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ROBERT O’NEILL DOWNING
July 17, 1926 - Aug. 15, 2009
Robert Downing of Green Valley passed away peacefully at home from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
Robert was born in Philadelphia, Pa. to Harry L. and Gertrude (Uber) Downing. He graduated from Toms River, N.J. High School, attended Montclair State College in Montclair, N.J. and graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan.
He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a signalman first class aboard the destroyer USS Lowry, seeing action in the Pacific theater and was in Tokyo Bay when the surrender with Japan was signed.
Before moving to Green Valley in 1987, he and his family resided in Neptune and Wall Township, N.J. He worked for many years in New York City, Newark, N.J. and Philadelphia as claims manager for several insurance companies.
Upon retiring, he operated an art appraisal and restoration business in Wall Township. After settling in Green Valley, Robert volunteered for 10 years at the Whipple Observatory on Mt. Hopkins as a tour guide, a job he greatly enjoyed.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Harry Jr., Nelson and Richard; and infant son Robert John.
Survivors are his wife of 59 years, Florence; sons Jeffrey Downing (Vicki) of Glassboro, N.J. and James Downing (Isabel) of Madrid, Spain; daughter Karen Downing (Hugh Pilkington) of Suffolk, UK; and four grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the AZ Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Assoc., 2033 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85719 or to your favorite charity. Arrangements entrusted to Adair Dodge Chapel 1-520-326-4343.
RUTH P. RANDALL
RUTH P. RANDALL, 78, died at her home in Estes Park, Colo. on Aug. 11, 2009, after a four year battle with cancer.
She was born in Fort Collins, Colo. on Feb. 18, 1931, the daughter of Dr. Wesley E. Pyke and Lela Pyke. Dr. Pyke was the head of the chemistry department at Colorado State University.
Ruth graduated from Fort Collins High School in the class of 1949 and later received a B.S. in foods and nutrition at CSU. She was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
Ruth married James A. “Jim” Randall, a forestry graduate of CSU on Feb. 18, 1953, and the couple had two sons, Robin W. Randall born in Carlsbad, N.M., and Wayne J. Randall born in Douglas, Ariz.
The Randall family lived at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, N.M., Chiricahua National Monument, Ariz., Fairfax, Va., Lassen Volcanic National Park, Calif., Springfield, Va., Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz., Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Utah, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colo. and Wind Cave National Park, S.D.
Ruth started the recycling program at Rocky Mountain National Park and wrote “Eco Echoes” for the park newsletter. She volunteered at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and worked many years at Judy’s Flowers. In the early 70s, Ruth and Nancy Swickard organized and directed the Estes Park Learning Exchange which involved local talent and expertise giving classes and programs in crafts and various other skills. She enjoyed golf, the book club, hiking and camping, sailing at Lake Granby and the Sea of Cortez, and rafting on the Colorado, Yampa and Green Rivers. The couple have spent the last several winters in Green Valley.
She was preceded in death by her son Wayne Randall; and is survived by her husband Jim and son Robin Randall of Estes Park.
No memorial service is planned, but a remembrance will be held later in the fall.
Any contributions in her name may be made to the Hospice of Estes Valley, P.O. Box 2740, Estes Park, CO80517.
MARJORIE ELISABETH HAWLEY NUNN
MARJORIE ELISABETH HAWLEY NUNN passed away at her home at Silver Springs on Aug. 6, 2009.
A longtime resident of Green Valley, she was born on March 28, 1917, in Herington, Kan., daughter of Carrie Cutter Hawley and Harold Cartlidge Hawley. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 1938, with a degree in pharmacy and worked at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kan. till her marriage to John Douglas Nunn in 1940.
They moved to Louisville, Ky. in 1941. She worked in the pharmacy of St. Anthony’s Hospital in the 1970s and volunteered at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. One of the founding members of River Road Country Club, she played championship golf in Louisville for many years.
In 1984, Marge and Doug moved to Green Valley where she continued to enjoy golf and duplicate bridge. She was a member of the Green Valley Community Church and an active participant in the Forum. She tutored young children in reading and supported many local charities, including the Desert Museum and Friends of Madera Canyon.
She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Douglas Nunn; brother Kenneth Hawley; daughter Diane Nunn Banks; son John Douglas Nunn Jr.; granddaughters Gaia Banks, Amanda Banks, Carrie Teaford, Hosanna Banks, Clare Banks and Morgan Nunn; grandson John Douglas Nunn III; and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Silver Springs on Aug. 29 at 2 p.m. Memorial gifts may be made to the Friends of Madera Canyon, PO Box 1203, Green Valley, AZ 85622.
JOE D. HARVEY
JOE D. HARVEY died at 5:10 p.m. on Dec. 23, 2009.
Born in Kenton, 0hio, on March 26, 1934, Joe retired to Naubinway, Mich. in 1992, before moving to Green Valley in 1994.
After graduation from Kenton High School in 1952, he was a member of the U.S. Air Force from 1952 to 1956 and first lived in Arizona from 1957 to 1968.
A graduate of the University of Arizona, he worked for Magma Copper Co. and and was a valued and highly popular member of the faculties of First Avenue Elementary School and San Manuel High School in San Manuel, Ariz. During this period, Joe was an active member of San Manuel BPOE Lodge 2007 where he filled all chairs including that of Exalted Ruler.
In December of 1968, Joe returned to Kenton, where he married his high school sweetheart and joined the faculty of Kenton High School where he was, again, a very valuable and popular member of the teaching staff for 23 years before retiring in 1992.
After retirement, Joe and Connie left Michigan to return to Arizona, settling in Green Valley where Joe was able to pursue his hobbies of golf and clay sculpting.
Joe was preceded in death by his mother Madeline and his father Louis.
He is survived by Connie, his wife of 40 years; two sons Michael and Mark (Christie); two daughters Michelle (Boghosian) and Stacy (Stan Davis), all of California; two stepsons Eric (Amy) and Evan Moore of Kentucky; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; brothers Jim (Sue) and Tom (Judy); and several nieces and nephews; as well as many cousins in Grosse Pointe, Mich.
Friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life service which will be held on Jan. 16, 2010, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Canoa Hills Social Center, 3660 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley.
Additional services and interment of remains will be held in Kenton, Ohio, at St. John’s United Church of Christ on May 8, 2010.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Hardin County Hospice, 15 N. Detroit St., Suite 4000, Kenton, OH 43326, or a charity of their choice.
BOBBY RICHARDSON
BOBBY RICHARDSON of Green Valley, and formerly of Elgin, Ill., passed Dec. 25, 2009.
Preceded in death by grandmother Kitty; father Sonny; mother Maggie; and stepsister Verna, he is survived by his loving wife Susan; his uncle Robert; three children Denise, Reggie and Jennifer; and grandchildren Brittney, Brandon Jared, and Braxton.
He retired from a life of public and community service with the City of Elgin. He was very involved with his local community by participating as a chairperson of Head Start, assistant coach for Little League sports and served his country in the U.S. Navy.
Bobby loved life, was a golf member of the Country Club of Green Valley and Desert Hills Golf Club. He was an avid bowler and jazz music enthusiast. He contributed to the lives of friends around him with random acts of kindness.
There will be a Celebration of Life Ceremony held at the Elks Lodge in Green Valley on Monday, Jan. 4 at 5 p.m.
MARIE SELMA FISCHER
MARIE SELMA FISCHER, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2010, at the age of 91.
She was born to John and Anna Fischer in Ute, Iowa on Aug. 25, 1918. She raised her children in Wibaux and Bozeman, Mont., later retiring with her husband Willis Fischer to Green Valley.
In 2002, Marie moved to Quail Lakes in Stockton, Calif. and moved to The Commons on Thornton, also in Stockton in August of 2009. At The Commons Marie made new friends, and she loved and was loved by the staff.
Marie was preceded in death by Willis Paul Fischer, her husband of 46 years; and by her daughter Kathryn Fischer.
She is survived by her son John Paul Fischer and daughter-in-law Valerie Fischer of Stockton; grandchildren Paul Fischer of Sausalito, Calif., Elizabeth Fischer of Oakland, Calif., Thomas Bodine of Minneapolis, Minn., Amy Hedquist of Eagan, Minn. and Matthew Bodine of Spearfish, S.D.; and three great-grandchildren.
Marie was a homemaker, active in the Lutheran Church and active in the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She enjoyed creating artwork in oils, pastels and watercolor, played golf, and was an avid reader and crossword puzzle fan. Marie will be missed by all who knew her.
Interment will be in Arizona. A private Celebration of Life will be held in San Francisco.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in memory of Marie Fischer to The Resident Council - Employee Fund, The Commons on Thornton, 10711 Thornton Rd. Stockton, CA 95209.
GRACE M. WARTGOW
GRACE M. WARTGOW, 85, of Green Valley and formerly of Park Falls, Wisc., died on Aug. 25, 2010.
The daughter of Ernest and Elsie Bergmark, she was born in Park Falls on May 28,1925. Grace was a retired business woman, having been an owner and manager of Wartgow’s Grocery and Wartgow’s Drug Store, both in Park Falls.
After retiring in 1985, Grace moved with her husband to Green Valley, where she became a volounteer at the Titan Missile Museum and the American Legion Post #66.
She is survived by daughter Vicki (Dick) Chvala of Green Valley; son Jeff (Lynn) Wartgow of DeWitt, Iowa; and daughter Amy (Eric) Schreiber of Peoria, Ariz.; as well as seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brothers Eugene (Delores) Bergmark; Richard (Karen) Bergmark; and Donald (Jean) Bergmark.
Grace was preceded in death by her parents; Eugene, “Bud,” her husband of 61 years; a brother; daughter-in-law; and grandson.
A memorial service celebrating Grace’s life was held on Saturday, Aug. 28 at Valley Presbyterian Church in Green Valley.
CHARLES B. CRAIG
“CHARLIE,” 84, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010, at Peppi’s House Hospice in Tucson.
He was born in Lincoln, Neb. on July 31, 1926, but resided in Milford, N.H. until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1944. He retired from the Navy in 1967, and opened his own auto repair shop in Santa Clara, Calif. until his final retirement in 1988 where he and his wife Geana settled in the Green Valley RV Resort in Green Valley.
Charlie was well known for his cooking at the resort and American Legion Post 66. He was a member of Green Valley American Legion Post 131, The Fleet Reserve Association, VFW Post 549, Forty and Eight Tucson Voiture 73 and Sahuarita Elks Lodge 2851.
He is survived by Inez “Geana” Craig, his wife of 53 years; son Steven Craig; daughters Joni Hally, Robyn Craig and Christine Simmons; as well as grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Memorial Services will be held at American Legion Post 131 in Green Valley on Sept. 25, 2010 at 11 a.m.
LOY VAN NATTER
LOY VAN NATTER, 86, a 22-year resident of Green Valley, died Aug. 14, 2010, at University Medical Center in Tucson.
A classically trainer musician and singer, Loy studied at the Julliard School of Music, New York University, the Conservatory in Paris, and the Royal Academy of Music in London. He went on to perform on Broadway and at Carnegie Hall, as well as at overseas venues. His musical repertoire ranged from opera to comedy.
In 1963, he was invited by the Wagner family to perform at the annual Bayreuth Festival in Bayreuth, Germany. His theater credits include roles in “Oklahoma!”, “Brigadoon,” “Paint Your Wagon” and “Carousel.”
Born in Dowagiac, Mich., in 1924, Loy moved to Akron, Ohio, when he was a child. After graduation from high school, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during WWII. He was part of a small advanced group of American soldiers who entered Paris just prior to its liberation.
After the war, Loy moved to New York City to study and work. He later moved to Hollywood, where he continued his musical career. He married Jane Wilbur, an actress, in 1963. The two moved to Green Valley in 1978. In 1990, they produced a play, “Taking My Turn,” to raise money for the Green Valley library.
Loy’s two-volume autobiography, “And Then It Was Winter,” was published in 2010.
He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean. No services are planned.
SUZANNE MERCY WINSOR FREEMAN
SUZANNE MERCY WINSOR FREEMAN, 77, life-long community volunteer, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, of respiratory failure in Tucson.
Suzy made her home in Green Valley since 1997, where she was an active organizer of church and civic events, and known for her broad smile and engaging enthusiasm.
Suzanne was born Jan. 5, 1933, in Olathe, Kan. to Arline (Kinsel) and Frank Ammi Brown, and grew up in Orange and Santa Ana after her family moved to California in 1937. She purchased property in Green Valley in 1982 to be near her half-sister Lucile Smith, becoming a full-time Arizona resident in 1997.
As a mother and homemaker, Suzanne found great satisfaction as a Girl Scout Leader and church volunteer in La Habra, Calif. and later used her community experience as Executive Director of the North Orange County Volunteer Bureau.
In Green Valley, Suzanne served as President of the Villas West Homeowners’ Assoc. where she organized many social events and the annual craft show. She was an active member of the Green Valley Evangelical Free Church Christian Women’s Assoc., Adults Without Partners group, and a frequent Bible study leader. Suzanne was a member of the Green Valley Genealogical Society, always searching for new Winsor cousins. She enjoyed travel, crafts and cooking.
During her final illness, it was her great joy to know that her namesake Charlotte Mercy had been born to her eldest granddaughter Heather Craig and her husband David Ricketts.
Suzanne is survived by daughter Denise and her husband Dan Levenick of Pasadena, Calif.; daughter Deanna and her husband Kip Craig of Silverado Canyon, Calif.; grandchildren Zack Levenick, Heather Craig Ricketts, Christian Levenick, Chelsea Craig, Chloe Craig and Kayli Craig; great-grandchildren Anabelle May Ricketts, Charles Levenick and Charlotte Mercy Ricketts; and sister Frances and her husband Harold Jones of Santa Ana, Calif.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and half-sisters Lucile Paulen Smith of Green Valley and Bernadine Duvall Avery.
A Memorial Service celebrating Suzanne’s life will be held Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. at Green Valley Evangelical Free Church, 1393 West Mission Twin Buttes, Green Valley.
Memorials have been established at the Green Valley Evangelical Free Church, and for the Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Student Genealogical Fund c/o Wells Fargo Bank, Green Valley.
DAROLD “BROCK” BROCKHAUS
DAROLD “BROCK” BROCKHAUS died Sept. 14, 2010, after a five year battle with multiple myeloma.
Brock was born July 18, 1927, in Marion, Wis. He was the youngest of four children of Louis and Tillie Brockhaus. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1950 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration with an accounting major and began working as a public accountant in Marquette, Mich.
On Aug. 26, 1950, he married Phyllis Bednarski. The couple moved to Wausau, Wis. in 1953, where Brock joined Wipfli, Ulrich & Co. He was elected partner in 1961, and served as managing partner from 1977 to 1986. He retired in 1988.
In 1991, he was honored with the Distinguished Career Award for his exemplary record of participation, leadership and dedication, as well as professional accomplishments as president of the Wisconsin Institute of CPAs. He was also a member of the council of American Institute of CPAs.
After retirement, Brock and Phyllis lived at their cottage on Two Sisters Lake in northern Wisconsin during the summer and Green Valley in the winter. Brock enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing, golfing (sorta) and hiking. He continued to be involved with various charitable activities including the White Elephant, income tax preparation for seniors, church finance and endowment committees and the Valley Presbyterian Church choir.
Survivors include Phyllis, his wife of 60 years; daughter Amy (Chuck) Barton of Salida, Colo.; son Robert of Seattle, Wash.; brother Ray (Darhl) of Clintonville, Wis.; and his two grandchildren Elena and Kit Barton.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Beth Brockhaus; and sisters Germaine Schultz and Elaine Rades.
A service celebrating Brock’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, at Valley Presbyterian Church, 2800 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the American Cancer Society (for multiple myeloma research), St. Andrews Children’s Clinic, or the Valley Presbyterian Choir.
