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BARBARA WARNER, 78
Homemaker
DAVENPORT -- Mrs. Barbara C. Warner of Davenport died of heart failure Tuesday (Dec. 21, 2004) at Haines City Health Care. She was 78.
Born April 20, 1926, in New Haven, Conn., Mrs. Warner came here from Hamden, Conn., eight years ago. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Discipleship Baptist Church.
Mrs. Warner was preceded in death by her husband, Milton "Frank" Warner. She is survived by her daughter, Bonnie Harris, Port St. Lucie; son, Milton Warner Jr., Davenport; sister, Dorothy Frank, West Haven, Conn.; brother, Robert Frank, North Haven, Conn.; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 11 a.m. to noon Monday at Countryside Funeral Chapel, Lakeland. Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.
Martha Kiessig, 99, Homemaker
WINTER HAVEN -- Mrs. Martha Kiessig of Winter Haven, a native of Germany who came to the United States when she was 18, died of heart failure Saturday (Dec. 25, 2004) at Winter Haven Hospital. She was 99.
Born Aug. 26, 1905, in Frankfurt, Germany, she was raised in Wendlingen, Germany, said her daughter-in-law, Julienne Kiessig of Tallahassee.
In 1923, Mrs. Kiessig, the oldest of three children, traveled alone to New York City, escaping Germany's post-World War I economy.
"After the first World War, the inflation was so high (in Germany) they had nothing, " said her son, Ralph Kiessig of Tallahassee.
"She had done some secretary work during high school, " her daughter-in-law said, and she worked for the captain of her ship traveling to the United States. Immediately switched to first class, she never waited in line with the other passengers on Ellis Island.
"People think all immigrants went to Ellis Island. The truth is, if you had money, you didn't go, " her son said. "She was spared that indignity."
Mrs. Kiessig worked as a nanny and beautician, her daughter-in-law said, but when she gave birth to her only child at 40, she became a homemaker.
"She lived independently until she passed away, " Julienne Kiessig said.
In 1960, Mrs. Kiessig and her husband moved to Winter Haven. They traveled to Germany several times a year until her husband died in 1964.
After her husband's death, Mrs. Kiessig became president of the German-American Friendship Club and also a member of the Hungarian Club. Along with other members, she traveled to local restaurants and retirement homes, playing accordion and piano in the German-American Friendship Club Band.
Mrs. Kiessig also traveled to Australia, China and the Middle East.
Ralph Kiessig said his mother witnessed the beginning of things that are commonplace today, and he enjoyed listening to her recount these experiences. Descriptions of the first car and airplane she saw and the panic after Orson Welles' broadcast of "War of the Worlds" are among his favorites.
"It was just amazing how much she witnessed in her life, " he said.
Mrs. Kiessig was preceded in death by her husband, Rudolph Kiessig. She is survived by her son, Ralph Kiessig, Tallahassee, two sisters in Germany and two grandchildren.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Crisp-Coon Funeral Chapel, Winter Haven.
JOHN BUTLER, 70
WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. John William Butler Jr. of Winter Haven died of heart disease Wednesday (Dec. 22, 2004) at Good Shepherd Hospice. He was 70.
Born July 10, 1934, in Evabell, Ga., he came here from Lake Alfred 10 years ago.
Mr. Butler is survived by his wife, Mervel Butler; son, Liggett Butler, Atlanta; daughter, Angela Lillard, Winter Haven; brother, James Butler, New York; sisters, Dorothy Hall, Winter Haven, Rosetta Clayton, South Carolina, Juanita Collins, North Carolina; stepsons, Patrick Richards, Emanuel Bailey, Zekiel Bailey and Kenroy Brown, all of Winter Haven; stepdaughters, Sasha Richards and Antonya Sutton, both of Winter Haven; five grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Holmes Funeral Home, Haines City. Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Claude Holmes Sr. Memorial Chapel.
Frances Summerfold Dies at 100
Ledger staff
AUBURNDALE -- Ms. Frances V. Summerfold of Auburndale died of heart failure Wednesday (Dec. 22, 2004) at Auburndale Oaks Healthcare Center. She was 100.
Born May 8, 1904, in Brooklyn, N.Y., she came here from Naples in 1995. She was a production worker for a card shop. She was a member of Women of the Moose and St. John's Evangelist Catholic Church in Naples.
Ms. Summerfold is survived by her daughters, Loretta MacDonald, Auburndale, Barbara Ahus, Orlando, Teresa Principe, Naples, and Frances Biggers, San Diego, Calif., 18 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday at Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale. Services will be held at Fuller Funeral Home, Naples.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice.
Kersey Funeral Home.
ZOLA WEITMAN, 82
Homemaker
LAKE WALES -- Mrs. Zola Weitman of Lake Wales died of cancer Wednesday (Dec. 22, 2004). She was 82.
Mrs. Weitman was born Sept. 28, 1922, in Cookeville, Tenn. She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Weitman was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Weitman. She is survived by her son, Larry Bussell, Brooksville; daughter, Linda Hinkle, Lake Wales; brothers, Clyde Bussell and Ernest Bussell, both of Cookeville, Tenn., Kenneth Bussell, Albertville, Ala.; seven grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow. Services will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
JERRY HENSLEE, 54
Truck Driver
LAKELAND -- Mr. Jerry Henslee of Lakeland died of liver failure Thursday (Dec. 23, 2004) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was 54.
Born March 19, 1950, in Jasper, Ala., he came here from Jasper in 1950. He was a truck driver. He was a Baptist.
Mr. Henslee is survived by his wife, Dwellia Ann Henslee, Lakeland; daughter, Lisa Henslee, Tennessee; mother, Dorothy Byars, Lakeland; father, J.D. Henslee, Jasper; brothers, Donnie Byars and Chuck Byars, both of Highland City; and three grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Moffitt Cancer Center.
