Robert J. Kurzbach
LITTLE FALLS - Robert J. "Bud" Kurzbach, 74, of 4 School St., Little Falls, and former owner of Ed and Bud's Grill in Little Falls, passed away Monday, Oct. 23, 2000, at St. Luke's-Memorial Hospital in New Hartford.
Bud's family has entrusted his funeral arrangements to the Enea Funeral Home, Little Falls, and they are incomplete at this time. A full obituary will follow.
John Fresco
FRANKFORT - Mr. John Fresco, 57, of 317 Railroad St., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000, in Albany Medical Center.
His funeral arrangements have been entrusted to V.J. Iocovozzi Funeral Home, Inc., 203 Second Ave., Frankfort, and are incomplete at this time.
Calling hours will be Thursday from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Daniel E. Bailey
Worked as a mechanic for New York State DEC
HERKIMER - Daniel E. Bailey, 56, of Lake Street, passed away Thursday morning, Jan. 11, 2001, in his home after a long illness.
He was born Jan. 25, 1944, in Herkimer, son of John and Katherine Lynch Bailey. A lifelong Herkimer resident, he was educated in Herkimer schools. On June 18, 1966, he married Kay Burchell in Blessed Sacrament Church, Mohawk. For 33 years he was a mechanic for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, retiring in June of 1999. He was a member of St. Francis de Sales Church, Herkimer. Dan will always be remembered as a helpful and caring person who, for many years, was a call fireman for the village of Herkimer and was a member of Herkimer Lodge 1439 B.P.O.E. He had a strong love for the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a friend to many and will never be forgotten.
Surviving besides his wife of 34 years, Kay, and his parents, John and Katherine, are one son, Daniel P. and his wife, Julie Bailey of Rochester; two daughters and their husbands, Sharon and Joseph DeBiase of Verona Beach and Michelle and Eric Carney of Salisbury; six grandchildren, Trevor, Colin and Mallory DeBiase of Verona Beach, Liam and James Bailey of Rochester and Matthew Carney of Salisbury; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother, James J. Bailey on Dec. 17, 1998.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 1 p.m. in St. Francis de Sales Church, Herkimer. The Rev. Mark Cunningham, pastor, will officiate.
The family will be present in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court St., Herkimer, to receive relatives and friends Friday (today) from 4-8 p.m. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery later this spring.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sue Campagna Hospice of Herkimer County. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Richard Bucco and the entire nursing staff of Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown for all their care and compassion during Dan's illness. It will always be remembered.
Quentin S. "Bill' Helmer
Operated Helmer's Feed Store in Newport
MIDDLEVILLE - Quentin S. "Bill" Helmer, 89, of State Route 28, died unexpectedly Feb. 4, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Utica, after being stricken at home.
Mr. Helmer was born in the town of Norway on May 3, 1911, a son of the late Lynn and Cora Shibley Helmer. He received his education in Norway and Newport schools and was united in marriage with the former Helen Goodman May 23, 1935, at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Middleville. Mr. Helmer worked at Savage Arms during World War II and later operated Helmer's Feed Store in Newport for many years, from where he retired. He was a 60-year member of Newport Lodge 455 F.&A.M. and a charter member of the West Creek Club. Bill enjoyed the time he spent hunting and fishing.
Survivors besides his wife of 65 years, Helen, include three daughters, Diana Repinz and Charles Thorpe of Haines Falls, Linda Thorpe and her husband, Phillip of Tannersville and Melissa McKerrow and her husband Roger of Newport; three sisters, Geraldine Clement of the Loretto Home, Utica, Lavina Scott of Ilion and Arlene Harris of Newport; one sister-in-law, Evelyn Helmer of Newport; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by three brothers, Kenneth, Charles and Kermit Helmer and by one sister, Eleanor Johnson.
Funeral services will be held at Autenrith Funeral Home, Newport, Thursday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dwayne A. Durand, pastor of Newport United Methodist Church, officiating. Spring interment will take place in the Salisbury Rural Cemetery.
Calling hours at the funeral home are Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Members of Newport Masonic Lodge will meet at the funeral home Wednesday evening at 8 to conduct their ritualistic service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to KVAC, Box 282, Poland 13431. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
Robert E. Beasley
Was scoutmaster of two troops in Little Falls
LITTLE FALLS - Mr. Robert E. Beasley, 82, of 85 Furnace St., Little Falls, passed away Monday morning April 16, 2001, at the Folts Homes, Herkimer, with his loving family by his side.
He was born Nov. 26, 1918, in Mohawk, the son of the late Walter and Florence (Kaufer) Beasley. He received his education in Dolgeville schools.
He last worked as a foreman/supervisor with Sperry Rand Univac in Ilion and Utica. He was married to Cathryn E. (Lewis) Beasley Aug. 28, 1941, in Little Falls. She passed away April 6, 1987. Mr. Beasley also worked for several years with the Library Bureau in Herkimer. He was a member and former treasurer of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Little Falls. Bob also was a scoutmaster in Little Falls serving troops 24 and 51. Mr. Beasley also took the boys of the troops to Camp Russell for many years.
He is survived by his sons, Gregory "Butch" Beasley of Herkimer and Gary Beasley of Tucson, Ariz.; daughters, Gail Cirasunda and husband Mario "Daryl" of Orchard Park and Coleen Compton and husband Ralph of Little Falls; 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his brother, Howard Beasley.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 18, at 11 a.m. from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Gansevoort Street, Little Falls, with the Rev. Norman Heid officiating. Interment will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery, town of Herkimer.
Calling hours at the Enea Funeral Home, 24 W. Monroe St., Little Falls are Tuesday from 5-8 p.m.
Those wishing may consider donations to either the Central New York Alzheimer's Association or to Folts Homes of Herkimer. Envelopes are available at the Enea Funeral Home, Little Falls.
Margaret R. Frank
Was teacher in Frankfort-Schuyler School District
FRANKFORT-FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Miss Margaret Frank, 92, of 31 Union St., Foxborough, Mass., formerly of Frankfort, passed away Monday, Aug. 20, 2001, in the Good Samaritan Hospital, Brocton, Mass.
She was born in Frankfort Aug. 17, 1909, the daughter of the late Frank and Rose Soria Frank. She attended Frankfort-Schuyler Central schools and graduated from Frankfort-Schuyler High School with the class of 1927 and later attended and graduated from the College of St. Rose with the class of 1931. Miss Frank was employed as a school teacher for the Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District for many years until her retirement in 1968. She was a communicant of the Roman Catholic Community of Our Lady Queen of Apostles.
Margaret is survived by several beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by two brothers, Dr. George Frank and John Frank; and eight sisters, Magdalene Frank, Anna Frank, Mary Datena, Florence Pingetore, Domenica De May, Donna Frank, Frances Pontolillo and Jane Frank.
Her funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 1 from the V.J. Iocovozzi Funeral Home Inc., 203 Second Ave., Frankfort, and at 1:30 in Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. John Yanas, pastor.
Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Thursday evening from 6-8 at the V.J. Iocovozzi Funeral Home Inc.
Rev. Vincent A. Nowak
Pastor emeritus of St. Joseph's Church, Herkimer
HERKIMER-FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Rev. Vincent A. Nowak, 91, of 4025 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, pastor emeritus of St. Joseph's Church, Herkimer, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2001, in Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale.
He was born in Troy on April 18, 1910, the son of the late Michael and Angela Baniak Nowak. He attended Troy schools and graduated from Catholic Central High School, Troy. He later attended St. Mary's College, Orchard Lake, Mich. and St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore. He was ordained on June 6, 1936, by Bishop Gibbons and received his doctorate from Gregorian University, Rome, Italy. Father Nowak served as vice chancellor of the Albany Diocese for three years under Bishop Gibbons. He was assigned as assistant pastor for St. John's Church, Albany, and became pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Herkimer, on Jan. 19, 1946, serving the people of Herkimer area until his retirement Sept. 1, 1977. Following his retirement Father moved to Fort Lauderdale and served in Blessed Sacrament Church and St. Clements Catholic Church. He was a Third Degree Knight of Columbus Council 518.
Father Nowak is survived by his three beloved sisters and one brother-in-law, Caroline Markowski, Malta, Frances Nowak, Fort Lauderdale and Rose and Stanley Drosky, Troy; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by two brothers, Anthony Nowak and John Nowak and two sisters, Julia Zwolenik and Mary Miecznikowska.
Father Nowak will be received on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Saints Anthony and Joseph Church.
Calling hours will be 4-8 p.m. The Parish Mass will be held Tuesday evening at 8 in Saints Anthony and Joseph Church.
His funeral will be held Wednesday morning at 11 in Saints Anthony and Joseph Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Rev. Howard J. Hubbard, Bishop of Albany, main celebrant. Interment will be the priest plot of Calvary Cemetery.
His funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Petykiewicz, Iocovozzi and Burns Funeral Home, Herkimer.
Audrey L. Fischer
Member of First Presbyterian Church, Ilion
ILION - Audrey L. Fischer, 77, a longtime resident of 315 Otsego St., Ilion, passed away Friday, May 18, 2001, at the Mohawk Valley Nursing Home, Ilion, where she had been a recent resident.
She was born April 24, 1924 in Ilion, the daughter of Leon McVough and Cora Morris Jarvis, and attended Ilion schools. On July 19, 1947, she was married to John "Jack" F. Fischer at the Methodist Church in Middleville. Audrey was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ilion and the Dorcas Circle. She was also a volunteer for the Senior Citizen Nutrition Program, an election inspector, past member of the O.E.S., past den mother-Cub Scouts, past member of the Mohawk Valley General Hospital Guild and a former Girl Scout leader.
Survivors include her husband Jack; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Linda and Stanley Bilinski, of Salisbury Center, Cora and Larry Bull, of Herkimer and Elaine Salek of Dolgeville; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Fred Fischer of Walnut Springs, Texas and David and Laurie Fischer of Ilion; nine grandchildren, Michael Bilinski, Joanne Zilkowski, Kevin Bull, Andrew Bull, Jennifer Thompson, Jason Woolver, Raymond Salek and Jon and Bryan Fischer; four great-grandchildren, Kara and Leah Zilkowski and twins, Abigail and William Thompson; her brother, Sam Jarvis of Utica; four sisters and two brothers-in-law, Jane Francey of Florida, Gwen Rasbach of Rochester, Barbara and Ron Vodicka of Michigan and Carol and Bob Harris of New Hartford; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her sister, Joanne Dingman.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 22, at the First Presbyterian Church of Ilion, with the Rev. Victor McKusick, pastor. Interment will be in Armory Hill Cemetery, Ilion.
Calling hours are Monday (today) from 5-8 p.m. at the Applegate and Day Funeral Home, 102 West St., Ilion.
The family wishes to thank the staffs of the second floor at Mohawk Valley Nursing Home and Herkimer County Hospice for the kindness and care given to Audrey. The family also wishes to thank special neighbors, Kathy and Dennis Prior, for the many helpful ways they assisted Audrey and Jack.
Memorial contributions may be made to Herkimer County Hospice or the American Heart Association. Donation envelopes are available at the Applegate and Day Funeral Home.
Ward P. Armstrong
Owned and operated family farm
RICHFIELD SPRINGS - Ward Perry Armstrong, 91, of Chyle Road, died Wednesday morning, Jan. 17, 2001, in Folts Homes, Herkimer.
On Jan. 19, 1909, he was born on the family farm, in the town of Warren, son of the late Perry and Alice Burke Armstrong. A lifelong Richfield Springs resident, he graduated from Richfield Springs High School. On Feb. 5, 1944, he married Louise McRorie in the Epworth Methodist Church, Matamoras, Pa. His life work was dairy farming. He took great pride in farming and was the fifth generation to own and operate the family farm until his retirement in 1985.
Ward was a member of the Federated Church in Jordanville, a member of the Richfield Springs Grange, where he served on local committee, state and the national level, and was a member and leader of the 4-H Club in Richfield Springs.
Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Louise; two sons and their wives, Glenn and Marcia Armstrong of Jordanville and William and Barbara Armstrong of Newfield; one sister, Edna Snyder of Santa Monica, Calif.; three granddaughters, Diane Lauzun of Lansing, Megan Clark of Norwalk, Conn. and Karen Armstrong of Ithaca; and a step-grandson, James Lauzun of Lansing.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Feb. 10, at 3 p.m. in Folts Homes Wakeman Chapel. The Rev. David Oertel, Folts Homes chaplain, and the Rev. James Barnes II, pastor of the Jordanville Federated Church will officiate.
The family will be present in the chapel to receive relatives and friends from 1-3 p.m. prior to the service.
Memorial donations may be made to Folts Homes. Envelopes will be available. Arrangements are with J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 W. James St., Richfield Springs.
Barry L. Kretser
Member of SAVAC, St. Johnsville Fire Department
ST. JOHNSVILLE - Barry L. Kretser, 49, of 9 E. Main St., St. Johnsville, passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2001, at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown.
He was born Sept. 28, 1951, in Little Falls, the son of the late Laverne and Frances (Wright) Kretser. Barry was a graduate of St. Johnsville High School and was a lifelong resident of the area.
For many years Barry owned and operated Kretser Video store in St. Johnsville. After closing the video store he worked as a bus driver for the Little Falls-Fonda Bus Corp. in St. Johnsville. At one time, he worked in the former mills in St. Johnsville.
Mr. Kretser was a member of the Grace Congregational United Church of Christ. He was also a member of the St. Johnsville Volunteer Fire Department, S.A.V.A.C., and the St. Johnsville Chamber of Commerce.
Barry was an avid bowler, devoting much of his time in mastering the sport of bowling, even having the chance to bowl a perfect "300" game. During the summer he enjoyed the sport of golf. He also was a fan of music where he played throughout the valley in the band "Time Machine" and sometimes sang in the band.
Survivors include his sister, Kim DeLong and husband Kevin of Hazelton, Pa.; three nephews, Tab, Jarrod and Eric DeLong of Hazelton, Pa.; and special friends, Pat Clark of St. Johnsville and Sharon and John Musolino of Connecticut; two aunts and many cousins.
In keeping with Barry's wishes, cremation will take place under the direction of the Smith-Woody and Enea Funeral Home, 9 Center St., St. Johnsville. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 26, at 2 p.m. at the Smith-Woody and Enea Funeral Home.
The family will be receiving friends and relatives at the funeral home Saturday from 1 p.m. until the time of the service. Interment will take place at St. Johnsville Cemetery.
