Mazure of Hale, Michael (Mary Jo) Susalla of Kalkaska, Wayne (Sherry) Susalla of Parisville; six grandchildren, Michele (Scott) Olechnowicz, Matthew (Sarah) Mazure, Anna (Matthew) Macura, Carolyn (Paul) Johnson, Joshua Susalla, Jennifer (Tom) Mittlestat; six great grandchildren, Jacob and Nickolas Olechnowicz, Amelia and Grant Macura, Hannah and Noah Johnson; four brothers, Hilary (Grace), Kenneth (Ruth), Eugene (Diane), Gerald (Shirley); sisters, Margaret (Don) Musinski, Katherine (Chuck) Veeson; many nieces and nephews. Harold was preceded in death one son, Ronald; one grandson, David; three sisters and their husbands, Lillian (James) Abraham, Jeanette (Richard) Goniwiecha, Magdelene (Lloyd) Grifka. Mass of Christian burial will be 11:00 am, Tuesday, June 7 at St. Mary Church in Parisville. Rev. Todd Arnberg, pastor of St. Mary’s, will co-officiate with Rev. Charles Hammond of Good Shepherd Parish in Ubly. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly on Monday from 1:30-9:00 pm and Tuesday at St. Mary Church from 10:00-11:00 am. There will be a joint rosary by the Ruth Knights of Columbus Council 3823 and the St. Mary Men’s Club Monday evening at 7:00 pm at the funeral home. Memorials have been requested to the Parisville VFW Post 5740 or the Harbor Beach American Legion Post 197.