Aaron Vernor Joseph SWEENEY [1483]
- Born: 27 April 1917, Stirlingville, Chippewa, Michigan, United States
- Marriage (1): Eleanor MORROW [1846] on 17 October 1940 in Dafter, Chippewa, Michigan, United States
- Died: 27 May 2005 at age 88
Another name for Aaron was Mickey SWEENEY.
FamilySearch ID: LJ26-444.
Noted events in his life were:
1. He worked as a captain of the Vacationland car ferry in Caledonia, Kent, Michigan, United States. Aaron "Mick" Sweeney was the captain of the largest car ferry which brought cars back and forth between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas. The ship's role ended with the building of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957. Ironically Aaron's youngest son Robert is now in charge of the operation of the Mackinac Bridge.
2. His obituary was published in the Soo Evening News on 28 May 2005 in Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, Michigan, United States.
Aaron Sweeney
Story created May 28, 2005 - 15:38:02 EDT.
Aaron "Mickey" Sweeney, 88, of Kincheloe and St. Ignace died Friday morning, May 27, 2005 at Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care. He was born April 27, 1917 in Stirlingville and grew up in the Barbeau area.
He is the last captain from the ferry boats which crossed the Straits of Mackinac before the bridge. His parents were Eugene Richard and Ada Alice (Gray) Sweeney.
He married Eleanor Morrow on October 17, 1940 in Dafter Township, near Barbeau. She died March 17, 2000. They lived in St. Ignace until retirement, and moved to Kincheloe in 1996, on the golf course, where he played daily.
He was an avid hunter and faithful member of Holy Family Catholic and also St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in St. Ignace.
He started work on the ferries on August 15, 1938. He was a deck hand on the Munising and the Cheboygan. He wheeled on the Cheboygan and the Petoskey, after being involved in the christening, and earned his "AB" in 1940. He made 3rd Mate in 1945, 2nd Mate in 1950, and was 1st Mate on the Vacationland in 1951. He took the Vacationland on trial runs during the building at River Rouge in the fall of 1950, and brought her up to St. Ignace in January 1951. He was Alternate Captain, during Capt. Nelson's absence, then served as Full Captain.
In November 1957, he transferred to the State of Michigan Highway Dept. as Garage Foreman, and retired in 1980 as Superintendent for the Highway Department after 42 years of service to the State of Michigan.
Survivors include his seven children: Eugene (Kathy) of Marquette, Dennis of Marquette, Richard of St. Ignace, Robert (Maureen) of St. Ignace where he made his home the past nearly two years, Kathleen (Joe) Giannunzio of Redmond, Wash., Mary (Rob) Mumford of Hanville, Wash., Cynthia (Mark) McGuire of Lake Stevens, Wash.; 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Richard J., and two sisters: Edith and Ethel.
Friends may call at the Dodson Funeral Home in St. Ignace on Monday, May 30, from 4-8 p.m., with prayers at 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, May 31 at 10 a.m. at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in St. Ignace with Fr. Jim Williams officiating. Burial will be Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Cemetery, Donaldson.
Pallbearers will be his grandchildren. Lt. Aaron Sweeney will do a eulogy and readings at the mass.
Aaron married Eleanor MORROW [1846] [MRIN: 4046], daughter of David MORROW [1876] and Pearl ARNOTT [1875], on 17 October 1940 in Dafter, Chippewa, Michigan, United States. (Eleanor MORROW [1846] was born on 29 July 1917, died on 17 March 2000 and was buried in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas, United States.)
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