In Passing – August 2014

Arthur L. Banner

Arthur L. Banner, age 83, of Brockport, New York, passed away after a long illness. He is survived by four children, nine grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and his love of 10 years, Patty.

Funeral services and internment were held in Brockport, New York on July 8, 2014. He was so loved and will be missed greatly.

Paula Sybil Hollender

Paula Sybil Hollender

(07/15/1933)

“To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” – J.K Rowling.

On June 22, 2014, Paula Sybil Hollender was taken from us, only to be called on a new adventure as a guardian angel to her loved ones below.

Paula, a resident of Sun Lakes, Arizona was a great person to all. She was an admirable mother to her two daughters Andrea and Erika, the ultimate grandmother to her two grandchildren Matthew and Nicole and a protective older sister to her younger brother Elliot Merkin and sister-in-law Barbara Merkin.

Paula was also a devoted spouse to her husbands, Melvin Fox and Stanley Hollender, who predeceased her.

Not only did she have a smile that could light up a room, but she also carried a gentle, genuine vibe everywhere she went. Whether it was on the tennis and Pickleball courts, to Bunco and other activities, Paula was known for her vivacious personality and contagious never ending laugh.

As most people would say (and she would certainly agree), she was perfect from head to toe. Very rarely did she ever leave the house without matching her vibrant clothing, makeup and accessories along with her flawless voluminous hair. This not only explains her youthful and energetic attitude, but also ultimately explains how she was the perfect example of natural beauty, both inside and out.

Paula possessed a heart that was too big for her own good, however nothing will be bigger or shine brighter than her perfect teeth and confidence she exuded throughout life.

She will forever be remembered as a loyal mother, grandmother, sister, wife and friend. Every person that crossed her path would agree that they are lucky to not only have met her, but to have her looking out for them indefinitely.

Paula’s life was celebrated with a service in New York on Monday, June 30 2014 at Mount Hebron Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. This was followed by three nights of Shiva at the home of Barbara and Elliot Merkin, 21 S. Audlen Terrace, Springfield New Jersey.

Curtis Hughes

Curtis Hughes passed away on June 13, 2014 with his family by his side.

Curt served in the Navy during World War II and had a career in the furniture business. He loved playing golf and tennis. He was an active member of Cottonwood and Palo Verde Men’s Golf Leagues until his health failed.

He is survived by his wife, Roberta, four children, Greg (Beverly), Steve (Inda), Kelly (Steve Volkman) and Mitchell (Lorrie), eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

A celebration of life was held on June 15 with family members attending.

James (Jim) Madsen

James (Jim) Madsen, born Dec 31, 1945 took his final flight on May 15, 2014.

From childhood he wanted to fly airplanes and fulfilled his dreams graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1968. He flew with distinction as a forward Air Controller in Vietnam returning home to continue to fly as a T-38 pilot instructor, finishing his Air Force career as a U-2 Strategic Reconnaissance pilot. He joined Texas Air (later became Continental Airlines) and covered the globe for 26 years until his retirement in 2005.

In retirement Jim loved tennis, poker, chess and life. He always had a smile and a kind word for everyone he met. He is survived by two children, his parents in Nebraska, sister in Iowa, and his soul-mate in Sun Lakes. He believed in and lived with honesty, integrity, kindness and country. Jim will be greatly missed and forever loved.

Nancy Lee Masterovsky

Nancy passed away on June 9, 2014, after a long illness while residing at the Archstone Care Facility located in Chandler, Arizona. She was born in 1947 and was the only child of Charles J. Christoff and Mildred K. (Custer) Christoff. Nancy’s hometown was Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. After spending many years raising her family in Saginaw, Michigan, Nancy retired as a private legal secretary and moved with her husband, Mike, to Sun Lakes (Oakwood) in February, 2003.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Mike; two sons, Michael and Brian (Brenda Rivera), one daughter, Jennifer Hartrick (Troy); three grandchildren, Luke Hartrick, Taylor Ella Hartrick and Earl Rivera. Nancy was an avid reader and devoted her time to loving her family. She will be missed.

A memorial service to celebrate her life was planned in her hometown of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania in July.

Memorial donations could be made to Hospice of the Valley.

Warren Graydon Robeson

Warren Graydon Robeson, 90, passed away peacefully at his residence in Bella Vista Senior Living, Mesa, Arizona, on July 4, 2014. He was born on August 18, 1923 to Graydon Earl Robeson and Mildred Mae Smith Robeson. He married the love of his life, Dorothy Mae Martin (Dot) on April 16, 1943, while he was stationed in Granada, Mississippi in the Army. She preceded him in death in October 2012. They had been married for more than 69 years.

They were the proud parents of five children, all surviving: Sherry (Bob) Parrish, Patty (Chuck) Moore, Bobbi (Andy) Musel, Jan (Randy) Stalzer, and Rich (Amy) Robeson. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He often said he was most proud of his children’s love for one another. Warren is also survived by his brother, Bill (Betty) Robeson, of Keller, Texas.

He served his county during World War II where he was a Staff Sergeant, stationed at Fort Ord in Monterey, Calif. After the war, Warren and Dot moved back to Iowa where he worked 40 years in the newspaper business, first at the Tama, Iowa News Herald, then as sports editor of the Marshalltown, Iowa Times-Republican, and the last 31 as city editor there. He was an avid sports fan, playing tennis for 70 years, the last several at the Sun Lakes Cottonwood Tennis Club. During his newspaper career, he campaigned for public tennis courts in Marshalltown, chronicled the brief movie career of Marshalltown native Jean Seberg, and promoted the Iowa AAU basketball tournament held in Marshalltown for more than a quarter century. He also enjoyed officiating high school and college football games and coaching flag football for youngsters. He played on two conference champion football teams in high school and was runner-up for the conference singles tennis title.

He had been a member of the American Legion, Sons of the American Revolution, the Central Iowa Stamp Club and the Marshalltown Tennis Association.

A family celebration of life service will be held at a later date. A memorial scholarship fund for the Dorothy and Warren Robeson Memorial Scholarship has been established at Marshalltown Community College. Contributions payable to the Robeson Memorial Scholarship Fund may be sent to Sheryl Robeson Parrish, 3986 Durango Drive, Pensacola, Florida 32504.

Robert (Bob) Sandusky

Robert ‘Bob’ Sandusky peacefully passed away at home surrounded by his wife Jeanie and children. He entered the gates of heaven on July 7, 2014.

Bob is lovingly remembered by his wife Jeanie of 63 years. Also survived by his three children, Mark Sandusky, Kathy Vanderheyden and her husband Jeff, Julie Wolf and her husband Gregg; his six grandchildren, Rob, Iris, Kristina, Evelyn, Jenae and Danielle. Bob has one surviving brother, John Sandusky. Preceding him in death and meeting him in heaven were his mother and father, Everett and Dorothy Sandusky, brother and sister-in-law, Junior and Marjorie Sandusky.

Bob was born in Georgetown, Illinois. He graduated from Georgetown High School and continued on to receive his Bachelors of Science Degree in Education from The University of Southern Illinois. As a member of the United States Army, he proudly protected our country’s freedom in the Second World War Restoration and The Korean War Era.

As a business owner in Wisconsin, he prided himself with employees possessing stellar work ethics and integrity. He believed, as Henry Ford said, that coming together as a company was the beginning, keeping together was progress and working together was success.

Bob was a devoted family man and believed his family was a God-given gift. A loving husband and a devoted father, Bob loved unconditionally, supported and provided generously, and he lived and lead by example.

Retirement years found him in Sun Lakes where he and Jeanie loved their Ironwood’s Team Trivia, golfing on both the Ironwood’s Men’s League and Couples League. He also loved traveling the world, especially cruising! During the summer he loved following the Diamondbacks and he was a diehard Packer fan.

Known as the ultimate prankster, Bob always had tricks up his sleeve. He knew no stranger and was loved by all who knew him. Bob embraced life to the very end.

A celebration of Life Service honoring Robert Wayne Sandusky was held on Friday, July 11 at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Sun Lakes, Arizona.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Hospice of the Valley, 2020 East Woodside Court, Gilbert, Arizona.