John S. Pancrazi, 78, passed away August 19, 2001 at Life Care Center in Yuma, AZ. He was born August 31, 1922 in Yuma, Arizona. He retired from Penn Sign Company. Mr. Pancrazi was an avid golfer & First Club Champion at Yuma Golf & Country Club & Chef Extraordinaire.
Survivors include his wife Dorothy of Yuma, AZ., sons, Bobby Pancrazi of Tempe, AZ., and Mike (Lynne) Pancrazi of Yuma, daughters, Nancy (Jose) Huerta of Rio Rancho, N.M., Mary Beth (Carl) Goff of San Diego, CA., and Carolyn (Eddie) Marquez of Yuma, 14 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Mr. Pancrazi was preceded in death by his parents A.T. and Katie Pancrazi, sisters Estelle Dingess, Josephine Beard and daughter, Jo Estelle.
The family will hold an open house on Friday, August 24, from 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. at 725 10th Avenue.
Mr. Johnnie John Hertz
Mr. Johnnie John Hertz, 84, passed away peacefully at his home on August 19, 2001. He was born on March 9, 1917 in Glen Ullin, North Dakota. Johnnie was a dedicated Catholic; a member and deacon at St. John Neumann Church.
Johnnie was able to complete 8th grade, at which time, he devoted his time to helping his father on the farm. In 1943, he joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Italy. He was a private 1st class belonging to the Medical Detachment 126th Battalion, during World War 2. He won numerous medals and started a lifelong career of driving trucks. He moved to Montana where he worked for Burlington Northern for 30 years. He belonged to Teamsters, The Elks, and Eagles.
He met Rosemary in 1965. they married in 1977. They resided in Great Falls, Montana until 1982, when they moved to Yuma and he continued his truck driving career with Avis Rental and then RV World .
He is survived by wife Rosemary, his sisters Rose Walth of Tacoma, Wa. and Barbara Barry of Laguna Niguel, CA and brother Jake Hertz of Olympic, Wa. He is also survived by 6 stepchildren, numerous grandchildren and great granddaughter. He was a gentleman’s gentleman who enjoyed the open road and touched a lot of lives with his smile, kindness and generosity. Roll on Highway.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Sunset Vista Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday at St. John Neumann Church. Internment will follow at Sunset Vista Cemetery. Arrangements by Sunset Vista Funeral Home, Cemetery and Crematory.
Stephen J. Evans
Stephen J. Evans, 92, passed away August 18, 2001 in Yuma, Arizona. He was born June 19, 1909 in Everett, Massachusetts. Mr. Evans was an owner of a gas & service station in Sharon, PA., was Controller of a mining company and a trucking company in Tucson from 1937- 1965 and Comptroller of the ParkView Baptist Hospital in Yuma, AZ. from 1965- 1976.He served in the Army during World War II. Mr. Evans was a lifetime member of Elks and the Eagles. He was also a n Elder of First Presbyterian Church. Mr Evans was Senior Citizen of the Year at First Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Ruth I. Carlson Evans of Yuma, AZ., daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and John Moody of Ephrata, WA., step-son and daughter-in-law, Merrik and Cheryl Carlson of Harrisburg, S.D., step-daughter and son-in-law, Sue & Ed Olson of Yuma, AZ., step-son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Marianne Carlson of Jefferson, IA., step-son and daughter-in-law David and Ann Carlson of Manly, IA., sister, Julia Hansley of Arlington, TX., 20 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Mr. Evans was preceded in death by his wife, Irene M. Evans, his parents, Joseph and Katherine Evans, 2 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.
Memorial services will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 598 7th Avenue, August 23, 2001 at 4:00 p.m. with Rev. Bill Watkins officiating. His final resting place will be Desert Lawn Memorial Park in Yuma, Arizona. Memorial donations suggested to go to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.
Gloria Jean Menta
Gloria Jean Menta, 58, passed away Friday, August 17, 2001 en route to Yuma Regional Medical Center. She was born on June 25, 1943 in Ft. Yuma, California. Gloria attended Ft. Yuma Indian School in 1960. She was a graduate of Yuma Union High School and attended vocational school at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. Gloria was employed at San Pasqual Unified School District for 29 years as an Instructional Assistant. She became the first Indian Pow-Wow Princess for the Quechan Tribe in 1960. As a child was an outstanding Campfire Girl and was Advisory to the San Pasqual Native American Indian Pay Committees and also a member of the San Pasqual School Year Book Committee.
Gloria is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Patrick J. and Martha Menta of Tempe, AZ; mother, Priscilla G. Webb; sister, Patricia E. Quahlupe; brother, Donald E. Menta, all of Quechan Residence; grandson, Corban Menta of Tempe, AZ; niece, Marian W. Ocegueda of Yuma, AZ; and 25 cousins.
Gloria was preceded in death by her father, Paul L. Menta; and brother, Philip T. Menta.
Funeral services will be held at Kammann Mortuary Chapel on Friday, August 24, 2001 at 3PM.
Ceremonial Rites will follow at the Quechan Cremation Grounds until 6AM, Saturday, August 25, 2001. Avis Black of the Ft. Yuma Methodist Church will officiate. Pallbearers will include; Michael Miguel, Kim Broby, Alvin Nichols, Craig Menta, Jr., Hamilton Menta and Christopher Menta.
Honorary Pallbearers will include; Donald Menta, Gary Menta, Craig Menta, Sr., Merrill Menta, Randall Menta, Ralph Yuma, Gregory Yuma, Frank Escalanti, Adrian Miguel, Rudy Miguel, Rudy Menta Michael Hills and Max Levy.
Barbara J. Millenbach, In Loving Memory
Barbara J. Millenbach was born on March 10, 1931. She passed away on August 13, 2001 after a brief bout with cancer, in Los Angeles, California. A private cremation was held in Los Angeles.
Barbara was an avid outdoors woman, who loved animals, especially dogs and horses. She was active with dog obedience training in the Yuma area. Barbara was the owner of Yuma Business Services, a medical transcription service.
Barbara is survived by her four children; three grandchildren; and many friends.
“We will all miss her.”
A memorial service will be held at a yet undetermined date in the Fall at Shady Hollow Equestrian Center.
John S. Pancrazi
The Pancrazi family regrets leaving out a very important part of John S. Pancrazi ‘s life, his brothers Robert (Carolyn) and Ernest (Pierrette) Pancrazi. We apologize for the omission.
Phyllis Porter
Phyllis Louise Porter, 65, passed away at Y.R.M.C. on August 14, 2001. She was born on October 8, 1935 in Plymouth, Massachusetts to Ernest and Louise Nickerson. Phyllis enjoyed working at K-Mart with her friends for 17 years.
Phyllis is survived by her husband Ralph of 47 years; daughter, Teresa Thompson of Pocatello, Idaho; sister, Brenda Humphreys of Temple, Texas and Phyllis’s adopted Lake Havasu Family, the Locatis’s.
We wish to express our Thanks to the staff of Y.R.M.C. in particular I.C.U. Nurse Claudia.
Walter Richard Pounds
Walter Richard Pounds, 74, of Yuma, Arizona, formerly of Longmont, Colorado and Lafayette, Colorado, passed away on Thursday, August 16, 2001 in Yuma, Arizona. Funeral services were on Monday, August 20, 2001 at St. Stephens Epicopal Church in Longmont, Colorado with Father Steven K. Reed officiating. Interment will be in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens at Lafayette, Colorado. Military graveside rites performed by the U. S. Navy Honor Guard.
Walt was born March 25, 1927 at Ogallala, Nebraska to Horace Chase “Pete” and Minnie Viola (Boss) Pounds. he was raised on a wheat and cattle farm in Ogallala, Nebraska which was originally homesteaded by his grandparents. He graduated from Ogallala High School in 1945. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy and was stationed in Okinawa during WWII with the CBMU 579. He married Virginia Mae (Molle) Swantkoski on October 16, 1947 in Grant, Nebraska and to this union eight children were born. Virginia preceded him in death on October 10, 1984. He started KB Denver, a data entry firm which he later sold to the Square D Corp. He retired from Square D in 1989. After several years of traveling and as Walt was concerned a “much to quiet” retirement, he returned to farming, the satisfying toil of his youth. Walt married Kathleen Marie Poscharsky on June 14, 1986 at Longmont, Colorado. In 1995, they purchased land and started a small citrus grove on the mesa in Yuma, Arizona. They did business as “Citrus By The Pounds” and Walt enjoyed cultivating his citrus groves, “puttering” in his workshop and watching the abundant wildlife on the farm. He took tremendous pride in keeping his groves “weed free” often farmers told him he was going to “wear out” the ground because he cultivated it so often.
Walt was a member of the St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Longmont, Colorado, an inactive member of the B. P. O. E., and a lifetime member of the VFW.
Walt is survived by his wife, Kathleen M. Pounds of Yuma, AZ; sons and daughters-in-law, Jack Dean (Barbara) Swantkoski of Phillips, NE, Walter R. (Susan) Pounds, Jr. of Stafford, TX and David Allen (Sharon) Pounds of Arvada, CO; sons, Bradley Scott Pounds of Longmont, CO and Brian Shayne Pounds of Longmont, CO; daughters and sons-in-law, Bonnie Jean Pounds (Richard) Erickson of Pahrump, NV and Vicki Lynne Rurup (William) Embree of Longmont, CO; sister, Carolyn Pounds Daiss; twenty-seven grandchildren; and 24 great grandchildren.
Walt was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Virginia Mae Swantkoski; infant daughter, Karen Dee Pounds; sister Joyce Adaline Pounds; and brother, Orville “Red” Pounds.
George C. Mendenhall
George C. Mendenhall, age 84, passed away August 16, 2001 at home in Show Low. He was born in San Francisco, CA. and was raised in Salinas, CA. After high school he went into the U.S. Army where he served for a time. After the service he started working in the produce business. This became his career and he worked as a produce salesman for the J.A. Woods Produce Co. in Tollison and for the R.T. Englund Co. in Glendale. He later managed Miller’s Lodge Resort in Greenfield, CA for 10 years. He then retired and came to Show Low in 1982. George loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing, but most of all he enjoyed watching his boys as they participated in athletics.
George is survived by his wife, Thais of Yuma, 4 sons, Michael of Dallas, TX, Gary ( and Leanna) of Show Low, Richard (and Karen) of Yuma, and Bill (and Pam) of Yuma; 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held August 21st @ Owens Mortuary in Showlow, AZ.
Violet L. “Vee” Pinkus
Violet L. “Vee” Pinkus, age 76, passed away on August 23, 2001 in Yuma, Arizona. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and those who were fortunate enough to have known her.
Vee was born on January 10, 1925, in Ellenboro, West Virginia. She was preceded in death by her parents, Scott and Sarah Elizabeth Satterfield, sister Thelma Hayhurst, brothers Ensel and Millard Satterfield and her husband, Walter S. “Pink” Pinkus.
Her family will greatly miss her. They include her sons W. Jon Pinkus of Washington, D.C.; Marc and his wife Christina Pinkus of Chandler, AZ; daughters Vicki Pinkus of Yuma and Susan Pinkus of Eugene Oregon. Her five grandchildren include Ryan Daniel and Eric James Pinkus of Chandler, Arizona, Meghan McLellan of Yuma and Haille Amereta and Chetana Jalia Baraka of Eugene.
During her nearly 35 years in Yuma, Vee worked at YPG, for the State of Arizona, the City of Yuma Personnel Department and lastly, served as administrative assistant to Mayors James P. Deyo and Ersel Byrd. Vee was a supporter of the National Olympic Committee, National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Parks & Conservation Association and the Democratic Party.
Memorial Services will be held on Monday, August 27th at 9:00 a.m. at Johnson Mortuary, officiated by Pastor Jon Flint of the First United Methodist Church.
Pallbearers are Jon Pinkus, Marc Pinkus, Ryan Pinkus, Eric Pinkus, Calvin Macon, Tom Naff and Bill Butler. Burial near the gazebo at Desert Lawn Memorial Park will follow.
Friends are invited to attend a reception following services at First United Methodist Church located at 298 W. 3rd Street.
Robert Jackson Nelson, 73 passed away on August 26, 2001 in Yuma, AZ. He was born in Monroe County, Indiana September 30, 1928.
Robert served in the United States Navy during WWII as a Submarine Torpedoman on the U.S.S. Caiman. He received a Victory Medal for World War II.
He was a bookkeeper for Yuma Printing Company and a Member of Calvary Lutheran Church.
Robert is survived by his wife Shirley Nelson, Daughters Victoria Gross, Kim Young, Cindy Turrentine and Della Bushner.; Sons Tony Nelson and Truman Wood,; 20 grandchildren,; 7 great grandchildren and 13 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by Mother and Father Olive and Hezikaya Jack Nelson,; and Son Loran Martin.
Viewing will be on Wednesday, August 29, 2001 from 4:00pm - 8pm at Kammann Mortuary.
Funeral Services will be on August 30, 2001 at 10:00 am at Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 S. 7th Ave, followed by Graveside service at Desert Lawn Memorial Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Grandsons, Shawn Gross, Michael Martin, Travis Major, Brandon Major, Alex Wood, Truman Wood, and Jason Wood.
Honorary Bearers will be Donald Bushner, Jr., Anthony Nelson, Thomas Nelson and Robert Nelson.
Memorial donations can be made in his memory to Calvary Lutheran Church.
