Ruth Bowser
Ruth Olive (McClish) Bowser passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 95. She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend to all who loved her.
Ruth was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and married Don Bowser in 1948. They were blessed with over 50 years together and had three children. They relocated twice. One move was to Morristown, N.J., where they were extremely active in the Morristown United Methodist Church. She found working at the Morris County Library extremely fulfilling because of her love of books and reading. Ruth and Don made the decision to retire to Sun City Center, Fla., in 1991. While there, she was involved in many activities – volunteering at the Lapidary Shop along with helping in many areas at their United Methodist Church.
Ruth moved to Brookdale Skyline, Colorado Springs, Colo., shortly after her husband passed away to be closer to family. Ultimately, she moved to Forest Ridge Senior Living in Woodland Park, Colo. She was always loved and received exceptional care by the wonderful staff.
She is survived by her children: Pamela (Robert) Powell of Belton, Mo.; Donna (Steve) Frick of Divide, Co.; and Richard (Diane) Bowser of Morristown, N.J. She also leaves behind five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Due to restrictions imposed during this difficult time, interment will be held at a later date at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice in Ruth’s memory.
Arrangements by The Springs Funeral Services, tsfs.co.
Bob Fortier
Bob Fortier, age 89, of Sun City Center, Fla., passed peacefully on Dec. 2, 2020. Born March 8, 1931, to Albertine and Edward Fortier in New Britain, Conn., he graduated from New Britain High School and the University of Hartford and was a Veteran of the Korean War, having served four years in the U.S. Air Force, mostly in occupied Japan. Bob retired as a senior executive of First National Stores after a loyal 43 years with the company. Before relocating to Sun City Center, Fla., in 2002, Bob was an active member of Kensington Congregational Church in Kensington, Conn.
Survivors include Jean, his loving wife of 64 years; his children: Ellen Brindley of Tampa, FL; Donna (John) Borden of San Francisco, CA; Michael (Rachel) Fortier of Brooklyn, NY; Steven (Susan) Fortier of Wilmette, IL; and beloved grandchildren: Daniel, Luc, Samuel, Hannah, Julia and Evan; also, his sister, Gloria Hayden of W. Palm Beach, Fla.; brother, Raymond (Phyllis) Fortier of Wallingford, Conn, and Cocoa Beach, Fla.; sister-in-law, Carol Daniels of Marysville, Tenn.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
In Sun City Center, he was a member of Caloosa Golf and Country Club and the Men’s Club and active in the United Community Church. Bob’s generosity, sense of humor and outgoing personality made him a center of gravity among his family and friends, and he will be missed by all, both near and far. To honor his memory, the family suggests you do an act of kindness for someone in need or make a donation to The Salvation Army, United Community Church or Kensington Congregational Church. Due to the pandemic, services will take place at a future date.
Wesley Ellis Leach
Wesley Ellis Leach, 58, a resident of Brandon, Fla., passed into the presence of God on December 2, 2020, in Tampa, Fla., due to injuries sustained in a vehicle accident.
“Wes” was born on October 6, 1962, in Fresno, Calif. He was a charter member of the North Fresno Church of God and an active part of its children/student ministries. He was a graduate of Sam Houston High School (Arlington, Texas), an alumnus of Lee University and served in the U.S. Army.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth Leach, and stepmother, Frankie Leach. He is survived by his son, Wesley Leach, Jr.; his father, Ellis Leach; sisters: Janice McClung (Grant) and Susan Anniskette (Glen); stepbrother, Don Turnbow (Cheryl); stepsisters, Debbie Rainey and Rhonda Turnbow; and extended family across the United States.
Wes spent his adult working life in Central Florida, employed in masonry construction and landscape design. At the time of his death, he was self-employed in home remodeling and landscaping. He was known and appreciated as a skilled workman who was called upon by friends and family for home and mechanical repairs. He enjoyed music and outdoor sports, especially fishing, in his adopted home of Florida.
Due to the current health pandemic, a public Remembrance of Life service is not scheduled at this time. Memorial services will be held at a future date. Condolences may be shared through National Cremation and Burial Society in Ruskin, Florida, at https://www.nationalcremation.com/locations/ruskin.
Geraldine M. Resch
Geraldine M. Resch, 78, of Sun City Fla., an Antigo native, died December 7, 2020, at 11:35 p.m., under hospice care.
She was born October 24, 1942, in Antigo, a daughter of Gerald and Dorothy (Seeman) Volm.
Geraldine was a graduate of Antigo High School. Geraldine married Charles Resch on July 28, 1962, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Polar. He preceded her in death.
Geraldine was a long-time member of Peace Lutheran Church, Antigo. She enjoyed singing with the church choir and was actively involved with many supporting church organizations. She loved her work at the Antigo Hospital as a volunteer and was very active in her support of the hospital auxiliary. In Florida she helped with several local food pantries and enjoyed her friends and family visits. Along with her husband, she enjoyed traveling and meeting new people who most always became lifelong friends. She was an active grandmother who frequently attended her grandchildren’s events and always looked forward to watching them preform.
She is survived by two daughters, Kelly Jo Resch, Eagan, Minn.; Kathy Jo (Tim) Strasser, Wausau; a son, Mark G. Resch, Antigo; three grandchildren: Robby and Tanner Resch and Charlie Strasser; and one great-grandson, Carson Resch; three sisters: Jane Hunter, Sun City Center, Fla.; Deb (Alan) Mueller, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Cindy (Bob) Hilger, Palm Springs, Calif.; and one brother, William (Diane) Volm, Wausau. In addition to her parents, Geraldine was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, and by a son, Charles “Chuckie” Resch II.
The funeral services are pending. Service information will be updated on the Strasser-Roller Funeral Home website. The funeral service will also be livestreamed on Strasser-Roller Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Interment will be at bent cemetery in Bryant, WI. A memorial service in Sun City Florida will also be scheduled at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in her name to the Charles George Resch II Memorial Foundation. This foundation was started by our parents in 1978, after the death of our brother Chuckie. It has provided a legacy for our giving and memory, initially for our brother Chuckie, then for our father Charles and now for our mother Geraldine. Our parents have used the money from the foundation since then to support the community, provide educational scholarships and support Camp Luther in Three Lakes, Wis. (a favorite of Chuckie and our family). Our parents were very passionate about making sure the foundation would continue.
We would like to thank the caregivers at Tampa General Hospital, specifically the Neuro ICU team, and also the Life Path Hospice Sun City Center Hospice House.
We would also like to thank her many wonderful friends in both Sun City Center and Eagle River, Wisconsin. In Sun City Center she enjoyed leading the “Frogettes” golf group for many years.
Geraldine loved our Lord, and He loved her. Jesus Christ stepped out of the “shadow of death” and placed the “crown of life” on her head. She has heard His welcoming words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” She has really won today, Christ has defeated death, and we all rejoice with the host of heaven that she is safely home with Him, and we will see her again!
Friends may leave messages and condolences at strasserrollerfuneralhome.com.
Edward John Socha
Edward John Socha of Sun City Center, Fla., and Longmont, Colo., passed away on December 6, 2020. He was born on August 4, 1921 in the Adirondack town of Highmarket, New York. He graduated from Niagara Falls Sr. High School in 1939 and enlisted in the US Navy in September of that year. He went to Newport, RI, boot camp and then attended fleet school in San Diego. He was assigned as personal secretary of Command Battleships at Pearl Harbor on board the USS Maryland as Yeoman 1st class. On the morning of December 7, 1941, he was on the bridge of the USS Maryland as the USS Oklahoma – docked next to his ship – took several Japanese torpedoes to its hull and overturned within minutes.
In 1943-1944, he was stationed at US Naval Mobile Hospital No. 8 on Guadalcanal, where he was commissioned an ensign. Following enrollment in Scout and Raider training in Ft. Pierce, Fla., he spent the spring of 1945 in China, participating in the historic survey of the Yangtze River and assisting in the training of Chinese commandos until the war’s end. Until his retirement as a commander in 1966, he served multiple assignments at the Pentagon and two years on the Aleutian Island of Adak and completed his service at the Brooklyn Naval Yard. Ed held private sector employment from 1966-1983 with the Lummus Company, a division of Combustion Engineering Company, as engineering administrator, working in its Atlanta, Houston, and Bloomfield, N.J. offices, residing in Morris Township, N.J., until moving to Sun City Center, FL, in 1987.
He was very active in the Sun City Center community, serving as director of the Sun City Center Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) for five years and as its president in 1994. He was a life member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors’ Association. He served on the Board of the Retired Officers’ Association and the Military Officers Benevolent Corporation at Freedom Plaza in Sun City Center. In January 2011, he completed 23 years of service with the volunteer Security Patrol. On March 1, 2017, at the regular meeting of the Military Officers Association, Sun City Chapter, Commander Socha was presented with the Navy SEALS Trident by Captain Joseph Yarborough, U.S. Navy, acting on behalf of the Navy SEALS. This was in recognition of the role the World War II Scouts and Raiders played as the forerunners of the present-day SEALS. He was invited to take one of the Honor Flights conducted by a non-profit organization dedicated to transporting United States military veterans to Washington D.C. to see the memorials of the respective wars in which they fought.
Ed married Naomi A. Sucher of Louisville, Ky., in August of 1948 in Newport, R.I., who preceded him in death in May 2019. They had two children, son Donald (wife Benita and children Christina and Xavier), who preceded his father in death; and daughter, Barbara Wilsey (husband Martin; children: Joshua (Stephanie), Timothy (Juliana) and Samuel (Elizabeth). He leaves behind 13 great-grandchildren: Alexa, Kian, Emelyn, Tanith, Cora, Erienne, Marilise, Reese, Emma, Grace, Abigail, Micah and Hannah. He was preceded in death by his mother, Jennifer Socha Rybacki; his father, John Socha; and stepfather, Ignatius Rybacki; and brothers: Michael, William, Stanley and Richard. He is survived by brother, Theodore Socha; two sisters, Veronica and Adeline; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity Baptist Church in Sun City Center at a time to be determined. He will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.