Kay Blas

Kay Blas passed away July 28 in McCall, ID, surrounded by family. She was born in Howell, MI, on March 13, 1941, and grew up in Milwaukee, WI. She attended Marquette Dental Hygiene school and became a dental hygienist.

At 16, Kay met Lou Blas. In 1962 she married Lou in Milwaukee. They were married 57 years. In 1964 they welcomed Mark, and twins David and Paul in 1967.

In 1977 they moved to Lewiston, ID, where Lou started his medical practice. Kay dedicated her time to family and immersed herself in community service. With a passion for art she became involved with the art center in Clarkston, WA. She played tennis and golfed. After 20 years, Lou semi-retired and work locums took them to Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, and all over the continental U.S.

In 2003 they moved to McCall, ID, and in 2009 they decided to split their time between McCall and Sun Lakes, AZ. She spent her time volunteering and reading mystery thrillers, and consistently beat her husband at golf, which she enjoyed immensely. Her career of volunteering ended at St. Luke’s McCall Auxiliary Thrift Store. She continued to paint landscapes and portraits of her children, grandchildren, and animals.

Kay shared her love of travel with her grandchildren and took numerous trips with them. She was a committed mother and grandmother who loved her family and went to great lengths to participate in their lives. In her last days, her quick wit and humor filled the room.

Kay is survived by her husband Lou; three sons, Mark (Ginny), David (Toni), and Paul (Lynette); six grandchildren; sister Barbara; and brother Chuck. All have had a lot of luck in life, but none that equals in magnitude to having Kay Blas as a wife, mother, grandmother, and sister.

Patricia Helen Burke

Patricia Helen Burke, 77, of Sun Lakes, Arizona, and formerly of Nashua, New Hampshire, wife of John J. “Jack” Burke, peacefully passed away early Wednesday morning, May 29, 2019, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston after a brief battle with cancer.

A resident of Arizona since 2011, Patricia (“Pat” or “Patty” as she was known by family and friends) was born in Nashua on October 2, 1941, daughter of the late Albert A. and Lucille E. (Charest) Levesque. Pat attended school in Nashua and was a graduate of the former St. Louis High School Class of 1960.

In addition to raising her family, Patty also worked for the former Sanders Associates, Inc., then as an office administrator for real estate agencies and later worked at and retired from Digital Equipment Corporation. Pat later decided to return to work for a short time at Kollsman, Inc.

Patty will be remembered for her friendly personality, love of shopping, solving crossword puzzles, playing Mahjongg, knitting, completing challenging puzzles, and, Yes! She truly loved to iron! More so, she loved to chat on the phone with family and friends while she was ironing!

Pat and Jack enjoyed traveling throughout their years together in the U.S. and around the world. Most of all, Patty loved to spend time with her family and friends, both in New Hampshire and Arizona.

Members of her family include her husband Jack, whom she married on June 19, 1965, and would have celebrated their 54th anniversary next month; her son John T. Burke and his spouse George Ohrn of Tempe, AZ; her daughter Allison L. Trepaney and her husband Don Allard of Laconia, NH; two grandchildren, Morgan Patricia Doty and her husband Nate of Amherst and Mitchell Trepaney and his significant other Carley of Laconia; her sister Diane Bibeau and her husband Rick of Nashua; also many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. In addition to her parents, Patty was predeceased by her brother Albert H. Levesque.

The family received relatives and friends at St. John Neumann Church, 708 Milford Road, Route 101A, in Merrimack on Saturday, June 1, beginning at 9:00 a.m. until her Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment followed in St. Louis Cemetery in Nashua. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to The American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701, www.cancer.org, or The Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168, www.dana-farber.org.

Arrangements are in the care of Farwell Funeral Service, 18 Lock Street, Nashua, 603-882-0591, www.farwellfuneralservice.com.

Virginia M. Hager

Virginia M. Hager, age 87, of Ellsworth, WI, passed away July 11, 2019, at the Hudson Hospital. Virginia was born January 17, 1932, in El Paso Township, the daughter of Dennis and Adaline (Schladweiler) Mountin. Virginia graduated from Ellsworth High School, the Class of 1950. She was united in marriage to Norman James Hager on November 4, 1950, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in El Paso, WI. Their marriage was blessed with six children and 63 years of devotion. A wonderful example to her family, Virginia was devoted in her faith, a hard worker, and she loved those around her unconditionally. She was an integral part of their family farm and auction business, working alongside her husband Norman and taking exceptional care of the secretarial duties. Virginia was an avid golfer, and enjoyed playing cards, especially a good hand of euchre and bridge. Virginia wintered in Sun Lakes for over 15 years and will be dearly missed.

Virginia will remain in the hearts of her sons James (Marty) Hager of Colby, WI; Jerome Hager of Minneapolis, MN; Barry (Debbie) Hager of Ellsworth, WI; Roger Hager of Minneapolis, MN; and Gary (Kathleen) Hager of Edina, Minnesota; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Norman, only daughter Patricia Silva, siblings Maxine Unger, Gloria Madden and Duane Mountin and her parents.

A visitation was held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at the O’Connell-Benedict Family Funeral Home, 130 N. Grant Street, Ellsworth, and one hour prior to Mass at church on Monday. Mass of Christian Burial took place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 29, 2019, at St. Francis Catholic Church, 231 Woodworth Street, Ellsworth, with Fr. Eric Dadson officiating. Interment took place at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Ellsworth. Pallbearers assisting with the services were Matthew Hager, Rachelle Gillette, Justin Silva, Mitchell Hager, Christopher Hager and William Hager.

In memory of Virginia, memorials are preferred to the American Diabetes Association and American Cancer Society.

Funeral services were entrusted to the O’Connell-Benedict Family Funeral Home, 715-273-4421, www.oconnnellbenedict.com.

Billie (Amelia) Sale Hood

Our dear mom earned her angel wings and was reunited with our dad on Sunday, August 4, 2019.

Billie (Amelia) Sale Hood was born on February 23, 1918, in Yorkshire, England, the third of four children born to Frederick and Mabel Kate Sale. Her childhood was spent in the north of England until the family relocated to Essex, where she lived until after WWII. In the early years of the war, she was literally carried away by a handsome young soldier when our dad, D. James Hood, saw her trying to navigate a mud puddle and, ever the gallant, carried her over the obstacle. They married in 1944, and their daughter Suzanne was born in 1945. Mom’s travel adventures began in 1947 when the Copper Belt of then Northern Rhodesia lured our dad from a Britain that was still struggling with post-war problems. The family was completed when Richard was born in 1950. There followed years of relocating, from Africa to Canada to Chile, finally to the U.S. in 1971, (a brief stint in Iran interrupted their Stateside lives), where they lived in AZ, MT, NV, NM, PA, MA, and ultimately retired to Florida where they enjoyed many years of restful living. With Jim’s death in 2002, Billie made her home with her daughter and son-in-law (Henry, deceased) in suburban Philadelphia and was a very active part of that community. In 2015 Billie moved with her daughter to Cottonwood in Sun Lakes.

During the war, Billie operated a teleprinter with the British army and at age 52 realized her dream of becoming a nurse by graduating from an LPN program in Yerington, NV. In retirement, her interests included reading, knitting, and puzzles. She loved music of all sorts, but particularly classical, and enjoyed live concerts of both the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Phoenix Symphony as well as events at the Chandler Center for the Arts. A strong, quiet woman of faith, she kept up with events within the family as well as broader happenings in the world and had strong opinions which she did not hesitate to express when asked.

Her parents and her siblings, brother Freddie, sisters Mabel and Meg, and her dear Jim predeceased her.

She leaves forever memories with her daughter Suzanne of Sun Lakes, son Rick and daughter-in-law Bonnie of Cape Cod, MA, her beloved grandchildren Jennifer (Naveen Raj) and Leslie (Rob) Miller of Chandler, Travis (Molly), Brandon (Tatiana) and Torey (Lindsay) Hood of Cape Cod, and her much loved great-grandchildren, Marissa (PA), Jade, Tori, Devan, Kendall and Kieran in Chandler and Caleb, Ali, Liv and Jules of Cape Cod.

A memorial service will be held at the Chapel of Sun Lakes United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 7, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. Inurnment will be in Florida at the convenience of the family.

Muriel Lofquist

Muriel Lofquist of Biwabik, MN, died Monday, June 3, 2019. She was born in New Hampton, Iowa, on February 13, 1922, to Charles and Marian Brand. After graduating from the local school, she attended Iowa State Teacher College where she met and married Fred Lofquist. The couple moved to the Iron Range after World War II and settled in Biwabik, Fred’s hometown. Muriel taught school in the now Mesabi East School system from which she retired in the mid-1970s.

She was the worthy matron of the Biwabik Chapter of Eastern Star. She was an active member of the Eshquaguma Country Club where she took part in many social activities and enjoyed the game of golf.

She was preceded in death by her husband Fred, her parents, and brother Duane. She is survived by her two children Kristin and Kraig, sister Karen, two grandchildren Sheri and Rick, and five great-grandchildren Nick, Ran, Brooke, Sami, and Kira.

The Lofquists were winter visitors at their home on Glenburn Drive in Sun Lakes. Muriel was active in golf, her church, and exercise clubs.

William (Bill) Albert Mead

William (Bill) Albert Mead passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 8 from complications of diabetes and dementia. He leaves behind his wife of 60 years (Neda), three daughters, two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a brother-in-law and several nieces and nephews. Bill was a member of the Cottonwood Tennis Club for 25 years and loved to play and later in his life, loved to watch his wife play.

Bill was born in Chicago on May 17, 1933, and lived in Arizona for more than 70 years. A commercial plumbing contractor by trade, he participated in building the county hospital and Manzanita Hall at ASU in Tempe.

A life well lived and a man well loved. We miss you, Bill. You will live on in the hearts of all who loved you.

No funeral service will be held. In lieu of flowers, if you wish, please donate to Hospice of the Valley at HOV.org. Hospice helped our family tremendously through this difficult time.

Marlene Rita Poulson (nee Kopinski)

The angels came for Marlene Rita Poulson (nee Kopinski) on Sunday, July 14, 2019, after a hard-fought battle with dementia. She was a loving and much-loved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother for 88 years. Born in the Chicago area on July 18, 1931, Marlene was athletic most of her life and spent many years playing tennis and golf with her friends in Oak Brook, Sun Lakes, Pinetop, Prescott, and other places. She traveled with her husband and family throughout the United States, Europe, Scandinavia, and China. Always adventurous, she didn’t hesitate to travel on planes, trains, cruise ships, RVs, and even hot air balloons across France.

Marlene is survived by her beloved husband Chuck Poulson. They were married on September 2, 1950, and, combined with the dating years, were in love for over 70 years. She has been profoundly loved as well by her children: Chuck (Donna), Vicki, Nancy (Bill), Brian, Glenn, Eric (Laura) and Brad (Melissa). As a grandmother, she was blessed to enjoy life with Matt (Kim), Todd (Jenny), Marshall, Jacob (Kaitlin), Patrick (Lindsay), Sean (Sarah), Jason (Rebecca), Tyler, Kyle, Ross, Alex, Elizabeth, Dane (Megan), AJ, Jaden, and Sheridan. They, in turn, gifted her with great-grandchildren Mindy, Charlie, Britton, Jackson, Isabel, Dylan, Fiona, Keegan, Jackson, Titus, Adeline, David, Connor, and Bradley.

She is also survived by her brothers Howard (Cathy) and Leonard (Terry), as well as her sister Ellen (Lyle). Another brother, Clifford (Bunny), preceded her in death in 2010.

We will remember her most for her unconditional love, her smile, laughter, graciousness, and friendship. She will be laid to rest after a service at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Chandler, AZ, on September 7, 2019, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. The service will be followed by a time of sharing memories and light pastries in the Fellowship Hall until 3:00 p.m.

Russell Sacco

In Memory of Doctor Russell Sacco, Urologist and Lawyer

After a fight with Alzheimer’s, Dr. Russell Sacco, 83, credited with creating the pro-life precious feet photograph that went around the world through multiple publications, died June 4, 2019, in the Memory Unit in Lake Oswego, Oregon, surrounded by his wife Lottie of 59 years and family.

Dr. Sacco was the son of Michael and Sonia Sacco of Kenosha, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in science in 1957 and cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1960. He met his wife Elizabeth (Lottie) Zilkowski who worked in the chemistry lab there, and they were married on the last day of medical school and then traveled to Portland where Dr. Sacco began an internship at Providence Portland Hospital.

In 1961, Dr. Sacco entered the U.S. Public Health Service. He spent one year in Baltimore and was transferred back to Portland for a second year in the service. He attended the University of Oregon Medical School for a urology residency. After completing the residency, he began a private practice near Providence Portland, which lasted 30 years. In 1970, to fulfill a desire to study law, he began evening classes at Lewis and Clark Law School and in 1974 became a member of the Oregon State Bar.

After retirement, he volunteered as ombudsman for local nursing homes as well as working as a medicolegal assistant. He assisted St. Vincent de Paul Society distributing trucks of food for the needy, especially for the Christmas season. He was an active member and volunteer for the Italian Men’s Club, Our Lady of the Lake Parish, and St. Steven’s Parish in Sun Lakes, Arizona. Internationally known due to his lifetime passion to support unborn children, he was a global speaker for radio and television and conferences pertinent to his baby feet photograph and legal knowledge for respect life issues. An avid golfer, he was a member of Oswego Golf and Country Club and Cottonwood Country Club in Sun Lakes, Arizona, where he and Lottie resided during the winter months for 12 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Eugene and Paul. He leaves behind his wife Lottie, his brother Michael (Pat), and four children: Lori (Wolfgang), Marie (Andreas), Leonard (Heidi), and Mark (Katie), as well as eight grandchildren.

A Memorial Funeral Mass for Dr. Russell Sacco was held on Friday, July 19, 2019, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He requested that his body be donated to science.