Helen VanVolkenburg
FORT PLAIN — Helen VanVolkenburg, 78, of 108 State Highway 80, Fort Plain, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2000, at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown.
Helen was born on March 22, 1922, in Fort Plain, the daughter of the late William and Iva (Plank) Marsh. She was a graduate of Fort Plain High School and a lifelong resident there.
She was married to Harry C. VanVolkenburg in Fort Plain. Harry preceded her in death.
Helen was a member of the Fort Plain Eastern Star and the Fort Plain American Legion Auxiliary. She also was a member of the United Methodist Church in Fort Plain.
She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Strathmann and husband Gil of North Syracuse; and two grandchildren, Steven and Suzanne Strathmann.
In keeping with Helen's wishes, cremation will take place under the direction of the Smith, Woody and Enea Funeral Home, 9 Center St., St. Johnsville. Funeral services are private and will be held at the convenience of Helen's family.
Memorial contributions in her memory can be made to a charity of one's choice and are available at the Smith, Woody and Enea Funeral Home, St. Johnsville.
Margaret Ellen Jones
DOLGEVILLE — Mrs. Margaret Ellen Jones, 97, a resident of Valley Health Services of Herkimer, died there, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000. She is survived by two daughters, Margaret B. Robinson and her husband Clayton of Dolgeville, and Lillian Mae Smolley and her husband Steve of Boynton Beach, Fla.; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; nieces; and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughters, Bertha Jones in 1926, and Catherine Marie Mutinsky in 1996. A Memorial Mass will be offered on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2000, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Catholic Church, Haverstraw. Interment will take place in Mount Repose Cemetery in Haverstraw. There are no calling hours. Arrangements are entrusted to the Roberts-Buck Funeral Home, 3 Faville Ave., Dolgeville.
George J.Engert
HERKIMER — Mr. George J. Engert, 59, of 105 Protection Ave., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000. He was born in Herkimer on Aug. 23, 1941, the son of the late Daniel and Edna Snyder Engert. George was a graduate of Herkimer High School, Morrisville Community College and later graduated from Utica College of Syracuse University with the class of 1982. George was married to Constance Warkowski on Aug. 26, 1961, in the Trinity Lutheran Church, Herkimer. He was employed as a process engineer for Remington Arms, retiring in 1986 after 25 years of dedicated service. His funeral will be held Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. from the Petykiewicz, Iocovozzi and Burns Funeral Home, 329 S. Washington St., Herkimer, and 10 a.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. Dale Dickerson, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Mountain View Memorial Gardens. Calling hours will be Friday from 5-9 p.m. from the Petykiewicz, Iocovozzi and Burns Funeral Home.
Helen L. Primer
SMITHFIELD, Va. — Helen L. Primer, age 76, of 20180 Cherry Grove Rd., Smithfield, Virginia, formerly of Little Falls and Clayville, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000, in Suffolk, Virginia.
Helen was born Feb. 23, 1924, in Little Falls, daughter of Joseph and Marion (Bogarty) Cvetezar. She was a graduate of St. Mary's Academy, Little Falls, Primarily a dedicated homemaker, Helen's life was centered around her beloved family. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 11 commencing at 10:15 a.m. at the Applegate and Day Funeral Home, 102 West St., Ilion, and at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Annunciation where Father Alfred Lamanna will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial. Procession to Armory Hill Cemetery for interment will follow mass. Family and friends are invited to visitation Friday, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Applegate and Day Funeral Home, Ilion.
Alvin B. Conkling
ILION — Alvin B. Conkling, husband of Dorcas (Satterlee) Conkling, passed away November 6, 2000, at the Masonic Home after a 15-year battle with cancer. They were married in St. Johnsville Methodist Church on October 12, 1946. The recently celebrated 54 wonderful years of marriage. Funeral services for Mr. Conkling will be held on Friday, November 10, 2000, at 7:15 p.m. at the Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home, 100 Otsego St., Ilion, with Reverend Robert Wollaber officiating. Interment will be in the Armory Hill Cemetery. Friends may call Friday from 3-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Contributions may be made to the Ilion Ambulance, the Ilion First United Methodist Church or one's favorite charity. Please omit flowers.
Freda Maksymicz
LITTLE FALLS — Freda Maksymicz, 82, of 50 Furnace St., Little Falls, passed away Sunday, November 5, 2000, at Little Falls Hospital where she had been a resident of the Residential Health Care Facility at Little Falls Hospital since September 1, 2000.
She was born July 17, 1918, in Little Falls, the daughter of the late John and Katherine (Fullmer) Loucks. She was educated in Little Falls schools.
She was united in marriage to Michael Maksymicz on May 28, 1938, at Christ Lutheran Church, Little Falls, by the Reverend J.F.K. Riebesell. Mr. Maksymicz predeceased her on December 23, 1980.
She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Little Falls, and the Ladies Aid Society of that church and at onetime served as society president. She was also a member of the 30 year club of the Little Falls Felt Shoe Co.
Mrs. Maksymicz was employed for 35 years by the former Little Falls Felt Shoe Co. retiring in August of 1976.
She is survived by a son, Michael J. Maksymicz and his wife, Shirley, of Monticello, Ind.; a daughter, Helen Maksymicz of Little Falls, with who she resided; a brother, Adolph Loucks of Little Falls; two grandchildren, Lisa Hall and her husband, Michael, of Lafayette, Ind., and Michael A. Maksymicz and his wife, Vikki, of Lebanon, Ind.; six great-grandchildren, Tyler and Tanner Maksymicz, Denise and Jason Hall and Greg and Doug Sigman and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by four brothers, George Loucks, who died on December 29, 1973, John Loucks, who died on January 17, 1986, Frederick Loucks, who died on February 23, 1987, and Edward Loucks, who died on July 11, 1991; three sisters, Caroline Mueller, who died on September 26, 1971, Irene Buetel, who died on April 20, 1993, and Louise Kaye, who died on June 14, 1996.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2000, at 10 a.m. from the Christ Lutheran Church, Petrie Street, Little Falls, with the Rev. John A. Knarvik, former pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, officiating. Interment will take place in Salisbury Rural Cemetery, town of Salisbury.
Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, Inc., 42 N. Ann St., Little Falls, on Wednesday, November 8, 2000, from 5-8 p.m. and to attend the funeral services on Thursday morning.
It is the wish of the family that contributions in memory of Mrs. Maksymicz be considered to the Christ Lutheran Church or Little Falls Hospital. Envelopes are available at the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, Inc., for this purpose.
Jessie Luken
LITTLE FALLS — Mrs. Jessie Luken, 85, of 7 Sherman St., passed away on Monday morning, Nov. 6, 2000, at her home with her family by her side.
She was born on Dec. 21, 1914, in Little Falls, the daughter of the late John and Sophie (Roy) Salek. She was educated in Little Falls schools. She was united in marriage to Harold Luken. The couple had lived in South Dakota and New York City, finally retiring in the Little Falls area. Mr. Luken passed away in 1983. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Little Falls.
Survivors include her children, Harold "Billy" Luken, Jr. and his wife Pat of Monroe, Sandy Grcic and husband Drago of Little Falls, April Heffernan of Little Falls, Sharon Carrigan of Little Falls, John Luken and wife Joyce of Tampa, Fla., and Joyce Rodrigue and husband Norman of Bronx; one sister, Helen Pettengill of Little Falls; a sister-in-law, Helen Salek of Dolgeville; cousins, Teddy and Lucille Roy of Little Falls, and Val and Leona Salek of Little Falls; grandchildren, Billy, Brian and Jennifer Luken, Michelle and Dan Grcic, Karen Smith, Sharon Dorn, Robert Heffernan, Boyd Carrigan, Denise Carrigan, Raymond Carrigan, Debra Rodrigue, and Christine and Dennis Rodrigue; great-grandchildren, Amber Luken, Adam Carrigan, Ashley Tyo, and Alec and Dillon Carrigan, Andrew Dorn and Brandon Smith; and many nieces, nephews and cousins, including nephews, Randy and Larry Salek, and niece, Ethel and Thirsty McKusick.
She was predeceased by a brother, William Salek.
Calling hours at the Enea Funeral Home, 24 W. Monroe St., Little Falls, are on Wednesday, 4-7 p.m. The funeral will be held Thursday at a time to be announced at the funeral home.
Robert J. Carney, Jr.
MIDDLEVILLE — Robert J. Carney, Jr., 53, of 87 S. Main St., died on Nov. 5, 2000, at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady. Bob was born in Herkimer on Oct. 17, 1947, a son of Robert J. Carney, Sr. of Middleville and the late Elva (Butler) Carney. He graduated from West Canada Valley Central School in 1966. Funeral services will be held at the Carney residence, 87 S. Main St., Middleville, on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and at St. Mary's Church, Middleville, at 10 a.m. where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Leo F. Potvin, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Newport. Calling hours at the Carney residence are Wednesday, 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of the Autenrith Funeral Home, Newport.
Walter M. Reitz
MIDDLEVILLE — Walter M. Reitz, 76, of State Route 169, Middleville, passed away Friday, Nov. 3, 2000 at the Masonic Home, Utica, where he has been a resident since Oct. 10, 2000.
He was born on July 1, 1924 in Beaver, Pa., son of the late Michael Martin and Mary A. (Hawk) Reitz. He was educated in Herkimer area schools.
He was united in marriage to the former Marian E, Kelly on May 21, 1949 at St. Joseph's Church, Dolgeville with Reverend Fitzgerald officiating.
Mr. Reitz was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Army, entering the service on Feb. 23, 1943 at Camp Upton. He served with the 34th Coast Artillery Battalion. He was honorably discharged on Feb. 18, 1946 as a technician 5th grade at Ft. Dix, N.J.
He was of the Protestant faith.
He was a member of the Dolgeville Masonic Lodge No. 796 F & AM as well as an honorary lifetime member of the Hilltop Volunteer Fire Department.
Mr. Reitz was a well-known area automobile mechanic, operating several service stations in Dolgeville: first the former Shell Service Station at the corner of Main and Spencer streets, Dolgeville; then the former Mang's Garage, E. State Street, Dolgeville; and the former Clifford Fuel Co. station at the corner of Faville and Main Street, Dolgeville until 1980. He and his wife Marian then relocated to West Sedona, Ariz. and was employed as a mechanic for the Red Rock Equipment Rental Co. until 1990, when he returned to Middleville. At the time of his death, he was employed as a John Deere mechanic for the former Endres Equipment Co., now Cazenovia Equipment, Herkimer. He is survived by his wife Marian; two sons, Allan Reitz and Martin Reitz, both of Dolgeville; three daughters, Katherine Dillenbeck and her husband Jack of Fairfield, Cheryl Moore and her husband Robert of Milford, and Marianne Dillenbeck and her husband Kevin of Little Falls; two brothers, Robert Reitz and his wife Edna of Herkimer, and William Reitz and his wife Alma of Oneida; three sisters, Betty Fleming of Plattekill, Katherine (Sue) Snedeker and her husband Richard of Herkimer, and Sara Ruth (Doll) Wise of Pennsylvania; eight grandchildren, Tammy Pierson of Fairfield, Lisa Carrigan of Little Falls, John Dillenbeck of Fairfield, Daniel Dillenbeck of Vermont, Michael Dillenbeck of Fairfield, Elizabeth Dillenbeck of Little Falls, Benjamin and Kelly Moore of Milford; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers, Elsworth, George, and James Reitz; and five sisters, Florence Glowtacky, Frances Wise, Pauline Johns, Margaret Bronson, and Alice Bernardo.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m. from the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, Inc., 42 N. Ann St., Little Falls with the Reverend Jeremy L. Spencer, pastor of First Baptist Church, Herkimer, officiating.
In keeping with Mr. Reitz's wishes, cremation will follow with final interment in Rural Park Cemetery, Inghams Mills.
Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, Inc. on Tuesday, Nov. 7 from 5-8 p.m. and to attend the funeral services Wednesday morning.
It is the wish of the family that contributions in memory of Mr. Reitz be considered to the Middleville Vol. Fire Department, Kuyahoora Vol. Ambulance Corps (KAVAC), or to the Hilltop Vol. Fire Dept. Envelopes are available at the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, Inc. for this purpose.
Members of the Hilltop Volunteer Fire Department will call in a body at the funeral home at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday evening to honor their departed member.
