The Voisin/Stewart Family
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Husband: Harold Joseph "Harry" Voisin
Born: 02 October 1930 in Lansing, Ingham, Michigan 1
Married: 16 August 1958 in Bay City, Bay, Michigan 8
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church

Died: 23 August 2005 in Bay City, Bay, Michigan 3
Father: George John Voisin
Mother: Mary Johanna Coughlin
Spouses:

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Additional Information

Harold Joseph "Harry" Voisin:

*RELN: 1C1R (5)

Retirement: June 1992, with 39 years in education

Autobiography: 05 January 2005, Bay City, Bay, Michigan; an autobiographical letter to his cousin Mary Louise (Voisin) Elias 2

Transcription:

17 Jan. 05

Mary Lou—

Thank you for the picture & info about your family @ Christmas—we only send cards, no Christmas letter.

Thought I’d bring you up to date with condensed events of my life since H.S. graduation. I graduated fr C.M.C. June 1953 w/ majors in Geography & Industrial Arts. I completed my undergrad teaching skills @ good old Mt. Pleasant High & Niles, Mich.

My 1st teaching job was @ St. Stanislaus H.S. in Bay City (53-54). St. Stan’s was the 1st Catholic school in the state to offer a[n] Ind. Arts curriculum, I taught woodshop & mechanical Drawing, I [also] was the ass’t. coach in Football, Basketball & Baseball. At end of my 1st yr teaching I was drafted into the army, (6 Jun 54) did basic training @ Ft. Leonard Wood, I survived basic training along-side 2 of my H.S. students fr. St. Stan’s.

After basic training I was assigned to a 4 man gun crew, training on a new “Anti-Air Craft Weapon” called the “Sky-Sweeper.” Our crew was informed we would be assigned to Korea for defensive purposes. Training took place @ Ft. Bliss Texas & White Sands, New Mexico. After training & firing exercises @ White Sands we were notified our weapons would not fit the geographic territory in Korea & therefore we would be employed in Germany to help N.A.T.O. While station[ed] @ Ft. Bliss I was able to take week-end passes, visiting parts of Mexico & taking in bull fights.

Arriving in Europe (25 Dec. 54) by ship & by rail to Heidelberg, Germany, our 4 gun cree (3 graduates Fr. U. of Minn. & I) were informed that our weapons would not arrive for another year. Therefore, our crew was split up for different assignments. I was sent to a Military Justice School near Garmisch & Berchtesgaden, Ger. Located in the Bavarian alps close to Austria & Switzerland. Next 2 months of the best duty anyone could ask for. Got to visit, Switzerland, Austria & Southern Germany on weekends, had wine w/ Orson Wells in Vienna (Feb. 54) @ “The Third Man-Theme” a winery in the Vienna Woods.

One of the priests @ St. Stans was Father Sigmund Gaj a displaced person (D.P.) from Poland. He was discovered in a Nazi Concentration Camp (Dachau) near Munich, Ger. after end of W.W. II. Father Gaj was seized by the Nazis while active in the Polish underground & a prisoner for 3 years. I was able to visit & tour the concentration camp @ Dachau.

After gradating from Military Justice School ( a fellow frat brother from C.M.U. was typing instructor @ the school) I was stationed in Mannheim, Ger. & worked with Military Courts until discharged as a E-5 (Sgt.) in New York June 56. My work w/ the Courts was interesting & my boss Cap’t. Owens allowed me to use all my leave time before being discharged. I was fortunate to travel for a month, went to Grace Kelly’s wedding in French Morocco, visited Paris, Normandy, England, Scotland, Ireland (my mother was a Coughlin & Epple) Netherlands, Norway, Sweden & Northern parts of Germany along the Baltic & North Sea with a bunk mate from Calif. (Ran into Hudson Keenan in Kier, Ger.)

Returning home I started my M.A. with the G.I. bill @ U of M. I also returned to my teaching job @ St. Stans. My good friend Father Gaj & I spent many Sunday afternoons together, he was always trying to get me married. (He succeeded!) A blind date (Maxine A. Kochanny) Mickie to all her friends, worked @ the unemployment office & part time @ St. Stans w/ Father Gaj. After couple years dating, we set the date. Father Gaj was to marry us, but he had the opportunity to see his mother in Poland, 1st time in 15 years.

Our pastor Father Ned married us (16 Aug. 58) as newly wed’s we drove to Key West, Fla., flew to Cuba for 10 days.

I finished my M.A. degree @ U of M – (June 59) in Industrial-Vocational Ed.

A new public school (Kolb Intermediate) was completed in 59 & I was approached to start a[n] Ind. Arts Program & coach @ Kolb. I made the change for benefits & pay, a parochial school couldn’t offer. Taught @ Kolb (15 yrs) & also started teaching evening classes in Drafting @ Delta College. Eventually I gave up coaching (1970), teaching Vocational classes @ Delta paid more than coaching w/ lot less headaches.

Mickie gave up her job before our 1st child was born (15 Nov. 62) Christopher David. We already had our new home in 1960. Our daughter (Michelle Renee) was born 22 June 66. Two great children, both graduated from All-Saints.

Chris wanted to be a doctor, attended & graduated from Wayne State. Chris worked @ Harris & Harris Funeral Hm in Detroit while attending Wayne. During his Jr. yr @ Wayne Chris was informed by his counselor that he had 2 things against him for med school, being white & a male. Chris changed to teaching, majoring in Chem. & Physics. Chris 1st job was @ Climax-Scotts teaching Chem & Physics, Chris then took a job as H.S. principal @ North Adams-Jerome. After 2 yrs as principal Chris became superintendent, job he still has. Chris also teaches extension classes in Administration for C.M.U. Chris earned his M.A. from W.M.U. & is working on his PH’D.

Chris & his wife Cheyrl have 3 boys, George (9) (named after my dad) Kaleb (7) & Gabriel (4).

Our daughter, Michelle became a[n] excellent basketball player, earning All State honors her senior yr @ All Saints. Academic All-American @ Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. Michele still holds 20 basketball team records @ Eckerd & is the only women inducted into the hall of fame @ Eckerd. Michelle also wanted to be a doctor & was accepted into 2 med schools in Florida. Michelle, af[t]er completing a[n] inter[n]ship @ the “American Heart Institude” in Phoenix, Ariz. & earning her M.A. in Bio-Mechanics she said “No” to medicine.

Michelle began her basket ball coaching career @ Judson College in Marion, Ala. Judson is a 4 yr. all women’s college, after 6 winning basketball seasons Michelle was offered a position @ a near by military school (M.M.I.) “Marion Military Institude” to start a athletic program for women cadets. When the mens basketball coach resigned, Michelle was asked to also handle the mens basketball program—which she accepted! Michelle was on E.S.P.N. as the 1st & only women to coach a mens basketball team in Ala. Michelle current team record is 15 wins & 1 lost, her total mens record (6 yrs) is 113 wins & 21 losses. Michelle has here PH’D & is one of the vice-presidents of M.M.I. & carries the rank of Major. Michelle teaches 1 class ea. Semester, either Chem-Physics or Calculus to the cadets.

Michelle is married to David Ivey, football/basketball coach @ M.M.I. Michelle & David have 1 son (Patrick Harold Ivey) 3 yrs old, this 8th of Feb. David has rank of Cap’t. & works for Michelle.

Mick & I go to Ala. for Patricks birthdays, we also take in few of her basketball games, stay couple weeks. We like Gulf Shores & Fairhope Ala. Michelle lives on campus, M.M.I. provides a hm. for them. David & Michelle are actived in the Catholic Church in Salem—the priest from Salem married them @ St. Stans in Bay City.

I retired in “92” after 39 yrs in Ed. My last 19 yrs I was co-op coordinator & skill Conter Advisor @ Bay City Central.

Summers I found work in factories, working on a drawing bd or doing lay-out work. One of my former H.S. students is a engineer for “LinkBelt Co.” out of Cinn. Ohio, he hired me for 12 summers working on various projects for G.M. plants around this Saginaw area. Most of my work was detailing work in structural steel, conveyers, plus 4 summers for “Cardinal Products” in Bridgeport designing & layout of “Make-up Air Heaters” for G.M. & Ford plants, schools, hospitals, etc.

Mick & I bought a summer home on Crooked Lake (1974) near Curran, Mich. We had 100’ on the H2O & recently purchased another 65’ on the lake. Good fishing & swimming, we belong to a[n] association which has rules “No water skiing—No wake behind boats,” etc. Crooked Lake size is approx. 110 acres & 30’ deep. Our Northern home is located on a Peninsula, H2O front & back. We enjoy beautiful sunsets from our dock, deck or gazebo. Our children love Crooked Lake, grew up there during summers & just about every other week-end during the school yr. Grand kids love it also!

Mick & I go North Monday mornings (less than 2 hr drive) & return to Bay City Fri. We are sort of tied down, Mickies mother is 92 & we hired 3 caregivers, she needs full time care or go into a nursing home.

I have a work shop in the basement called “The Sawdust Factory” to our grand children. I enjoy making bird houses, light houses, toys & games, etc. When the kids visit, grand kids got to go to grandpa’s “Sawdust Factory,” got to build something to take home w/ them. I am teaching them the names, use & care of Hd. tools, just like my father taught me!

Our son has a hm & small farm close to Hillsdale & I still have 40 acres outside of Mt. Pleasant, I inherited it from my mothers-mom in 1938. Between my farm & Chris farm we get together for deer hunting & his birthday 15th Nov. I’ve killed a deer every year since I started hunting @ 62.

Mick & I enjoy our Northern hm. Expecially Sep’t & Oct. We are less than a 2 hr. drive to Traverse City. We get into my truck travel the back roads, once we ended up in St. Cloud, Minn. Another time Lake Winnebago in Wisc. We like to visit lighthouses, stayed overnight in one @ Big Bay, north of Marquette. We enjoy the Apple Festival on Rd. Lake in Charlevoix ea. Fall. We also like the Wineyards around Traverse. We usually spend 1 or 2 days visiting them in late Sep’t or Oct. Mick & I enjoy Leland (Blue Bird Inn) Harbor Springs & a old Indian Catholic Church (St. Ignatius) which we discovered near the beach in Good Hart, we like eating @ “Legs Inn” in Cross Village.

We don’t care for crowds, we have discovered beautiful beaches along the Great Lakes, we enjoy long walks, skip rocks & draw pictures in the sand, take pictures for our memories.

We travel to Mt. Pleasant when we are bored, visit my parents graves, walk around my farm, dig wild flowers & enjoy visiting “Loafer’s Glory,” in Blanchard (best buttermilk pie). We take a different route back to Bay City each time. Life has been good to me!

Sincerely;
Harold J. Voisin (Harry)

P.S. Could write more—easy to get carried away!
P.S. Again: I believe I had a student named Jennifer Buson as a co-op student, I place her @ the Bd. of Ed. Bld’g. Heard Jenny wasn’t into teaching?

Cause of Death: Cancer

Obituary: 27 August 2005, Mount Pleasant, Isabella, Michigan 4

Transcription:

Harold J. "Harry" Voisin
Oct. 2, 1930 - Aug. 23, 2005

Harry J. Voisin, 74, of Bay City, passed away Tuesday, August 23, 2005 at the Bay Regional Medical Center, surrounded by his family.

Son of the late George & Mary Johanna (Coughlin) Voisin, Harry was born October 2, 1930 in Lansing, Michigan and lived in Mt. Pleasant in his early years. He married the former Maxine A. "Mickie" Kochanny, August 16, 1958 in St. Stanislaus Church, she survives him. Harry served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict. He was a school teacher for St. Stanislaus School and the Bay City School system for over 39 years teaching Industrial Art and later was a Co-Op Coordinator before retiring June 30, 1993. Harry also taught night classes at Delta College, Caro State Prison and was a coach at St. Stan's and Kolb School. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking and spending time at the cottage. Harry was a member of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church and the League of Catholic Women and Men. he was a person who do anything, fix anything and he was the love of his family.

Surviving besides his wife Mickie, are two children; Chris (Cheryl) Voisin, Michelle (David) Ivey, four grandchildren; George, Kaleb, Gabriele Voisin, Patrick Ivey; his mother in-law, Mary Dorothy Kochanny; a brother in-law, Gerald Kochanny and extended family Jim & Rita Kometh.

A private Funeral Mass with family and close friends will be celebrated Monday, August 29, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. from St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. Rev. Fr. William J. Rutkowski will officiate with Inurnment in St. Patrick Cemetery. Pursuant to the family’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation at the funeral home or church. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider St. Stanislaus Grade School Library Fund.

Occupation: Taught drafting at Adam Kolb Intermediate School, Bay City, Michigan 5

Occupation: Co-op coordinator, Bay City Central & Western High School 6

Occupation: Taught evening classes at Delta College 7

Footnotes
  1. Voisin, Harold Joseph, Correspondence from Voisin, Harold (9-9-1973, 9-23-2000) [606].
  2. Harold Voisin to Mary Lou Elias, 17 January 2005, Papers of Mary Lou Elias. [371], 6 pages, 3 pictures enclosed.
    Quality: 3.
  3. Ivey, Michelle Renee (Voisin), Correspondence from Ivey, Michelle [401], E-Mail to Mike Voisin, September 6, 2005.
  4. Morning Sun; Online archives (http://www.themorningsun.com/: accessed). [16], Harold J. "Harry" Voisin; Obituary; 27 August 2005; copied; 6 September 2005.
    Quality: 2.
  5. Voisin, Harold Joseph, Correspondence from Voisin, Harold (9-9-1973, 9-23-2000) [606].
  6. Ibid.
  7. Ibid.
  8. Ibid.
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Citation: Mike Voisin, iSeeAncestors (https://iSeeAncestors.com/tree/groups/public/grp50053.php : revised June 12, 2023), Harold Joseph "Harry" Voisin.

Revised: June 12, 2023

Copyright © 2000-2023 Mike Voisin. All rights reserved.

Source: Mike Voisin   Website: https://iSeeAncestors.com   E-Mail: MikeVoisin@iSeeAncestors.com