Obituaries: February 11, 2016

Donald Roy Johnson

Donald Roy Johnson, 69, of Ruskin passed away February 1, 2016. He was born July 1, 1946 in Sarasota.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Patricia and Donald Hilton Johnson, and his brothers, Jimmy and Mark Johnson.

He is survived by daughters Vicki Selph of Tampa, Sonia Jennette of Riverview and Tonia Dorsey of Lutz; sister Betty Ann Johnson of Riverview; brother Ronald Johnson of San Antonio, Texas; and eight grandchildren.

He was a 1964 graduate of East Bay High School and worked as a self-employed painter and business owner in Ruskin.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, in the Banquet Room of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge, 1212 Shell Point Road in Ruskin.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #813.

 

Mary Jo Keene

Mary Jo Keene (Taynor) (Watters), 76, of Apollo Beach, Fla., passed peacefully at home following a long illness.

She is survived by husband Jack; children Michael, Cheryl, Mark, Marlena and Yvonne; twin sister Emma and older sister Patricia; brother James; 10 grandchildren, and 11 great- grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by parents Martha and Issac Taynor, and brother Danny.

Mary was born in her grandmother’s house in Washington Court House, Ohio, June 3, 1939. She lived in Ohio most of her life before moving to Sun City Center in 2002.

The family has chosen to have a memorial service at the Ruskin Moose Lodge at 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 9, 2016.

In lieu of flowers, donations to LifePath Hospice and American Lung Association in Mary’s name, would be appreciated.

Arrangements by Zipperer’s Funeral Home.

 

Ted W. Kuecker

Ted W. Kuecker, born June 4, 1927, in Milwaukee, Wis., the son of Theodore and Esther Church Kuecker, died Jan. 10, 2016, in Sun City Center, Fla. He is survived by four children: Kathy (Elliott) Frenz of Bloomington, Minn., Karl (Marybeth) Kuecker of Madison, Wis., Meghan Kuecker of Winter Park, Fla. and Erin Kuecker of Milwaukee; and three grandchildren, Christopher, Katie and Julianna Kuecker.

Ted, a World War II veteran, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin. After teaching art for many years in various Milwaukee-area schools, he retired in 1988 from the New Berlin school system. In retirement, he volunteered and was active in many organizations including AMVETS Post 60, the Mitchell Gallery of Flight, the Haggerty Museum (Marquette University) and the Milwaukee Children’s Symphony Orchestra plus numerous art organizations.

During his lifetime, he traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and the world, taking classes and visiting art galleries and museums. His passion was exploring art, and he created many beautiful paintings, sculptures and pieces of pottery.

He will be missed by his devoted friend, Dr. Anne Fagan of Sun City Center, and longtime best friends, Dr. Carl Chelius and Lester Butz of Wisconsin.

A memorial service will be held in Milwaukee on June 4. Interment will take place at Sarasota National Cemetery.

 

William H. Ricketts

William H. Ricketts, 89, of Sun City Center, Fla., and formerly of the City of Tonawanda, N.Y., passed away December 13, 2015. Husband of Ellen (née McCaslin) (Huet) Ricketts and husband of the late Edith G. (née Smith) Ricketts; father of William (Nancy) Ricketts, Bonnie (late Ronald Stalica) Jane (Dieeter), Remus and Jeannine (Louis) Palazza; 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

William was a carpenter by trade and a member of the Buffalo Carpenter’s Union #369.  He was with the U.S. Seabees during World War II in Okinawa.

William was laid to rest in Elmlawn Cemetery in Tonawanda on December 19, 2015.

There will be a memorial service held at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Sun City Center on February 18, 2016, at 10:30 a.m.

 

Rosa Lynne Meshbesher

Rosa Lynne Meshbesher, age 71, a loving and dedicated mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, passed away January 30, 2016, in Sun City Center, Fla.

Born Rosa Lynne Sklut on September 3, 1944, in Wilmington, Del., to Marian (née Freedman) and Millard Sklut, she was lovingly known to all as Lynne.

While attending the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., she met and married Thomas M. Meshbesher. After many loving years together with their three children in Minnesota, Delaware and Pennsylvania, Thomas passed away in March 2000. In the years to follow, Lynne made her homes and many good friends in Glassboro, N.J., and Sun City Center.

Lynne was a longtime member of Congregation Beth Shalom in Wilmington, Del., and most recently was active in her synagogue, Beth Israel in Sun City Center, and Chai Chapter of Hadassah, as chapter Vice President. She treasured her good friends, who spanned cross-country: Minneapolis, Wilmington, West Chester, Pa., Glassboro and Sun City Center.

Preceded in death by husband Thomas, and parents Millard and Marian Sklut, Lynne is survived by her children, Lisa Meshbesher, Simon Meshbesher (Laura) and Nicki Meshbesher (Rebecca Mina); by her much-adored granddaughter, Emily Meshbesher; sister Rochella Frankel; nine nieces and nephews; nine great-nieces and great-nephews; three great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews; and five cousins.

A graveside service was Sunday, February 7, 2016, at the Jewish Community Cemetery in Wilmington, Del.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Chai Chapter of Hadassah to support preventive health care for women: Chai Chapter of Hadassah c/o Carol Balent, 11449 Crestlake Village Drive, Riverview, FL 33569.

 

Ruth Alberta Miller Nelson

Twenty-five year resident of Sun City Center, Ruth Alberta (Miller) Nelson died at her home on Tuesday, January 26, six months shy of her 100th birthday,

Ruth was born on June 17, 1916, in Altoona, Pa. She is survived by brother Joseph Miller of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; son-in-law Thomas Wolf of Dayton, Ohio;  son Carl A. Nelson Jr. of Columbus, Ohio; and daughter Sheila Nelson of Portland, Ore. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Monday,  February 22, 2016, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 701 Valley Forge Blvd., Sun City Center.

Remembrances can be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church or LifePath Sun City Center Hospice, SCC.

Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.

 

Larry Phelan

Larry Phelan, age 85, of Sun City Center, Fla., died January 30, 2016. He was born March 12, 1930, in Detroit, Mich.

Husband of Ruth Ann; father of Larry Jr., Sue (Pat) Temple and the late John (surviving spouse Carolyn); grandfather of five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Larry was retired from DuPont Corp. and also from being a real estate broker in St. Louis, Mo.  He moved to Sun City Center in May 1997 and became an avid golfer at Caloosa Golf and Country Club and all SCC courses. Larry enjoyed his family, friends, partying and traveling all over the world.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Larry’s birthday, March 12, 2016, at United Community Church 1501 La Jolla Ave. in SCC.

Arrangements entrusted to National Cremation & Burial Society, Ruskin.

 

Gary Macferran

Gary Macferran, 80, passed away Sunday, January 31, at Sun City Center Hospice House. He was surrounded by his loving family.

A native of Lititz, Pa., he retired to Sun City Center, Fla., in 2001.  He was a graduate of Lititz High School and Pennsylvania State University and was an electrical engineer at Alcoa for 25 years.  He enjoyed tennis, pickleball, cars, travel and had a spirit of adventure.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, of Sun City Center; sons Brian, of Odessa, Fla., and Andrew, of San Jose, Calif.;  daughters-in-law Cindy and Marci; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A private memorial will be held for the family and a celebration of his life will be held in Pennsylvania.

The family wishes to thank Belvedere Commons and Sun City Center Hospice House for kind and compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, send donations in honor of Gary Macferran to Sun City Center Hospice House, 3723 Upper Creek Drive, Ruskin, FL 33573.

 

Robert A. Rothfuss

Robert A. Rothfuss, 87, of Sun City Center, Fla., died Wednesday, February 3, 2016, at LifePath Hospice, Ruskin, Fla.

Born on Dec. 14, 1928, in Marion County, Ohio, Robert was the son of the late Walter F. and Pearl (Uncapher) Rothfuss. His sister, Ruth Ann (Rothfuss) Furman, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Ann (Straub) Rothfuss; daughter Barbara (Randy) Zinn of Bloomington, Ind.; daughter Diane (Steve) Zeigler of Defiance, Ohio; and son Dr. Larry (Licia) Rothfuss of Richmond, Va.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was a 40-year resident of Van Wert, Ohio, and retired as a Vice-President of Central Mutual Insurance in 1990.

Among his many community involvements, he was a life member of the Elks, was awarded the Silver Beaver of the Boy Scouts of America and was active in the First United Methodist Church in Van Wert and in his churches in Florida. A proud member of the Ohio State Alumni Club, he was an avid Buckeye fan.

A memorial service for Robert will be held at LifePath Hospice chapel on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to LifePath Hospice of Ruskin.

Condolences may be sent to www.suncitycenterfuneralhome.com.

 

Timothy James Strahan

Timothy James Strahan, “Timmy,” age 47, passed away on January 25, 2016, at his home in Sparta, Tenn.

Timmy was born July 2, 1968, in Lawrenceville, Ga., to Timothy Lawrence Strahan and Mary Lou Clegg Strahan.

He will be forever remembered by his wife Joan, son Christopher, mother Lois, brother Bryan, and sisters Laura, Ernestine and Diane. Timmy will also be forever remembered by his many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. Timmy was preceded in death by father Timothy Lawrence Strahan and birth mother Mary Lou Clegg Strahan.

Timmy grew up in Ruskin, Fla., and worked in the family business. Timmy enjoyed fishing, hunting and spending time with his family and friends. He had a strong belief in God and God’s Grace. A kind and selfless man, who is greatly loved and will be sorely missed. You will be forever in our hearts.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 13, at Destiny Church, 2322 11th Ave. in Ruskin. Burial will be held in private at a later date.