John P. Lee
John P. Lee, 82, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away March 24, 2002.
He was born
July 6, 1919, in New York City, to the late Phillip and Louise (Phillips) Lee. He came to this area in 1986 from New York, after retiring with 21 years of service at Flushing Hospital. He served his country with the Army in the 372nd Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He attended Saint Martin's Episcopal Church in New York and was an avid bowler.
John will be greatly missed by his wife, Estelle; daughter, Denise Ebron-Harrison of Port Charlotte; grandsons, Andre Locust of San Antonio, Texas, and Malik Locust of Port Charlotte; sisters, Daisy Lee and Ianthe Petties, both of New York; niece, Valerie Petties of New York; and two great-grandchildren.
Services in celebration of John's life will be private. Inurnment will take place at Charlotte Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services.
Cheryl L. Riedel
Cheryl L. Riedel, 33, of Punta Gorda, Fla., and formerly of Michigan, died April 2, 2002.
Cheryl had resided here since 1995, coming from Michigan. Cheryl worked at the Charlotte Harbor Raw Bar. Beautiful inside and out, Cheryl always lit up a room with her humor, laughter and smile. She saw the best in everyone and was loved for her incredibly caring, giving, and big heart. She will be missed by all.
Surviving are her parents, Patricia L. and Thomas Wiegand of Punta Gorda and Charles F. and Dorothy Riedel of Daly City, Calif.; sisters, Catherine T. Riedel of Oakland, Calif., Lorene G. Riedel of Punta Gorda, and Susan M. (Brian) Roessler of Osprey, Fla.; a brother, Stephen M. (Judy) Wiegand of Sterling Heights, Mich.; maternal grandmother, Grace Riedel of Sterling Heights; and aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6, in the Punta Gorda Chapel of the Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, with the Rev. Tim Stewart officiating. The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 5, at the funeral home. Cheryl, we love you and pray you've found love and peace.
Gladys Kester-Ward
Gladys Kester-Ward, 82, of North Port, Fla., died on April 2, 2002.
She was born
July 17, 1919, in Rock Island, Ill. She moved to this area in 1983 from Rock Island. She was a member of North Port Community United Church of Christ, and the U.C.C. Women's Fellowship.
She is survived by her husband, Frederick W. Ward of North Port; a son, Jack Stephen Kester of Rock Island; two daughters, Patricia Jeanne Lerch of Illinois City, Ill., and B. (Jodi) Jolene Butz of Moline, Ill.; a sister, Bernice LaPorte of Silvis, Ill.; eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. She will be sadly missed by her husband, children, grandchildren, sister and other family in Illinois and many friends and acquaintances in North Port.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, April 8, at North Port Community United Church of Christ.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238. Farley Funeral Home, North Port Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Harold C. Brooks Jr.
Harold C. Brooks Jr., 79, of Arcadia, Fla., died April 2, 2002, in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Mr. Brooks was born
Jan. 4, 1923, in Muskegon, Mich., and moved to Arcadia 13 years ago from Muskegon. He was a retired tool maker for an aircraft manufacturer. He was of the Protestant faith, a member of DAV Woodtayloor Post No. 2 and American Legion Post No. 0397 of Holton, Mich.
He is survived by his wife, Laura E. Brooks of Arcadia; four sons, Kevin (Barbara) Brooks of Washington state, Douglas Lory of Muskegon, Kelless Lory of Atlanta, Ga., and Bernard (Georgia) Lory of Whitehall, Mich.; two daughters, Lucy Johnson and Terry Dupre, both of California; a brother, Donald (Lenora) Brooks of Blue Lake, Mich.; two sisters, Lois (Laverne) Medendorp of Twin Lake, Mich., and Linda (Harley) Bonebrake of Michigan; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at a later date in Muskegon. Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home, Arcadia, will be in charge of local arrangements.
John Smith Jr.
John (Dick) Smith Jr., 78, of Arcadia, Fla., passed away at his home April 3, 2002.
He was born
in Covington County, Ala., on Aug. 11, 1923, to John and Alice Smith. He married Mildred Sally Campbell on May 26, 1946. Together they moved to Arcadia in 1948 from Milton, Fla. Known as "Tater," Mr. Smith retired from the DeSoto Correctional Institution in 1987, after 23 years of service as the carpenter instructor. He was a former civil service employee and a member of First Church of the Nazarene in Arcadia. He was an avid fisherman, having caught two small bass, more than 10 pounds each, which were mounted for bragging.
Dick is survived by his loving wife, Mildred; a son, John R. (Angela) Smith III, Arcadia; four daughters, Mary (Junior) Spivey of Apex, N.C., Sheila (Earl) Metty, Wara (Bill) Albaugh, all of Arcadia, Dixie (Roger) Cunningham of Grand Blanc, Mich.; six grandchildren, Ricky (Gloria) Spivey, Shannon Spivey, Kevin Metty, Brian Metty, Wendy (IV) Floyd, Sandrea Waggoner; two step-grandchildren, Seth (Nicole) Albaugh and Stephanie O'Dell; two great-grandchildren, Richard Spivey and Emma Floyd; two step-great-grandchildren, Alexander Albaugh and Austin O'Dell and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his sister, Myrtle Bohannon; two brothers, Wilmer (Will) Smith and William T. (Snow) Smith; his parents; and an infant son, John (Dickie) Smith.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 5, at the Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home, Arcadia. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at First Church of the Nazarene, Arcadia, with Burial to follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery, with the Rev. Kevin Crimmins officiating.
John J. Cannarelli
John Joseph Cannarelli, 84, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away April 3, 2002.
Arrangements are by National Cremation Society.
Leonie Frasier
Leonie Frasier, 91, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died March 30, 2002, at Fawcett Memorial Hospital, Port Charlotte. Arrangements are by Paul Schelm Funeral Home, Port Charlotte.
John E. Alman
John Edward Alman, 56, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died March 20, 2002.
He was born
Nov. 3, 1945, in Queens, N.Y., and had lived in Port Charlotte for the past five years.
Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Alman; a granddaughter, Nicole; and a sister, Anne DeFranco, all of Port Charlotte.
A memorial service will be conducted from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 25, at the Port Charlotte Chapel of Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.
Robert W. Lentz
Robert W. Lentz, 87, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away March 21, 2002.
He was born
in Irwin, Pa., to the late Joseph and Lillian (Wagner) Lentz. Mr. Lentz moved to Port Charlotte from Murrysville, Pa. He was a captain in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945, in the 4th Infantry Division, 12th Infantry Regular. He served in the front-line infantry from the D-Day assault on Utah Beach to V-E-Day. He retired from U.S. Steel in 1970 and was of the Baptist faith. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Port Charlotte, Port Charlotte Elks Lodge, American Legion, Scottish Rite of Valley of Fort Myers and Masonic Lodge 699 of Penn Hills, Pa.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth M. Lentz. He is survived by a son, John M. Lentz of Geneva, Ill., a daughter, Gayle L. Bina of Macon, Ga.; seven grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Graveside services will be announced at time of interment in Pennsylvania. Memorial may be made to Bethphage Mission, P.O. 67, Axtell, NE 68924. Local arrangements under the direction of Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Emilio P. Panateri
Emilio Paul Panateri, 87, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away March 20, 2002.
He was born
in Chicago, Ill., to the late Luigi and Maria (Rizzo) Panateri. He retired from the railroad before moving here in 1975. He was a member of NARVARE Unit 113 of Port Charlotte and Port Charlotte Elks No. 2153. Mr. Panateri loved life and will be missed.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Thelma P. Panateri; a son, John Foran of Sunrise Beach, Fla.; two brothers, Ernie Panateri of Chicago Heights, Ill., and George Panateri of Skokie, Ill.; a sister, Elvira Brennen of Port Charlotte; and several nieces and nephews.
Local services are under the direction of Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Alice Marie Beglinger
Alice Marie Beglinger, 93, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died on March 26, 2002.
She was born
on Dec. 15, 1908, in Pittsburgh, Pa. She was a product demonstrator with the Duquesne Light Company in Pittsburgh, Pa., for 17 years, retiring in 1963. She moved to this area in 1964. She was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Port Charlotte. She was an honorary member of Epiphany Guild in Venice, Fla., and on the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Council of Catholic Women in Port Charlotte.
She is survived by a daughter-in-law, Betty Beglinger of DesMoin, Wash.; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 4, 2002, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Charles Education Foundation, 21505 Augusta Ave., Port Charlotte, FL 33952.
Farley Funeral Home, North Port Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Violet Mary Martineau
Violet Mary Martineau, 90, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died on Thursday, March 28, 2002. Formerly of Fenton, Mich., she had resided here since 1978.
She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Lawrence; children, Robert Brohn, of Sarasota, Fla., Thomas Force of Grayling, Mich., Sharon Lyn Mills of Naples, Fla., Sandra J. Shepherd of Fenton, Mich., Marlene A. Renaud of Belleville, Mich., Gerald Martineau of Brent, Mich., and Sharon Marie Rich of Hillman, Mich.; one brother, Bill Wilson of Durand, Mich.; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Graveside services and inurnment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Grand Blanc, Mich.
Arrangements by Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Homes, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Fred B. Powers
Fred B. Powers, 83, of Sun City Center, Fla., died Wednesday, March 20, 2002, at South Bay Hospital.
A man of God, an Eagle Scout, an all-American football player, an honor student at Denver University, a successful businessman, a gentleman, a devoted husband, an active member of every community where he lived, and a loving father and grandfather, are some of the accolades one can use to describe Fred Burnett Powers.
Fred came from humble beginnings. He was born
Sept. 23, 1918, to Gertrude Stimpson Powers and Ernest Levy Powers. They lived in a log cabin (still standing in 1987) built by his father in Penrose, Colo., where his father worked as a fruit farmer until he moved his family to Silver Plume, Colo.
When Fred was 7, his family moved to Denver, where his father worked for the Public School System until his retirement.
Always a good student, Fred attended Denver University and become involved in many student activities. He was president of ODK, a national honorary fraternity for men, and was a member of three other fraternities including Kappa Sigma.
For many years, his name remained in the record books for having kicked the longest field goal (56 yards) in the nation, which was the winning score for the 1937 college game. Fred liked to recall playing against now retired Supreme Court Justice Byron White, a.k.a. "Whizzer," on the Boulder, Colo., campus, One of the many honors he earned during his long life included being named a Pioneer in his senior year, one of 10 outstanding students on campus. After graduating in 1940, Fred accepted a job with Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, N.Y. He worked 35 years before taking an early retirement in 1956 by using extra credit for his 16 years of service in the Far East.
On Dec. 20, 1940, Fred married his long-time sweetheart, Norma Larson, a fellow graduate of Denver University Business School, and they moved to Rochester, the home of Eastman Kodak.
Several years later, Freddie -- as he was called by his devoted wife of 61 years -- was asked to work on a secret project at Oak Ridge, Tenn. The "Manhattan Project" involved the very important work of producing the uranium isotope used in the first atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 5, 1945. Norma also worked on the Oak Ridge project as a secretary. Their work ended and they returned to live and work in Rochester, where in 1947 their daughter, Penny, was born.
In 1959, Fred was asked to take up responsibilities as assistant manager with Kodak in Manila, Philippines. The Kodak house there was one of the few in the world to have a labor union, and when the Powers arrived, employees were on a sometimes violent strike. When Fred left for work each morning, his driver would call for him with an armed escort. When it was settled, Fred and his family found living in Manila an exciting and wonderfid experience.
He became assistant managing director of Southeast Asia in 1963. By 1968, he was managing director with eight countries under his supervision: Malaysia, North Brunei, Indonesia, South Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma (now Minimar) and Singapore, the center of Kodak operations, where he settled his family.
Fred became very involved in community affairs, including becoming president of the American Men's Organization, which served as a liaison organization to the Singapore government. Fred served as deputy president of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce and was president-elect when he retired in 1975. He was the first American to ever hold either of these positions.
Fred was also very active in Rotary International, and became president of the Circumnavigators International Club, and vice chairman of the Singapore American School Board. One of his proudest moments was presenting Penny her high school diploma. Membership in the Circumnavigators International Club required one to circumnavigate the globe in one direction, which Fred did more than 20 times. Actually, Norma was eligible to belong also as they traveled around the world 22 times. When they went to visit their daughter in America, they always circled the globe.
When Fred retired in 1975, then-Ambassador Edwin M. Cronk presented him and Norma with the U.S. State Department's Distinguished Service Award in recognition of and appreciation for 12 years of outstanding and varied contributions to the American and local community of Singapore. Norma often added "corporate wife" to her list of accomplishments.
The Powers left Singapore on April 21, 1975, a sad day, as it was nine days before Saigon fell to the Communists. Both loved the years they spent there enjoying the culture and other fascinating aspects of living in the Far East.
Fred and Norma moved all their possessions to Punta Gorda to a spot they had chosen through the efforts of Kodak friends already retired. Other Kodak retirees followed.
To keep busy in their new life, both Fred and Norma became active in real estate. Fred joined several organizations, including the Royal Order of Ponce De Leon Conquistadors, serving on its board. He was a Punta Gorda Rotary Club board member, Friends of the Auditorium board member, and a member and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Port Charlotte.
He and Norma became charter members of the Isles Yacht Club. They served as co-chairmen of the Punta Corda Centennial Ball in 1987.
Their love of travel led Fred and Norma to join the Elderhostel program, which took them to many interesting places in America while earning continuing education points. The two were able to attend 40 programs from New York to Hawaii and especially enjoyed meeting other seniors on their travels.
Fred's hobbies included gardening, tennis, spectator sports, dancing, cultural events, bridge and most of all taking care of and riding in his 1926 Model T Ford sport roadster. It was purchased from a farmer in Australia, sent to Singapore and later shipped to the United States with their household belongings. Fred won three trophies in Singapore and Malaysia in various vintage races. He retired "Elizabeth" after the third victory but took it out for a spin several times a week for dozens of years thereafter. It was recently featured in the local anniversary parade.
Another proud moment for Fred was giving Penny's hand in marriage to J. Paul Beitler Jr. of Michigan in 1972. They now have three children and live in Winettka, Ill. The Beitlers also have a home in Boca Grande, Fla., which they use for visits and vacations, enabling Fred and Norma to keep close to their grandchildren through the years.
Several years ago, Fred retired again due to after-effects of heart surgery and chronic fatigue. In 1999, he moved temporarily to Sterling House, an assisted living facility in Punta Gorda Isles, while Norma oversaw the selling of their home and moving. In early January 2000, they moved to Freedom Plaza in Sun City Center. taking their Singapore treasures with them.
Since moving to Sun City Center, Fred has been in the Assisted Living of Freedom Plaza while Norma maintains their apartment in Bldg. 10 and is caretaker for the Model T.
Survivors include his wife, Norma L.; daughter, Penny and husband Paul Beitler; three grandchildren, John Paul Beitler III, Justin Powers Beitler and Jessica Penrose Beider; a brother, Leonard and wife Marjorie Powers; a sister-in-law, Marilois and husband Fred Bach; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13, 2002, at the First Presbyterian Church in Port Charlotte, Fla., with the Rev. Homer Ogle officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory be made to the Alzheimer Association for Research, 919 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1100, Chicago, Ill. 60611-1676.
Eventually, their ashes will be scattered together over Pikes Peak in Colorado, where Norma and Fred spent so many wonderful hours.
Arrangements are by Sun City Center Funeral Home, Sun City Center.
Esther C. Wallner
Esther C. Wallner, 88, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died March 28, 2002.
She was born
May 30, 1913, in Germany to the late Johann and Anna (Kroner) Onigkeit. She and her husband, C. Kurt Wallner, spent many years entertaining children in both Europe and New York with handmade marionettes. Mrs. Wallner was the costumer for the marionettes her husband made; she also acted as stage manager, props assistant, box office assistant, and female voice for the marionette cast. She came to this area in 1975 from Remsemburg, N.Y. She retired as restaurant manager at the Suffolk County Air Force Base. Mrs. Wallner was a member of the Ladies of New York Dance Club.
Esther will be greatly missed by her daughter-in-law, Nancy Wallner of Georgia; grandsons, Kurt (Stephanie) Wallner and Michael Wallner, both of Port Charlotte and Robert (Nancy) Wallner of Georgia; granddaughters, Donna (Donald) Montgomery, Devin Wallner, and Lisa (Joe) Paynter all of Georgia; great-grandchildren, Chad Wallner, Brittney Wallner, April Paynter, J.T. Paynter, and Andrew Wallner; brother, Albert Onigkeit of Germany; and nieces, Ruth Swartz and Ingrid Iacovetto, both of California.
Services in honor of Esther's life will be private. Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services.
Charles E. Tannehill
Mr. Charles E. (Chuck) Tannehill, 67, of Englewood, Fla., passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2002, at his summer home in Lineville, Ala.
He was a native of Ohio where he lived until 1968 when he moved to Englewood. Before his retirement he had been employed with GTE as a switchroom technician for 21 years. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1933 in Englewood and the Tig-Mill Hunting Club in Lineville,.
Mr. Tannehill is survived by his wife, Sally Tannehill; one daughter and her husband, Shelly K. Hartzell and Stan Hartzell; one son and his wife, Randy Scott Tannehill and Barbara Tannehill, all of Englewood; six grandchildren, Randy Tannehill and his wife, Mandy Tannehill, Karen Dowd and her husband, Jeremy Dowd, Jennifer Johnson, Kevin Tannehill and his wife, Danielle Tannehill, Nathan Myers and Jonathan Hartzell; and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 6 at John Cotters (Oasis) on Morningside Drive, Englewood.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in memory of Charles Tannehill/ac: Sally Tannehill, NRA-ILA, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030, or Englewood Little League, P.O. Box 605, Englewood, Fla. 34295-0605.
