Stephen J. Echan

Echan, Stephen J. Saginaw, Michigan A native of Duryea, Pennsylvania, Steve Echan passed away February 5, 2014, in Saginaw, Michigan. He was born March 18, 1933. He attended Holy Rosary Catholic School in Duryea, being confirmed on May 5, 1943. He delivered the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader newspaper, and worked at a local grocery store after school and on Saturdays. After graduating from Duryea High School in 1951, Steve assembled chain and cable security nets for US mainland coasts during the Korean War. Drafted in 1953, Sgt. Echan served in Seoul, Korea, expatriating prisoners of war, and was later stationed in Hawaii. Upon returning to Duryea in 1955, Steve attended Wilkes-Barre University, and was employed in the residential building-remodeling trade, before responding to a newspaper ad for real-personal property trainee with J.M. Cleminshaw Company of Cleveland, Ohio in 1957.His career begin in Holland, Michigan, expanding to St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Traverse City and Cheboygan areas. He relocated to Fond-du-Lac, Wisconsin, then traveled to Iowa, Wyoming and Montana doing Cleminshaw-contracted appraisals for insurance and taxation purposes, including residential and commercial properties, agricultural lands, national parks and industrial facilities. From 1966 to 1993, Echan served as Saginaw County Equalization Director, responsible for real estate and personal property tax records in cities, townships and villages throughout Saginaw County. He enjoyed meeting people and explaining the importance of accurate and responsible property assessment practices. The first county in the State of Michigan to provide computerized records of assessment and tax information, Saginaw County's system was after regarded as a model for other areas throughout Michigan. His introductory remarks at government meetings often began, "If I'm wrong, I'll be the first to back down, but let's be fair and look at the whole picture. We want everyone to benefit from the taxation process." Stephen is survived by wife, Sandra, mother-in-law, Margaret Strobel, of Saginaw; brother-in-law, Gary Strobel, of Rio Rancho, NM; niece, Sandra (David) Schimmel, of Duryea, PA, and her sons, Scott Schimmel of Harrisburg, PA, and Brett Schimmel of Chicago, IL; nephew, Stanley Nazarchuk, of Duryea, PA, and his children, Rebekah Nazarchuk of Clarks Summit, PA, Eric Nazarchuk, of Duryea, PA, and Stanley C. (Jennifer) Nazarchuk and their children, Kyle and Alex, of Lebanon, PA; extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Matilda Echan, sisters, Dorothy (Edward) Yucas, and Helen (Stanley) Nazarchuk, father-in-law, Clifford Strobel, and numerous relatives and friends. Duryea, Pennsylvania arrangements for graveside services at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Carverton, Pennsylvania, on February 12, 2014, were provided by Bernard J. Piontek Funeral Home, Inc., 204 Main Street, Duryea, PA. February 15, 2014 prayers at Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Duryea, Pennsylvania, were followed by a meal for family and friends at Arcaro and Genell's, 443 S. Main Street, Old Forge, Pennsylvania. Saginaw, Michigan arrangements were provided by W. L. Case & Company Funeral Directors, 4480 Mackinaw Road, Saginaw, Michigan. Online condolences may be forwarded at www.casefuneralhome.com

Funeral Home:
W. L. Case and Company Mackinaw Funeral Chapel
4480 Mackinaw Road
Saginaw, MI
US 48603