Continuation of tree (5th child of Toussaint Pitre/wife Mary Batour); all known surname descendants:
8 Clarence Obary Petre b: 13 May 1894 Gilford, Tuscola, MI; d: 5 February 1955 Merrill, Saginaw, MI
+Martha J. Leedke b: 4 November 1895 near Hemlock, Saginaw, MI; m: 27 November 1923 Merrill, Saginaw, MI [Herman/Anne Riley]; d: 4 October 1977 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI
9 Donald Frederick Petre b: 1 January 1933 Jonesfield, Saginaw, MI; d: 26 February 2011 Tyler, Smith, TX
+Elvis M. --- m: 26 April 1980 (divorced 3 May 1988 Smith, TX)
*2nd Wife of Donald Frederick Petre:
+Dulsa Lee McCallister (Collum) b: 1 November 1934 Van Zandt, TX; m: 19 September 1988 Smith, TX [William Clyde/Margie Godwin]
9 Suzanne Petre b: 4 January 1935 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI; d: 23 March 1935 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI
9 Dianne Petre b: 4 January 1935 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI; d: 21 February 1935 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI
9 Janet Leona Petre b: 4 August 1936 Merrill area, Saginaw, MI; d: 20 November 1984 St. Louis, MI
+Kenneth John Harris b: 11 August 1931 Lakefield, Saginaw, MI; m: 1 October 1955 Merrill, Saginaw, MI [John J./Etta Almeda Tester]; d: 27 April 1996 Flint, Genesee, MI
Notes for Clarence Obary Petre:
Census
- 1930 Jonesfield, Saginaw, Michigan: Clarence Petre 35 auto industry machinist, wife Martha 34.
- 1940 Jonesfield, Saginaw, MI: Clarence Petre 45 inspector/Eston Mfg Co., wife Martha 44, Donald 7, Janet 3.
- 1950 Jonesfield, Saginaw, MI: Clarence O. Petri 55 barber/barber shop, wife Martha J. 54, Donald F. 17, Janet L. 13.
WWII Records: Clarence Petre, res. Merrill, MI; b. 13 May 1894 Reese, MI; contact Frank Knapp (Merrill, MI); 5' 6", 150 lbs., brown eyes & brown hair, dark complexion; 27 Apr 1942 Saginaw, MI.
photo of Clarence Obary Petre*
Obituary: The Saginaw News (Saginaw, MI), Saturday, 5 February 1955: Petre, O. Clarence, Merrill, Michigan. Passed away suddenly at his home early Saturday morning. Age 60 years. He was born May 13, 1894, in Gilford, and had lived in Saginaw County all of his life, moving to Merrill with his parents in childhood. He married Miss Martha Leedke in Merrill, Nov. 27, 1923. She survives him. He was a veteran of World War I. Mr. Petre was a barber by trade, and operated his shop in Merrill for several years. For the past six years he had been employed at the Laufer Barber Shop on South Hamilton Street in Saginaw. Besides his wife, he leaves one daughter and one son, Pfc. Donald F. Petre, stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Carson, Colo.; Miss Janet L. Petre, at home; also three brothers and four sisters, Walter Petre, Mrs. Sigmund Kwiatkowski, and Mrs. Gerald Trahan, all of Saginaw; Mrs. H. L. Barber, Mrs. Frank Shannon, and Delos Petre, all of Merrill; Floyd Petre, Billings, Mont. Funeral announcement will be made later. Friends may call at the Case Chapel in Merrill after Sunday noon.
Tombstone Inscriptions, Hemlock Cemetery, Hemlock, Saginaw, MI: Clarence O. Petre / Michigan / PVT Co F 19th Infantry / May 13, 1894 - Feb. 5, 1955 // Martha Petre / 1895 - 1977
Tombstone Inscriptions, St. Mary's Cemetery, Hemlock, Saginaw, MI: PETRE / Dianne & Suzanne / 1935
Notes for Martha J. Leedke:
Obituary: The Saginaw News (Saginaw, MI), Tuesday, 4 October 1977: Petre, Mrs. Martha J., Merrill, Michigan. Widow of Clarence Petre passed away early Tuesday morning, Oct. 4, 1977, at St. Mary's Hospital in Saginaw. Age 81 years. Martha J. Leedke was born Nov. 4, 1895, near Hemlock living in Merrill all of her life. She was married to Mr. Petre Nov. 27, 1923. He predeceased her in 1955. Mrs. Petre was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Merrill. Surviving are one daughter and one son, Mrs. Kenneth (Janey) Harris, Merrill; Donald F. Petre, living in Louisiana; six grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Irene Leedke, Saginaw; several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will take place 10:00 a.m. Friday at the Case Chapel in Merrill. Rev. Charles Ganley will officiate with burial in the Hemlock Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel in Merrill after 2:00 p.m. Thursday.
Obituaries for the children:
Janet Leona Petre: The Saginaw News (Saginaw, MI), Tuesday, 20 November 1984: Harris, Janet Leona, Merrill, MI. Passed away Tuesday, Nov. 20, 1984, at the Schnepp Health Care Center in St. Lewis after a lingering illness. Age 48 years. Janet Leona Petre was born Aug. 4, 1936 in the Merrill area. She was a member of the Catholic faith. Surviving are three daughters, Tina Harris of Merrill, Mrs. Ronald (Lori) Allen of St. Charles, Mrs. Rodney (Lisa) Phillips of Montrose; five grandchildren. One grandson predeceased her. She also leaves one brother, Donald Petre of Tyler, Texas. Funeral service will take place 10:00 a.m. Friday at the W. L. Case & Co. Funeral Directors in Merrill. Rev. John J. Thome will officiate with burial in the Hemlock Richland Township Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel in Merrill from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Wed. and then on Thanksgiving Day from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Tombstone Inscription, Richland Cemetery, Hemlock, MI: Mother / Janet L. / Harris / 1936 - 1984. Lakefield Cemetery, Lakefield, MI: Kenneth John Harris / CPL US Army / Korea / Aug. 11, 1931 - Apr. 27, 1996
Back one generation to parents of Clarence Obary Petre
Items in RED have been verified against parish register entries.
- Births/Marriages/Deaths in RED without a church have come from the Michigan Return of Births/Marriages/Deaths (Family Search online - actual pages viewable). While births & marriages name parents, deaths list only age & marital status.
- Michigan deaths between 1897-1920 in RED taken from death certificates (online), which may also include birthdate.
- Some items in RED from obituaries.
Last updated: 10 March 2026.