Carl F. Edwards
Carl F. Edwards, 77, of Apache Junction, passed away Thursday, October 31, 2002. Mr. Edwards, a tool and die maker, born in Ohio, is survived by his wife Patricia, daughters Penni Leiser and Toni Wells, son Michael Edwards and one grandchild. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Carroll J. Groen
Carroll J. Groen, of Apache Junction, passed away Saturday, September 19, 2002. Memorial services will be held at Gold Canyon United Methodist Church, 6640 S. King's Ranch Road, in Gold Canyon, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2002.
Charles "Chuck" Gross
Charles "Chuck" Gross, 80, of Millville, CA and Apache Junction, AZ, passed away Friday, November 1, 2002. Mr. Gross, Veteran of WWII and agriculturist, born in Los Angeles, CA is survived by his wife of 55 years Florence I. Gross, sons Flint C. Gross and George (Sue) E. Gross, brother Jack Gross, 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Gardner Funeral Home handled all arrangements. Memorial contributions may be sent to a charity of choice in care of Gardner Funeral Home.
Lena Kunkel
Lena Kunkel, 84, of Apache Junction, passed away Wednesday, October 30, 2002. Ms. Kunkel, a homemaker, born in Savannah, OK, is survived by her sons Bill, George and Frank Oldham, sister Bette Brian, brothers Bill and Spike Wilson, 14 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Frances A. Meier
Frances A. Meier, 69, of Apache Junction, passed away Saturday, November 2, 2002. Mrs. Meier, a homemaker, born in Grand Island, Nebraska, is survived by her daughters Marilyn M. Howarth, Carol A. Pennock and Mitzi G. Burton, son Wilber L. Meier, Jr., sisters Geraldine Billington, JoAnn Vodehnal and Mary Ann Westwood, brother Wilber Stauss, 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Kenneth Wayne Barnes
Kenneth Wayne Barnes, 79, of Apache Junction, passed away Wednesday, November 13, 2002. Mr. Barnes, a pipefitter and WWII Army Veteran, born in La Grande, Oregon, is survived by his daughter Kandee (Doug) Buckholz, son Rocky (Kim) Barnes, sisters Betty Jean Meacham, Helen Maxine Atkinson, Sally Ann Battalgia, Mary Jane Ellis, Darlene (June) Wilson and Patsy Louise Ballou, 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Hallie Lou Isaacs Bucher
Hallie Lou Isaacs Bucher, 96, passed away Thursday, September 19, 2002 at the Living Center in Faith, South Dakota. She was born in Dobson, North Carolina to William Norman (Doc) and Dora (Pharis) Isaacs of Galax, VA on February 6, 1906.
Hallie Lou Isaacs Bucher came to South Dakota in 1910 at the age of 4 with her family when they settled in the Brushie Creek area near the early town of Cooper. She attended grade school at Brushie Creek and at the Howie School near Marcus, SD.
Upon leaving SD, she worked for a cannery in Oregon, later joining the Civil Service Administration where she worked in Personnel in Spokane, WA. In the early 1940's she met and married her soul mate, Lee Harold Bucher, while he was serving in the Armed Forces. They made their home in Spokane where they owned and operated the Lee and Lou Grocery Store.
Upon retiring they traveled extensively in their Recreational Vehicle and eventually made Apache Junction their permanent residence. In Apache Junction, Hallie worked with various volunteer organizations and also cared for numerous elderly neighbors and friends.
She moved to Faith, SD in 1997, where she lived with her nephew and his wife, Raymond and Diane Isaacs. She later moved to the Faith Living Center.
Hallie is survived by her brother and sister-in-law Joe and Genevive Isaacs, of rural Faith, SD, a sister Ethel Lecroix of Michigan and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Lee, her parents, nine brothers and four sisters. Interment was in the Mountain View Memorial Garden Cemetery in Mesa, AZ.
Harold Dean Richardson
Harold Dean Richardson, 42, of Apache Junction, passed away Saturday, October 9, 2002. Mr. Richardson, a locksmith, born in Vanceburg, Kentucky, is survived by his mother Gloria Richardson, aunts Delores McKee, Alice Applegate and Shirley Fisher, and uncles Russell, Virgil, Walter and Harlan Silvey. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Grace B. Stillings
Grace B. Stillings, 90, of Apache Junction, passed away Saturday, November 9, 2002. Mrs. Stillings, a homemaker, born in Otter Creek, Iowa, is survived by her daughter Alice F. Evans, sons Ralph, Jack, Bob and Larry Stillings, sister Rita Marshall, 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Deborah Ann Swanson
Deborah Ann Swanson, 46, of Apache Junction, passed away Friday, November 1, 2002. Ms. Swanson, born October 17, 1957, lived a well fought life full of consistent heart failure. Known to many from the years, she worked at the OK Laundromat as a night manager until 1998 and was the owner of Darts 2 U. Ms. Swanson is survived by her two sons Joseph Baneck and Jacob Swanson.
Cheryl Lee Sample
Cheryl Lee Sample, 56, of Apache Junction, passed away Saturday, November 23, 2002. Mrs. Sample, a horse trainer, born in St. James, Minnesota, is survived by her husband Wayne Sample, daughters Michelle Mullin and Stacey Aranda, sons Bradley Senf, Scott Senf and Jake Sample, sisters Pam Sawatzky and Linda Robideaux and 15 grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
William E. Metcalf
William E. Metcalf, 85, of Apache Junction, passed away Thursday, November 21, 2002. Mr. Metcalf, a WWII Veteran and BF Goodrich tire builder, born in Bismark, North Dakota, is survived by his wife Stephie Metcalf, son Jim Metcalf, six stepchildren, 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Meredith Campopiano
Meredith Campopiano, 59, of Apache Junction, passed away Sunday, December 1, 2002. Mrs. Campopiano, a nurses aide at Valley Lutheran Medical Center for 16 years was born in Providence, Rhode Island. She is survived by her husband Albert, daughter Cheryl Ralls, sons Donald, Ronald and Jody Campopiano and 5 grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Trulin C. Corbin
Trulin C. Corbin, 86, of Apache Junction, passed away Thursday, November 28, 2002. Mr. Corbin, an auto mechanic was born in Lucerne, Missouri. He is survived by his wife Vera Corbin, daughters Christine English, Marylin Petro, Phyllis McGatha, Linda Johnston, Jessie Mathes and Alta Mann, sons Larry, Kenneth and John Johnston and Herman and Butch Corbin, sisters Doris Whipple, Amber Drahos and Mavis Dull, Brothers Jr. Corbin and Ralph Corbin, 39 grandchildren and 53 great-grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Charles L. Gillette
Charles L. Gillette, 81, of Apache Junction, passed away Tuesday, December 3, 2002. Mr. Gillette, a WWII Army Veteran and owner of a roofing company was born in Slayton, Minnesota. He is survived by his wife Adele C. Gillette, daughters Suzanne K. Kircher and Christine G. Benrud, sisters Marjorie Batson and Patricia Allcorn, 4 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Lorraine "Murray" Kilgore
Lorraine "Murray" Kilgore, 84, of Apache Junction, passed away Wdnesday, December 4, 2002. Mrs. Kilgore, a homemaker was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She is survived by her son Gordon Murray, 6 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Luella Marie Nelson
Luella Marie Nelson, 89, of Apache Junction, passed away Monday, December 2, 2002. Ms. Nelson, a secretary for the U.S. Government was born in Jamestown, North Dakota. She is survived by her sister Bernice Ruis. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Bernhard William Schleef
Bernhard William Schleef, 81, of Apache Junction, passed away Monday, December 2, 2002. Mr. Schleef, a service station owner, was born in Onarga, Illinois. He is survived by his wife Christine, daughters Virginia Hoefar and Amy Branson, son Wesley Schleef, 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Cecilia S. Janesky
Cecilia S. Janesky, 66, of Apache Junction, passed away Monday, December 9, 2002. Mrs. Janesky, a supervisor for a telephone company in New Jersey, born in Brooklyn, NY, is survived by her husband Stanley W. Janesky, son William S. (Patricia) Janesky, sister Helen Chanovitz and niece Cathy Chanovitz. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Roger U. Obenauer
Roger U. Obenauer, 64, of Apache Junction, passed away Sunday, December 8, 2002. Mr. Obenauer, a truck driver and Korean War Navy Veteran, born in Ashley, N.D., is survived by his sons David and Donald Obenauer, mother Emma Ackerson, sister Darlene DeYoung, brother Le Roy Obenauer and 6 grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Lynne J. Ruff
Lynne J. Ruff, 51, of Apache Junction, passed away Saturday, December 7, 2002. Mrs. Ruff, a teacher, born in Wayne, Nebraska, is survived by her husband Jeffrey Ruff, daughter Elizabeth Ruff, parents Rex and Marjorie Johnson, sister Patricia McGuire and brother Steve Johnson. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
James William Dale Sledge
Memorial service for James William Dale Sledge, 68, of Apache Junction, Arizona, will be 10 am Saturday December 21, 2002 at Valley Southern Baptist Church in Mesa, Arizona with Mr. Jerry Martin officiating. Private burial will follow at a later date in Englewood Cemetery in Slaton.
He died Monday December 16, 2002 in Lubbock. He was born on May 12, 1934 in Brownsville, Texas to Robert L. and Peggy Watson Sledge. He graduated from Brownsville High School and Southwestern University (B.B.A.) in Georgetown, Texas. "Buddy" earned basketball letters at Brownsville High, Texas Southmost College, Paris (TX) Junior College and Southwestern University.
During his business career, he was a salesman for International Harvester in Dallas; a petroleum chemist for Stanolind in Brownsville, and Shell Oil in Pasadena, Texas; a department store manager in Littlefield, Texas; a shoe store owner in Artesia, New Mexico; A stock broker in Phoenix, Arizona; owner of a women's wear shop in Mesa, Arizona; and a school bus driver and a teacher's aide for Apache Junction (AZ) public schools. In his spare time, he drove a bus for a tubing company on the Salt River. He was a member of the Valley Southern Baptist Church in Mesa, Arizona and dearly loved by his students.
He is survived by his children, Valerie Ann Little of Austin, Texas, Michael Dale Sledge also of Austin, Texas, and Jennifer Lee Hancock and her husband Dr. Joseph Hancock of Lubbock, Texas; his grandchildren, Jonathan T. Andrew, Kaitlin Hancock and Chandler Hancock of Lubbock; his brother and sister-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Robert W. Sledge of Abilene, Texas; Nephew, Robert Sledge of Austin; Niece, Margaret Turner of Austin; his best friend, Marilyn Ziegler of Mesa, Arizona, plus other family and friends in several states. The family suggests memorials be made to the Jim Sledge Memorial Fund c/o Apache Junction Unified School District 1575 W. Southern Suite #1 Apache Junction, AZ 85220.
Mary M. Schartz
Mary M. Schartz, 79, of Paonia, Colorado, passed away Wednesday, December 18, 2002. Mrs. Schartz, a homemaker, born in St. Kilian, Minnesota, is survived by her husband Alfred R. Schartz, daughter Phyllis Becktell, son Donald Schartz, sister Margaret Sucdkamp and Aluina Ruffing, brothers Florian and John Loosbrock and 4 grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Dorothey E. Daniels
Dorothey E. Daniels, 87, of Casa Grande, passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2002. Mrs. Daniels, a homemaker, born in Union City, Michigan, is survived by daughter June Cleaver, sons Bruce and Keith Daniels, sister Marla Parks, 14 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Allene Phillips Flora
Mrs. Allene Phillips Flora, 79, of Apache Junction, passed away Wednesday, December 25, 2002. Mrs. Flora, a police matron for Ames Police Department, born in Superior, Nebraska, is survived by daughters Sharon Barger of Ogden, Iowa and Donnale Steinkuller of Marietta, Georgia, sister Dorothy Douglas of Des Moines, Iowa, 4 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Hamilton s, near Highland Memory Gardens, handled all arrangements.
Howard R. Landis
Howard R. Landis, 67, of Apache Junction, passed away Wednesday, December 18, 2002. Mr. Landis, in the financial department of auto manufacturing, born in North Kansas City, Missouri, is survived by his wife Lois A. Landis, sons Michael K. and David C. Landis, stepsons Michael J. and Gene P. Cook, sisters La Vita Rhodes and Mary Carrol, brothers Alfred and George Landis and 14 grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
James C. Morehead, Sr.
James C. Morehead, Sr., 67, of Apache Junction, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2002. Mr. Morehead, Sr., an airline supervisor, born in Nashville, Tennessee, is survived by sons Michael W. Morehead, Dennis R. Morehead and James C. Morehead, Jr., sister Barbara Clark and 3 grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
John Henry Rooke, Sr.
John Henry Rooke, Sr., 67, of Apache Junction, passed away Wednesday, December 18, 2002. Mr. Rooke, a laborer for a general contracting company, born in Malta, New York, is survived by his wife Diana J. Rooke, daughters Darlene M. Maynard, Terri L. Woods, Dolly A. Martin, Belinda V. Johnson and Melissa M. Rush, sons John H. Rooke, Jr. and Donald A. Martin, Sr., 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
Frank R. Warren
Frank R. Warren, 71, of Apache Junction, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2002. Mr. Warren, a WWII Veteran, born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, is survived by his wife Jane E. Warren, daughters Lynn Riperti and Elizabeth Lusk, brother Earle Warren, 21 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Apache Junction Mortuary handled all arrangements.
