Erik H. Kaas
Erik H. Kaas, 71, of Chagrin Falls, died May 30 2004 at his home from cancer. Born Sept. 23, 1932, in West Branch, Mich., he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1956, serving in Korea. He was employed with Dunn & Bradstreet from 1958 to 1971, then Rolero Automotive from 1971 to 1973, and, since 1973, he worked for Kaas Sales Co. in lighting sales. A member of the YMCA, his hobbies were handball, fishing, golf and reading. Mr. Kaas is survived by his wife, Sally (nee Mitten); sons, Paul F., of Chagrin Falls, and Brian R. (Allison) Kaas, of Russell; sisters, Birte K. Whitfield, of Saginaw, Mich., and Elisabet Smith, of Grayling, Mich.; grandson, Wesley Hunter Kaas; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sofus F. and Emmy (nee Englebreath) Kaas; and nephew, Thomas Whitfield. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. June 3 at Stroud-Lawrence Funeral Home, 95 S. Franklin St., Chagrin Falls. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 E. 185th St., Cleveland 44119

John L. Korecky
John Lawrence Korecky, of Pensacola, Fla., died April 1 2004 from complications of diabetes. Born in Cleveland on Nov. 13, 1919, he was a graduate of Kent State University. He was a veteran of World War II. Formerly a resident of Chagrin Falls, he moved to Solon and owned and operated the Americana Shop there. A former member of Parkside Church, he and his wife moved to Pensacola in 1987, following retirement. Mr. Korecky is survived by his wife, Doris; son, Jeffrey; daughters, Nancy O'Brien and Kim Hall; four grandchildren and three great-granddaughters. Memorial contributions may be made to Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 2885 E. Olive Road, Pensacola FL 32504, for world missions in his memory.

Joseph A. Livers
Joseph A. "Fred" Livers, 64, died May 25 2004 at his home in Russell. Born Aug. 1, 1939, in Deatsville, Cox's Creek, Ky., he resided in Russell since 1970 and previously in Roseville, Mich. Mr. Livers earned a bachelor of science in mathematics and electrical engineering from Bellamine College in Louisville, Ky., and the University of Detroit. The founder and owner of L&N Olde Car Co., established in 1976, and Newbury Sandblasting and Painting, established in 1981, in Newbury, he was formerly employed by Eaton Corp. and Ling, Tempco, Vought (LTV Aerospace). Mr. Livers served as past president and member of Burton-Middlefield Rotary Club and was a member of Big Brothers of Geauga County and St. Anselm Church in Chester. For over 30 years he played guitar and led music for the 8 a.m. guitar Mass at St. Anselm Church and did the same for the 9:15 a.m. Mass for over 20 years. He was a member of various bluegrass bands, playing guitar and mandolin, including East Ohio Grass Co., the Occasional String Band and Silver Creek. He enjoyed antique cars, camping, fishing and water skiing. Mr. Livers is survived by his wife, Christina; daughter, Maria; stepmother, Ona; siblings, Doris (John) Allen, Norma (Bob) Albert, Mary Jo (Ray) Singer, Bill (Nadine), and Rosemary (Paul Curtsinger) Sutherland, Anne (John) Lawrence, Dorothy (Bob) Durning, Myrna Gilkey, Joan (Kent) Crosthwait, Paulette (David Kirsh) and Michael (Ellen) Livers, Kathy (Joe) Daley and Lorri (Rusty) Houck; brother-in-law, Philip Mattingly; sister-in-law, Joyce Livers; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Langford Geoghegan; father, Joseph A. Livers; stepmother, Mildred; sister, Carolyn Mattingly; and brother, Billy Livers. Funeral Mass was said May 29 at Church of St. Anselm in Chester. Interment was in Riverview Cemetery in Russell. Memorial contributions may be made to University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center, 11100 Euclid Ave., Cleveland 44106-5065, or Hospice Care.

Mary H. Muster
Mary Helen Muster, 94, of Claridon, died May 28 2004 at Blossom Hill Nursing Home. Born Sept. 1, 1909, in Cleveland, she resided in Claridon for three years and previously in Cleveland. Mrs. Muster was one of the original drivers for Collinwood Meals-on-Wheels. She was a former member of St. Jeromes Church and the senior citizens of St. Jeromes and East Side Irish-American Golden Shamrock Club. She enjoyed playing bingo. Mrs. Muster is survived by her daughters, Mary "Marge" Morus, of Chardon, and Ellen Craig, of Painesville; 16 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; and sister, Catherine Ward, of Mentor. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; daughter, Roseann Juleff; three grandchildren; sisters, Evelyn Bent, Rose DeMell and Lillian Markushic; and brother, Charles Bunch. Funeral Mass was celebrated June 1 at Church of St. Mary in Chardon, and burial was in All Souls Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Church of St. Mary Building Fund, 401 North St., Chardon 44024, or St. Jeromes Church.

Maybelle N. Watkins
Maybelle N. Watkins, 100, of Chardon Township, died May 25 2004 at Barclay Assisted Living in Hambden. Born in Galena, S.D., in the Black Hills, on July 12, 1903, she lived in the Chardon area for 72 years and prior to that in Chicago. A full-time mother who enjoyed playing bridge, she maintained a home in Chardon and spent many years in Apapucco, Mexico. Ms. Watkins is survived by her son, Walker (Susan Winger), of St. Pete Beach, Fla.; daughter, Penny (Mel) Oakes, of Columbus; grandsons, Brooks Watkins and Kristopher Oakes; granddaughter, Jessica (Nate) Benson; dear friend, Dorothy M. Brcak; great-grandsons, Elijah, Alexander and Isaac Benson; and three sisters, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Dr. Ernest Watkins; one brother and two sisters. Private family graveside services will be held.

Marian Edwards
Marian "Bobbie" Edwards (nee Carpenter), 74, of Solon, died Oct. 2 2004 at her home following a long battle with cancer. She resided on Solon Road for 42 years. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Frank "Bud"; children, Frank Jr. (Ruth Ann), of Sarasota, Fla., Jo Ann Tregoning, of Littlestown, Pa., Kitty Sulzmann, of Howard, Jackie (Richard) Ahrens, of Rootstown, and Rawn (Sharon), of Macedonia; granddaughter, Katie Bug; and siblings, Thelma Huntley, Ruth Cope, Edwina Volchko and Ronald and Robert "Jerry" Carpenter. She was preceded in death by her grandson, Hankie; sister, Virginia Boon; and brother, Russell Carpenter. Funeral services were held Oct. 7, and burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery in Twinsburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Cleveland Clinic, 6801 Brecksville Road, Suite 10, Independence 44131.

Robin M. Gills
Robin McCauslin Gills, 49, of Columbia, S.C., died at her home Sept. 28 2004 following a long battle with cancer. Born in Maple Heights, she was a 1973 graduate of Chagrin Falls High School. She received her undergraduate degree and master's degree in education from USC in 1979. A former geographer with the State Land Resources Commission, she most recently worked with the Blythewood Animal Hospital and was a member of the Greater Columbia Obedience Club and St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Mrs. Gills is survived by her husband, Terry; brother, Patrick (Terry) McCauslin, of Flower Mound, Texas; sister, Kelly (Mark) Lavelle, of Blythewood, S.C.; mother, Helen Marie Deyling McCauslin; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, James Patrick McCauslin. Memorial services were held Oct. 2 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Columbia, S.C. Memorial contributions may be made to the Palmetto Health Hospice, 1400 Pickens St., Columbia SC 29202, or the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia SC 29210.

Gerald T. Mizen
Gerald T. "Jerry" Mizen, 63, of Concord Township, died Sept. 29 2004 at Lake Med Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Painesville. Born Aug. 28, 1941, in Lakewood, he was formerly of Olmsted Falls and was a longtime resident of Willoughby before moving to Concord seven years ago. A firefighter for the City of Willoughby for 25 years before his retirement in 1996, he also was employed as a food broker for several area firms. Mr. Mizen served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1963 to 1969 and was a former member of Willoughby Lodge 302 F&AM. A member of Hope Ridge United Methodist Church, he formerly coached youth baseball and football in Willoughby and was active in the Olmsted Falls High School Alumni Association. Mr. Mizen is survived by his wife, Leslie J. (nee Knight); children, Robert (Diana), of Burton, Eric (Jill), of Wadsworth, and Christine Mizen, of Cleveland; stepchildren, Scott (Angelina), of Eastlake, and Karen Frederick, of Willoughby; grandchildren, Max, Nolan and Evan Mizen; step-grandchildren, Kyle, Sabrina and Brianna Frederick; brother, John (June) Mizen, of Cleveland; sisters, Linda (David) Cheyfitz, of Vermilion, and Loretta (Danny) Thomas, of Twinsburg; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cyrus and Margaret Mizen; brother, James Mizen; and grandson, Jeremy Mizen. Memorial services were held Oct. 3 at Hope Ridge United Methodist Church in Concord. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Northeast Ohio Chapter, 1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 333, Cleveland 44115, or the Jeremy Mizen Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Bank One, 100 Center St., Chardon 44024.

Daniel E. Price
Daniel E. Price, 79, of Orange County, Calif., died Sept. 26 2004. Raised in Pittsburgh, he moved to Claridon when he was 14. He played football at Chardon High School and was named to the conference all-star team for two years. He also was elected president of his senior class. Following his graduation from Chardon High School in 1943, he entered the U.S. Navy V-12 college program for officer candidates and received his commission in early 1945. After attending officers school, he was assigned postwar Pacific sea duty until his discharge in 1946. He attended Purdue University and received an engineering degree in June 1948, when he joined the Babcock and Wilcox Research Laboratory in Alliance. He worked on testing components for America's first nuclear submarine. In 1952, he was recalled into the U.S. Navy, and he spent two years in the bureau of ships, machinery design branch in Washington, D.C., where he worked on advanced ship propulsion systems. After receiving a commendation from the Navy, he made a final career move to Aerojet-General Corp. in California, where he served as program manager responsible for the design and development of the liquid rocket engines for the Titan intercontinental ballistic missile. He concluded his career as president of the corporation's Aerojet Manufacturing Co. Mr. Price is survived by his wife of 32 years, Nancy (nee Pyle), of Sacramento, Calif.; and brothers, Robert D. and Douglas E. Price, of Geauga County.

Frederick A. Radaker
Frederick A. Radaker, 83, of Geneva, died Sept. 29 2004 at University Hospitals of Cleveland. Born Oct. 25, 1920, in Brookville, Pa., he resided in the Chardon area for 40 years before moving to Geneva in the mid-1990s. A custodian for Chardon schools for 22 years, he retired in 1985. He loved television, gardening and patronizing restaurants. Mr. Radaker, a veteran of World War II, served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6519 in Ashtabula, and he attended Geneva Church of the Nazarene. He is survived by his sisters-in-law, Helen L., of Cleveland, and Helen G. Radaker, of Apollo, Pa.; nieces, Ruth, Jane, Caroline and Isabelle; and nephews, Charles, Harry, Phillip, Jay and Dane. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sanford C. and Myrtle J. (nee Simpson) Radaker; and brothers, James, Emery, Harry, Jay, Fred and Allen. Funeral services were held Oct. 4 and burial was at Riggs Cemetery in Warsaw Township, Pa.

Diana C. Ott Schmidt
Diana C. Ott Schmidt (nee Tomalesky), 61, of Chardon, died Sept. 30 2004 at Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland. Born in East Cleveland, she resided in Chardon since 1976, moving from Garfield Heights. A meat wrapper for Tops Supermarkets, she enjoyed gardening and traveling. Mrs. Schmidt is survived by her husband, Edwin; sons, Daniel (Kellye), of Lebanon, Martin (Kelly), of Charleston, S.C., and Kevin (Hollie) Ott, of Akron; daughter, Christine (Todd) McMahon, of Northridge, Calif.; and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Florence (nee Lucas) Tomalesky. Funeral services were held Oct. 4, and burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland. Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of the Western Reserve, Contributions, 300 E. 185th St., Cleveland 44119-1330.

Ivalee Woodard-Morison
Ivalee Woodard-Morison (nee Metcalf), 90, a lifelong resident of the Chardon area, died Sept. 27 2004 at Geauga Regional Hospital. Born Sept. 20, 1914, in East Jordan, Mich., she resided in Mesopotamia for the past 10 years. Mrs. Morison is survived by her children, Shirley Brown, of Pennsylvania, Audrey Reznak, of Rome, Ohio, and John Woodard, of Hambden; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Frederick Woodard, in 1954, and her second husband, Edmund Morison, in 1977. Private family services will be held at a later date.

Jack Young
Jack Young, 83, of Chardon and formerly of Sandusky, died Sept. 30 2004 at Homestead One in Painesville. Born Oct. 30, 1920, in Mentor, he was a 1938 graduate of Mentor High School. Mr. Young was in sales at Wayside Garden in Mentor for 21 years and then was vice president in nursery sales at Hanover House. His hobbies included coin collecting, old radio and television tape collecting and sports. A past commander and life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6519 and a member of American Legion Post 83 in Sandusky and Church of St. Mary in Chardon, he served in the South Pacific in the Army combat infantry division. Mr. Young is survived by his son, James (Blanche), of Orwell; grandson, Christopher, of Orwell; granddaughter, Kathleen, of Cape Coral, Fla.; and brother, Milton, of Geneva. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Gail (nee Stanley) Young; wife, Ann (nee McDonough); son, Michael; brother, Douglas; and sister, Molly Miller. Memorial Mass was celebrated Oct. 4 at Church of St. Mary in Chardon.

Paul E. Altig
Paul Edward Altig, 67, of Hunting Valley, died Nov. 27 2004 at his home from lung cancer. Born in Petersburg, Ill., on Nov. 9, 1937, he graduated from Petersburg High School in 1955, where he was president of his class for four years. He also played on the varsity basketball team and participated in the drama club. He received a degree in accountancy in 1959 from the University of Illinois, where he joined the accounting fraternity and passed the certified public accountant exam in 1960. Mr. Altig joined the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse in 1959. He was assigned to various locations, including Peoria, Ill., London, England, and Chicago. He was admitted to the partnership in 1972 and transferred to Cleveland in 1982. In 1988, he became group managing partner for the Ohio Valley Group and served until his retirement in 1993. Mr. Altig was involved in many civic and charitable organizations in the Cleveland area, among them president of the board of trustees for the Greater Cleveland Government Business Program, National Board of Trustees for the National Conference, formerly the Conference of Christians and Jews, trustee and past president of the Beech Brook School, trustee and chair of the Cleveland Center for Economic Education and trustee for United Way Service. He also served on the board of directors and was chair of Inroads Northeast Ohio Inc., the advisory board for the master of accountancy program at Case Western Reserve University, board of trustees of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association and board of trustees and chairman of the finance committee for the Cleveland Community Building Initiative. He held memberships at the Country Club, the Pepper Pike Club and the Cleveland Racquet Club. Mr. Altig is survived by his wife, Deloris Anne (nee Stewart); sons, David (Pamela), of Solon, and Gregory Altig, of Tucson, Ariz.; daughter, Carrie (Scott) Keener, of Broadview Heights; grandchildren, Layla (Eric) Huff, of Solon, Jessica, of Columbus, Paul, of Twinsburg, and Tianna Altig, of Solon, Nicholas Palmateer, of North Royalton, and Caitlyn Keener, of Broadview Heights; and great-grandchildren, Christian and Andrew Huff, of Solon, and Ty Altig, of Solon. He is also survived by his mother, Alberta Altig, of Athens, Ill.; and brothers, Robert, of Athens, Ill., Gary, of Columbus, Ga., and Clarence "Butch" Altig, of Peoria, Ill.; and sister, Roberta Barlow, of Bloomington, Ill. He was preceded in death by his father, Dale Edward Altig. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 2 at Garfield Memorial Church, 3650 Lander Road, Pepper Pike. A private family burial will be held at a later time in his hometown, Petersburg, Ill. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Beech Brook Children's Home, 3737 Lander Road, Pepper Pike 44124.

Gretchen C. Aquaviva
Gretchen C. Aquaviva, 68, of South Russell, died Nov. 26 2004 at Western Reserve Hospice Center after a 3 1/2-year battle with cancer. Born on May 17, 1936, in Pontiac, Ill., she moved to Cleveland in 1954 and attended Case Western Reserve University and Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, where she obtained her bachelor's degree in nursing. Mrs. Aquaviva was an operating nurse and co-supervisor of the operating room at University Hospitals, where she co-authored an article regarding operating-room maintenance during her tenure there until the late 1960s. She married Thomas Aquaviva on Oct. 23, 1965, at St. Dominic's Catholic Church in Shaker Heights. They moved to South Russell in 1970. After raising her children, she returned to work in 1985 at the Wright Surgery Center of the University Suburban Medical Center in South Euclid, where she dealt mostly with eye surgeries until April 2001, when she was diagnosed with cancer. Mrs. Aquaviva was an active member of the Advent Lutheran Church in Solon, where she belonged to the choir, prayer circle and women's guild. She also was a member of the Chagrin Valley Women's Club. Her hobbies included cooking, entertaining, gardening and music. Mrs. Aquaviva is survived by her husband; children, Annemarie (Gerald) Rajnicek and Thomas J. Jr.; grandchildren, Kathryn and Elizabeth; and sister, Alice (Donald) Cairns. She was preceded in death by her parents, George T. and Frieda (nee Kusch) Crout. Funeral services were held Nov. 30 at Advent Lutheran Church, and burial was in Munn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Advent Lutheran Church, 5525 Harper Road, Solon 44139, or the Cleveland Institute of Music, 11021 East Blvd., Cleveland 44106.

William R. Cukr
William R. Cukr, 87, of Chardon, died Nov. 22 2004 at Blossom Hill Care Center in Huntsburg. Born Feb. 7, 1917, in Cleveland, he was a resident of Chardon since 1980. He formerly lived in Painesville, Michigan, Alabama, Indiana and other states where his job took him as a salesman of wall maps to schools, courts, fire departments and other businesses. He attended Ohio University and married Marie Coy in 1949. She preceded him in death in 1977. He then married Violet Mitchell Parsons in Chardon in 1987. Mr. Cukr served as bailiff for Chardon Municipal Court for 13 years, retiring in 2000. An active Mason, he was a past master and member of the former Brenton D. Babcock Lodge No. 600, now Cleveland Lodge No. 781 F&AM. He was a member and past gigh priest of Mount Olive Chapter No. 189 and a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Detroit, Eagle Commandry No. 29 in Painesville, Al Koran Shrine in Cleveland, and member and past president of the Eagle Shrine Club of Lake and Geauga counties. He served on the board of elders at Pilgrim Christian Church, where he was a member. Mr. Cukr is survived by his second wife; niece, Dr. Penny Cukr, of Stow; stepdaughters, Kathleen (William) Dufur, of Munson, Jann (Tim Ascroft) Parsons, of North Port, Mich., and Betsy (Russ) Lisk, of Wimauma, Fla.; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, Ladius and Sylvia (nee Vetrovc) Cukr; and brother, Charles Cukr. A memorial service was held Nov. 27 at Pilgrim Christian Church. A private family burial will be held at a later date at Acacia Park Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 E. 185th St., Cleveland 44119, or the Pilgrim Christian Church Memorial Fund, 202 S. Hambden St., Chardon 44024.