Former Sumpter Twp. Supervisor Elmer Parraghi dies June 8

Elmer Parraghi, who was elected to four terms as Sumpter Township supervisor, died on Monday, June 8, at his home in Sumpter at the age of 87.
A funeral will be held at noon, Friday, June 12, at Michigan Memorial Funeral Home in Flat Rock.
Mr. Parraghi was elected to three, 2-year terms as supervisor in 1972, 1974, and 1976. He then was elected to a four-year term as supervisor in 2000.
He was recalled twice — once along with the whole board and then reelected at the next election – and once in 2003.
In 2008 he ran against Johnny Vawters in the Democratic primary and lost.
Mr. Parraghi and his wife Jeanette, who have lived in Sumpter for 55 years, had four children: Larry, Bill, Deb, Clay, and Mark.
He was a retired federal mediator and labor relations director. Mr. Parraghi was Baptist and a member of the Free and Accepted Masons of Michigan.
He was a member of the Pigeon Club and his hobby was racing pigeons.
Mr. Parraghi had said as supervisor he brought in First Energy, The Oakwood Clinic, the charter for the senior citizens group and the lunch program for the seniors.
“This was all done without the assistance of funding from the landfill,” Mr. Parraghi pointed out in an Independent 2008 Candidate Information form.