Upcoming Memorials
George Felski
George J. Felski a retired member of our Auxiliary, passed away on January 26, 2018. A Memorial Service was held at St. John Lutheran Church in Cheboygan, Michigan on February 3, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. He was born on November 21, 1925 and was 92 years of age at his passing. He was married to his wife, Thelma, for 67 years.
George entered the U.S. Navy on January 15, 1944 and was honorably discharged on April 29, 1946. He received a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, Admiral James Forrestal, thanking him for his service, in addition to a letter from President Harry Truman also thanking him for his service. He received other awards from the DAV, the State of Illinois, and a Unit Commendation from the United States Coast Guard signed by Commandant Admiral Paul F. Zukunft.
George jointed the Coast Guard Auxiliary on June 15, 1992 and entered retirement status on October 13, 2008 after serving in our flotilla for 16 years, 4 months and 16 days. He held the position of Flotilla Commander several times during his service with our flotilla.
Eugene Skelton
Eugene Skelton was born December 16, 1918 and passed away in his sleep September 28, 2016. There wasn’t any visitation or graveside service per Mr. Skelton’s request. He was laid to rest in his Army Dress Blues, that he affectionately called his band uniform. His internment was at Roselawn Cemetery in Saginaw, Michigan on October 12, 2016 next to his wife Charlotte, also affectionately known as Tod. Gene and Charlotte had enjoyed 71 years of marriage when she passed on February 11, 2014. Their son, Ronald predeceased his parents at the young age of 43. Gene and Charlotte were very proud of their son who had his own practice as a certified respiratory therapy clinic in Texas. Their daughter, Carol Susan Bowden moved from Lower Michigan to Paradise to care for her father following a fall which resulted in a broken hip in 2014.
Gene joined the Army during WW II and went through the non-com rates rather quickly reaching the rank of Master Sgt. It was a short time later that he was appointed as an officer and retired as a Major in December 1963. He enjoyed a very interesting career in Military Intelligence. He also worked as part of General Patton’s staff and spent quite a bit of his service career in Germany.
Mr. Skelton became the service and training officer for the Miller Mobile Gun Furnace Company. They designed heaters for mobile homes and were manufactured by Lear Sieglar. It was a job that he enjoyed and excelled at.
Mr. Skelton joined the CG Auxiliary on August 30, 1976 and went into retirement status following 35 years of service on September 27, 2011. He served as Flotilla Commander in 1987 and 1988 and held many staff positions throughout his Auxiliary career. He was highly respected and well liked. He drove from his home in Paradise to the flotilla meetings in St. Ignace having dinner first at the Northern Lights restaurant where he was met by several flotilla members. His round trip travel was approximately 130 miles and total driving time was about 2 hours and 20 minutes.