Don Berens
Donald J. Berens
Donald J. Berens , 91 , of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Born in Cincinnati, May 7, 1923, Don retired after 38 years from the Kroger Co. and moved to Sun City Center in 1983.
Beloved husband of the late Mary “Mike” Berens; loving father of Thomas Berens, John (Nancy) Berens, Rick (Ally) Berens, Ann (Dan) Hayes and Tony (Suzanne) Berens; cherished grandfather of 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Don is survived by longtime friend Mary Ann Bibus.
Don was a decorated World War II veteran (Bronze Star/Purple Heart); longtime member of Prince of Peace Church (Usher for 15 years); and proudly served as a member of the SCC Guardians for 12 years.
He was a wonderful man, proud of his family, loyal to his friends, his country and his God. He will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Sun City Center, Saturday, Nov. 8, at 11 a.m.
Bettie E. Campbell
Bettie E. Campbell, 81, of Apollo Beach, Fla., passed away peacefully on October 27, 2014.
She is survived by her children Alan Campbell and Kathy Trimmer (Denny); grandchildren Eric Trimmer (Christie), Cody Campbell and Courtney Campbell; and great-grandaughter Olivia Trimmer.
Bernard DeLeo
Bernard Charles DeLeo, M.D.
July 24, 1932 – October 23, 2014
Dr. Bernard Charles (“Bernie”) DeLeo, 82, died peacefully Thursday morning, October 23, in his home at The Fountains retirement community in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Bernie was born July 24, 1932, in Altoona, Pa., to the late David and Mary Romadella DeLeo. He is the grandson of the founder of the Altoona Buccinese Society, Giuseppe Di Leo, and the great-grandson of founder Paolo Lepore. He graduated from Altoona Catholic High School in 1950. During his senior year, a football injury landed him in the hospital, where he became fascinated with the doctors and nurses. He decided right then to become a doctor. He won a scholarship to St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe, Pa., and studied Pre-Med, graduating in 1954. He continued on to medical school at St. Louis University, where he would meet his future wife, Antoinette (“Toni”) Trivisonno, a graduate nursing student. They were wed June 14, 1958, after their graduations.
Thus began a career in medicine that spanned many years and cities. Bernie became an anesthesiologist first at the Cleveland Clinic. He then became the first anesthesiologist and Acting Head of the Department of Anesthesia at St. John Hospital in Cleveland. During their time in Cleveland, Bernie and Toni completed their family of six children.
In June 1969, Bernie moved his practice to academic medicine at Ohio State University and his family to Columbus. He enjoyed his time at Ohio State and continued his lifelong affiliation with the Buckeyes as an avid OSU football and Marching Band fan. In 1978, he accepted the position of Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Albany Medical College and Head of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Albany Medical Center. He worked there until 1986, when they decided to move back to St. Louis, a place they both fondly recalled from their courtship years. Bernie took the position of Clinical Director of Anesthesiology at Washington University’s Barnes Hospital until his retirement in June of 1996. Bernie loved working in medicine and especially teaching; his favorite case was providing anesthesia to a 275-pound silverback gorilla named Fred at the St. Louis Zoo.
Bernie and Toni retired to Sun City Center, Fla., in 1997. Bernie stayed active as a volunteer; he loved working with the Sawdust Engineers, making toys for schoolteachers; publishing a community newsletter; filing income taxes for community members with AARP; and in various officer positions for their local homeowner’s association.
Bernie was known for his upbeat personality and sense of humor. He was a people person who thrived on social contact, and always had a joke for every occasion. A lifelong practicing Catholic, he believed in helping people, always placing others before himself. He started a scholarship fund in his name at St. Vincent’s College, to help students afford SVC as he was helped. He was devoted to his wife, Toni, and took care of her as her health declined in her later years. They were happily married for 54 years until her death in November 2012. Following Toni’s passing, Bernie moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., to be near his eldest daughter, Cathy, who would take care of him in his final years.
Bernie is survived by his children Cathy (Mark) Uggeri, Catie, Christine, Michael and Andrew Uggeri of Mattawan, Mich.; Beth (Don) Gibbs, Carla; Lauren and Emma Gibbs of Omaha; Bernard Charles (Rebecca Hill) DeLeo Jr., Charles and Sophia DeLeo of Falls Church, Va.; John DeLeo, Jack and Mark DeLeo of Columbus, Ohio; Paul (Amanda) DeLeo, Louis and Francis DeLeo of Catonsville, Md.; and Claire Louise DeLeo (Michael Wand) of Boulder, Colo. Also surviving are brothers Joseph DeLeo of Bellmawr, N.J., and Dennis (Mary Kay) DeLeo of Altoona, Pa.; and sister-in-law Tina Gartland of Mentor, Ohio, as well as many nieces, nephews and their children.
A memorial service will be held at the Crypt in the Basilica at St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe, Pa., at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made and sent to either: The Bernard C. DeLeo M.D. Scholarship Fund, St. Vincent College, Marsha Brasile, Institutional Advancement, 300 Fraser Purchase Rd., Latrobe, PA 15650; or the Medical Class of 1958 Scholarship at St. Louis University, DuBourg Hall #319, 21 N. Grand Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103.
Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Kalamazoo. Please visit Bernie’s personalized webpage for his online guestbook or to leave a condolence to his family at www.langelands.com.
George Gundecker
George Gundacker
George Gundacker, 86, of Sun City Center, Fla., died peacefully on October 29, 2014.
He was born in Hawkeye, Iowa, on August 12, 1928, to Donald and Rosalie.
Following a stint in the Marine Corps, he attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and married his first wife, Adeline (Jane). In 1958, he started his lifetime teaching career by moving overseas, four children in tow, with the Dept. of Defense (DODD’s) school system. Throughout his life, he was a dedicated family man, a good teacher and school adminstrator and he also was a father figure to his teachers as well as his students.
Retirement came in 1987 with a move to Orlando, then to Sun City Center where he was active musically with the community and Redeemer Church..
George was preceded in death by first wife, Adeline (Jane) Gundacker. George is survived by wife Sandra, of Sun City Center; sisters Donna (Keith) Koch of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Jane (Gary) Ahlberg of Marengo, Iowa; children Alice (Larry) Fortunato of Winter Park, Fla., Mary (John) DeCoster of Aurora, Colo., Dan Gundacker (Becky) of Sun Prairie, Wis., Charlie Gundacker (Diesta) of Winter Park; stepchildren Laura (Kevin Benning) Gray of New Tampa, and Glen (Tracy) Gray of Ruskin; grandchildren Veronica, Lydia, Liz, Phil, Jeff, Nate, Rachel, Naomi, Stefani, Dom, Gabe, Haley, Mavrick, Crissy and Aryia; and great-grandchildren Adeline, Elianna, Ian and Henri.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sun City Center.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church, LifePath Hospice Shining Star Program, or Samaritan Alzheimer Respite Program.
Lewis K. Riley
Lewis K. Riley, 89, passed away on October 26, 2014, at Hospice House, Sun City Center. He was born on January 12, 1925, in Jacksonville, Fla.
Lew served on General Omar Bradley’s staff during World War II in England, France and Germany. He attended Indiana University and Bowdoin College and retired in 1990 from Mutual of America Insurance Company as a pension consultant. During this time he earned his CLU Degree.
He was a deacon at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Sun City Center, as well as an active member of the SCC Men’s Club, where he served as a Vice President and Administrator of the Lifeline Medical Alert Program. He also was a member of the Computer Club, Genealogy Club, Photo Club and was a lawn bowler and golfer for many years.
He was predeceased by his parents, Lewis K. Riley Jr. and Eva Prince Riley; his first wife Nancy Hale Riley; daughter Diana Riley; and sister Vivian Nelson.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Barbara Riley; children Philip (Mary) Riley, Lynn Tompkins, Keith (Patty) Roberts, Mark (Kathie) Roberts, and Paul (Linda) Roberts; grandchildren Jill (Michael) Solemene, Scott (Christina) Tompkins, Samantha (Chris) Kaplan, Jeff Roberts, Philip (Jen) Riley and Nicole Riley; and great-grandchildren Ava, Rocco, Mason, Sienna and Eliza.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Hospice House or the Sun City Center Emergency Squad.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church.