In Passing

Robert F. Cooper

Robert F. Cooper of Sun Lakes, Ariz., formerly of Pittsford, N.Y., passed away at age 86 on May 16, 2022, in the care of his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ann; his daughter Karin Cooper (David) Rompalo; his son Todd Cooper (and Gina Moussa); step-grandson John Rompalo (all of Arizona); extended family; and many dear friends. He was born in Rochester, N.Y., and was predeceased by his parents Melvin and Mary Cooper and his brother Dr. M. Thomas Cooper.

Bob graduated from East High School, Rochester, N.Y., Class of 1954, and Belmont Abbey College, Belmont, N.C. He also served in the U.S. Army National Guard Reserves. His career was in marketing communications, and he retired in 1999 after 34 years with Kodak. He was a member of the Sun Lakes IronOaks Patrol from 1999 until 2005.

His life centered around family and friends. He was always there with a smile, a twinkle in his eye, and ready for a new adventure. The storytelling, laughter, and friendship he shared so freely with others will always be cherished in memories of him. He was truly one of a kind and someone who will forever hold a place in our hearts. In recent years, he faced his battle with Parkinson’s disease and other health issues with dignity, courage, and positive energy to “just keep moving.” The family would like to give special thanks to the entire staff at Kindred at Home and to caregivers from Doves for their quality and compassionate assistance—and for all the laughs along the way.

Services were held on July 27 in Rochester, N.Y. followed by a private interment.

Kirk Boyd Evans

Kirk Boyd Evans, 78, of Chandler, Ariz., passed away on Aug. 24, 2022. He was born Nov. 6, 1943, to the late William C.L. Evans and Anna Louise Ware Evans.

Kirk went to Chandler High School and began his career as a bricklayer. He went on to own his own masonry company before becoming a barber. After attending John Cunningham Barber School, he began to work alongside his wife Ann at Dick’s Barber Shop. The city relocated them to Arizona Clipper Cuts in North Park Plaza in Chandler. It was then when their son Wayne Evans and Shawn Cervantes began working with them. After 23 years, Kirk and Ann decided to close their shop to work part time at Tracy’s Barber Shop in Chandler. Once Kirk fell ill, his wife decided to devote her time to care for him.

Kirk leaves behind his devoted wife of 51 years, Ann Evans; sons: Tim Evans (Bobbie Jo) and Wayne Evans; grandchildren: Luke, Amanda, Justin (Kati), Demi (Thomas), and Shelby (Danny); and great-grandchildren: Kennedy, Oliver, Sawyer, Evelyn, Zane, and Jackson.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.

The family invites you to express your fond thoughts and condolences online at valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com.

Frederick “Fritz” Ernest Kellermann

The light has gone out on our beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, Fritz. Frederick (Fritz) Ernest Kellermann, age 82, passed peacefully on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, in hospice care surrounded by his loving family. Born on St. Patrick’s Day, 1940, Fritz always considered himself to be lucky all his life. Although he lived with Parkinson’s disease the last 17 years, he lived his life to the fullest.

Sports would play a major role in Fritz’s life. He spent most of his childhood in the western United States. He moved to Lansing, Mich., to complete his high school years at JW Sexton High School where he earned varsity letters in football, wrestling, and track as well as winning a statewide wrestling championship his senior year. This led to receiving a full athletic scholarship to the University of Michigan. He was unable to compete for the wrestling team his first year due to mandatory redshirting of freshmen; however, that did not deter him and he won three Big Ten Wrestling Championships during his collegiate career for the Wolverines. As a student athlete, Fritz graduated from U of M in 1962 with a B.A. in business administration.

After graduation, Fritz’s career began with a stint in the U.S. Army, followed by his time with the purchasing and accounting department for General Motors. He went on to work for Ernst and Ernst (Whinney), earning his CPA certification. In 1971, he spent the next seven years working as an Assistant Superintendent for Finance at Waverly School District. Then in 1978 until he retired in 2002, he worked as the Executive Vice President/COO for the Michigan Health and Hospital Association Service Corporation. Always one to take a personal interest in employee growth, he genuinely enjoyed working with people and making sure everyone felt equally important.

He loved to serve his community. He was involved with the American Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, and Rotary Club. Fritz also was an active board member with various groups including the Eaton Rapids Medical Center Board of Directors, Graduate “M” Club Board, Waverly Community Schools Board of Education, Camp Highfields Board, and Tri-County Office on Aging Advisory Council. He was elected to the Eaton County Board of Commissioners in 2004.

Fritz felt very honored when he was inducted into both the Lansing Sexton High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame.

Fritz is survived by his wife of 29 years, Jackie, daughters Leslie (Jason Twedt), Elizabeth and Stephanie Adado, son George Adado (Kelly Gray), grandson Wilson Desimini (Elaina Clougherty), sister Shary Carr, brother Lawrence “Lanny” Young (Joan), sisters-in-law Kay Nakfoor, Rosalie Tropp, Mary Ann Gamel, Susan Gamel, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Harriett and Ernest Kellermann, brother Theodore “Ted” Kellermann, and sister Sara Follett.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in memory of Fritz Kellermann to the American Red Cross or Memory Café, Sun Lakes, Ariz., (www.slcep.org). Online condolences may be sent to www.LakeshoreMort.com. Fritz always loved a good party so a celebration in his honor will take place with family and friends in the fall of 2022. He loved life, meeting new people, and laughing with his family and friends. His outgoing personality and charisma will be sadly missed.

Joan Marie Koch

Joan Marie Koch, 87, of Sun Lakes, Ariz., passed away in her home in the presence of loved ones on Feb. 25, 2022.

Joan was born March 15, 1934, in Buffalo, N.Y., to Frank and Helen Nemes. In 1955 she met and married the love of her life and partner of 62 years, David Koch, in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Joan was known as “a real firecracker” in life. Lively, opinionated, and sometimes mischievous, she made life an adventure for everyone around her. Joan traveled extensively, both internationally and domestically. She enjoyed meeting new people and trying new things. She walked the streets of Greece, floated the rivers of Alaska, and waded in the oceans of Mexico.

Joan was always impeccably dressed and known for her extensive turquoise jewelry collection. Her style was loud and unapologetic. A flamingo among sparrows, she commanded whatever room she was in with her flashy attire and bold personality.

Joan was a lifelong bridge player and a member of the Sun Lakes Bridge Club. She played to keep her mind sharp and to feed her appetite for competition. When her husband David was alive, they would start their day with a few rounds of Scrabble. David was smart enough to win only occasionally so as to not incur the ire of his beloved wife.

Joan is survived by her children David Koch, Carolyn Hartwig, Nancy Rhodes; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband David and her daughter Sandra.

Ralph Mitchell

Ralph Mitchell, my loving husband, passed away on Aug. 21, 2022, at the age of 93, born in 1928 in Portland, Ore. He had a long career as a high school instructor, teaching chemistry, physics, and general science. He also was a coach of soccer and basketball. After his retirement, he retired to the Oregon coast and later to Sun Lakes and then permanently to Payson.

He is survived by his wife Florence of 39 years and five children from his first marriage and four step-children, plus many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also has a living sister, Grace, in California. He outlived his parents and two brothers.

He lived a very full life with many adventures as a child and as an adult. He loved the outdoors—hiking, mountain climbing, sailing in the San Juan Islands and Canadian waters, growing flowers, and following his avid Oregon Duck football team and attending many games. Big sports fan!

He was a veteran. He enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1949, then the U.S. Marine Reserves. While attending college, he was called into the Korean War and was trained as an officer. He was honorably discharged in 1951.

He was a very generous man and religious, giving to many charities to help children and to Catholic organizations.

There was a memorial service at St. Phillip the Apostle Catholic Church in Payson on Sept. 7 at 11:30 a.m. His final resting place was held on Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. at Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery at 10940 E. Chandler Heights Blvd. Road, Chandler, AZ 85248.

Donald Robert Prestin

Donald Robert Prestin, “Don,” passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, at age 81.

He is survived by his devoted and loving wife Jan of 57 years, twin daughters Karen Lynn and Kimberly Ann, who cherished their father, brother to Sharon (deceased) and survived by his sister Carol and brother Jim.

Don was born in Marshfield, Wisc., on Feb. 8, 1941, to parents Robert and Helen Prestin. The family moved to Southern California in 1955.

He entered Arroyo High School as a sophomore and participated in many sports—an undefeated football team in league play for three seasons, track and field, and basketball.

Don pursued a flying career, and at 22 was hired by United Airlines in November of 1964 and began flying out of Pittsburgh. That same year, he married Janet Walker. During his 37-year career, he flew DC-6s, Convairs, Boeing 727s, DC-8s, DC-10s, moving up to captain on the 737s, 757s, 767s, 747s, and his favorite, the 747-400.

In 1965 his twin daughters were born, and he was transferred to Los Angeles.

In 1972, Don transferred to San Francisco for the rest of his career, flying international routes on the 747-400 his last 12 years. He also worked as an LCA check pilot for several years.

Living in Santa Rosa, Calif., he served as chairman of several airport commissions and president and treasurer of the local EAA and was a designee for the FAA on the building of homebuilts and their licensing. He and a friend both built Variezes (experimental homebuilt) and won the Designers Award for Best Rutan Aircraft at an Oshkosh, Wisc., air show.

The family thoroughly enjoyed living in Santa Rosa, a pilot-friendly neighborhood, where families vacationed together with many waterskiing trips. Jan’s family also lived in the area for constant family get-togethers.

Don and Jan flew many trips, traveling with good friends across the States in their Piper Aztec, from Alaska to Florida. Don enjoyed sailing his Macgregor, RVing, fishing, reading, crosswords, and traveling internationally.

After retiring, Don, Jan, and daughters relocated to Sun Lakes, Ariz., where he was a very active member of Sun Lakes Rotary and enjoyed driving members of the community to doctor appointments through the local Neighbors Who Care organization. Don was deeply devoted to his family and had a passion for community service.

In Don’s memory, donations may be made to Sun Lakes Neighbors Who Care (neighborswhocare.com) or Sun Lakes Rotary (sunlakesrotary.com).

Fred M. Saah

Fred M. Saah, Jr., was born on March 10, 1945, in Washington, D.C., to Jasmine and Fred M. Saah, Sr. Fred’s parents emigrated from Ramallah, Palestine, as children. Fred is survived by his wife Lee; daughter Ashley and son-in-law Anthony Adelizi; three brothers: Richard (Pat), Edward (Kathy), and David (Carol) Saah; one sister, Irene (Mike) Shannon; nine nieces and nephews; and many cousins, too numerous to count.

Fred attended parochial school and St. John’s Military High School and graduated from the University of Dayton in Ohio with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and a minor in economics in 1967. He then received a bachelor’s degree in foreign trade from the Graduate School of International Management in Phoenix, Ariz. He worked in New York for nine years and then relocated to San Diego, working in commercial real estate for 12 years, and then came to Phoenix, Ariz., to open a branch office. Later, he took a marketing position in Orange County, Calif., and then received his certification in financial and estate planning.

In 1983 Fred and Lee met playing in a singles mixed doubles tennis league in Phoenix and, after marrying, lived in Yorba Linda, Calif., where they had their one and only Ashley in 1987. Fred loved racquet sports, tennis, and racquetball with his group Racquet Pals, and upon retiring and arriving in Sun Lakes, his new passion became pickleball. He loved playing three or more times a week with this wonderful group, whom he loved and enjoyed. He also enjoyed the tribute concerts and Jukebox Bingo.

Memorial services will be held in California and Arizona at a later date. Donations can be made to the J. Michael Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in Fred’s memory.

Donald F. Thene

Donald F. Thene, age 93, passed away on Aug. 27, 2022. He was superseded in death by his beloved wife Joan. They were married for 52 years before she passed in 2008. Donald was the dear father to Mark, Kevin (Diane), Dawn (Dave) Lindsay, Robin (Bob) Wilczynski, Teri Woodbury, and grandfather to Kyle, Ryan, Nick, Kate, Anders, Lars, Brian, Jacob, Anna, as well as great-grandfather to Jace, Luke, and Elle.

Donald was a veteran and served in the Navy. He is a graduate of St. John’s University and earned his degree in meteorology. Donald worked for U.S. Gypsum. He was a founding parishioner to St. Steven’s Catholic Church and was a member of the building committee for the church.

Don served as a Eucharistic minister and alter server both at St. Norbert’s Catholic Church (Orange, Calif.) and St. Steven’s Catholic Church (Sun Lakes, Ariz.).

A memorial mass was celebrated 10 a.m. on Sept. 12 at St. Steven’s Catholic Church, 24827 S. Dobson Road, Sun Lakes, Ariz. His final resting place will be in Minnesota at St. John’s University in a columbarium overlooking the apple orchard.

James H. Turner

James H. Turner passed away on Aug. 28, 2022, at the age of 89. He was born May 15, 1933, in Indianapolis, Ind., to the late Bruce and Mary Turner.

Jim served his country in the U.S. Navy and then went to work for Western Electric in Indianapolis. Upon retirement, he moved to Arizona where he enjoyed the Southwest lifestyle for more than 28 years in Sun Lakes, Ariz.

Jim was a kind man with a gentle soul and a witty sense of humor. He was known to friends and family as Mr. Handyman, since he was willing to take on any kind of project and would always excel at it.

Jim was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and fine Christian example to all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Judy; children: Roxanne Mead (Mike), Deanne Meyers (Mark), Randy Turner (Anne), Jeff Turner (Kim), Joyce Bruce (Ken), Jay Bansbach (Debbie), Joette White, and Beth Davis (Mark); 20 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

While he lives on in our hearts, his presence will be missed forever.

Alfred John Unger

Alfred John Unger passed away peacefully on Aug. 22, 2022. He was born Sept. 12, 1934, in Flushing, N.Y., to Catherine and Alfred Unger. The family moved to Baldwin, N.Y., where he spent most of his youth. On Nov. 3, 1956, Alfred married Priscilla Kern, and they lived in New York State until finally settling in Sun Lakes, Ariz., in 1992.

Alfred was a wonderful husband and father to three children. He spent more than 30 years working in the advertising industry and was a Senior Vice President of Production & Traffic with LINTAS Campbell-Ewald before retiring in 1995. While living in New York State, Alfred spent many years as a volunteer EMT with the North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps. When he retired to Arizona, he continued his volunteer activities with the Sun Lakes Sheriff’s Posse. In addition, he volunteered his services at St. Peter Indian Mission Catholic School in Bapchule, Ariz., providing woodworking and maintenance services. He and Priscilla also found time to travel throughout the country as well as overseas.

Alfred had been active in the liturgical life at St. Steven’s Catholic Church in Sun Lakes. He ushered for many years and was a member of the choir. He loved to sing and really enjoyed being involved with the choir activities.

Alfred was predeceased by his wife Priscilla, his parents Catherine and Alfred Unger, his brother Gary Unger, his in-laws Ethel and Karl Kern, and his brother-in-law Steven Kern. He is survived by his sister Cathy Frisbe of Lakeland, Fla.; his children: Gregory Unger and Carmel Quinn of Burlington, Vt., Kimberly and Ed Montini of Gilbert, Ariz., and Mark Unger of Loxahatchee, Fla.; and his five grandchildren: Alexander, Mattison, Leena, Virginia, and Cole.

The family would like to thank The Village at Ocotillo for their support and care of Alfred over the last 18 months. The family would also like to express their gratitude to Hospice of the Valley for their compassionate care of Alfred and the support and kindness provided to his family during his final weeks.

The family plans a private service and celebration of Alfred’s life. In memory of Alfred, donations can be made by check to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014, or via their website www.hov.org.

Clifferd “Cliff” Wagner

Clifferd “Cliff” Wagner, 84, of Alexandria, Minn., transitioned on Aug. 25, 2022, into the arms of his soulmate Jean (Becker) Wagner along with a grand welcoming committee of family, friends, and grand-pups.

Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Minn., with the Rev. Hans Dahl officiating with Military Honors after. The service was recorded and can be viewed through the Anderson Funeral Home website www.andersonfuneral.net. Interment was at Ebenfeld Reformed Cemetery in Streeter, N.D.