Linda I. Higgins
CHIEFLAND - Linda I. Higgins died Saturday at Hospice of North Central Florida. She was 49.
Mrs. Higgins was born in Stafford Springs, Conn., and moved to Chiefland 14 years ago.
She was a sales associate and a Catholic.
Survivors include her husband, Bob Higgins of Chiefland; a son, Serge Blanchette of Chiefland; a daughter, Connie Lyn Blanchette of Rockie Hill, Conn.; her parents, Arther and Margaret Marceau of Deltona; brothers Billy and Arther Marceau Jr., both of Deltona; and a grandchild.
Arrangements by Knauff Funeral Home.
Marshall P. Howard
WILLISTON - Marshall P. Howard died Monday in Gainesville. He was 82.
Mr. Howard was born in Rochester, N.Y., and moved to Williston from Ovid, N.Y., three years ago.
He retired from the maintenance department of a chemical company.
He was a Presbyterian.
Survivors include cousins, all of Williston, Marie Dodson, who was also his caretaker, and Frances Green and Janice Hars.
Arrangements by Knauff Funeral Home.
Jacob van der Klooster
Jacob John "Jack" van der Klooster of Gainesville died Saturday at his residence. He was 90.
Mr. van der Klooster was born in Alkmaar, the Netherlands, and moved to the United States in 1916.
He went to high school in Bradenton and attended Davidson College.
In 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Dutch Army. After the war he was stationed in Hague, where he met and married
Antje Oostra.
The couple moved to West Palm Beach and Mr. van der Klooster worked as a certified public accountant with Hymes & Hymes.
He became a full partner in 1961.
He was an elder at First Presbyterian Church in West Palm Beach.
Survivors include daughters Dottie Daley of West Palm Beach, Carol Ann Padgett of Brandon and Nancy Dickson of Gainesville; and three grandchildren.
Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.
Leland Dewey Miller
MICANOPY - Leland Dewey Miller died Dec. 5 at his residence. He was 77.
Mr. Miller was born in Bassett, Iowa, and moved to Micanopy from Mount Morris Hill, Ill., four months ago.
He was an agronomist, a Mason and a Shriner. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
He was baptized Lutheran and was a Methodist.
Mr. Miller enjoyed travel, sports and horticulture.
Survivors include daughters Peggy Lee Morgan of Micanopy, Linda Lee Vanderpuye of San Francisco, Susan Lee Walgamuth of Indianapolis, Ind.; a son, Dennis Lee Miller of Thorntown, Ind.; brothers Everett and Dale Miller, both of Nevis, Minn.; a sister, Evelyn Miller of Minnetonka, Minn.; and three grandchildren.
Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.
Betty June Stefanelli
Betty June Stefanelli of Gainesville died Sunday at the Hospice House of Gainesville. She was 65.
Mrs. Stefanelli was born in Starke and moved to Gainesville in 1957. She was a retired customer service representative at Belk's Department Store and a member of Holy Faith Catholic Church.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Stefanelli Sr. of Gainesville; daughters Linda Stefanelli of Gainesville and Mari Ann Perusek of Atlanta; sons Robert Stefanelli Jr. of Yulee and Randall Stefanelli of Newberry; her mother, Mary Norman of Starke; and six grandchildren.
Arrangements by Archie Tanner Funeral Home.
Kimberly Weisenberger
LAKELAND - Kimberly Ann Granito Weisenberger died Monday in Gainesville following an extended illness. She was 38.
Mrs. Weisenberger was born in Beaver Falls, Pa., and moved to Lakeland from Gainesville last year. She was a sales clerk at Wal-Mart and a Catholic.
Survivors include her husband, William Weisenberger of Lakeland; a son, Michael Weisenberger of Lakeland; her mother, Dolores G. Granito of Gainesville; and a sister, Toni Phillips of Gainesville.
Arrangements by Forest Meadows Funeral Home.
Simon Johnson
Simon "Deekie" Johnson of Gainesville died Tuesday at Sunbridge Care Center after a long illness. He was 85.
Mr. Johnson was a retired construction worker.
Born in Naylor, Ga., he moved from Georgia to Gainesville 75 years ago.
He was a member of the World Wide Church of God.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Johnson of Gainesville; two sons, Calvin Johnson of Union City, Calif., and Anthony Johnson of Vista, Calif.; six daughters, Florence Johnson, Ann Jones, Joyce Swint and Karen Johnson, all of Gainesville, Sandra Barber of Sanford and Jacqueline Blocker of Hampton; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Stanley John Lakota Sr.
TALLAHASSEE - Stanley John Lakota Sr. of Tallahassee died Saturday in Gainesville. He was 89.
Mr. Lakota was a tool and dye maker.
Born in Austria, he had been visiting relatives in Gainesville for the past month.
He was a Catholic.
Survivors include three daughters, Joy Flowers of Gainesville, Barbara Cox of Tallahassee and Monica Rodriguez of Nashville, Tenn.; a son, Stan Lakota Jr. of Tallahassee; two sisters, Martha Kosko of Arizona and Mary Gray of Fort Lauderdale; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mary L. Mitchell
HAWTHORNE - Mary L. Mitchell of Hawthorne died Wednesday at Shands at AGH after a brief illness. She was 80.
Mrs. Mitchell was a retired homemaker.
Born in Virginia, she moved from Alabama to Hawthorne eight years ago.
She served on the Mother's Board at St. Peter Full Gospel Baptist Church in Grove Park.
Survivors include her caregivers, Mary and Melvin Brown of Hawthorne; and 18 grandchildren.
John E. Muthard
John E. Muthard of Berkeley Heights, N.J., died Saturday at the Berkeley Heights Convalescent Center. He was 83.
Dr. Muthard was a former professor in rehabilitation counseling psychology at the University of Florida.
Born in Reading, Pa., he lived in Gainesville 33 years before moving to New Jersey last year.
Dr. Muthard was a member of the University Lutheran Church of Gainesville, the American Psychological Association and the Association of Rehabilitation Counselors of America.
He enjoyed fishing and reading.
Survivors include his wife, Ella E. Muthard of Watchung, N.J.; a son and daughter-in-law, David and Deborah Muthard of Warren, N.J.; a daughter and son-in-law, Jean M. and Matthew Wyvratt of Mountainside, N.J.; and three grandchildren.
Grover Bruce Tipton
Grover Bruce Tipton of Gainesville died Friday in Gainesville. He was 64.
Father Tipton was an administrator for Holy Family Catholic Church in Williston. He was formerly involved with the Prison Ministry for the Greater Gainesville Area and was a former Episcopal priest.
Born in Adrian, Mich., he moved from Savannah, Ga., to Gainesville six years ago.
Father Tipton was on the board of House of Hope. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Secular Franciscans.
Survivors include his wife, Lois E. Tipton of Gainesville; four daughters, Emily Jean Funk of Chatmanville, W.Va., Janis Nadine Smith of Decatur, Ind., Melanie Anne Vieth of Bradenton, and Aimee Lynn Tipton of Gainesville; a son, Matthew Robert Tipton of Stuart; a sister, Wilma Joyce Ruppel of Jackson, Mich.; and eight grandchildren.
