U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentRobert G. Claus
Robert G. Claus, age 86, of Buffalo, died Friday, January 19, 2007 at the Erie County Home, after a long illness. Born September 25, 1920 in Buffalo, he was the son of the late Elmer and Cordelia (nee Heberle) Claus and had been a lifelong resident of Buffalo. An Army Veteran of WWII, he was a member of the Teamsters Union and the U.S. Trotting Association, and was a taxi driver for City Service Company, before retiring. Mr. Claus won the Golden Gloves title in the former Broadway Auditorium in 1939, and then was the Eastern Golden Gloves runner-up in New York City. He spent more than 40 years training and racing horses. He loved animals of all kinds, but especially horses and dogs.
He was the brother of the late Jean Schopf and Eileen Barone. He is survived by several nieces and nephews.
There is no visitation. Services were cared for privately at the convenience of the family, followed by interment at Elmlawn Cemetery, Town of Tonawanda. Arrangements entrusted to the care of the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Tonawanda, NY.
William F. Toporek
Worked at Roswell Park
William F. Toporek, age 54, of Tonawanda, died Thursday, January 25, 2007 at his residence, after a brief illness. Born April 16, 1952 in Buffalo, he was the son of the late Henry and Jennie (nee Wegrzynek) Toporek and had been a resident of Tonawanda for 20 years. An Army Veteran, he was employed at Roswell Park Cancer Institute before becoming ill.
He is survived by his wife, Dotty (nee Lawson) Toporek, whom he married July 20, 1991 at St. Bartholomew's Church; four children, Bryan Smith of Phoenix, Arizona, Amy (Luke) Sigley of Lawton, Oklahoma, Alan (Marley) Smith of Tonawanda, and Scott (Cynthia) Smith of Phoenix, Arizona; and two sisters, Anne (Hal) Long of Springdale, Arkansas, and Nancy (Roger) DeBlauw of Crofton, Nebraska. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Brenda and Johnathan Sigley, and Victoria and Bradley Smith.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Monday only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda. Funeral services will be held at 10 AM Tuesday at St. Bartholomew's Church, Brighton & Fries Roads in the Town of Tonawanda; the Rev. Arthur Ward officiating. Friends invited. Interment at White Chapel Cemetery, Town of Amherst. If desired, memorials to Hospice Buffalo, 225 Como Park Blvd, Cheektowaga, NY 14227, are preferred by the family.
Fred D. Foster
Member of American Legion
Fred D. Foster, age 69, of Tonawanda, died Friday, January 26, 2007 at Kenmore Mercy Hospital after a long illness. Born October 4, 1937 in Groveland, NY, he was the son of the late Albert and Mary (nee Sattler) Foster and was an Army Veteran of the Vietnam War. A resident of Tonawanda for more than 30 years, he was employed at Niagara Cutter in North Tonawanda for 24 years, and then at Curtis Screw Company in Buffalo, before retiring. He was a member of the American Legion Posts in both Tonawanda and Elmira, NY, and the Vietnam Veterans Association.
He is survived by his wife, AnnMarie (nee Wolfe) Foster; three daughters, Tammy (Andy) Bolender of Phoenix, Arizona, Sherry (Jim) Adams of Tonawanda, and Carrie Foster of Tonawanda; and two sons, Fred D. Foster, Jr. of Elmira, NY, and Chad Foster of Tonawanda. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, Scott, Shane, Courtney, Vanessa, Danielle, Ashley, Morgan, Madison, Alyssa, and Megan.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 PM Tuesday only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda, where funeral services will be held at 8 PM Tuesday; the Rev. Msgr. James Connelly officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be held on Wednesday. Friends invited. If desired, memorials to Buffalo Women’s & Children’s Hospital, 219 Bryant Street, Buffalo, NY 14222, are preferred by the family.
Alvin C. Case
Retired from General Motors
Alvin C. Case, age 77, of the Town of Cambria, died peacefully at home, Monday, February 19, 2007, surrounded by his loving family, after a brief illness. Born June 2, 1929 in Dunkirk, NY, he was the son of the late Alfred and Ethel (nee Christy) Case and had been a resident of Wheatfield and Cambria for the greater part of his life. Mr. Case was employed at General Motors for 34 years and then worked as a Crossing Guard in the City of Lockport for the past 10 years. He was a 26 year member and past-president of the Shawnee Volunteer Fire Company, and a past-president and active member of the Niagara County Fire Police. A dedicated blood donor, he was a 15 year volunteer for the Niagara County Crisis Hotline and had been a Scout Master with Boy Scout Troop 54 in Bergholtz. He was the father of the late Nancy L. Case, who died in 1979, and the brother of the late Richard Case.
He is survived by his wife, Violet (nee Phillips) Case; three sons, Mark (Patricia) Case, Scott (Joanne) Case and Michael (Martha) Case, all of Lockport; a daughter, Cheryl (Richard) Singleton of Lockport; and a sister, Evelyn Ebert of Dunkirk. Also surviving are 8 grandchildren, Christopher (Kimberly), Elizabeth, Mark (Jenifer), Nancy, Erin, Andrew, Nicole, and Timothy; 8 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 7-9 PM Tuesday and 2-4 and 7-9 PM Wednesday at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday at the Cambria United Church of Christ, Lower Mountain Road and Route 425; the Rev. Todd Blackley officiating. Friends invited. Interment at Acacia Park Cemetery, Town of Pendleton. If desired, memorials to Niagara Hospice, 4675 Sunset Drive, Lockport, NY 14094, are preferred by the family.
Diane J. Harning
Devoted Wife, Mother & Grandmother
Diane J. Harning, age 74, of the Town of Tonawanda, died Friday, February 23, 2007 at Hospice Buffalo, after a long illness. Born October 26, 1932 in Buffalo, she was the daughter of the late William and Ruth (nee Dickey) Metzger. She married Lynn D. Harning on January 17, 1953, and was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother to her family.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Lynn D. Harning; two daughters, Diane (Paul) Ehrenreich of Williamsville and Michelle Opalka of Kenmore; two sons, Michael (Abby) Harning of the Town of Tonawanda and Joseph (Tina) Harning of Malone, New York; a sister, Dolores (William) Fiorito of Williamsville; and a brother, William (Eileen) Metzger of Des Moines, Iowa. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, Michael Ehrenreich, Sara (Nik) Opalka-Satchidanand, Amy Opalka, Brooke Rankin, Jacquelyn Harning, Lauren Harning, Madeline Harning, Jacob Harning, and David Harning; and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 4-8 PM on Monday only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda, where funeral services will be held at 7:30 PM Monday; the Rev. Dale Stanley officiating. Friends invited. Interment will be cared for privately at White Chapel Memorial Park in Amherst. If desired, memorials to Hospice Buffalo, 225 Como Park Blvd, Cheektowaga, NY 14227, are preferred by the family.
Richard L. Furman
Navy Veteran of WWII
Richard L. Furman, age 77, of North Tonawanda, died unexpectedly, Monday, February 26, 2007 at his residence. Born April 30, 1929 in Rochester, NY, he was the son of the late Charles and Minerva (nee Adams) Furman, and had been a resident of North Tonawanda for more than fifty years. A Navy Veteran of WWII, Mr. Furman was employed at E. I. DuPont plant in Niagara Falls before retiring. He was a member of Ascension Parish in North Tonawanda and the American Legion, and was an avid walker and bicyclist along the river in the Tonawandas. He was the brother of the late Harold Webb.
He is survived by his wife, Pearl (nee Lederer) Furman; two daughters, Judy and Jill Furman, both of Florida; two granddaughters, Brianna and Arielle Smith of Florida; and a brother, Charles (Nancy) Furman of Wheatfield. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Thursday only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 AM Friday at Ascension R.C. Church, 168 Robinson Street, North Tonawanda; the Rev. Edward Jost officiating. Friends invited. Interment will be cared for privately at White Chapel Memorial Park, Town of Amherst. If desired, memorials to a charity of your choice are preferred by the family.
Michael J. Pastor
Lifelong Tonawanda Resident
Michael J. Pastor, age 85, of Tonawanda, died Monday, March 5, 2007 at DeGraff Memorial Hospital after a long illness. Born November 3, 1921 in Tonawanda, he was the son of the late Joseph and Catherine (nee Elesia) Pastor and had been a lifelong resident of Tonawanda. A Army Air Corps veteran of WWII, Mr. Pastor had worked at Delphi-Harrison in Lockport before retiring.
He is survived by his sister, Katherine Reitsch of North Tonawanda; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 PM Friday only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM Saturday at St. Francis Chapel on Adam Street in Tonawanda. Friends invited. Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Town of Tonawanda. If desired, memorials to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 73 Adam Street, Tonawanda, NY 14150, are preferred by the family.
