In Passing

 

Aletha “Lee” Paulette DeLeo

Aletha “Lee” Paulette DeLeo passed away on November 6, 2018, at Promise Hospital in Mesa, AZ, at the age of 75. She was born October 10, 1943, to Emma Lillian (Ochs) Karst and Paul Arvin Karst at Russell Hospital in Russell, KS.

She spent the early part of her life in a rural area around Galatia, KS. In 1950, the family moved to a farm near Wilson, KS, where she attended school. After the farm was sold, the family moved to Estes Park, CO, where Lee attended her senior year of high school and graduated as valedictorian of her class.

Lee attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO, and graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. She began teaching in Widefield near Fountain, CO. She then taught the majority of her teaching career (1974 to 1998) at Cherry Hills Village Elementary School in Englewood, CO. She considered some of her teaching colleagues her dearest friends, and they stayed in touch throughout the years after their retirement. Lee was a well prepared, organized, caring, conscientious, creative, admired and well-liked teacher, and some referred to her as a “master teacher.” She particularly enjoyed planning the social studies field trips. Lee was a teacher through and through, and she would even bring her nieces learning materials when she visited them.

She was married to Michael Galey from 1969 to 1983. On March 22, 1986, she married Philip John DeLeo, and they enjoyed over 30 years of marriage. During their marriage, Phil and Lee created lasting memories as they traveled the world, and they shared time between Highlands Ranch, CO, and Sun Lakes, AZ, where they were “snowbirds.” They moved to Sun Lakes, AZ, full time in 2016.

Lee endured many medical diagnoses and health issues during the last few years of her life, but she always remained hopeful, strong and had a fighting spirit. Lee enjoyed traveling, reading, attending family reunions, playing Mah Jong and other games, having lunch with friends, and spending quality time with her family. She loved her family with her whole heart, and her family loved her the same in return. She will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who knew her.

Lee was preceded in death by her husband Philip J. DeLeo and her parents Paul and Emma Karst. She is survived by her brother Gerald (Karen) Karst of Greeley, CO; her niece Amy (Mike) Herold of Greeley, CO; her niece Becky (Paul) Lewus of Newbury Park, CA; her great-nieces Abby, Kalyna and Kylie and her great-nephew Aidan. She is also survived by many cousins and extended family.

A private memorial service and internment will be held on Monday, December 31, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Fort Collins, CO. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) or Immanuel Lutheran Church in care of Resthaven Memorial Gardens, 8426 South Highway 287, Fort Collins, CO 80525.

Olive Rose Engle

Olive Rose Engle of Colorado Springs and former Sun Lakes resident, died Friday November 23, 2018, at home.

Olive was born December 8, 1919, to Albert and Esther (Way) Sack in Butler County, Nebraska. She graduated from Surprise NE High School in 1938 and married Harvey Engle in 1942. They welcomed five children: Janet, Joyce, Dale, Jean and Duane, and for many years operated a successful Dean’s Milk franchise in Illinois and a motel in Iowa.

Olive lived in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Arizona before moving to Colorado. She traveled often, primarily to visit family and was particularly fond of a good game of euchre. She was a regular at family events and her grandchildren’s extracurricular activities. Despite her large family, she never forgot a birthday.

Survivors include her brother Ellery Sack, children Janet Burns (Colorado Springs), Dale Engle (Des Moines, IA), Jean Rice (Colorado Springs), Duane Engle (St. Paul, MN), son-in-law Ron Fischer (Tonganoxie, KS), 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Olive is preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Joyce Fischer and sister Marjorie Cordes.

Memorial gifts may be made to Pike’s Peak Hospice in Colorado Springs.

Georgette Louise Hartmann

Georgette Louise Hartmann was born on September 17, 1934, to George and Ruth Hartmann in Homewood, Illinois, and was the loving older sister to her two brothers Bill and Ron. She graduated from Thornton Township High School in 1952.

She was seven years old when she bowled in her first tournament. Bowling was a family affair. Her grandfather owned Homewood Lanes, and her mother was an accomplished bowler. She and Georgette often competed together.

Georgette met the love of her life, Fred DeRosa, at Bowling Lanes in Chicago in 1955. It was there that he first admired her backswing and follow through. They were married January 22, 1956, and recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary.

Georgette was a professional bowler who won many bowling titles throughout her amazing career. She was honored in 1988 by being inducted into the Chicago Women’s Bowling Association’s Hall of Fame.

Georgette served on the staff of AMF (1956-1967), traveling internationally, giving bowling exhibitions and instructional clinics.

Georgette was accomplished off the bowling lanes, as well, working alongside Fred as co-owner of DeRosa and Son Cleaners (1970-1980), in Franklin Park and Des Plaines, IL.

She retired five years ago from her work with Choices, a Phoenix mental health provider, where she made a compassionate and caring difference in the lives of her clients and their families.

The greatest joy of her life was her family. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Georgette’s genuine interest in people and her love of telling a good “bad” joke made her everyone’s friend. You may have seen her cruising through Sun Lakes in her golf cart in search of a good estate sale.

Fred and Georgette spent the past 25 years enjoying retirement living with friends and family in Sun Lakes, AZ.

Virgil Allan Lohoff

Virgil Allan Lohoff, 81, succumbed to cancer and died peacefully on November 14, 2018, in Chandler, AZ.

Allan is survived by son Vance Lohoff of California, daughter Janeen Bezona of Kansas, girlfriend Joanne Zimmerman of Sun Lakes, sister Linda Lee and GG Spomer of Washington and sister-in-law Saralee Lohoff of Colorado. He was preceded in death by parents Virgil Oscar and Lydia Lee (Price) Lohoff, brother John Clark Lohoff and son-in-law Edward Lynn Bezona.

Allan was born March 21, 1937, at home in Englewood, Colorado, to parents Virgil and Lee Lohoff. He graduated from University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in chemical engineering. He worked as a chemist for DuPont Company of Michigan. In 1966, he accepted a position at Memorex Corporation of California. Later, he helped advance Dysan Corporation, during which time, he developed three patents for magnetic coating composition before retiring at age 50.

Allan was a good provider who loved his family. He was married and divorced twice. After he settled in Sun Lakes, Arizona, he traveled the world, and Allan finally found the love of his life, Joanne Zimmerman.

Allan was a very social and active man who loved his career, yet was an independent retiree the majority of his life. He really enjoyed life, fast cars, dancing and entertaining people by playing the piano. His family and friends will always remember him as a fun-loving person.

A Celebration of Life gathering is scheduled for March, 2019, in Sun Lakes, AZ, at Cottonwood. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Allan’s life.

The family would like to thank Hospice of the Valley in Chandler and 24-Hour Home Care for wonderful end of life care. In lieu of flowers, send contributions to HOV Dobson Home at 1188 N. Dobson Road, Chandler, AZ 85224-4004. Put “Virgil Allan Lohoff” in memo line.

Gloria Muehl

Gloria Muehl, 76, passed away November 13, 2018, at the Hospice of the Valley Lund Home in Sun Lakes, Arizona, surrounded by her family. She fought a courageous battle against ALS with grace and dignity. Gloria was born in Los Angeles, California, on November 8, 1942, to Doane and Dorothy Allen. She graduated from Redfield High School in 1960 and Aberdeen Secretarial School in 1961, both in South Dakota. Gloria married Jim Muehl, her high school sweetheart, on November 18, 1961, and they moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where she worked as a secretary at the Air Force Hospital. They moved to Minot, North Dakota, in 1962 and started their family. Gloria was involved in many clubs and organizations and was very socially active in the community. They moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1986 where Gloria worked in a medical office and at the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute. Jim passed away in 1996, and Gloria moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona, in 1997. She was very active in the community as a member of the Cheers group and volunteering for the Fire District’s Community Assistance Program and for Neighbors Who Care.

Gloria was a voracious reader, loved to dance and play cards and had a quick wit that everyone loved! She was a generous soul and will forever be missed. Gloria had many lifelong friends and relatives she loved dearly that she stayed in touch with up until the time of her passing.

She is survived by her significant other Terry Beddow, Sun Lakes; children Lori Brossart (Tim), Parker, CO; Mike Muehl (Julie), Escondido, CA; and Paula Klingman (Brad), Brooklyn Park, MN; eight grandchildren: James (Vanessa) and Ellen, Hannah and Kalli, Rob, Evan (Kimberly), Chris and Emily; and one great-grandchild on the way, baby boy Brossart. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Jim.

A Celebration of Life took place at St. Steven’s Catholic Church on December 3 at 10:00 a.m. in Sun Lakes, Arizona, for family and friends. Gloria’s interment will take place at a later date to be determined. She will be placed in her final resting place with her beloved late husband Jim in the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Ethel Boulais Renfrow

Ethel Renfrow, age 97, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2018. Born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, after graduating from high school, she continued her studies to become a licensed hair stylist. Ethel was truly an adventuresome young woman. Longing for the big city lights, in 1942, she left home and traveled to Chicago. Her first job there was at Saks Fifth Avenue on the now famous Magnificent Mile. It was in the Windy City that she met and married Myron. They enjoyed golfing, bowling, fishing, traveling and all sporting events together. For 38 years, they held season tickets to “Da Bears” games.

Ethel was an outstanding homemaker while raising her children. She worked endlessly painting, wallpapering, sewing, catering for TV commercials and hosting impromptu dinner parties. After her children were raised, she focused on a career in the medical field, managing doctors’ offices. She later retired to Sun Lakes at age 73 to be near her children … another example of her adventuresome nature.

In her later years, she spent a good deal of time volunteering at Chandler Regional Medical Center. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing cards, pool, board games, solving crossword and sudoku puzzles, assembling picture puzzles, swimming, attending plays, modeling in fashion shows and baking pastries for friends and family. She was a vibrant woman with a ton of energy!

Ethel is preceded in death by her husband Myron and his two children. She is survived by her daughters Sherry Coltman (Don) and Penny Ellsworth (Jim) and son Larry (Kathi). Also surviving her are loving grandchildren Julie Turner and Marc Coltman and five great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please do a kind deed for someone.

Ronald R. Willoughby

I blew into life like the howling winter snows in Paola, Kansas, on December the 18th, 1930. I departed on October 25 in Chandler, AZ, with considerably less fanfare.

The 1940s were exciting, but frightening. Because of the war, I suppose, and me starting at East High in Wichita, Kansas – from which I graduated in 1949.

In the 1950s were I married Agnes Jones from Wichita, and I joined the Army at the start of the Korean War. We were blessed with four great kids: Rick Alan, Nicky Lynn, Michelle Renee and Ronald Jr. They are all very successful, and I would like to think that I contributed something to their early foundation and character building.

I really think the 1960s were the best years ever. I went to work for Martin Marietta Aerospace Company in Denver, Colorado.

Aggie died in 1970 after a cruel and drawn-out illness, leaving me with our three teenagers and a four-year-old. Times got really tough again. The 1970s found me in New Orleans, Louisiana, to work on the external tank project of the space shuttle program. By this time, I was married to Debbie Mann from Washington, DC.

In 1993, I retired as Manager of Quality Control and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. In 2002, Debbie died unexpectedly and I thought, no, I knew, my life had changed forever. Life was not good.

Time was a great healer for me and after some time passed, in 2004, I met and married Ruth Ann Carmichael from Cochranton, PA. She was a Godsend. I often told her she was my bridge over troubled waters, and it became our favorite song. She saved me and my children in so many ways, and she made my life good again, better than ever before. I loved travelling with Ruth, and she was always up for anything. We played golf, took cruises and travelled all over the country. I had a good life, no, a charmed life with Ruthie. Don’t weep for me and never, ever take a single breath for granted.