The Grand Rapids Press (MI)
January 12, 2005OBETTS - Mr. Richard Watson Obetts, aged 79, of Grand Rapids, passed away peacefully Tuesday, January 11, 2005.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary C. Obetts.
Surviving are his children, Thomas and Cindy Obetts, Kathleen and Gregory Robrahn, Timothy Obetts, John and Candace Obetts, Richard J. Obetts; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his brothers, Phil and Jackie Obetts, Ray Obetts; sister, Rita and Jim Paas; sisters-in-law, Arlene Obetts, and Barbara Obetts; brother-in-law, Richard Geiger; many nieces and nephews.
Richard had retired from Mich Con after 38 years of service, he served with the U.S. Army in the 29th Division during World War II, and was a lifelong member of St. Jude Catholic Church.
The Grand Rapids Press (MI)
May 14, 2020Paas, Rita 9/7/1931 - 5/14/2020
Comstock ParkRita Elizabeth Paas (Obetts), age 88, entered into eternal rest due to complications of COVID-19 on Thursday, May 14, 2020.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Helen Obetts; grandson, Michael Bevins Jr.; siblings, Richard (Mary) Obetts, Carl Obetts, Ray (Char) Obetts, Ed Obetts and Helen Louise Obetts; and brother-in-law, Ed (Lois) Paas.
Rita is survived by her husband of 67 years, James N. Paas Sr.; her children, Jeanne (Michael) Bevins, Beth (Larry) Annable, James Jr. (Valerie) Paas, Julie Paas (Gary Vachon), Denise (Mark) Curtis, Mary (Ron) DeRade and Daniel (Jennifer) Paas; grandchildren, Abby (Matt) Pepper, Nicholas (Jill) Annable, Karl Annable, Tracy (Andy) Huizinga, Jennifer (Joe) Petack, Emily (Matt) Karas, Sarah Huber, Eric (Justine) Curtis; Andrew (Merrian) Curtis, Kelsey Curtis, James (Kara) DeRade, Hillary (Brandon) Zahrt, Daniel Paas, and Elizabeth Paas; great-grandchildren, Corwin Pepper, Jacob Pepper, Katharine Pepper, Wyatt Pepper, Lauren Annable, Bradley Annable, Peyton Petack, Reese Petack, Owen Petack, Kennedy Karas, Giuliana Curtis, Anthony Curtis, Aidan Curtis, Annie DeRade and Collins Zahrt; brother, Phil (Jackie) Obetts; in-laws, Barbara Obetts, Arlene Obetts, Nick (Gloria) Paas and Barb (Larry) Rector; many nieces and nephews.
Rita is a graduate of the Comstock Park High School Class of 1949 and a longtime member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church. She was an avid reader and never missed Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and Lawrence Welk. Rita enjoyed knitting and loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The Grand Rapids Press (MI)
November 30, 2012Erwin J. Haaksma, age 91, passed from this life into the loving arms of his Lord with family at his side on November 29, 2012.
He was a decorated WWII veteran serving in the Army in the Philippines. He worked for Herpolsheimer's Department Store, retiring in 1986. In retirement, he enjoyed working in landscaping with DeHamer Bros. Landscaping, fishing with his grandchildren, and was a sports enthusiast, especially rooting for his favorite team, the Detroit Tigers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Koole) Haaksma; his first wife, Phyllis Haaksma; and her parents, Jacob and Lois Dekker; and his three brothers, Anthony, Marshall and John Haaksma.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Janet Haaksma (Vredvelt) of 37 years; his sons, Richard (Dorothy) Haaksma, Michael Haaksma; step-sons, David (Debbie) DeHamer, and Daniel (Ruth) DeHamer; 11 grandchildren, Camela (Michael) Westhuis, Cara (Issaac) Coleman, Kimberly (Lorenzo) Mosley, Kevin (Whitney) Haaksma, Sarah (Walter) Bobeldyke, Rebekah DeHamer, Esther (Wade) Vugteveen, Nate DeHamer, Alyssa (Joel) Olson, Ashley Passmore (DeHamer), and Ben DeHamer, John Valk; and 25 great-great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Dorothy Haaksma; brothers-in-law, Gerald Vredvelt; and friend, Lygia; nephew, David (Linda Gayle) Nederveld, Linda and Raul Miyares and Roger Nederveld; nephews, Gerald (Carol) Vredvelt, Kirk (Marie) Vredvelt; and many friends. F
Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Sherwood Dodge Tuttle, professor emeritus of geology and associate dean emeritus in the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Iowa, died Sunday, June 27, 2004 at The Highlands Nursing Home in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. He was 86.
Born on June 8, 1918 in Medford, Mass. and raised in Hancock, N.H., Professor Tuttle, known as Tut to friends and associates, graduated from Hancock High School in 1935. He then attended the University of New Hampshire where he received a B.S. in geology with honors in 1939. It was here that Tut met another freshman, Esther Barrett, and they began a romance that would last a lifetime. After graduation, Tut resisted his father's plan that he return to Hancock and "go into business with him." Instead he chose to reinvent himself by traveling 3,000 miles west to do graduate work in geology. He began graduate studies at Washington State University, specializing in geomorphology, but left school to serve as a captain in the infantry during World War II. He was stationed at posts in Florida and California, primarily training infantrymen, before joining the 158th Regimental Combat Team, the "Bushmasters," for duty in the Philippines and in the occupation of Japan. Tut noted, "I was always proud to have been a Bushmaster." He was an avid reader of military history, served as chairman of the University Committee for ROTC Affairs and continued his service in the U.S. Army Reserve until 1968. After retirement as a colonel, he remained a member of the Honorary Retired Reserve.
After the war, Tut returned to WSU where he completed an M.S. degree in 1947. He then returned east to attend Harvard University where he received an M.A. and a Ph.D. in geology simultaneously in 1953. For his dissertation, Tut worked on the Quaternary geology of coastal New Hampshire. In summers during his graduate years, he worked for either the Washington Geological Survey, the U.S. Geological Survey, or the National Park Service. In 1957, Tut became a research associate at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts and spent ten summers there studying beach erosion. This included one tour aboard the research vessel Atlantis. His daughter recalls an annual rhythm - from Labor Day to Memorial Day they lived in a lovely Midwestern college town - from Memorial Day to Labor Day they lived and worked at the beach. The children had a wonderful childhood.
Tut began his long tenure at The University of Iowa in 1952 and served until his retirement in 1988. There were two open positions in geology in 1952, one to teach introductory courses and the other for advanced. Tut traded the advanced for the introductory position with Richard Hoppin. His primary focus was undergraduate teaching and he took a leadership role in the department's basic physical and historical geology courses, often lecturing to over 800 students at one time. Both courses were so popular that the department opened a second lecture section for them and started teaching each class every semester. An additional faculty member ultimately was hired to assist with these classes because Tut also was involved in 11 other courses during his tenure. His only frustration with this duty was not being able to remember all of the student's names! He also supervised 11 graduate students. Most were master's degree candidates, then the working degree in geology. All were successful and one of his doctoral students, Marcus Milling, became a UI College of Liberal Arts Alumni Fellow in 2000.
Tut authored over 20 articles on geomorphology, three laboratory manuals, two study guides, and two books, Landforms and Landscapes and Geology of the National Parks. Both were intended to interest students. The latter, ever expanding through six editions, was prepared in association with his wife and Ann G. Harris, professor emerita of geology at Youngstown State University. The book illustrates the influence of geologic history on the physical attractions of 56 national parks; it is widely used in college courses. The book, originally written by Harris, first was published in 1975. When the publisher requested a third edition, Professor Tuttle and his wife were called to help update it. "He was a really fantastic person," Harris said. "He had an incredible memory of all the places he had worked at - even in his youth - that enabled him to contribute a lot of input on the book. I got married and our honeymoon was spent with the Tuttles working on the book. Quite truthfully, both he and Esther were almost like parents to me. We were that close. He and Esther are one of the main reasons that the book has been so successful. Because of them, we were able to keep the book as accurate as possible."
Tut was always involved with the mechanics of the University and he served on numerous administrative committees. These included the Board in Control of Athletics, Faculty Senate, the Honors Program (he served as director), the NSF Predoctoral Fellowship Committee, and the Educational Policy Committee. Tut's facility with names, ability for organization, and knowledge of University regulations led to his being appointed chair of the Department of Geology from 1963 to 1968 and in 1970 he became an associate dean in the Liberal Arts Advisory Office. While he was chair, the Department of Geology grew from seven to eleven faculty members.
After retirement, the Tuttles moved to the Greater Cincinnati area to be with their expanding family. After a time he turned his allegiance from the Red Sox to the Cincinnati Reds. There were no changes of allegiance when it came to national parks. Tut and Esther continued their quest to visit all national parks, not only those in the lower 48 but the parks in U.S. Samoa, Hawaii, and Alaska as well. Being of frugal New England ancestry, Tut arranged a free trip to the Alaskan parks by giving lectures on geology to the other passengers on the tour boat. He also organized a year's tour in Hong Kong as a Fulbright professor to the Chinese University.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Beverly Storm of Fort Thomas, Ky.; two sons, Mark S. Tuttle of Orinda, Calif., and Owen S. Tuttle of Sonoma, Calif.; six grandchildren; and six great--grandchildren.
The Capital (Annapolis, MD)
December 29, 2010Frances Tuttle Casbarian, "Fran", 96, a resident of Annapolis for 19 years and previously of Silver Spring, College Park and Sherwood Forest, died December 14 at Ginger Cove Health Center.
She was born Dec. 26, 1913, in Peterborough, N.H., and graduated from Peterborough High School in 1932, where she played on the field hockey and basketball teams. In 1936, she graduated from the University of New Hampshire, where she joined Alpha Chi Omega sorority and remained an active lifelong member.
After college, Fran moved to Maryland and worked as a dietician, first at the Gilman School in Baltimore and then for the sports teams at the University of Maryland, where she met and married her husband, Harvey T. Casbarian.
She was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis, the Annapolis Yacht Club, the South Sherwood Forest Golf Club and Alpha Chi Omega. An avid golfer, she also enjoyed playing bridge and croquet at Ginger Cove.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey.
She is survived by her son, James E. Casbarian and wife Elisa Carbone of Silver Spring; two stepchildren, Harvey Casbarian Jr. of Sherwood Forest and Mary Lou Dockendorf of Sykesville; seven step grandchildren; 10 step great-grandchildren; and one step great-great-grandson.
74109. Robert George Curcie Sr.
The News Herald (Panama City, FL)
July 25, 2017Robert G. Curcie, Sr., 92, of Panama City, Florida, formerly of Mexico, New York, died July 22, 2017.
Born in Utica, New York, he graduated from Mexico Academy in 1944, and received his associate's degree from Wisconsin. A WWII vet, he retired after 43 years of employment at Crouse Hinds Factory in Syracuse, New York, as a foreman.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marion, and his children, Ed Curcie (Colorado,) David Curcie (South Carolina,) Cheryl Piazza, Deb Piazza, Tammy Stone (New York,) Tina Cook (Tennessee,) Kip Curcie and Melinda Sandford (Florida,) 31 grandchildren, several great-granchildren and one great-great-grandchildren.
Robert was preceded in death by sons Bob Curcie, Jr., Rick Curcie, and Ralph Kranz, and granddaughter Jamie Piazza.
Syracuse Post Standard
November 20, 2011Birth: 1932
Death: November 14, 2011Joyce E. Boardman, 79, of Syracuse, passed away peacefully on Monday at Highland House after a courageous battle with cancer.
Joyce was predeceased by her husband, Garry E. Boardman; by her son, Robert Curcie; by her sister, Jean Gleason; and by her brothers, Richard and Charles Lamb.
Survivors include her children, Edward (Becky) Curcie, David Curcie, Brenda (Greg) Prentice and Stacy (Kevin) Schwartzott; her sister, Barbara Stummer; her brother, George Lamb; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Syracuse Herald-Journal (NY)
January 9, 1989Services for John ''Yankee'' Curcie, 61, of Port St. Joe, Fla., who died Jan. 4 at the Bay Medical Center, Panama City, Fla., are 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Watson Funeral Home. Spring burial will be in the Mexico Village Cemetery.
A native of Saranac Lake, Mr. Curcie lived in the Mexico area most of his life before moving to Florida about 10 years ago. He worked as a carpenter.
He was an Army veteran of World War II and also was a veteran of the Marine Corps.
Surviving are his wife, the former Louise Fletcher; six sons, John L. and Jody, both of Williamstown, Jerry of West Monroe, and James and Jeffrey and Jason, all of Port St. Joe, Fla.; a daughter, Roxanne Lamb of Port St. Joe; a brother, Robert of Port St. Joe; a sister, Ruth Wilbur of Compass Lake, Fla.; 10 grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Syracuse Herald-Journal
November 20, 1992Patrick W. Hurley, 62, of 6332 Lakeshore Road, Cicero, died Thursday at St. Joseph's Hospital.
A life resident of Onondaga County, Mr. Hurley lived in Cicero 22 years. He retired in September after 43 years with Crouse-Hinds Co. He was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church, Cicero. A Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War, he was a member of the James H. Spire Post 787, American Legion.
Surviving are his wife, the former Nina Verginio; a son, James J. of Cicero; his mother, Ida Bell Hurley of Kirkville; four brothers, Cornelius of Washington, D.C., Timothy of South Carolina, Brian of Kirkville and Leo of Houston, Texas; and two sisters, Catherine Kimberly of Kirkville and Sheila Kuryla of Liverpool.
The Daily News (Longview, WA)
November 25, 2020Paul A. Huntington passed away at home on November 2, 2020. Born September 24 1942, he grew up in Mapleton, Ore., just down the street from his high school sweetheart, Barbara. He was active in his church and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
Paul moved his family to Longview after graduating from Oregon State University. He enjoyed his time as District Manager for Equitable Life, but was best known for his love of classic cards, family history and travel. He was a member of Longview Community Church, Rotary, the 23 Club and the Friendship Force. Paul's greatest love was his family.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara, son Darby, daughter Heidi (Stan) Griffin, grandchildren Connor Almon-Griffin and Lindsay Griffin and brothers Earl and Elvan Huntington. He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Elva Huntington and his brother Charles Huntington.
Find-a-Grave
Ruth was the second daughter born to Clarence Oren Dodge and Myrtle Levter Hunt.
On 29 July 1940, she married Joseph Austin Daigle, at Beaumont, Texas. Together they had five children:
Joseph Austin Jr.
Janice Marie
Michael Stephen
Elizabeth Anne
Andrew PaulShe shared her lovely voice with many church choirs and inspired a love of music in both her children and grandchildren. Active in local theater groups and civic organizations, she worked as executive secretary at Syracuse University and for the State of Massachusetts. She loved crafts of all types and cats of all kinds. She was a resident of Greenbrier Manor until her death.
The Beaumont Enterprise (TX)
July 17, 2002Joseph Austin Daigle, Lt. USN-Retired, died July 12, 2002 at Christus St.Elizabeth Hospital. Born and reared in China, Texas, he was the son of Theophile and Ida Meche Daigle.
Mr. Daigle graduated from China High School in 1935, and in 1937 received a Commercial Radio Operators license from Chenniere Business and Radio School, Beaumont, Texas. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1938. While in the Navy, he was a member of the USS Bear during the U.S. Antarctic Expedition, 1939-41.
Many years later he published a book relating his experiences with Corinne LaRocca Kavaya as co-author.
In WWII he served three years as an aviation radioman flying from island to island: Newmea, New Caladonia, and Guadalcanal. On landing on Guadalcanal, January 1, 1943, he was promoted to Aviation Chief Radioman. During the Korean War he spent two years in Sasebo, Japan serving as the Assistant Communications Officer. After this duty he was stationed aboard the USS Joseph P. Kennedy as Operations Officer, followed by service aboard the USS Woodson as Executive Officer. In 1958 he retired from active duty as Communications Officer of the U.S. Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, NH. During his 20 years of naval service he attended several schools: Advance Radio School, Washington, D.C., 1941-42; Officer's Electronic Course, NATTC, Corpus Christi, TX, 1946-47; Navy Line School, Monterey, CA, 1954-55; and Tufts University, Boston, MA, 1955-57.
After retiring from the Navy, he worked for two years as an instructor of electricity at the Cohen Electrical and Technical School, Boston, MA. For the next 16 years he was an inspector for the Department of Defense Contract Administration Office in Syracuse, where he worked at several General Electric plants which manufactured electronic equipment for the military. He retired in 1974 and moved to Andover, ME, where he was elected a Selectman (Councilman) and served the town for five years. After a hiatus of 50 years, he returned to Texas in 1988. He became very involved with SCAT (Senior Citizens All Together) in Kountze where he served as president during the organization's development and expansion. For several years he volunteered his time at the Kountze Nursing Home, reading to patients. His hobbies included reading, refinishing and repairing furniture, particularly old caned chairs. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, NARFE, and USAA.
Mr. Daigle is survived by his children: Joseph Austin Daigle, Jr. and his wife, Jean of Lumberton, TX; Janice and her husband David Walz of Scotia, NY; Michael S. Daigle and his wife Theresa of Phillipsburg, NJ; Elizabeth Daigle and her husband, John Stroud of Williamsburg, WV; Andrew Daigle and his wife, Julie of Hanson, MA; and ten grandchildren.