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These notices are dated: 03-24-2004
Walter E. Hassert, 65, the ultimate do-it-yourselfer
Walter E. Hassert was a professional do-it-yourselfer.
"From putting on a new roof to raising our house on floor jacks and building a new foundation, he could -- and did -- do it all, " said a son, Dan Hassert of Latonia, editorial page editor of The Kentucky Post.
"Electricity, plumbing, masonry, woodworking, installing windows and doors -- he always seemed to know just enough to get the job done, not perfect but well, " Hassert said.
"My brother Stephen and I grew up fetching tools and holding boards and being the extra pair of hands while he sweat-soldered joints in tight spots. Now we're the ones tearing apart rooms and putting them back together."
Mr. Hassert, 65, of Latonia, died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood.
He worked at the Kroger Co. for 40 years, retiring in 1995 from the Latonia store. He also coached Knothole baseball for Hut A/C and worked for years on the summer festival at Holy Cross Church, where he was a member.
Dan Hassert said his father's cleverness used to come out in his projects, from the dollhouse and furniture he built his youngest daughter to the rock walls he erected, fitting odd rocks together so perfectly the wall not only stood strong but looked like a piece of art. He also gardened with zeal and necessity, growing everything from corn to cucumbers to grapes.
"He was always a tough man until you saw him with his grandchildren, then his soft side was shown, " said another son, Stephen Hassert of Taylor Mill. "He would bounce them on his legs and sneak them candy behind their parents' backs."
Other survivors include his wife of nearly 43 years, Martha Wesselman Hassert; daughters, Victoria Richardson of Cincinnati, Andrea Gardner of Latonia, Melissa Ann Behler of Burlington and Alicia Linstead of Erlanger; his mother, Virginia Schlief Hassert of Latonia; a brother, Ronald W. Hassert of Slidell, La.; a sister, Lee Gillespie of Villa Hills; and 15 grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 9 a.m. Friday at Holy Cross Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia. Memorials are suggested to Holy Cross High School Scholarship Fund, 3617 Church St., Covington, Ky. 41015; or Catholic Social Services of Northern Kentucky, 3629 Church St., Covington, Ky. 41015.
Donald Stith, former Boone coroner, ran funeral home
Donald W. Stith lived his life steeped in death.
Mr. Stith, 65, who died Monday, started driving an ambulance for his father's funeral home when he was 16.
When his father, the late William Ralph Stith, lost everything in the 1937 flood, he moved his family from Dayton to Florence and started the Stith Funeral Home.
William Stith became the Boone County coroner, and Mr. Stith served as his deputy for about four years until he was elected to the post himself in 1970.
Mr. Stith ran the funeral home and served as coroner until 1999, when he became deputy coroner for his son, Doug Stith, who still holds the post.
Mr. Stith was the first Kentucky coroner to complete the state Justice Cabinet's coroner training, his son said.
"He missed countless hours of sleep helping families over the years, " Doug Stith said of his father. "In earlier days, the office paid no salary. He did it as a community service to help families."
Mr. Stith was a founder of the Boone State Bank, which became Fifth Third Bank of Northern Kentucky, which he served as a director, his son said.
He was also a member of Florence Masonic Lodge No. 949 F&AM;, Indra Consistory Scottish Rite and Syrian Shrine, a past president of the Kentucky Coroners Association and former board member of Woodspoint Nursing Home, Florence. He was a member of the Boone County Jaycees and the Boone County Businessmen's Association.
Mr. Stith was on a plane headed for his retirement home in Florida on Monday when he had a fatal heart attack. The flight was diverted to Atlanta, where Mr. Stith died at the South Fulton Medical Center.
His death hit the family of U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas hard. Lucas and his wife, Mary, grew up with Mr. Stith and attended Dixie Heights High School with him.
They lived next door to each other in Union, and they had retirement homes next door to each other in Florida.
Mr. Stith was a very giving person who gave much more than he got, Mary Lucas said. "He would do what anyone wanted to do, and he was always ready to do anything."
Very handy with tools, Mr. Stith had done most of the renovation on the condominium he and his wife shared with the Lucases before they bought their retirement homes.
"We were expecting to spend a lot of time with him after Ken retires, " Mary Lucas said.
Other survivors include his wife, Jean Ann Stith; a daughter, Lisa Ann Burch of Huber Heights, Ohio; a sister, Charlene Combs of Villa Hills; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First Church of Christ, Burlington. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association, 333 Guthrie St., Suite 207, Louisville, Ky. 40202; American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042; or the American Lung Association, 1636 Nicholasville Road, Suite 1, Lexington, Ky. 40503.
James Cloe, 82, of Berry, died Tuesday at Harrison Memorial Hospital, Cynthiana.
Arrangements are pending at Woodhead Funeral Home, Berry.
Ernest A. Mauer, 88, of Cincinnati, formerly of Newport, died March 14 at Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati. He was a cashier in Brink's Inc. and recognized "Mayor of Seibel Lane" in Cincinnati. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, and was a church representative to the Dan Beard Council of the Boy Scouts of America. His wife, Jeanne Mauer, preceded him in death.
Survivors include sons, Charles Ray Mauer of Taylor Mill and Jon Ernest Mauer of Crestview Hills; a daughter, Janis Lee Mauer Murphy of Cincinnati; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. John Westminster Union Church, Cincinnati. A reception in the church will follow services. Memorials are suggested to St. John Westminster Union Church Flower Fund, 1085 Neeb Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45233; or Hospice of Cincinnati, 4310 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242. Dalbert, Woodruff and Isenogle Funeral Home, Cincinnati, is handling arrangements.
Thomas M. Pawlyk, 11 months, the son of Amy and Mike Pawlyk of Union, died Sunday at Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati.
Other survivors include grandparents, George Pawlyk and Kathleen Stewart, both of Rochester, N.Y., and George and Judy Posser of Rochester; and great-grandparents, George and Jennine Plender, and Frank and Doris Trunk, all of Rochester.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Timothy Church, Union. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075; or New Perceptions, 1 Sperti Drive, Edgewood, Ky. 41018. Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger, is handling arrangements.
James Michael Richardson, 20, of Falmouth, died in an automobile accident Monday on Highway 330 in Falmouth.
Survivors include his parents, John Richardson and Stella Richardson, both of Falmouth; and sisters, Rena Jenkins of Florida, Tina Perkins Hoskins of California, Tammy Perkins Turner of Newport, Tabitha Roark, Tonya Perkins Lewin and Heather Roark, all of Covington.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Falmouth.
Harold Strunk, 67, of Morrow, Ohio, died Sunday at his home. He was a welder with General Electric, Cincinnati. His wife, Anna Lou Strunk, preceded him in death.
Survivors include sons, Scottie Strunk of Loveland, Ohio, Randy Strunk of Erlanger and Donald Wayne Perry of Whitley City; a daughter, Beverly Strunk of Morrow; brothers, Donald Strunk of Whitley City, Wendell Strunk of West Chester, Ohio, Darrell Strunk and Ronnie Strunk, both of Parkers Lake; sisters, Fontella Vanover of Parkers Lake, Phyllis Price of West Chester and Brenda Whisman of Cincinnati; six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at McCreary County Funeral Home, Whitley City. Burial will be in Higgenbotham Cemetery, Whitley City.
