Jack Larkin Baker, Sr.
Jack Larkin Baker, Sr., 88, of Sun City Center, Fla. formerly of Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, Mich. born February 26, 1928, died peacefully surrounded by his family, in Sun City Center, Fla. on November 12, 2016.
An intimate funeral mass for immediate family has already taken place and a memorial service is being planned in Ann Arbor, Mich. for mid-December.
Jack was born in Cranston, R.I. February 26, 1928, to parents John and Margaret Larkin Baker. An eager student, Jack excelled in his class work and studied at West Point Military Academy, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Northeastern University earning a BSME and MSME in 1949 and 1951 respectively. As a senior student at MIT Jack served breakfast to Winston Churchill, was a member of ROTC, and later became a Captain in the Army Reserve.
Jack is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years, Susan Williams Baker, his children David, Jack (Dianne), Cynthia (Tom), Geoff and Carole, stepsons Michael and Frank Williams, 27 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren from his and Susan’s combined families.
He was preceded in death by his sister Judith Ellis, his daughter Pamela Trostle, his stepchildren Katie and George Williams and his first wife Mary Jesson Baker.
Jack was active in civic and community organizations his entire life including serving as a scoutmaster, PTA President, a life member of Rotary, and co-founder of Neighborhood Senior Services with his first wife, Mary. He was nominated for a Community Lifetime Achievement Award from the Geriatrics Center at the University of Michigan in 1999. He was a life member of the Engineering Society of Detroit and the Society of Professional Engineers.
Jack would engage anyone he met in conversation, and family members often heard years later how a story he had shared had resonated with them. He was a sought-out speaker for engineering professional organizations, and won first place in 2009 in a Toastmaster International speech contest. He always had a yarn to share, accepted everyone for who they were, and had a never-yielding positive outlook, right up to the very end of his life. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to Neighborhood Senior Services, a program of Catholic Social Services, 4925 Packard, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 or online at http://csswashtenaw.org/seniors/neighborhood-senior-services/.
Robert H. Richner
Robert H. Richner of Sun City Center, Fla., formerly of Goshen, N.Y. passed away on November 19, 2016. Son of Raymond and Sarafina Hauser Richner, Robert was born December 20,1930 in Goshen, N.Y.
Bob was the owner of Bob’s Gun Exchange for 40 years and former supervisor of Chester Packing for 32 years. Bob had a passion for history, guns and was a champion trap shooter. Predeceased by sisters Dorothy Ebey, Janet Schmick and brother Raymond Richner. Robert is survived by his wife, Betty Richner (Coons) of Sun City Center; son Robert L. Richner of Middletown, N.Y.; daughters Cynthia Hubbard and husband, Don of Chester, N.Y.; Joan De Fayette, Susan Lamberton, Christine Kroll and husband Brian of Inverness, Fla.; brothers, Bruce Richner and wife Mary of Walden, N.Y., Fred Richner and wife Kathy of Bloomingburg, N.Y. Thomas Richner and wife Alice of Wallkill, N.Y.; sisters Edna VanDyke and husband Carl of Montgomery, N.Y.; Louisa Kubrak and husband Tony of Ariel, Pa.; and grandchildren, Brooke Zauner, Scott Richner, Matt Defayette, Lyndsey Defayette, Alexandria Cattanach and husband, Jake, Heather Kroll and Kaci Kroll, several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sun City Center Emergency Squad, 720 Ray Watson Drive, Sun City Center, FL 33573.
John Amazzo
John Amazzo, 85, passed away on Nov. 10, 2016. He was an Army veteran of the Korean conflict and retired from State Farm Insurance as a fraud investigator.
Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years Gloria, sons Michael and David, daughter Gina (Rich) Adams, grandchildren Kelly and Brian Adams, Dominic, Alex and Julia Amazzo, and great-grandchildren Melissa and Eliot. John is also survived by sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
A private family viewing was held on Nov. 12, 2016 at Sun City Center Funeral home.
Margaret Gutelius
Margaret N. Gutelius, 98, of Sun City Center, Fla., died on November 7, 2016 at the home of her daughter, Mary Gutelius, in Trumansburg, N.Y. She lived a full and giving life.
Margaret grew up in Beirut, Lebanon, the daughter of Presbyterian Missionaries. She attended Oberlin College in Ohio, and graduated from Columbia University in New York City, with a Bachelors in Nursing in 1940. Along with her physician husband, Doctor Stanley K. Gutelius, she worked in rural community health for 31 years.
She lived her faith in a quiet determined fashion. Her family was very proud of her for attending the 1963 March on Washington for civil rights, and then working for fair housing in upstate New York. When Margaret (“Mogs” to her friends) retired to Sun City Center in 1978, she was very active in the St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. She was a member and treasurer for the Interfaith Social Action Council. She worked for the Nearly New Shop and also volunteered at the Beth El Farmworkers Ministry. Mogs loved music and sang in the church choir for 35 years, as well as SCC Woman’s Chorus and St. Andrew and Friends Chorus.
Her family benefitted from her down-to-earth practical talents: She was a superb pie baker, a knitter of beautiful sweaters, and a raiser of Scottish Terriers. She loved boating and was an excellent synchronized swimmer at SCC.
She is survived by five children, Stan (Chris) Gutelius and Mary Gutelius of upstate New York and from Sun City Center; Jim (Karen) Gutelius, Cathy (John ) Rathmell, and Barb (Dale) Carver.
She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
The family will have a private memorial service in the spring in New York State.
Norbert Imhof
Norbert Imhof, 91, passed away Nov. 12, 2016 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Claire, his son Tim his daughter-in-law Norma, two grandsons, Michael and David and five great-grandchildren.
Norb was a World War II veteran and had been active in community affairs. He had just received his 25 years certificate and pin for the Pinellas Blue Lodge for service in the Masons.
We will miss him greatly.
Claire Palmerino
Claire O. Palmerino of Sun City Center, Fla. passed away on October 30, 2016. She is survived by a daughter, Nancy of Arlington, Va. and two sons, Kim of Manchester, Conn., and Charles of Southbridge, Mass. Her third son, Gregory, of Sturbridge, Mass. passed away in January this year. She is also survived by five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her husband, Anthony G. Palmerino, formerly of Southbridge, Mass. and Sun City Center, Fla., passed away in 1993.