William Edward Sykes, 84, died August 13, 2004, of multiple myeloma. He was born June 9, 1920, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and resided in Michigan, and resided in Michigan for most of his life. Sypkes served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 until 1946.
He graduated from the University of Michigan and, following his Navy service, he graduated from the University of Michigan School of Law in 1947. He practiced laws in Kalamazoo, Michigan, until his retirement in 1984.
He began his career in the Kalamazoo County Prsecuting Attorney's Office. Four years later he joined the firm of Mason, Stratton, Kent and Wise, and later joined the firm of Stratton, Wise, Sykes, Early and Starbuck. In 1957 he took a position in the legal department of Upjohn International, where he was employed until his retirement.
Sykes was a devoted sports enthusiast. He played golf, shooting his age several times both right and left-handed, a major accomplishment in the golf world. He also enjoyed playing tennis, skiing and sailing. He was a huge fan of the University of Michigan athletic teams.
Sykes is survived by his wife of 61 years, Elinor, his three children, Terry (Bill) Bradshaw, Stow, OH; Kathy (Steve) Shimp, Ft. Myers, FL; and William (Fran) Sykes, Richland, MI. He has 6 grandchildren Chris (Helen) Bradshaw, Kathy Bradshaw, Kevin Shimp, Kelly (Read) Sawczyn, Scott Sykes and Jared Sykes, and one great-granddaughter, Alyssa Bradshaw.
Sykes' family and friends will miss his great sense of humor, his devotion to his family, his generosity and his competitive nature.
A memorial service will be held in Michigan at a date to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hope Hospice, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Ft. Myers, FL 33908 and the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, VA 22038.
Angelo John Vilardo, passed away peacefully in his sleep August 14, 2004 at the age of 91.
'Al' as he was known as had resided in Ft. Myers since 1960. He was a Real Estate Broker in Ft. Myers for many years, a member of the Ft. Myers Board of Realtors. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Minnie L. Vilardo in 1992.
He is survived by his daughter, Carol L. Matheny and son-in-law, Tommy R. Matheny of Ft. Myers and by his son Angelo A. Vilardo, of Naples, FL.
He had 8 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Lucy (Spinner) of Hamburg, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be given to the Alzheimers Society.
Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens will be in charge of graveside service. It will be held on Wednesday, August 18, at 11:00 AM.
Anna B. (Newberry) Bartlett, 71, of Ft. Myers, died Wednesday, August 18, 2004. A retired service center clerk for Sprint Telephone with thirty-two years of service, she was a native of Limestone, FL.
Mrs. Bartlett is survived by her husband Wayne Bartlett, a daughter Janice Brass, a son Charles L. Newberry, Jr., four sisters Lucille Allen, Rea Lowe, Zita Edmark, Alice Eckelberry, two brothers Sonny Coker, Charles Coker, 5 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial service will be conducted Saturday, August 21, 2004 at 2:00 PM at Lee Memorial Park Funeral Home. Arrangements by Lee Memorial Park Funeral Home.
North Fort Myers resident, George Bertrand, passed away June 29, 2004 in Fort Myers. George was born July 19, 1920 in Wheaton, Illinois. He attended Wheaton High School, where he played football for the Wheaton Tigers. He was also an outstanding baseball player, once having hit a softball diagonally across a city block. After returning from Coast Guard service (WW ll), he and his wife Marion Bertrand (nee Pontrello) built their home in Warrenville, IL. George worked for the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Railroad until 1957. George was an active supporter of the community, particularly the Warrenville Police Department, offering his cooking expertise at the annual benefit picnic. He and Marion retired to Florida in 1980 where they spent many hours ballroom dancing. George also volunteered his services to the Fort Myers community for many years, teaching English as a second language and adult literacy.He was preceded in death by his son, George. He is survived by his wife Marion, his daughters Colette Bertrand (Kim Groves) and Annette Bertrand (Dave Heilman).
Funeral services for Elder Nimrod Boles will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, August 21, 2004 from the Apostolic Revival Center, 2100 Barden St., Ft. Myers, FL. Visitation will be 6-8 PM TODAY from Hickson Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Hickson Funeral Home, 2530 Highland Ave., Ft. Myers, FL 334-6440.
Duane E. Brandt, age 77, of Ft. Myers, FL died on August 13, 2004 at Lee Memorial Hospital in Ft. Myers, FL. Born on November 19, 1926 in Saginaw, MI to Edwin W. and Irma Brandt. Duane graduated from Arthur Hill High School, Saginaw, MI and was employed by General Motors for 30 years as an estimator. A veteran of World War II he served in the US Army and was a member of Salina Lodge #155 F&AM, Saginaw
He is survived by his wife of 10 years, J. Fiona Brandt, his son, Duane W. Brandt of Ft. Myers, FL, his daughters, Linda Sue Depew of Ft. Myers, FL and Nancy Lutz of Holland, MI, his step daughters, Gaynor D. Thomas of New Milford, CT, Carol Tyrer of New Milford, CT and Beverly Tyrer of Port Charlotte, FL, his brother, Robert J. Brandt of Burnsville, NC, 7 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent in his name to the Coach Light Manor Memorial Fund, 18050 S. Tamiami Trail, #4, Ft. Myers, FL 33908
Private funeral service and interment were conducted by the Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Ft. Myers, FL.
Alma Cline, 94, of Gainesville, died August 15, 2004 under the care of Hospice of North Central Florida and her family.
Service of Rembrance: 11:00 AM, Saturday, Chapel of Hospice of North Central Florida, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL and a Chapel service 2:00 PM Sunday, at Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens, Ft. Myers, FL.
Catherine Crouch, 56, of Sarasota, died August 17, 2004. She was born Dec. 10, 1947 in PA, moving to Ft. Myers in 1993. Catherine worked as a licensed clinical social worker and a member of National Assoc. of Social Workers for over 20 years, and was awarded Social Worker of the Year in 1989 & 2003. She graduated with a Bachelor & Masters degree in social work from the University of South Florida.
She is survived by her fiance' John B. Ward of Sarasota, mother Mrs. Louis P. Verna, of Hallendale, FL, daughter Laura Crouch of Orlando, FL, sons David Crouch of Tampa, & John Crouch of Ft. Myers, FL, sisters Anita Ross of Longboat Key, FL and brother Louis P. Verna, Jr. of Hollywood, FL.
Memorial mass will be held Wednesday, August 25, 2004 at 9:30 AM at Church of the Incarnation, Sarasota. Inurnment at Palms Memorial Park, Sarasota. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of S.W. Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238. Arrangements by Griffith & Cline Funeral Home, Sarasota, FL.
Clara C. Ewin, 75, of Cape Coral, FL, formerly of Evansville, IN died August 19, 2004. Mrs. Ewin was born January 12, 1929 in Evansville, IN, a daughter of the late Frank and Veronica Simon Wolf. She was a member of Nativity Catholic Church in Evansville. She had resided here for the past 4 years.
She is survived by her daughters, Sandy (Duane) Hopkins and Sherri (Keith) Allender both of Cape Coral; 4 grandchildren, Cara, April, Chad and Jim; 1 great-grandchild, Aiden; brothers, Leo and Frederick; sisters, Margie, Rosie, Pauline and Josephine.
Visitation will be held TONIGHT, Friday from 6-8 PM in the chapel of Coral Ridge Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 21, 2004 at 11:30 AM in the funeral home. Entombment will follow in Coral Ridge Cemetery.
Mavis Mary Hojnacki, 77, of Cape Coral died Wednesday, August 18, 2004. Mrs. Hojnacki had lived in So. Milwaukee, WI, before moving to Cape Coral in 1984. An avid artist, Mrs. Hojnacki was a member of the Pine Island Art League and the Cape Coral Art League.
She is the wife of the late John Frank Hojnacki (2000). Survived by her children; Kim Hojnacki and Kurt Hojnacki both of Ft. Myers and Karen (David) Attewell of Franklin, WI. She is also survived by a brother, Tony Sorge and a sister, Joan Hewson; 6 grandchildren, Jason, Joshua, Bradley, Brian, Natchia and Allie and three great-grandchildren, Amber, Brandon and Nathan.
Friends may call Monday August 23 from 4-6:30 PM at the Fuller Funeral Home, 1910 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral. 574-3434. A funeral service will follow at 6:30 PM. Interment private.
Asa Hosmer, V, 81, died suddenly August 18, 2004. Born in Charlotte, NC, he came to the area 12 years ago from Wenonah, NJ.
Mr. Hosmer was a veteran of WWII serving in the US Army. He also attended Belmont Abby and Wheaton College. He was a graduate of North Carolina State University and a member of Delta Sigma Phi. Mr. Hosmer also loved working with his computer and bowling.
Survivors include his loving companion, Dolores A. Brown of North Fort Myers; children, Asa (Kim) Hosmer, VI of Swedesboro, NJ, Robert (Lisa) Brown of Jeffersonville, PA, and Carol (Gary) Wiley of Birdsboro, PA; grandchildren, Angelica Hosmer of Gibbstown, NJ, Matthew Wiley of Guam, Timothy Wiley and Seth Wiley both of Birdsboro, PA, Devin Brown of Pensacola, FL, and Reiley Brown of St. Louis, MO.
A memorial service will be celebrated at a later date in New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 4574 Via Royale, Suite 209, Ft. Myers, FL 33919.
Raymond Paul Lakocy, 76, born October 27, 1927, died August 10, 2004 of cancer. He grew up in Elyria, OH where he reised until his retirement, then took up residency in Ft. Myers. He graduated from Elyria High School, was a WWII Merchant Marine Veteran, and was employed at General Motors in Elyria, OH until the plants closing, where he was a maintenance supervisor. He also worked at Sanibel Seafood in Ft. Myers.
He is preceded in death by his father, John (Jack) Lakocy, his mother, Aurelia (Ternes) Lakocy Gerhart and a brother, Theodore Lakocy.
He is survived by his wife, Joan Lakocy of Ft. Myers; 3 daughters, Susan Moehle & Deborah Folley, brother Elyria, OH, and Mary Kaye Fox of Aiken, SC; a son, Richard Lakocy of Grafton, OH; 4 step-children, Caron Bourne of Sevierville, TN, Stephany Dennis of Cape Coral, Michele Elder of Sheldon, IA & David Joyce of Tampa, a sister, Thelma DeChant of Oberlin, OH; 17 grandchildren & 3 great-grandchildren.
Raymond was a member of Moose Lodge of Ft. Myers, the Veteran's Club of American #1 ('The Little Club') and he enjoyed boating and fishing on Lake Erie.
There will be a memorial service on Saturday, Sept. 4th at 11:00 AM at Lee Memorial Park Funeral Home, 12777 S.R. 82. The family has requested contributions to Hope Hospice of Ft. Myers.
Lee Memorial Park
334-4880
