Janis Burgarella Danforth
Janis Burgarella Danforth, age 73, was born in New Haven, CT, on January 27, 1945. She was a devoted wife, mother and friend. Janis departed this earth on June 14, 2018, in Sun Lakes, AZ. She leaves behind her loving husband of 54 years, David Danforth of Sun Lakes, AZ; daughter Stephanie L. Preble of Oakdale, CT; son David J. Danforth of Clinton, CT; grandson Michael Preble; granddaughter Brittany Preble and brother Robert Burgarella of Sebastian, FL.
Janis is the daughter of Joseph and Mary Burgarella and sister of Joseph P. Burgarella, all of whom have preceded her in death. They will now be reunited.
Janis graduated West Haven High School, Class of 1962. She retired from Unilever as a senior claims analyst in 1997 after 28 years of service. We will remember Janis forever in our hearts and thank her for the inspiration, love and guidance she has provided us over the years. She was a truly remarkable person. She will be greatly missed.
James F. Hegyes
James F. Hegyes, 74, Sun Lakes, passed away Monday, June 11, 2018. Born in Pennsylvania to James and Agnes Hegyes, he grew up in Republic, PA. Moving to Cleveland, Ohio, Jim graduated from St. Edward High School in 1961 and from Marquette University in 1965. Working for NASA in the 1960s and 1970s, he achieved his childhood dream of landing a man on the moon.
Living in Sun Lakes for 20 years, he enjoyed playing tennis and hiking Arizona for many years. Jim is survived by his wife Carol, sons Jim and John and two grandsons.
Alfred Leroy Lucero
Alfred Leroy Lucero passed away on June 18, 2018. He was born on July 10, 1939, in La Junta, Colorado. He grew up there and in Washington State. He graduated from Grandview High School in Grandview, Washington. He and his wife were married there in March of 1958.
He enlisted in the Air Force for five years and was a jet engine mechanic. When his enlistment was up, he moved to Yakima and attended Perry Trade School graduating at the top of his class in electronics and industrial instrumentation. From there, he went to work at Georgia Pacific in Bellingham, WA, and then moved to the Hanford area working for G.E. and then Battelle Northwest where he met the four others who started Zetec in Issaquah, WA, and joined them. A career of over 20 years followed in the eddy current business of non-destruction nuclear testing. He traveled the world testing nuclear reactors – from Navy ships to reactors around the globe. He was an expert at teaching other business associates how to use the equipment that Zetec was pioneering and selling. He was a mentor to many.
He retired when he was age 50. He traveled the tropics and many foreign countries. He skied and snowshoed in the winters, then hiked, biked, played tennis, golfed and water skied the summers. He lived in Issaquah, WA; Sun Valley, ID, and Sun Lakes, AZ.
He became fascinated with mountain climbing and stood on the peaks of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt Hood and Mt Baker. His biggest achievement was climbing to 21,000 feet base camp on Mt. Everest.
He passed away June 18, 2018. He was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Jessie Lucero, his siblings Richard Lucero, Edward Lucero Jr. and Bonnie McGuin and his son Michael Lucero and his daughter Suzanne Lucero Chesney.
He is survived by his wife Dori (LaDora) Lucero, his daughter Krista Gibbons and his grandchildren Kyle Yankowski, Alyx Yankowski and Annabelle Chesney-Lucero.
Please, no flowers. Donations may be sent to your local American Cancer Society.
James Edward McElenney
James Edward McElenney (81) of Sun Lakes, AZ, since 2003, passed away surrounded by family on Saturday, May 26, 2018, following a stroke.
Jim leaves behind his loving wife of 58 years Patricia Ann “Patty” (Keenan) McElenney; his daughter Mary Elizabeth “Mary Beth” (McElenney) Thomas; her husband Jeff Thomas and their children Lindsay, Evan and Ellen; Jim’s son Sean Keenan McElenney and his wife Bridget (Fite) McElenney and their children Molly, Brenna, James “JD”, Megan and Nicholas; and many close friends. Jim was preceded by his Sister Mary Alice and his parents Mary Elizabeth “Betty” and Francis “Mac”.
Jim was born August 15, 1936, in Elmhurst, IL, and was raised in San Pedro, CA, where he attended St. Anthony’s High School, graduating in 1954. He attended Columbia University where he lettered in football and graduated with a B.A. in 1958. Jim then attended Creighton University, earning his M.S. in 1961 and his D.D.S. in 1963. While at Creighton, Jim met the girl next door, Patty, and they married on May 28, 1960.
Jim joined the Navy in 1963 which took him to San Diego, CA, where he stayed until he opened his dental practice in Orange, CA, in 1965. He practiced dentistry for 40 years. Jim loved practicing his comedic skills on his patients which took him to acting in plays, commercials and stand-up comedy. Jim was a devoted husband, a loving father and a good friend to many. He leaves behind a legacy of strong faith, a love of learning, commitment to family and the importance of friends. He will be dearly missed.
Funeral services were held at St Anthony’s Church on July 6, 2018, with internment at All Souls Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Precious Life Shelter in Los Alamitos, CA (www.preciouslifeshelter.org) or Creighton University Dental School.
Charles Michael “Chuck” (Ortiz) Reynolds
Charles Michael “Chuck” (Ortiz) Reynolds, 85, passed away Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in his home in Sun Lakes, Arizona. He was born August 5, 1932, in Denver, Colorado, to Michael E. and Sinforiana (Flora) Ortiz.
Mr. Reynolds served in the United States Army for two years where he attended photography school. One of his most notable accomplishments was his successful attempt at capturing one of the very first photographs of the curvature of the earth using a camera affixed to a test rocket. To this day, the photos have been given notoriety in the annals of U.S. military tests and trials.
Chuck was employed in the insurance industry all of his adult life, culminating his career as a well-respected consultant before retiring.
Chuck married Marilyn J. Rogers July 12, 1958, in Denver, Colorado. Together they had three children. Chuck and Marilyn were divorced in 1973. In 1975, Mr. Reynolds married Katherine M. (Kay) Green. He gained three stepdaughters. Chuck and Kay resided in Denver, Michigan, then Sun Lakes where Chuck retired. Kay preceded Chuck in death. In 2008, Chuck married Marion Pohlman in Sun Lakes and added three more stepchildren to his loving extended family.
Chuck is survived by his wife Marion of Sun Lakes; his children Julia (Mark) Darrah of Blue Springs, MO; Michael Reynolds of Oakland, CA; Susan Reynolds of Lawrence, KS; his stepchildren Scott (Marcy) Pohlman of Minneapolis, MN; Laurie Pohlman of Minneapolis, MN; Lisa Pohlman, of Minneapolis, MN; Deborah Tassett (Jim) Funk of Phoenix, AZ; Diane (David) O’Dell of Stevensville, MT; and Mary (Bill) Mayo of Englewood, CO. His grandchildren include Zachary (Jenny) Johnson of Lee’s Summit, MO; Ariel Johnson of Leavenworth, KS; Dylan (Kaitlyn) Basurto of Pullman, WA; Stephanie Tassett (Keith) McCullough of Phoenix, AZ; Mallory Pohlman of Minneapolis, MN; and Carlyle Martin of Minneapolis, MN. His great grandchildren are Asher and Beckett Johnson of Lee’s Summit, MO, and Ryan McCullough of Phoenix, AZ. Chuck is also survived by his sister Gloria Urtel of Thornton, CO, and nephews Jack (Mary Lou) Samaras, James (Lora) Samaras, Rick (Terri) Urtel and Brian (Ann) Urtel.
(Billie) Joe Sanchez
(Billie) Joe Sanchez was born and raised in Craig, MO. After graduating from Craig High School, he attended Kansas University then enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After his service in the Navy (1944-1946), Joe attended the University of Nebraska and University of Nebraska School of Dentistry from 1946 to 1953 and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He practiced dentistry in Nebraska City, NE, from 1954 to 1989.
Joe married Ethel Shelley in 1953 and had two children, Carmen Lucinda and Jon Joseph. He married Mary Lou Woods in 1987. While residing in Nebraska City, Joe was active in Jr. Chamber of Commerce, Sr. Chamber of Commerce, a Presbyterian church elder, Southeast District Golf Association of Nebraska and the American Dental Association. He was a past member of the Optimist Club, Eagles Club and Elks Club and current member of the American Legion. He served on the planning commission for five years and the Nebraska City Cemetery Board.
His main interests were his family, church and dentistry. He enjoyed golf, bowling, cards, dancing and camping. He was a huge University of Nebraska Cornhusker football fan.
In 1988, Joe and Mary moved to Sun Lakes, AZ, where he became active in church, was a volunteer for Neighbors Who Care, held Bible classes in his home, golfer, joined card clubs and was a Diamondbacks baseball fan.