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Euna Wright
Euna B. Wright, 93, of Fountain Hills passed away Sept. 29, 2003.
She was born in Livingston, Tenn. and lived most of her life in Ohio until moving to Fountain Hills in 1996.
Euna was preceded in death by her husband, Horace, with whom she had enjoyed 70 years of marriage.
She is survived by a sister, Loranza Worley of Indianapolis, Ind., and a brother, Dormal Newberry of Atlanta, Ga. She is also survived by a daughter, Donna (Bob) Yordy of Fountain Hills, daughter Louise (Bob) Beckett of Orangeburg, S.C.; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Euna was a member of the Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church.
A celebration of her life will be held in New Lebanon, Ohio, on Oct. 3.
In lieu of flowers, Euna requested that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014 or the Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church, 13001 N. Fountain Hills Blvd., Fountain Hills, AZ 85268.
Grace Kalmin
Grace M. Kalmin, 85, of Fountain Hills died Feb. 6, 2003 at Fountain View Village.
Born Oct. 1, 1917 in Hartford, Conn., Mrs. Kalmin at one time worked as a secretary for the City of Hartford.
She was a member of Church of the Ascension in Fountain Hills.
Survivors include her daughter, Lois Scronic (James) of Scottsdale; son, Robert D. Kalmin of Palm City, Fla.; sisters, Jean Callahan of Sun City and Helena Dowd of Westerly, R.I.; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation was held Feb. 9 and a service was held Feb. 10 at Church of the Ascension. Interment was at Paradise Memorial Gardens, Scottsdale.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1028 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006.
Timothy Coughlin
Timothy "Tim" Coughlin, 32, died Feb. 16, 2003.
Born Dec. 16, 1970 in Norwalk, Conn., Mr. Coughlin worked as a scheduler at the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale.
He also coached youth basketball in Fountain Hills and was involved in various other sports activities.
Mr. Coughlin is survived by his wife, Angela; daughter, Gabriela; parents, Thomas and Connie Coughlin of Cave Creek; brother, Michael of Cave Creek; sister, Donna Calabese (Anthony) of North Las Vegas, Nev.; maternal grandmother, Angela Gabriele; grandmother, Donna Ryan of Fountain Hills; nephews, Nicholas and Anthony Valdovinos of North Las Vegas; nieces, Susan and Alexis Scribner of Fountain Hills; and numerous aunts, uncles and many other cousins.
Visitation was held Feb. 20 at Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary, with a Feb. 21 service at Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Epilepsy Foundation, 1515 E. Osborn Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85014.
William Mertes
William Michael Mertes, 77, joined the Lord in Heaven Feb. 16, 2003.
He was born in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Feb. 26, 1925.
Mr. Mertes served in the U.S. Navy four years during World War II as an electrician’s mate in the Atlantic and Pacific theatres. He worked as an electronics engineer for ABC in New York for 37 years.
Survivors include his wife, Carol; daughter, Wendy Mertes; sons, Michael Mertes and John (Lori) Mertes; and a grandson, Matthew Mertes.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at the Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church.
Memorials may be made to the church’s building fund.
William Newcomer
William "Bill" L. Newcomer Jr., 56, passed away on Feb. 17, 2003.
Born in Chicago, Ill., Mr. Newcomer served in the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War.
He was the owner of Newcomer Concrete Services, Inc. in Norwalk, Ohio and a member of the Laborers Union Local No. 480. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 626, Elks Lodge and St. Paul Catholic Church, all of Norwalk.
For the past six years he and his wife spent their winters in Norwalk, Ohio and their summers in Fountain Hills attending Church of the Ascension Catholic Church.
He is survived by his father, William Newcomer Sr.; wife, Marjorie; daughter, Joyce M. Diaz; sons, Aaron W. and Jeffrey A.; sisters, Linda D. Holmer and Mary A. Laferty; brothers, George L., Patrick A. and David A.; and seven grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Feb. 22 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Norwalk. Arrangements were by Messinger Indian School Mortuary.
Janet Pedersen
Janet Mae (McKee) Pedersen, 78, died Feb. 15, 2003.
A lifetime resident of Minnesota, Mrs. Pedersen was a 15-year resident of Fountain Hills as well.
She was a Hutchinson High School graduate and also a R.N. graduate from the School of Nursing at Abbot Hospital in Minneapolis.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Robert L. Pedersen, M.D.; brother, Donald McKee; sister, Dorothy Korngabel; five children, Nancy, Richard, Susan, Jill and J. Elizabeth; and five grandchildren.
As she wished, there were no services, cards or flowers. She will be remembered with lasting, loving memories.
Richard Sivets
Richard (Rich) Henry Sivets, 59, of Fountain Hills passed away Feb. 18, 2003.
Born in Willard, Ohio, Mr. Sivets was a data specialist for State Farm Insurance.
He will be remembered for his love for his family and life, his sense of humor and his love for the game of golf.
Mr. Sivets is survived by his wife, Michele; daughter and son-in-law, Sheri and Chad Petrie of Eagle River, Alaska; daughter and son-in-law, Sun-Hee and Nick LaJinnes of North Pole, Alaska; son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Carmel Sivets of Australia; daughter, Stacey Sivets of Denver, Colo.; son, Tony Sivets of Alaska; stepdaughter, Erin Maynard and her husband Doug of Higley; and granddaughters Gretchen Petrie and Alexis LaJinnes.
A celebration of his life was held Feb. 24 at Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation in Mr. Sivets’ name may be made to Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church, 13001 N. Fountain Hills Blvd., Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014-5656.
Idar Rimestad
Ambassador Idar Rimestad, a former Fountain Hills resident, died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease at his home in San Diego, Calif. Feb. 13, 2003.
Mr. Rimestad served his country with ever increasing responsibilities from 1941 until his retirement in 1973 as United States Ambassador to the United Nations European Office in Geneva.
Born at Alsen, N.D. in 1916, Rimestad was educated at Hampden, N.D. and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from the University of North Dakota in 1940. Following his education he went to work for the wartime government, first with the National Youth Administration in 1941 and then with the War Department in 1943.
Following the war he served with the Atomic Energy Commission on the Manhattan Project. His first overseas assignment was with the European Command in Frankfurt, Germany from 1947-49. He followed with an assignment to the staff office of the U.S. High Commissioner from 1949-54.
In 1954 he joined the Foreign Service of the U.S. State Department, serving successively in Bonn, Moscow and Paris. Among his assignments was the position of executive director of the United States Disarmament Administration for the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.
In 1967 President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed him Deputy Under Secretary of State for Administration. In 1969 President Richard M. Nixon appointed him the representative of the United States of America to the European Office United Nations in Geneva, with the rank of Ambassador, a position he held until his retirement in 1973.
Upon retirement he moved to Fountain Hills, where he lived for 24 years, and served on the Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission from 1975-83. He was the cofounder of the Men’s Club of Fountain Hills. In 1997 Mr. Rimestad moved to San Diego. He was interested in antiques, travel, animals and was an avid reader.
Ambassador Rimestad was preceded in death by his first wife, Ann Prestbo, in 1979. He is survived by his second wife, Patricia Whitmore Jenkins, whom he married on Valentine’s Day in 1981. He is also survived by daughters Sanna Rimestad Solem of Bethesda, Md. and Karen Rimestad Chappelear of Kensington, Md.; stepsons, Michael E. Jenkins of Seattle, Wash. and Mark W. Jenkins of Pleasanton, Calif..; brother Sigurd of Taylor Falls, Minn. and sister Judit Jaynes of Apple Valley, Minn.; five grandchildren and one great grandchild; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Mr. Rimestad’s parents came to the United States from Norway and settled in Hampden, N. D. where his father operated a community bank. When the banks failed in the depression, his father went to work for the State of North Dakota and moved the family to Grand Forks, where Idar attended the university. Like his father and many of his siblings, he pursued a career in public service and served with significant distinction.
He often had the title of "Secretary" while working in various posts for the Foreign Service. Upon one of his visits to family in North Dakota, a well meaning relative advised him that if he would work just a little harder, perhaps he might get a promotion from being a "secretary."
In 1967 the University of North Dakota bestowed upon him its "Sioux Award" in recognition of outstanding alumni achievement.
Idar possessed a keen intelligence and had a knack for relating his gifts in a way that was instructive to those who served with him. He left his positive mark on friends, colleagues and family.
A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, March 1, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Date and State streets in San Diego.
In lieu of flowers, a donation is suggested to one of the following: Our Lady of the Rosary Building Fund, Date & State Streets, San Diego, CA 92101; Ark Antiques, a non-profit organization benefiting local animal charities, 7643 Girard Ave., LaJolla, CA, 92037; and the University of North Dakota Foundation, P.O. Box 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202.
John A. Ryer
John A. "Jack" Ryer, 80, of Fountain Hills went home to be with the Lord on Feb. 21, 2003. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Marie, and sister Betty Fetterman of North. Lauderdale, Fla.
Mr. Ryer is also survived by daughter and son-in-law Jean and Russ Wolfgram of Show Low Ariz., son John T. Tyer of Bingmaton, N.Y. and grandchildren Christine Bonfiglio of Conn., Nick Cioffi of Mesa and Wade Ryer, Katie Ryer, Christopher Ryer and Brianne Ryer, all of Vestal, N.Y.
Mr. Ryer served proudly in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a photographer for 25 years and later a real estate broker. Mr. Ryer and his wife moved to Fountain Hills in 1987. He was active in the Fountain Hills Car Club and an avid square dancer. Jack was loved by all of those who were fortunate enough to meet him.
Donations in his memory may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 17444, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268.
Stephen J. Reiner
Stephen J. Reiner, 74, of Fountain Hills, passed away on Feb. 21, 2003 at the Eckstein Center in Scottsdale.
Mr. Reiner is survived by his wife, Pauline; daughter Lisa Almeida (John) of Fountain Hills; brother Ernest Reiner (Rose) of Monroe, Conn.; sisters Elizabeth Norris (James) of Moreno Valley, Calif. and Beatrice Leonard (George) of Mesa; and one grandson, Mark S. Almeida of Fountain Hills.
A funeral mass was held on Feb. 25 at Church of the Ascension in Fountain Hills, with interment at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale.
Contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, Ariz., 85014.
Elliott Isaac
Elliot Isaac, 43, of Fort McDowell died Feb. 1, 2003 at Scottsdale.
Mr. Isaac was born Feb. 13, 1959 in Phoenix. He was employed as a construction worker.
He is survived by his father, William Isaac of Fort McDowell; a son, Skye Cody of Fort McDowell; two daughters, Monica Isaac of Los Angeles and Cassaja Cody of Fort McDowell; two brothers, Darrell Isaac and Willard Isaac both of Fort McDowell; three sisters, Bernadine Boyd, Hermonie Isaac, both of Fort McDowell and Joyclyn Hernandez of LaPuente Calif.; and one grandchild.
Services will be held Thursday, Feb. 6, at 9 a.m. at the Fort McDowell Presbyterian Church Arbor, Fort McDowell, Ariz. Interment will be at Fort McDowell cemetery.
Jennifer H. Maland
Jennifer Hunter Maland, born April 17, 1965 in Chicago, passed away Jan. 7, 2003 – moving on to peace and serenity.
Her favorite occupation was as a white water guide, for numerous years, from the mountains of West Virginia to the high Sierras of Northern California. She had a creative mind and adventurous spirit, loving and living in the outdoors.
Jen was preceded in death by her mother Judith Perkins Maland, and survived by her father, David Maland (his wife Trish); her sister Susan Ludewig (her husband Will) and their children Cole and Kyle; her sister, Kristin Maland; her maternal grandmother, Dorothy Vetter (her husband Ed); and her fraternal grandmother, Iola Maland.
A memorial service was held at Fountain Park Saturday, Feb. 1. A celebration of life reception followed.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Niffer’s Wilderness Ventures Memorial Fund. Deposits can be made at Bank of America, account No. 004653618023.
Conrad H. Schaefer
Conrad H. Schaefer, a 20-year resident of Fountain Hills, passed away Jan. 25, 2003.
An Air Force veteran of World War II and former insurance salesman, Schaefer is survived by two sons, Robert and Gary; three grandchildren, David and Andrew Schaefer and Sandraclaire Little; and five great- grandchildren.
Inurnment at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fountain Hills will be held at a later date.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 13770 N. Fountain Hills Blvd., Fountain Hills, AZ 85268.
Peter Seyler
Peter Seyler, 77, of Fountain Hills, passed away Jan. 30, 2003 at home. Less than five months ago he had been diagnosed with cancer of the liver and bladder.
Born Jan. 3, 1926 in Brittany, France, Peter served with distinction in the 2nd Armored Division in France during WWII. Among the many medals he received he was awarded "La Croix de Guerre" with Bronze Star. He also received a personal commendation from General Charles de Gaulle for extraordinary valor.
Peter began his career as a tool and die maker in Paris, France. He left France in 1952 with his wife, Janine, two toddlers and two suitcases in search of the perfect life in America. After a few years of hard work, Peter became Executive Vice President and part-owner of a spring manufacturing company. He received many patents for his inventions. He was a past president and on the Board of Directors of CASMI (Chicago Association of Spring Manufactures, Inc.) and cherished the many lifelong friends he made there.
Peter and Janine moved to Fountain Hills less than two and a half years ago to enjoy retired life after living in Franklin Park, IL for 43 years. They enjoyed the beauty and the warmth of Arizona and made the most of each day they had together.
His wife, Janine, preceded Peter in death on Sept. 28, 2002. Their love and devotion to each other for nearly 56 years was an inspiration to their children and all who knew them. They traveled together all over ht world, which can be proven by the hundreds of photo albums left for their children to enjoy.
Survivors include two sons, Gerard (Carmen) Seyler of Gilberts, Ill. and Bruce (Kathy) Seyler of Schaumburg, Ill., and one daughter, Sylvia (Joseph) Strazz, Sr. of Fountain Hills.
Peter had five grandchildren, Joe Strazz, Jr. (Lisa) of Chandler, Lisa Janine Hesse (Scott) of Gilbert, Jeanne Allen (Fred) of Webb City, Mo. And Jennifer Seyler and Peter Gerard Seyler of St. Charles, Ill.
Peter enjoyed his seven great-grandchildren, Julia Grace and Emma Janine Strazz of Chandler, Jake, Troy and Nicole Janine Hesse of Gilbert, and Wylie Guy and Casey Aric Allen of Webb City, Mo.
A viewing was held Friday, Jan. 31, at Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary. It was Peter’s wish to be cremated and to have his remains combined with Janine’s remains to be together forever after.
All who knew and loved him, especially his three children who are very grateful for all the sacrifices he made to give them a wonderful life, will miss Peter.
The family is suggesting memorial contributions to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014-5656.
