George John Hlava
August 30, 2009
George J. Hlava, 87, Sun City, AZ, formerly of Watertown, WI. passed away Sunday, August 30, 2009.
George was born March 6, 1922 to George and Emily Mix Hlava.
He graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1941 and enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1942. He served in the Eighth Air Force, 492nd Bomb Group. He was later with a special operations unit assigned to the OSS, participating in six major operations, including
George Yamaoka
August 29, 2009
Yamaoka, George
82 of Surprise, AZ, passed away on August 29, 2009. He was born in Sacramento, CA in February, 1927. During WW II, he lived in Hiroshima, Japan, where he was a survivor of the atomic bomb. He returned to the United States in 1949, and served in the Army during the Korean War. He lived in Chicago from the early 1950s to 2000, when he and his wife Frances moved to Arizona. He is survived by his wife Frances, son Michael Janet, daughter Pamela Gene Los, and granddaughter Kristen Los. Memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 18, 2009 at Menke Funeral Home, 12420 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City AZ 85351, 623 949-6451.
Vernadell Jean Verhoeven
August 28, 2009
Vernadell B. Jean Verhoeven, 78, of Glendale passed away August 28, 2009. She was born in Meherville, IA. She moved to Arizona in 1970 from Wisconsin and was a Registered Nurse. She is survived by her husband Lewis Larson; sons Alan Verhoeven Diane and Gary Verhoeven; brother Mel Bankes; sisters Marlene Fuller and Aleta Jones; grandchildren Michael, Matthew, Emily, Andrea, Brittany and Lisa; great grandchildren Brenna, Brady and Logan. She was preceded in death by her son Mark Verhoeven. Memorial services will be held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 7205 N. 51st Ave., Glendale, AZ 85301. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church.
Christopher Michael Garcia
August 28, 2009
Christopher M. Garcia, age 18, of Waddell, Arizona, passed from our lives in a sudden and tragic automobile accident on August 28, 2009. Christopher was a student of Millennium High School and was an avid outdoorsman and cowboy. He is survived by his father, Michael Garcia, mother, Tammy Garcia, brothers, Scott McClain and Nicholas Hampton, sisters, Amanda and Danielle Garcia, nephews, Cole, Landon and Max and niece, Taylor, his grandparents, Pat Garcia, Julie Pollard, and Bob Cox along with many aunts, uncles, cousins and wonderful friends too numerous to name. Christopher was preceded in death by his grandfather, Richard Tata Garcia and his Aunt Kathy Garcia.
Please join his family and friends in a Celebration of Christopher’s life from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at Menke Funeral Home, 12420 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City, AZ, on Thursday, September 3, 2009. Services will be held at 11:00 AM at St. Clare of Assissi Catholic Church, 17111 W. Bell Rd, Surprise, AZ, on Friday, September 4, 2009. Chris was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need. So in his memory a memorial in Chris’s name will be established to help someone in need.
Elizabeth Pauline Mowczko
August 25, 2009
Elizabeth Pauline Mowczko died on August 25, 2009. She was born to naturalized Polish immigrants on August 23, 1917 in Buffalo, New York. She was the third eldest of five children, and attended Assumption Parish School. She married her husband Peter on October 5, 1939. Together, they lived in various locations throughout the country, following her husband’s career in the defense and other manufacturing industries.
Elizabeth’s life was complete, filled with many challenges and joys. Challenges began soon after WW II when Elizabeth, Peter, and their two sons, Conrad and William, tried working a small farm in Western New York. Later, the family owned a heating contracting, and a small hardware retail business.
In 1954, Peter embarked on new a career in the defense industry and the family moved to Denver, Colorado. Here is where Elizabeth and Peter started a “second family” with the birth of two more children, Timothy and Maribeth. In 1963, Elizabeth, Peter, Timothy, and Maribeth moved to Orlando Florida, again to follow Peter’s career in the defense industry. There Elizabeth was diagnosed with malignant Melanoma cancer. The treatments were long and difficult, but her internal strength and strong Roman Catholic faith, along with family support helped to survive such a tremendous medical challenge.
Elizabeth experienced many joys throughout her life. She experienced great happiness in seeing her children graduate from high school and college, and move on to succeed in their own career choices. She loved Sunday activities such as drives in the Colorado Rockies and relaxing on the on the Florida Gulf coast beaches. She also enjoyed trips back to Buffalo to visit family and friends. As a devoted wife and homemaker, Elizabeth supported her husband as they moved from times of impoverishment to a comfortable middle class life style. After the death of her husband in 1995, she had the support of her children, which allowed her to spend her final years in her home in Sun City.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents Anthony and Mary Golonka; her husband, Peter; infant son, Ralf, and son, Timothy. She is survived by her youngest sister Florence Antkowiak, of Buffalo, New York; her sons Conrad, of Sun City, Arizona and William JoAnne of Yuma, Arizona; and her daughter Maribeth Larry Bueche of Benton, Arkansas; five grandchildren, Joshua Mowczko of Seattle, Washington; Matthew Mowczko of Germantown, Maryland; Kristin Vince Galaviz of Georgetown, Texas; Katelyn Michael Maranda of Enterprise, Alabama; Sarah Bueche of Benton, Arkansas; and one great-grandchild. Elizabeth will be remembered and missed for her devotion and dedication to family.
Visitation will be held Monday, August 31, 2009, from 5 PM to 8 PM, at Menke Funeral Home, 12420 North 103rd Ave., Sun City, Arizona. A Rosary will be said beginning at 7 PM. A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday at 10:00 am at St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church, 15800 Del Webb Blvd, Sun City, Arizona. Interment will follow at Sunland Memorial Park.
Esther Arleta Dobson
August 24, 2009
Claire E. Eliason
August 23, 2009
Eliason, Claire
June 5, 1915 to August 23, 2009. A retired registered nurse, active community volunteer, and church member. Loving mother of Ken Jacobson wife Bonnie, grandmother of Kimberly Rochte, Tim Jacobson wife Heidi, Michael Jacobson wife Christine all of Michigan. Great-grandmother of seven. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 28, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church, 12225 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City, AZ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Agua Fria Food Bank, PO Box 845, Avondale, AZ 85323.
David Henry Ohngren
August 21, 2009
David Henry Ohngren, 69, of Sun City West, AZ passed away August 21, 2009. David was born Oct. 24, 1939 in Pontiac, Michigan. He served his country in the US Air Force. A retired electrician, he moved to Sun City West in 2007 from Fairhaven, Michigan. He was a member of the Sun City Elks Lodge, American Numismatic Association and the North American Hunt Club. Survivors include his children Michele Schilling Edward, David M. Ohngren Denise and Renee Maggi Jim; brother Gerald Ohngren Beverly; sisters Roberta Jordan Mike, Rita Cummins Alvah and Judy Sasser Arthur; grandchildren Rick Schilling, Adam Schilling, Nicole Knight, Evan, Jordan & Jillian Ohngren and Vincent & Nicholas Maggi and 7 great grandchildren also survive. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church, 15800 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City, AZ. Services will also be held at 11:00 a.m. visitation 9:30 a.m. on Monday, 8-31-2009 at Christ Church of Redford, 14350 Wormer, Redford, MI. Donations are suggested to the Christ Church of Redford, 14350 Wormer, Redford, MI 48239.
Rose Marie Hayslett
August 19, 2009
Robert Leonard Moore
August 14, 2009
Moore, Robert L.
Age 90, went home on August 14, 2009 following his beloved wife Shirley, who passed two weeks prior. He was born in Lowell, MA. He was a veteran of WWII and received his law degree from Northwestern University in Boston. He became the top salesman for Drakes Cakes. A proud Irish American, he loved to meet people and had dozens of friends. He traveled to 56 countries with Shirley. He was our patriarch, strong, feisty and lovable, full of life, jokes and stories. Robert is survived by a daughter, 13 grandchildren, several great grandchildren and a great great granddaughter. He is preceded in death by his wife, Shirley, two daughters, two sons, one granddaughter and one grandson. May God bless him and hold him forever. Funeral service is 9:00 a.m. August 20, National Memorial Cemetery, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix.