2012 Projects
Install new windows in north wall
Convert old man’s restroom to handicap accessible.
Convert old woman’s restroom to men’s restroom
Twenty (20) amp outlet installed in bar for sump pump
All exit lights repaired including new batteries and wiring.
Siding installed on the north, east, and west walls.
Install roof over east and west exit doors.
Coating on porch and steps installed and donated by Custom Coatings (Harbor Beach)
Insulation added in bingo room walls
Basement floors tiled
2012 Highlights
Feb 1-3, 2012 Work crew from county deep cleaned hall
Feb 25, 2012 Veterans night party (formerly “stag party”) at VFW hall
Mar 3, 2012 Legion Birthday Party
Coke machine in bar repaired (May)
May 26, 2012 Flags on VETERANS graves at Rock Falls Cemetery
Memorial Day Parade (May28) (guest speaker state Senator Mike Green)
Vents in bingo room removed, reconditioned and installed (June/July)
New blinds installed (June)
New tables paid for by member donations (June-Aug)
July 4, 2012 Flag disposal ceremony
July 21, 2012 Cart derby (66 drivers) including 11 powder puff drivers
Handicap ramp painted (July/Aug)
Football games Honor Guard (Sept /Oct)
Chili cook off (Sept 15)
New chairs donated by Ray Emming (Oct)
10” insulation added in bingo room (Oct)
Nov 10, 2012 Veterans dinner
Dec 1, 2012 HB Christmas Parade
Jan 2012--------------New members
Jim Collins Paul Volmering
JAN 16, 2012 Funeral for George Hiller
Arrangements by_______________________________________________
Members attending: Bob Sopczynski, Leo Bennett, Fred Mutart, Jim Leiby,
Jerry Bohn, Jerry Parker, Don Ahrens, Paul Ginther, Jerry Wojdyla , Oscar Schave,
Terry Blanchard, Jack Landenberg, and Tom Will
Jan 20, 2012
Funeral for Laverne H. Siemen
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home
Members attending: Fred Mutart, Bob Sopczynski, Jim Leiby, Terry Blanchard,
Tom Will, Darrell Connell, Jerry Bohn, and Ocsar Schave.
Feb 1-3, 2012 County work crew deep cleaned hall
Feb 1, 2012 District Commander Bill Day visited the Post at our regular meeting
Feb 25, 2012 Veteran Party (formerly “stag party”) at VFW hall
Mar 3, 2012 Legion birthday party
Mar 3, 2012 Ed Ramsey passed away
Mar 21, 2012 Carl Koehn passed away
Nomination of officers:
Commander --------------Ron Volmering
Adjunct--------------------Arnie Koehn
Sr. Vice Commander----Tim Robinson
Jr. Vice Commander----Geoffery Blain
Finance Officer----------Al Kleinknecht
Service Officer-----------Jim Leiby
Judge Advocate---------Bob Sopczynski
Chaplin--------------------Paul Ginther
Historian___________Jim Leiby
Sgt-at-arms--------------Terry Blanchard
Apr 7, 2012 Funeral for Mary O’Connor at Palms
Members attending: Bob Sopczynski, Terry Blanchard, Jim Leiby, Jerry Bohn,
Leo Bennett, Arnold Presley, Jack Landenberg, Marvin Emming, Arnie Koehn,
Fred Mutart, and Tim Robinson. Also attending were members of Ruth and Harbor Beach VFW Posts
Apr 10th 2012 Funeral for Jack Ayotte (father of John Ayotte)
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home:
Members in attendence: Bob Winkel, Arnie Koehn, Jerome Parker, Jim Leiby, Terry Blanchard, Arnold Presley, Tim Robinson, Tom Will, Harold Susella, Jack Landenberg, Jerry Bohn, Marvin Emming, Fred Mutart, Leo Bennett, and Bob Sopczynsk,
Apr 13th 2012 Funeral for Edwin Pochert :
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home
Members in attendance: Terry Blanchard, Marvin Emming, Dave Riechelt, Jerry Parker, Arnie Koehn, Robert Bosch, Jack Landenberg, Harold Sussella, Ron Volmering, Jerry Bohn, Jim Leiby, Leo Bennett, Fred Mutart, Delbert Burkhard, Frank McGowan, Alex Burkhard, and Dave Halifax
Apr 17th 2012 Member Albert F. Rick Passed away
Apr 22nd 2012 Member K. Don Williamson passed away
May 2, 2012: New members-----------------Peter Brown
Benjamin Koehn
Elizabeth Braun
May 17-19, 2012: Poppy Sales
May 20, 2012: District 7 Memorial Service in Port Huron
May 23, 2012: Scholarship awards ceremony at Community Center Winners are
Curtis Burkhard, Cody Pfaff, and Evan Blanchard
May 26th 2012 Flags on veterans graves at Rock Falls Cemetery
May 28th 2012 Memorial Day Parade (2 floats in parade, one for veterans and one for cart derby). Ceremony at 9:00 am Rock Falls Cemetery before parade
June 2, 2012 Cart show at Murphy Museum lawn
June 6, 2012: Swearing in of officers at regular meeting
June 6, 2012: New member----------------------Roy Umbreit Sr.
June 6, 2012 John Bryson passed away
June 10, 2012 Funeral for John Bryson:
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home
Members in attendance: Terry Blanchard, Bob Sopczynski, Jim Leiby, Richard Schmalz, Arnie Koehn, Jerry Bohn, Al kleinknecht, Dave Halifax, Fred Mutart, Ron Volmering, Dennis Essenmacher, Darrell Connell, Larry Kreuger, Leo Bennett, Bob Winkel, Paul Ginther, Warren Ramsey, Frank McGowan, Steve Oglenski, Tim Robinson, Bob Letts, Leonard DeFrain, Ron Kociba, John Ayotte, and Dan Lemanski.
June 9, 2012 Funeral for Harold McClellan
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home
Members in attendance: Ron Volmering, Jack Landenberg, Fred Mutart, Jim Leiby, Arnie Koehn, Terry Blanchard, Arnold Presley, Tim Robinson ,Bob Winkel, Jerry Bohn, Paul Ginther and Frank McGowan
June 17, 2012 Funeral for Napoleon “Nap” Brown
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home
Members attending: Chris DeCook, Tim Robinson, Jim Leiby, Leo Bennett, Don Ahrens, Richard Kirsh, Jerry Bohn, Mary Mausoff, Delbert Burkhard, Jerry Worschleger, Dave Wilkowski, and Quinton Loudermilk
June 28, 2012 Oscar Ingles passed away
New thermostat to be installed in bingo room in July
July 2012----------New member------------------Duanne Goode
July 2, 2012 Funeral for Oscar L. Ingles
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home
Members attending: Don Ahrens, Leo Bennett, Paul Ginther, Arnie Koehn,
Dave Halifax, Fred Mutart, Bob Winkel, Jack Landenberg, Tim Robinson,
Terry Blanchard, Ron Volmering, Steve Oglenski, Jim Leiby, Jerry Parker,
Warren Ramsey and Richard Schmalz
July 7, 2012: Funeral for Norbert S. Kozfkay
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home
Members attending: Ron Volmering, Arnold Presley, Terry Blanchard, Jim Leiby,
Bob Winkel, Dave Ridner, Fred Mutart, Leo Bennett, and Paul Ginther.
July 21, 2012: 2nd annual cart derby, (66 Drivers)
July 22, 2012 Thumb Steelheaders Free fishing outing
Aug 16, 2012 Funeral for Jerome Parker
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home
Members attending: Terry Blanchard, Arnold Presley, Arnie Koehn, Jim Leiby,
Jerry Bohn, Paul Ginther, Dave Ridner, Dave Halifax, Fred Mutart, Tim Robinson,
Jack Landenberg, Ron Volmering, Leo Bennett, Richard Schmalz, and
Darrell Connell
Aug 26, 2012 Funeral for Julian Martinez at St. Anthony Cemetery
Members attending: Jerry Bohn, Paul Ginther, Tim Robinson, Dave Halifax
Arnie Koehn, Al Kleinknecht, Jack Landenberg, Jim Leiby, Bob Sopczynski,
And Terry Blanchard
Aug 29, 2012 Post picnic
New members---------------Paul Eland
Clarence Peyerk
John Kudlak
Sept 15, 2012 Chili cookoff (4th place out of 18 entries)
October----------Memorial bench ordered
October 2012 new member------------Christi Cook
November------Memorial bench delivered to post
Old chairs donated to OLLH Catholic Church, Assembly of God Church and the Community House
Nov 9, 2012: Breakfast at high school
Nov 10, 2012: Veterans Dinner (108 attendees)
November 2012 Jimmy Merrifield passed away
Dec, 2012 ------------New member
Ron Knepfler
Robert A. Kramer
Mark Ryan
Dec 1, 2012 HB Christmas Parade
Dec 13, 2012 Funeral for Robert Bosch
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home
Members attending: Leo Bennett, Fred Mutart, Jerry Bohn, Tim Robinson
Dave Halifax, Marvin Emming, Jack Landenberg, Jim Leiby, Terry Blanchard,
Arnie Koehn, Bob Sopczynski, Richard Schmalz, Kateri Kraft (CG)
Peter Brown (CG), Al Kleinknecht, Paul Ginther, and Al Welker.
Funeral Ceremonies The American Legion Post 197 were part of in 2012
GEORGE HILLER LAVERNE H. SIEMEN MARY O’CONNOR
JACK AYOTTE EDWIN POCHERT JOHN BRYSON
HAROLD McCLELLAN OSCAR L. INGLES NAPOLEON “NAP”BROWN
NORBERT S. KOZFKAY JEROME PARKER JULIAN MARTINEZ
ROBERT BOSCH JIMMY C. MERRIFIELD
AMERICAN LEGION POST 197 MEMBERS WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2012
JOHN L. AYOTTE (JACK) JOHN D. BRYSON CARL A KOEHN
EDWIN O. POCHERT EDWARD R. RAMSEY ALBERT F. RICK
NORBERT KOZFKAY OSCAR L. INGLES K. DON WILLIAMSON
JULIAN B. MARTINEZ ROBERT F BOSCH JEROME PARKER
JIMMY C MERRIFIELD
2012 AMERICAN POST 197 NEW MEMBERS
BENJAMIN R. KOEHN
ELIZABETH BRAUN (ACTIVE DUTY CG)
PETER JAMES CONRAD BROWN (ACTIVE DUTY CG)
ROY R UMBREIT SR.
DUANE GOOD
PAUL R. ELANDT
CLARENCE P PEYERK
JOHN J. KUDLAK
CHRISTI J. COOK
RONALD F. KNEPFLER
ROBERT A. KRAMER
MARK E. RYAN
