In Passing

Kathy Amorosi

After a long journey living with Alzheimer’s disease, Kathy Amorosi, 79 passed into the hands of our Lord on January 4, 2016. She was with her husband at their home in Sun Lakes, Arizona at the time of death.

She leaves her beloved husband, Lou, of 57 years, her two sons, Louis and Paul, and her three grandchildren, Michael, John, Kaitlin, and her daughter-in-law, Gina.

Kathy was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on November 21, 1936, the only girl with four brothers. After high school, she supervised several women in the loan department of a local bank. Kathy met her husband, Lou, at a church dance and they were married two years later and had their first son, Louis, while living there.

Eventually, her husband, Lou, who was a graduate engineer, was offered a job with an engineering and construction company in Boston, Massachusetts. So the family relocated to a small town outside of Boston named Franklin. During this period Kathy had her second son, Paul, and spent most of her time raising her boys and volunteering at the local school and church. After eight years the company opened an office in Denver, Colorado and asked Lou to move there to help start up this new office as an engineering manager. Kathy was an extremely active person her entire life and very absorbed in the Arts. At first she got into decorative candle making, then for a time she worked on Indian pottery, and finally into oil painting. Kathy’s real love was with oil painting and she put her heart into it. After living in Denver for 10 years, Lou was offered a position as engineering manager at Salt River Project. Kathy pushed Lou to accept this job since her son, Louis, who was also an engineer, was already working in the Phoenix area. Kathy loved to dance and socialize with her friends. She continued with oil painting and work on home decorating and landscaping. She also worked for her church when and where needed. Kathy and Lou retired to Sun Lakes and together enjoyed their life there. Sadly, she developed breast cancer but did what was necessary to overcome it. Then three years later she developed Alzheimer’s which could not be overcome and it slowly robbed her of all of her energies and abilities which was a devastating time for her and her family. We received great help from the nurses and doctors of Hospice of the Valley who were very helpful and caring.

David L. “Sambo” Anderson

Ann Tellor

Please join us for a gathering of family and friends at Mulligans Lounge, Sun Lakes golf course for David on Saturday, March 5 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. David was born in Grand Rapids, MN on May 2, 1936. He died October 16, 2015 in Grand Rapids. He and his partner Ann Tellor have wintered in Sun Lakes since 2009. He and Ann enjoyed the Sun Lakes community, dancing, golfing and spending time with the many friends they met. He was a member of the Men’s Golf League at Sun Lakes Country Club.

Gloria Louise Axworthy

Axworthy, Gloria Louise, 85, passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 28, 2015. A long-time resident of Orange County, CA, Gloria moved to Sun Lakes, AZ in 2006 to be with her son. Since her retirement as an Administrative Assistant for 30 years, Gloria was very active with the Independent Order of the Foresters, was an avid bowler and remained very socially active.

A modest memorial service was held on Saturday, January 2 at Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery. Afterwards, Gloria was flown to CA and laid to rest alongside of her husband, Glenn and son, Steven. Gloria is survived by her sons, Darrell B. Axworthy and Mark A. Axworthy.

Joseph Bunting

Bunting, Joseph, 95, of Sun Lakes, AZ, passed away on December 21, 2015. Joe was born April 29, 1920 in Normal, IL.

Joe was a U.S. Navy pilot during WW II, and retired as a zone manager from International Harvester, moving to Sun Lakes from Fairmont, MN upon retirement. Joe was an avid golfer and played until he was 90. Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Karlynn Rueckert Bunting. Joe is survived by his wife of 27 years, Jean Proctor Bunting, and his sons, Joe, Steve and Dick, and also his brother, Dr. William Bunting and his wife Diane. Contributions in memory of Joseph Bunting, may be sent to Neighbors Who Care, 10450 E. Riggs Rd., Suite 113, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248.

Richard Bowen Clarke

Richard Bowen Clarke, 91, of Sun Lakes, AZ, went home to be with his wife, Jean, in heaven on December 23, 2015. He was cremated at Bueller Mortuary and his ashes will be placed in the gardens of Sun Lakes United Methodist Church.

Richard was born on May 10, 1924 in Fort Worth, TX to Charles and Nell Clarke. He had two brothers and one sister. Richard was a graduate of Texas A&M and later joined the Army Air Corps, serving our country in World War II. Richard and Jean were married on March 20, 1959 and lived in Kansas, Alabama, Louisiana and Washington. While working for Boeing as a mechanical engineer, he and Jean raised their son, Ron, and adopted daughter, Laura. He retired in 1986 and moved to Sun Lakes, AZ in 1988. Richard was very active in his local community serving in Rotary, as well as enjoying ping pong, tennis, golf and bridge with neighbors.

Richard is survived by his son Ron, Clarke of Seattle, WA, daughter, Laura Harrald and son-in-law, James Harrald of Chandler, AZ and one granddaughter, Meganne Clarke of Juno, AK.

Memorials may be made to The Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000, P.O. Box 13094, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248. Please indicate if you would like the donation to go into the Permanent Fund for Charity Programs, or the Permanent Fund for Education Programs.

Mary Jaqueline Elliott D’Ortenzio

Mary Jaqueline Elliott D’Ortenzio peacefully passed away December 15, 2015 at the Freedom Village Hospice of Mesa, AZ. Mary was 87 years old. Mary was the oldest of six children born in Detroit, MI to Robert Roy Elliott and Vera Mae Meyer Elliott.

Mary is survived by her husband, Sam D’Ortenzio (married for 67 years); son Richard (Penny), son Jerry (Renee), daughter Nancy (Rich), son Robert (Tracy) and son David (Sharon); sisters Margie Abram and Laureen Toth; brothers Robert and Patrick Elliot (Donna). In addition to 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren with identical twin girls due in February.

Mary loved life from an early age. Time spent with brothers and sisters with fond summer memories of visiting with grandparents in Kitchener, Canada. Mary also enjoyed a full life spent with immediate family and friends.

Mary, along with husband Sam, spent half of their married life raising their family in Livonia, MI and enjoyed 30 years of retirement in Sun Lakes, AZ. They spent time traveling to FL, HI, Northern MI and CA visiting family. Mary enjoyed dancing, playing cards, golf, bowling, knitting, participating in craft shows and her rose garden.

Mary has chosen to donate her body to Science Care and to be cremated. As per her request there will be a small service with family then followed by a Celebration of Life.

Donations may be sent to Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ, in Mary’s name.

A special thank you to all those who reached out kind thoughts and prayers at this time. Much appreciated by our family.

John H. Hertog

John Hertog, Sr. (88) passed away peacefully December, 28, 2015 in Maplewood, MN. John served in the US Navy in WW II. He retired from BNSF railroad in 1986 as the Senior Vice President of Operations. He spent 22 years in Sun Lakes where he was a member of the Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, for years singing in its choir. He was the bass voice in Twilight Time, a barbershop quartet. In Sun Lakes he was a member of the Kiwanis. He spent his summers on Horseshoe Lake in Turtle Lake, WI where he was a member of the Indian Head Barbershop Chorus and a member of the Turtle Lake Lions Club.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Herman and Adriana, and brother, Herman. Survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Violet, brother Adrian (Nancy), son John (Barbara), daughters Judy (Jim), Linda (Jon), Susan, Pam (Robert), Nancy (Craig), 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at Arlington Hills United Methodist Church, Maplewood MN on December 31, 2015.

Dave Lascher

Dave Lascher, a 76 year old resident of Sun Lakes, died peacefully at home in his sleep on December 29, 2015. Dave is lovingly remembered by his beloved wife, Donna, his daughters, Robin Lascher, Dorothy (Joe) Burghardt, Jennifer Soltesz and step-daughter Jodi (Frank) Kohut Hasner; grandchildren Stefani Soltesz and McKenzie Burghardt; step-grandchildren Taylor Kohut and Abigail Hasner. David played an instrumental role in the lives of his nieces and nephew, Bernie Gunya, Tammy Gunya, Sharon Teague (Gunya), and Harriet Gunya.

Dave retired from Ohio Bell after 30 years of service; then he and Donna moved to Arizona in 1988. After retirement, Dave dedicated all of his time to volunteer work, and served in leadership positions with the Telephone Pioneers of America, both in the Papago LMC and Arizona’s Chapter No. 66. Dave also served in the Sun Lakes community as president of HOA1.

Throughout his life, Dave was always searching for opportunities to help others. He has left an indelible impression on the lives he has touched. We will miss him here on earth, but rest in the knowledge that he is looking for ways to help in Heaven.

There was a mass of celebration of life on Thursday, January 7 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Andrew the Apostle, 3450 W. Ray Rd, Chandler, AZ 85226, followed by a fellowship gathering. Condolence gifts may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place; Memphis, Tennessee 38105 in the name of the decedent.