Leo McIlhargie

Funeral Information

Public visitation will be at Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton from 4:00 – 8:00 PM, Tuesday, September 20, followed by a private funeral mass at St. Felix Catholic Church with burial in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made in Leo’s Honor directly to the Society of the Little Flower (St. Therese of Lisieux) or the Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation and words of condolence may be shared at www.cfcelkton.com.

Family of the Deceased

Survived by his five children, Marsha (Craig) Brown of Grand Blanc, Cyril (Helen) McIlhargie of Petropolis, Brazil, Sheila McIlhargie of East Jordan, Pamela McIlhargey of Caseville and Kevin McIlhargie of Canton; two grandchildren, Cullen (Sara) Brown of Seattle, WA., Larkin Brown of Flint, and two great grandchildren, Rowen Brown-Rivett and Hudson Brown; several step-sisters and brothers, including many nieces and nephews. Proceeding him death were his wife, Mary, infant son, Patrick McIlhargie, sister, Frances “Frankie” Armbruster and younger brother, Reilly Thiel.

Biography

Leo C. J. McIlhargie “Tuffy”, 93 of Caseville, passed away gently in his sleep on September 17, 2016. He was born on March 21, 1923, in Lake Township at the home of his parents Cyril and Marie (Reilly) McIlhargie. After his mother died unexpectedly, Leo and his 2 siblings, went to live with his grandparents (Reilly) until the age of 7. He returned home to the family farm once his father got remarried. Leo attended Lake Township School and was given the nickname “Tuffy” by the older kids at school, because he could hold his own in a fight and was tuff for his size. Leo was always referred by close friends and family as Tuff or Tuffy. He graduated 8th grade and didn’t attend high school, so he could stay home and farm for his father, who had been hurt in a bad car accident and was unable to work the farm without Leo’s help. On October 18, 1947, he was united in Holy Matrimony to Mary Ella Bushey at St. Felix Catholic Church, Pinnebog. Leo and Mary were married 63 years, made their home and raised their family on the 40 acre farm they owned in Lake Township just north of Gott’s Corners. Leo was a loving Husband and Father. He worked as a Finished Carpenter, working for Willie Stein and R.T. Smith Construction until he retired in 2000. Leo helped build many of the homes and cottages along the lake shore and Sand Point, and also worked independently remodeling homes and shingling barns. He was a life-long member of St. Felix and St. Roch Catholic Church’s (Our Lady of Perpetual Help). Leo was an avid hunter who enjoyed going deer hunting with his sons. He shot an elk on a hunting trip to New Mexico. Leo was an excellent trap & skeet shooter and shot competitively in local gun shoots and on the state & national levels at Mason, MI and Vandalia, OH. Leo was a founding member of the Caseville Rod & Gun Club, Wilson’s Gun Club and Bad Axe Gun Club, an NRA Member and Lifetime Member of the National Rifle Association. He enjoyed farming and checking out the crops, gardening, reading, music, played harmonica, dancing the waltz at family weddings with his wife, traveling, visiting with friends and neighbors, enjoyed teasing everyone just a little because he liked them. Past member of the Knights of Columbus, the Caseville Retirement Club, the Caseville Eagles, where he helped with bingo night. Leo loved being a dad, grand-dad and a great grand-dad, and was always very proud of all his children and their accomplishments.

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