Richard Louis Dimmler
December 3, 1945 – February 20, 2019
Richard Louis Dimmler was born in New York City, attended Brooklyn Tech., Pratt Inst. and the School of Visual Arts. He was a sculptor and portrait painter, a professional bass player and an Art Director in film production. He made sets and props for hundreds of national commercials. He was Studio Assistant to several of the top New York Artists of the ’60s – ’80s. Richard was also a master craftsman and /or contractor fabricator on many home and loft renovations, and furniture he was always making.
Richard always had a dog and a motorcycle (Norton and Ducati). He thoroughly enjoyed his Alfa Romeo and had also cut up his 2002 BMW to be a pick-up! We went to “Woodstock,” hung out at the Filmore East, lived on the “Bowery,” and took our dogs with us on the motorcycles.
Richard is survived by his wife and partner of 52-plus years Suzanne. They eloped in 1966. They have lived in New York City, Southampton, N.Y., Sanibel Island, Fla., Santa Fe, N.M., Orlando and Sun City Center, Fla. Richard had severe degenerative osteo-arthritis and Parkinson’s.
We are grateful that he is finally released from pain. Richard’s energy, humor, inventiveness and imagination will be missed. He had a small blood family and a huge Family-of-Friends.
Sandra Lu Eckelaert
Sandra Lu Eckelaert, age 79, of Sun City Center, Florida, and Spread Eagle, Wisconsin passed away on Tuesday, February 27, 2019, at Brandon Regional Medical Center surrounded by her children.
Sandy was born in Mattoon, Wisconsin to Donald and LaVerne Larsen on May 21, 1939. She graduated from Mattoon High School and was working at Kimberly-Clark in Neenah, Wisconsin when she met and married Jack F. Eckelaert on May 6, 1961. Sandy and her family lived in Neenah and DePere, Wisconsin before retiring to Florida. Sandy and Jack were married 49 years before his passing on November 13, 2009.
Sandy is survived by her children, daughter Lori Turner (Damian) and grandchildren Emily, Quinlan, Olivia (Lee Anderson) and Donovan, Waterville, Vt.; son Steven Eckelaert (Jennifer) and grandchildren Annelise (Brian Hodge), Madelaine, Jack and Genevieve, Kimberly, Wis.; son Scott Eckelaert (Madeline) and grandchildren Mark and Alessia, Cleveland, Wis.; brother Lynn (Butch) Larsen (Carol) Green Bay, Wis.; sister-in-law Drucilla Meidl, N. Fort Myers, Fla.; her soul sisters (cousins) Marva Krueger of Mattoon, Wis. and Joann Beck of Appleton, Wis.; and many cherished nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jack; her parents Donald and LaVerne Larsen; brother-in-law William Person, brother-in-law Norman Meidl, and most recently her sister-in-law Dorothy Eckelaert Person.
Sandy was an extremely devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Her greatest love was spending time with her family, friends and especially her grandchildren. Sandy had the gift of gab, a great sense of humor and connected with everyone she met as if they were a cherished friend — new or old. Sandy lived a life of service and volunteerism and delivered Meals on Wheels for decades in Green Bay, Wis. and in Pinellas County, Fla., as well as working with the migrant farm workers missions in Florida and the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen. She was an active member and volunteer in The United Methodist Church wherever she resided for the duration of her life. Sandy touched many lives and will be missed greatly by her family and everyone who knew her.
Florida services were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 4, 2019, at The United Methodist Church of Sun City Center. Summer funeral services will be held in Wisconsin, details to be announced to family and friends at a later date.
The family of Sandy Eckelaert also wishes to extend our sincere appreciation to her niece Jaye (Person) Carroll who stayed with Sandy until her children could arrive, to the wonderful nurses in the ICU at Brandon Memorial Hospital (Jane and Melissa), her dear circle of friends here in Florida, the members of her church family at The United Methodist Church of Sun City Center and the Sun City Center Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Shriners Hospitals for Children at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org; your local Meals on Wheels organization or The United Methodist Church of Sun City Center www.sccumc.com. Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home, 813-634-9900.
Linda G. Patrick
Linda Gail Patrick 73 of Gibsonton passed away February 26, 2019. She was born on Aug. 31, 1945, in Jasper, Florida. She was a longtime employee of the Giant’s Camp Restaurant.
She is survived by three sisters and two brothers and two sons, Alfred J. Henderson of Gibsonton and David Scott Henderson of Tampa. She had three grandchildren and one great-grandaughter. She was active in her church. There will be a Memorial Service Saturday, March 9, at 3 p.m. at Vaughn Street Bible Church, 10018 Vaughn St., Gibsonton, FL 33534.
Dale K. Reinhart
Dale Kenneth Reinhart, 93, father of nine, grandfather of 20, great-grandfather of 21, great-great-grandfather of one and a World War II Veteran died peacefully at his home March 1, 2019. On Valentine’s Day 1947, he married the love of his life Betty Lou and they remained cherished partners for 69 and one-half years. He received his master’s degree in Music Education from the Minneapolis College of Music in 1956. He had a magical voice and could have entered the opera, but instead taught music in school before entering the Civil Service as the Music Therapy Director at the VA mental hospital in Marion, Indiana. He eventually retired as the Director of Recreation at MacDill AFB.
He was a lover of life, charming, witty, fun, knowledgeable, giving and steadfast. A loyal servant of GOD, country and family. He was truly a part of the Greatest Generation.
He is survived by his nine children Joanne Reinhart Kelly, Cathy Kennelly (Kevin), John Reinhart (Nancy), Jeanette Stevens (Cecil), Frank Reinhart (Nicole), Richard Reinhart (Diana), Joe Reinhart (Jackie), Mary Seaman (Steve), Anthony Reinhart and their families.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 10 a.m. at Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon, Fla. Dale will be laid to rest with his wife Betty Lou at The Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell on March 15, 2019 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
