In Passing

James (Jim) Lloyd Bianchi

James “Jim” Lloyd Bianchi passed away in his home in Sun Lakes, Ariz., on July 15, 2021. Jim was born April 3, 1946, in Seattle, Wash., to Larry and Lois Bianchi. He married his childhood sweetheart and beloved wife Pam. Jim and Pam raised their three children in their hometown of Seattle, Wash. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather “Papa,” brother, and uncle. He is survived by his loving wife Pam and their two children: Kimberly (R.J.) and Paul (Brooke), and his brother Larry (Zoey). He will be missed by his grandchildren: Ryan, Jacob, Olivia, and Chloe; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and nieces and nephews. He is now at peace with his son Mark.

A funeral Mass was held on Saturday, July 31, 2021, at 1 p.m. at St. George Catholic Church in Seattle, Wash.

Cynthia Donohoe

Cynthia Kay Donohoe, age 80, a resident of Sun Lakes, Ariz., died peacefully on July 22, 2021, at the Renaissance Retirement Community. Cynthia was born Sept. 16, 1940, to Adolph “Lefty” Lebsack, a machinist for Burlington Railroad, and Ruth Valentine Lebsack, homemaker, of Lincoln, Neb., at St. Elizabeth Hospital. Her father died when Cynthia was 12 years old, and the family (mother Ruth, older sister Judy, and younger brother Mark) moved to Geneva, Neb., where her mother remarried to local sheriff Melvin Olson.

As a young woman, Cynthia graduated college with a degree in radiology and worked for a time in Beverly Hills, Calif., as an x-ray technician.

In 1966 Cynthia married George Donohoe and had two sons, James (1968) and John (1971), and lived for a time in Omaha, Neb.

In 1977 the family moved to Lafayette, Calif., near San Francisco. There Cynthia devoted herself to raising her two sons and becoming a beloved member of her community. After her sons had moved out, Cynthia built upon her passion for fitness by going back to school to earn her master’s degree in human factors. Afterwards, she started a business as a physical trainer for the elderly.

In 2001, George and Cynthia divorced, and she moved to Arizona. There she enjoyed years of socializing, dancing, and playing bridge. Her last years were in the continual company of her partner Donald Brenner.

In 2015 Cynthia was diagnosed with the onset of dementia but remained her usual, positive self until the end.

Per her wishes, Cynthia’s body will be cremated and scattered at sea.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, October 22, in the Sun Lakes, Ariz., area at the Palo Verde Country Club from 1 to 3 p.m.

Marcia Deane Gaudioso

Marcia Deane Gaudioso, 70, of Sun Lakes, Ariz., passed away peacefully on July 24, 2021, in Casa Grande, Ariz. Marcia was born in Laramie, Wyo., on Nov. 28, 1950, to Margaret Roberts and Donald Pickett.

Marcia was a bubbly and upbeat woman and was active both in her community and church. She had amazing secretarial and organization skills, often winning awards and testing new prototypes at her work. She served as a secretary then president for her Ironwood Ladies Golf League. She loved her dogs. Her dog Gracie was a certified therapy dog that she would take to nursing homes and hospitals. She enjoyed playing golf and water aerobics. Spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren was something extremely important to Marcia. She cherished the time she spent with her family.

She is preceded in death by her parents and brother Ricky Pickett. She is survived by her husband Frank; children: DeAnne Hammond and her husband Bill of Casa Grande, Ariz., and Frank Jr. and wife Amie of Mesa, Ariz.; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother Alan Pickett and wife Pam of Illinois; sister Deborah Pickett and husband Bob of Wyoming; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the First Baptist Church of Sun Lakes on Sept. 3, 2021, at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Best Friends Animal Society, bestfriends.org, or to St. Jude’s, www.stjude.org. Heritage Casa Grande Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.

David A. Gehlbach

David A. Gehlbach, 67, of Sun Lakes, Ariz., passed away on Aug. 1, 2021, at Chandler Regional Hospital after battling multiple ailments.

After growing up in Dundee, Ill., David attended Western Illinois University where he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity. David then worked as a national sales manager in the automotive aftermarket, managing a national rep agency network as well as warehouse distributors. Those who worked with David fondly remember the numerous ways in which he mentored, advised, and helped others in the industry.

Living in Palatine, Ill., David and his wife were members of an area country club where he loved to golf. He also found joy in cooking, working in his yard and on his home, and visiting with his many friends and relatives. These were joys he was able to devote more time to during his retirement years in Arizona. David was known and loved by all for his keen sense of humor and zest for life, his expert storytelling abilities, and his thoughtfulness, kindness, and generosity.

David is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy, his sister Ellen (Jerry) Upton, his brother Kurt (Sue) Gehlbach, sisters-in-law Barbara (Bill) Kelly and Patti (Bob) Collen, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews and their children.

A Celebration of Life will be held sometime in the fall of 2021.

“If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you’ve made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand.” -unknown

Carolyn (“Kelly”) Holden

Carolyn (“Kelly”) Holden of Sun Lakes, Ariz., passed away June 22, 2021, with her beloved grandson Nick Brown at her side. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and had recently celebrated her 95th birthday with a special luncheon with friends and family. She is survived by her daughter Sandra (Manuel) Brown of Mansfield, Ohio, and five grandchildren: Michelle (Kevin) Vogl of Texas, Amy Holden, Amanda (Kevin) Rucinski, Dave (Darcell) Brown of Michigan, and Nick Brown of Colorado, plus six beloved great-grandchildren. Her second “daughter,” Kathy Klotz, also of Sun Lakes, has been a special friend and neighbor since moving to Arizona 32 years ago. Kelly was preceded in death by her sons John Holden and David Holden, both of Phoenix.

Kelly was married to Jack R. Holden, a former Marine Raider in World War II who worked for ITT, and they lived in Hong Kong and the Mideast. While in Hong Kong, she was Supervisor of Hilton Hotel telecommunications center and entertained many ITT executives at their home, all of whom appreciated her excellent home cooking. After her husband died, she moved to Sun Lakes and met Slim Mesloh who was her beloved partner until he passed away 15 years ago. She is also survived by Slim’s daughter Mary Beth (Ed) Lips, their children Renea (Steve) Paulsen and Paul Lips, along with their two grandchildren.

Kelly was an avid tournament golfer with many trophies and two holes-in-one, and she especially enjoyed playing bridge and gin rummy with women she considered her closest friends. She was a talented painter, rug hooker, and needle and bead craftswoman, who donated many of her crafts to fundraising efforts by the Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, and loved entertaining friends, highlighted every year at her annual Christmas parties where every guest left with a homemade chocolate turtle. Her energy and laughter will be missed by all.

A Celebration of Life service will be held later this fall.

William Jacobs

William (Bill) Jacobs was born on June 25, 1941, in Hartman, Ark. He passed away on May 30, 2021. He was the son of Garmon and Fannie Jacobs. He was hospitalized for an accidental fall and did not survive.

Bill graduated high school in 1959 from Osceola High School in Iowa. He then graduated from Northwest Institute of Medical Technology. Bill remained in that field until being drafted in the U.S. Army. He served in Fort Detrick, Maryland, Biological Laboratory and at the Landstuhl Hospital in Germany. After returning home, he had a career in microscopy with Carl Zeiss Optical Company. He was transferred to different locations but ended up retiring in Sun Lakes, Ariz., in 2005.

Bill enjoyed flying airplanes, skeet shooting, snowmobiling in the Colorado mountains, listening to classical music, and playing with his dogs. Bill was a brave and gentle man who was a devoted husband and father.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ruth Ellen, and his daughter Susan Jacobs. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter, and one brother in infancy.

Jane Ellen Lindsay (nee Cantor)

Jane Ellen Lindsay (nee Cantor) passed away on July 8, 2021, after a courageous battle with kidney cancer. She was born Dec. 31, 1943, in the Bronx, N.Y. She is survived by her husband Don R. Lindsay, her two children from a previous marriage, daughter Darcie Bakhouche, and son Roth Riekert (Jessica), her stepdaughter Karen Anderson (Tim), and her stepson William E. Lindsay (Janice). She is also survived by her three grandchildren: Evan Roth Bakhouche, Alec Adam Bakhouche, and Samuel Isaac Lindsay; three step-grandchildren: Matt and Ben Gerry and Ellie Fletcher (Kyle). She also leaves behind many other loving relatives and special friends here in Arizona and across the entire United States.

Until her retirement, she was an executive administrative assistant. Since moving to Sun Lakes in 1998, her passion was her work within the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) where she established a volunteer program at the Gila Crossing Community School. She was also affiliated with the Casa Blanca Middle School, also within the GRIC, where she organized a group of volunteers and established the school’s library. She also worked part time for the Casa Blanca Middle School Board of Trustees and was a board member from 2011 to 2021.

Her most important focus was her husband, family, and extended family. She was an avid reader, accomplished in needlework, and a jigsaw puzzle junkie. Other pleasures included antiquing and a weekly game of mahjongg. She and her husband Don shared a love of travel, discovering new restaurants, exploring museums and galleries, and attending concerts and shows.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of the Valley, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, or National Cancer Institute. You may also purchase books to donate in her memory to the Hamilton Branch of the Chandler Public Library, make donations to the AZ Humane Society, or contribute in her memory to KBAQ, a local classical music radio station. A Celebration of Life will be held at Valley of the Sun Funeral Home located at 10940 E. Chandler Heights Road, Chandler, AZ 85248, in the fall, later this year. Please check her memorial page at valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com for updates.

Mary E. Scala

Mary E. Scala passed away peacefully on Aug. 3, 2021, after a relatively short battle with kidney cancer.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 12, 1930, Mary and her husband Joseph relocated to Florida in 1990, then moved to Sun Lakes in 1996.

She is survived by her four children: Jack, Peter, Joanne, and Joseph, Jr.; granddaughters Melissa and Rebecca; great-grandson Alex; and her brother Gilbert Rubin.

A strong and self-reliant woman, Mary was a very generous and thoughtful friend to many. She was never afraid to speak her mind, but she also provided an empathetic ear to anyone who needed one. As a very grateful member of Gam Anon for over 54 years, Mary assisted and encouraged family members of compulsive gamblers to continue living normal, happy lives in recovery. Her own hard-fought but positive recovery experience served as an inspiration to countless other parents, children, friends, and other loved ones of both Gamblers Anonymous members and others who hadn’t yet found their own path to recovery from addiction. In addition to maintaining a presence at weekly meetings, even during times of dwindling attendance, Mary also attended many conferences, running workshops and contributing to other workshops or panel discussions.

Mary survived her husband Joe’s passing in 2002 and carried the recovery torch for many years afterward in his absence. She attended classes on many topics, including various kinds of crafts, writing, Yiddish language, Jewish and American history, et al. She also indulged in numerous crafting projects at home, but most frequently did counted cross-stitch embroidery.

Mary will be remembered as a very giving soul and will be sorely missed.

James Shattuck

James Shattuck, born April 16, 1925, age 96, of Sun Lakes, Ariz., passed away on July 21, 2021. He is survived by his four daughters: Sherry, Nancy, Susan, and Ann, in addition to two step-daughters: Lori and Teri. Jim was a longtime resident of Sun Lakes and will be deeply missed by his many friends and neighbors.

Jim was a dedicated career military man and had the distinguished honor of serving in the Navy, Army Air Corps, and Air Force. Upon his retirement from the U.S. Air Force, Jim was a highly-decorated veteran who had risen to the rank of full Colonel.

It would be difficult to recount his many achievements while serving; however, a summary of his wartime experiences should convey his courage, love of country, and commitment to duty. In October of 1944, while serving as an enlisted man on a destroyer, Jim participated in the epic battle of Leyte Gulf. The sheer courage and bravery displayed in this battle will be forever recorded in the annals of naval history.

After World War II, Jim left the Navy, earned a college degree, and then re-enlisted as an aviator in the U.S. Army Air Corps, which soon afterward became the U.S. Air Force. Jim continued to serve his country during times of war. He flew F-86 Saber jets in numerous combat missions in Korea. He also flew F-4 Phantoms in South Vietnam in support of ground forces.

Colonel James Shattuck was a steely-nerved patriot of what we now refer to as America’s greatest generation. We can never repay the enormous debt owed to him and to all the intrepid Americans of his time. All we can do is thank him for a lifetime of sacrifice and service. He will always have a special place in our hearts.

Charles Robert Tuckmantel

Charles Robert Tuckmantel passed away August 10, 2021. A care-free, contented man who loved family, golf, and a good cold glass of beer. Born on January 5, 1927, Charles lived a long, fruitful life with his family, including his wife Gladys, four children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Charles worked every day of his life. He was best known for working at IronWood golf course as a marshal and loved Wednesdays at IronWood working with the ladies in Ladies’ Day. Born in Philadelphia, Charles was in the Army at the end of World War II stationed in Germany. Chuck lived in Sun Lakes the last 30 years of his life. A great moment in his life was one afternoon in the Arizona heat when he fired a hole-in-one playing alone with no witnesses. Charles will be greatly missed and hopefully he is with God, but as we all know per Job chapter 14 verse 10, man gives up the ghost and where is he?

Lois Valleau

Lois Valleau passed over peacefully at Banner Desert Medical Center on Aug. 6, 2021, at the age of 83 after a short illness. Lois is survived by her children: Michael Maibaum (Melanie) of Port Ludlow, Wash.; Debra Reischel (Scott) of Camino Island, Wash.; and Chris Maibaum (Valerie) of Sun Lakes, Ariz. She is also survived by grandchildren: Jessica Reischel, Christopher Maibaum, and Kayla Maibaum (Lewis); and great-grandchild Conrad. Tragically, she was preceded in death by grandson Jacob Reischel. She is also survived by her brother Larry Munson (Sharon) of Sun Lakes, Ariz., and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lois was born in the state of Washington on Oct. 20, 1937. As a child, her father was a master sergeant in the military, so her family was able to live in the Philippines, Panama, and Alaska as well as Washington. After graduating from Bellevue High School and starting her family, she worked her way up the ladder to become secretary to the president of Edmonds Community College. She had a long and successful career from which she retired in 1995 and moved to Sun Lakes.

Lois was a Master Reiki Practitioner and an ordained Essene Minister. She was a member of the Sun Lakes Unity Church and was very involved in the Sun Lakes Reiki community. She lived her life through the principles of Reiki and started the Reiki Circle in Sun Lakes. She taught and comforted many people through Reiki and leaves behind a wide circle of friends in this community.

Lois had a passion for travel and often said she was most at peace when she was walking on a beach. She was able to visit and experience much of what our world has to offer. Lois frequently traveled with friends and family and visited all of our continents, except Antarctica.

Thankfully, Lois lived a full and joyous life with family and friends who are asking God’s blessings of Love to continue to guide her forever more. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Contact family for details.