Earl C. Tilmann

Earl Tilmann, 77, of Beal City, passed away unexpectedly Monday, June 8, 2009, at his home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 11, with Father Thomas J. McNamara presiding. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. in the gathering room at St. Joseph Church with the Vigil beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation continues on Thursday one hour prior to Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph The Worker School. Envelopes will be available at the church or at the Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd. Earl was born Nov. 6, 1931, in Isabella County, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Doll) Tilmann. A graduate of Beal City High School, Earl served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his return, he married Lucille Scully on April 30, 1955, at Sacred Heart Church. Outside of his passion for carpentry, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and was an avid sports fan. He was a member of St. Joseph The Worker Parish and the Knights of Columbus Council 3651 in Beal City. Earl is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lucille; four children, Vickie and Mike Curtiss and their daughter, Mandy, Cathy and Glen Smith and their children, Kelly and Tamra (Josh) Henning, Gary Tilmann and his children, Stephanie, Joe, and Shelby, and Brad and Sidney Tilmann and their children, Jake and Mina. Also surviving are his sister-in-law, Dorothy Tilmann of Beal City; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Carl, Dick, Al, and Don Tilmann; and two sisters, Ada Smith and Edwardine Pung.