Enich, Michael 1918-1978

ENICH, HORNJAK, BRADLEY, STOLL, DAY, IRWIN, VIGNOVITCH, KREUTNER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 9/14/2010 at 19:34:40

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register

MICHAEL ENICH, DISTRICT JUDGE, DEAD HERE AT 59

District Court Judge Michael Enich, 59, was found dead shortly before noon Monday at his home at 1326 Spring St. here.

Authorities ruled the death a suicide.

Judge Enich, who had been on leave from his judicial duties for several months because of illness, apparently took his life Saturday morning. Death was by hanging.

He had returned to his district court post briefly last week.

Funeral services for Judge Enich will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at the Grinnell United Methodist Church, with the Rev. James P. Russell officiating. Music will be provided by Kathleen Heffner, organist, and Larry Robertson, vocalist. Pallbearers will include Judge L.R. Carson, Max Hawkins, Charles M. Manly, Judge Ira F. Morrison, A.J. May, Leroy J. Peterson, Kenneth Pettit, and F.W. Tomasek.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Larry Ely, George Fry, Judge Arthur A. McGiverin, Roy Mushrush, Judge Charles N. Pettit, Herman Snider, and Clark Watkins.

Graveside rites will be conducted by W.H. Noel, commander; Edwin M. Richardson, chaplain; and members of the Grinnell Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Burial will be at Hazelwood Cemetery.

Should friends desire, memorials in Judge Enich's name may be made to the Grinnell Museum Society or the United Methodist Church.

BORN AT BOONE

The son of Peter and Mary Hornjak Enich, he was born Sept. 20, 1918, at Boone. He was graduated from Boone High School in 1937, where he was inducted into an honorary scholastic society. He was an all-state football player and received honorable mention in basketball during his high school years.

He attended the University of Iowa, graduating with a B.A. degree in economics in 1941.

Known by many as "Iron Mike," he was a member of the famous "Ironmen" football team at the University of Iowa, serving as co-captain in 1939 and captain in 1940. He was selected as an all-Big Ten and all-American lineman, and had played in the East-West Bowl game. He was selected as one of 12 members of his senior class for induction into an honorary scholastic society.

Following his graduation, he was accepted in officers candidates school in the U.S. Marine Corps. For the next five years, he served with distinction in the South Pacific theater. He received severe chest wounds at Okinawa in 1945, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart. Following hospitalization, he was discharged as a major in 1946. He was later appointed lieutentant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves.

LAW SCHOOL

He returned to the Unviersity of Iowa where he attended law school, receiving his juris doctor degree in 1948. He was again honored for scholastic achievement by membership in Omicron Delta Kappa.

Following his graduation from law school, he lived in Kansas City, where he was associated with the Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. for 10 years. He and his former wife, the late Gladys Marjorie Bradley Enich, came to Grinnell to make their home, and he established his law practive here. In 1963, he was elected Poweshiek County attorney. He was appointed to the district court bench in November 1971 by Governor Robert Ray.

On Sept. 29, 1971, Judge Enich was married to Clarice Stoll of Des Moines.

MEMBERSHIPS

Judge Enich was a member of the United Methodist Church and the Methodist Men's Club, and he had served on many lay committees of the church, including the administrative board. He was also a member of the American Legion, the Elks Club, the Lions Club, the VFW, and several legal societies and associations. He had served as president of the Grinnell Museum Society.

Surviviors include his wife, Clarice; two step-children, Don C. Day of Minneapolis, Minn., and Mrs. John (Kathy) Irwin of Des Moines; four step-grandchildren; two brothers, Dan Enich of Atchison, Kan., and Mitchell Enich of Falls Church, Va.; and three sisters, Mrs. George (Hannah) Vignovitch and Mrs. Sophie Kreutner, both of Boone, and Miss Mildred Enich of Sault St. Marie, Mich.

He was preceded in dseath by his parents.