OBITS: The Buffalo News 4 Apr 2005; Buffalo, Erie co., New York text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Source: The Buffalo News http://www.buffalonews.com BAX - Samuel A. 4/4/2005 NIAGARA FALLS - Samuel A. Bax, a retired railroad maintenance supervisor, died Thursday in his home after a lengthy illness, during which he received the care of Niagara Hospice. He was 77. Mr. Bax, known as "Chico," was born in Niagara Falls and graduated from Trott Vocational High School. He served in the Navy in the Pacific from February 1946 to November 1947. He worked 42 years for Consolidated Rail Corp. and its predecessor companies and retired in 1986. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, the former Naomi C. Smith; three sons, Sam and David, both of Las Vegas, and Robert of Niagara Falls; two brothers, Alphonse "Butch" of Las Vegas and Daniel of Lewiston; two sisters, Betty Belson of Florida and Olivia "Ollie" Lorenti of Lewiston; and five grandchildren. Services were private. BENSON - Richard, was on Eden School Board 4/4/2005 Richard E. Benson of Eden, a retired chemist and former Eden Board of Education member, died last Monday in Mercy Hospital after a brief illness. He was 90. Born in Laclede, Mo., he had lived in Eden for the last 63 years. He earned doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois and Iowa State University and also taught at West Virginia University. Mr. Benson worked as a chemist for Carborundum Co. from 1940 to the late 1950s and later at Spencer Kellogg and Sons and Brimms. He served as a consultant, starting in 1955, and set up his own business, Benson Process Engineering Co., retiring about 15 years ago. Mr. Benson served three terms with the Eden Central School Board during the 1960s. He is survived by his wife, the former Ellen Gay; two sons, Richard M. of Syracuse and Charles of Jamestown; two daughters, Patricia G. Minnick of Ohio and Lou Ellen Homan of North Boston; a sister, Ruth L. of Columbia, Mo.; a brother, Donald V. of Fayette, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held Friday. Burial was in Grimsby, Ont. CASEY - Joseph L. 4/4/2005 DUNKIRK - Joseph L. Casey, a Petri Foods employee, died Tuesday in Brooks Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. He was 50. Born in Foley, Ala., Mr. Casey graduated from Mobile (Ala.) High School and served in the Marine Corps from 1970 to 1974. Mr. Casey worked as a mechanic before going to work for Petri Foods in Silver Creek, where he was employed for 14 years. He enjoyed working on automobiles and watching football. Survivors include his wife of 18 years, the former Cindy Fredrickson; three sons, Joseph Smith of Mobile and Joshua and Joseph Lee Jr., both of Dunkirk; a stepdaughter, Taunya Hall of Rochester; six brothers, Willie Yeldon of Buffalo, Michael Shoot of Foley, Essex of Pensacola, Fla., and Jerry, Walter and Edward, all of Dunkirk; six sisters, Josie Adams of Dunkirk, Ethel Gilchrist of Dunkirk, Vivian Norwood of Buffalo, Mary Lou Tate of Florida and Eleanor Tate and Ethel Mae Means, both of Foley. Services were Friday, with burial in Willowbrook Cemetery. DONNER - Timothy L. 4/4/2005 LITTLE VALLEY - Timothy L. Donner, of Toad Hollow Road, died Saturday at his home after a long illness. He was 59. Born in North Tonawanda, Mr. Donner was a Vietnam veteran, serving in the Air Force. He had worked at Du Pont Co. in Niagara Falls for many years prior to his retirement two years ago. Mr. Donner was a past Cattaraugus County commander of the American Legion, past commander and life member of Little Valley Post 531, American Legion, and a member of the AMVETS. He also was an avid outdoorsman and bowled in many leagues in the area. He is survived by his wife, the former Mary Eastman; two sons, Larry Davignon of North Tonawanda and Timothy of California; a stepson, Stephen Serrianni of Niagara Falls; and three stepdaughters, Tina Serrianni of Niagara Falls, Debbie Preston of Kentucky and Tammy Sparks of West Seneca; a sister, Rebecca Parnell of Florida; and several grandchildren. A service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Mentley Funeral Home, 411 Rock City St. Burial, with military honors, will be in Little Valley Rural Cemetery. GIEGER - Norman A., accountant for state 4/4/2005 A Mass of Christian Burial for Norman A. Gieger will be offered at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Sandridge Road, Alden. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery, Alden. Mr. Gieger, of Alden, died Friday in the Erie County Home after a long illness. He was 92. He was born in Buffalo and moved to Alden in 1950. He graduated from college and worked as an accountant for New York State. Mr. Gieger served in the Army during World War II. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a founder and first grand knight of Father John Schaus Council 4652. He was a member of St. John's Church, where he was chairman of a pro-life group, member of the Holy Name Society and scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 117 and Cub Scout Pack 78. Mr. Gieger was an American Red Cross volunteer and brought in more than $5,000 in such as projects as swimming a mile to raise funds. His wife, Vivian, died in 1983. Survivors include a daughter, Anne White of Brooklyn; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. GILKEY - Mary Lue 4/4/2005 Mary Lue Gilkey of Andalusia, Ala., a frequent visitor to Western New York, died March 26 in Andalusia in the home of her daughter, Gaylene Solonia Gilkey, after a lengthy illness. She was 67. Born in Alabama, she moved to Monroe, Mich., at age 2 and to Copperas Cove, Texas, in the late 1960s. She moved to Andalusia in the early 1980s. She was a licensed certified nurse's assistant and a member of Post 8577, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Copperas Cove. She had several relatives in the Niagara Falls area and visited often. She is survived by her ex-husband, Braxton Gilkey Sr. of Germany; six children, Gaylene Erica Lynn Bryant of St. Louis, Braxton Jr. of Ohio, Keith Alexander, Alphonzo and Timothy Jerome, all of Texas; two brothers, Sandy Reed of Niagara Falls and Paul Jordan of Detroit; three sisters, Manaitha Dias, Amanda Cook and Adell Caddle, all of Niagara Falls; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Services were Wednesday in Andalusia. HELM - Richard T., worked as carpenter 4/4/2005 Richard T. Helm, a longtime Buffalo-area resident who was employed as a carpenter, died unexpectedly Tuesday in his Ionia, Mich., home. He was 47. Born in Buffalo, Mr. Helm graduated from West Seneca West High School and lived in West Seneca for many years. For several years, he worked for Erb Co. a South Buffalo supplier of plumbing and heating equipment. In 1991, he moved to Keokuk, Iowa, where he worked for H&R Construction Co. as a finishing carpenter. In 1999, he moved to Hedgesville, W.Va., where he worked for Northeastern Supply Co., a plumbing and electrical warehouse. In January, he moved to Ionia. Survivors include his wife of 13 years, the former Terri Clark; four daughters, Nicole Barnum of Holland, Christina Cassata of Florida and Whitney McCarty and Evita, both of Ionia; three sons, Tony McCarty of Hamilton, Ill., Timothy McCarty of Keokuk and Tyler McCarty of Ionia; his mother, Viola of West Seneca; his father and stepmother, Richard and Sandra of Fort Erie, Ont.; two sisters, Catherine Majtyka of West Seneca and Barbara Welker of Swain; two brothers, James of Chaffee and Michael West Seneca; and three grandchildren. Services will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday in DeJong's Funeral Home in Keokuk. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Hamilton, Ill. A memorial Mass will be offered at noon Saturday in St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, Seneca Street and Harlem Road, West Seneca. KASPRZAK - Viola 4/4/2005 LOCKPORT - Viola Kasprzak, a former Buffalo seamstress, died Saturday in Lockport Memorial Hospital after a long illness. She was 86. She was born Viola Soltys in Gowanda. She lived in Buffalo and worked at M. Wile & Co. clothing company as a seamstress for about 16 years. She moved to Lockport 10 years ago after spending 12 years in Miami after her retirement. Survivors include two daughters, Linda of Lockport and Cheryl of Naples, Fla., and a grandson. Services will be private. MAZUR - Sophia A. 4/4/2005 A Mass of Christian Burial for Sophia A. Mazur will be offered at 9:30 a.m. todayin St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 2050 South Creek Road, North Evans, after prayers at 8:30 in John Kaczor Funeral Home, 5453 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg. Burial will be in St. Vincent Cemetery, Eden. Mrs. Mazur, a longtime Town of Evans resident and active member of St. Vincent de Paul Church, died Thursday in Lake Shore Hospital, Irving, after a brief illness. She was 88. Born Sophia Jedrysik in Buffalo, she worked as a riveter at Bell Aircraft during World War II. She was also a homemaker who did part-time and volunteer work at St. Vincent de Paul Church. Mrs. Mazur attended church daily for most of her life and was a 45-year parishioner at St. Vincent's. She was also a member of the Altar and Rosary Society and the Ladies of Charity. She enjoyed cooking large Polish meals and gardening. Her husband, Walter J., died in 2001. She is survived by three daughters, Marie Stetz, Marcia Krug and Carolyn, all of Angola; three sons, Paul of the Town of Boston, Daniel of Angola and the Rev. Francis of Buffalo; a sister, Helen Gorkiewicz of Buffalo; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. MERCER - David E. 4/4/2005 David E. Mercer of Buffalo, a retired General Motors Co. employee, died Friday in Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Town of Tonawanda, after a brief illness. He was 74. Mr. Mercer spent 20 years working on the assembly line at the GM Powertrain Tonawanda Engine Plant. During his final 10 years at the plant, he was assigned to a quality control team. He retired in 1992. He was active in the Gloria J. Parks Community Center Seniors and enjoyed wood carving, specializing in song birds. He is survived by his wife, Florence; a daughter, Vinnie of Williamsville; three sons, Mark of Cheektowaga, Gary of Italy and Carl of Scottsville; a brother, Howard of Atlanta; and eight grandchildren. Services will be scheduled. PIENTA - Joseph W. 4/4/2005 Joseph W. Pienta, an Orchard Park resident and former bar owner and Bethlehem Steel Corp. employee, died Thursday in Autumn View Health Care facility after a brief illness. He was 89. Born in Lackawanna, Mr. Pienta began working for Bethlehem Steel in 1933. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1941 to 1945, earning numerous citations and leaving with the rank of sergeant. He returned to the steel plant and retired in 1974. Mr. Pienta also owned Jo & Ann's Tavern in Lackawanna from 1950 to 1965. He enjoyed golf and placed well in tournaments in his 70s and 80s. He was a member of the Elma Meadows Golf Club until he was 82. His wife, Josephine Sperduti Pienta, died in 2003. He is survived by two sons, Donald J. Livsey of Lake Placid, Fla., and James T. Livsey of Cheektowaga; 17 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. today in St. Bernadette's Catholic Church, 5930 S. Abbott Road, Orchard Park, after prayers at 9 in Lombardo Funeral Home, 3060 Abbott Road, Orchard Park. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna. POTTS - Lynn Atwill, taught skiing and tennis 4/4/2005 A Memorial Mass for Lynn Atwill Potts of Eggertsville, a former skiing and tennis instructor who was known for being a gracious hostess, will be offered at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Louis Catholic Church, Main and Edward streets. Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cheektowaga. Born Lynn Louise Atwill in Buffalo, Mrs. Potts died unexpectedly Wednesday in a condo residence while on vacation with her husband in Siesta Key, Fla. She was 66. She was the daughter of the late Louise Weigel Atwill, who skated in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics, and the granddaughter of the late William W. Weigel, founder of the old Iroquois Brewery. Although her mother encouraged her to skate, she preferred downhill skiing, according to friends, and became an avid skier. She attended Buffalo Seminary and was a graduate of Knox School and Mount Ida College, Newton, Mass. Prior to her marriage, she was employed by the Wm. Hengerer Co. department store chain and at the Ski Rack in Williamsville. A familiar figure on the slopes of Holiday Valley, she was a member of the Ellicottville Ski Club for 45 years and was one of the organizers of the Upper Road parties held on Saturday nights at the ski club. Mrs. Potts also taught skiing at Kissing Bridge and tennis in the summer at the family residence in Point Abino, Ont. Mrs. Potts also was a founder of "Potts Tots" summer camp at Point Abino. She and her husband, Gerald K., maintained residences at Point Abino and Ellicottville, as well as in Eggertsville. In later years, Mrs. Potts enjoyed riding her bicycle between the Point Abino Lighthouse and the Buffalo Canoe Club. She also was involved in activities at the Buffalo Club. Mrs. Potts collected charm bracelets when she was young and later had the charms made into a necklace, which she called "the collection of my life." She would see friends at social events and, together, would look at the charms as they recalled events they had shared years earlier. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Melinda P. Quigg of Montrose, Pa., Christen P. Weaver of Tiverton, R.I., and Carolyn P. Sullivan of Buffalo; two sisters, Donna A. Pottle of Vero Beach, Fla., and Point Abino and Elaine Ferguson of Wolfeboro Falls, N.H.; and five grandchildren. PRIORE - Nicholas R., National Fuel employee 4/4/2005 Nicholas R. Priore, a West Seneca resident and former National Fuel employee, died Friday in Father Baker Manor, Orchard Park. He was 88. Born in Buffalo, Mr. Priore attended Fosdick-Masten Park High School and was an All-High baseball player. He won a football scholarship to Bucknell University, where he earned a business degree. He also attended Officer's Training School at Yale University and served as a lieutenant and communications officers with the Army Air Forces during World War II. He began working at National Fuel in 1941, retiring as a foreman in 1981. Surviving are his wife, Jancy Martorana Priore; two daughters, Sandra M. Aliotta of Miami and Lois E. Freiheit of Orchard Park; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Fourteen Holy Helpers Catholic Church, 1345 Indian Church Road, West Seneca, after prayers at 8:30 in Hoy Funeral Home, 3855 Seneca St., West Seneca. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Hamburg. RAKIECKI - Erika F., post-WWII interpreter 4/4/2005 A Mass of Christian Burial for Erika F. Rakiecki of Pendleton, a German native who worked as an interpreter and court stenographer for the U.S. military after World War II, was offered Tuesday in Our Lady of Bistrica Catholic Church in Lackawanna. She died March 24 after a brief illness. She had suffered from heart disease. She was 78. The daughter of a diplomat, she grew up in Berlin and Weimar, Germany, and earned an interpreter's degree in Frankfurt. She worked for the G2 Branch of the U.S. Military Occupation Forces until she met her future husband, Frank, a military policeman. The couple moved to Lackawanna and later to Pendleton. Mrs. Rakiecki spent four decades working with the Girl Scouts, as a troop leader, neighborhood director, association chairwoman and first vice president. She received the Girl Scout Council Award, Thanks Badge and Green Angel Award and received the volunteer award from Lackawanna. She later volunteered for the Boy Scouts after her grandsons became Scouts. Also active in her church, she was a member of Our Lady of Bistrica Church Choir for nearly 30 years. She is survived by a daughter, Linda of Pendleton; a brother, Dieter, and sister, Linde Gottschlich, both of Germany; and two grandsons. ROBINSON JR. - Earl T., World War II veteran 4/4/2005 A memorial service for Earl T. Robinson Jr. of Buffalo, a Peace Bridge Authority retiree and Army Air Forces veteran of World War II, will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Chapel of Forest Lawn. Mr. Robinson died Feb. 5 in Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He was 91. Born in Buffalo, the oldest of four children, he was a graduate of Lafayette High School and attended the University of Buffalo. During World War II, he served in the European Theater with the 8th Air Force in England and Belgium, rising to the rank of technical sergeant. Mr. Robinson rose to supervisor of administration with the Peace Bridge Authority, beginning his career as a toll collector. After retirement, he worked in the sewing machine sales and service department at AM&A's department store for many years. He had a lifelong passion for automobiles and was active in the Model A Restorers Club and a former president of the Lake Erie Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America. He restored many cars, including a Model A coupe with a rumble seat, according to family members. He also was a member of the 8th Air Force Society; Harry E. Crosby Post 2472, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Amherst Lodge 981, Free & Accepted Masons; and the Knights Templar. Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Isabelle; four sons, David of Cheektowaga, Earl III and William Weiss, both of Buffalo, and Ronald Weiss of Las Vegas; a daughter, Elaine of San Francisco; two sisters, Janice Mertes of Amherst and Dorothy Childers of Kenmore; and two grandchildren. SMITH - Andrew, Army officer contractor 4/4/2005 Andrew Smith of Hamburg, whose company moved thousands of tons of soil for some of the area's biggest construction projects, died Tuesday in Mercy Hospital after a long illness. He was 84. Graveside services were Friday in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna. A memorial Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. April 29 in St. Bernadette's Catholic Church, 5930 S. Abbott Road, Orchard Park. Mr. Smith's death came only three weeks after that of his wife of nearly 60 years, Jeanne O'Mara Smith. The couple met on a troop ship in 1943. He was a captain in the Army Corps of Engineers; she, a lieutenant in the Army nursing corps. They were married in 1945. Mr. O'Mara was born in southwestern Pennsylvania and was a coal miner like the rest of his family until World War II. He enlisted in the Army in 1939, went to Officers Candidate School and was part of the Office of Strategic Services. He was a veteran of the North African campaign, Normandy landing and the Battle of the Bulge, where he was taken prisoner. He later took part in the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz. He was nominated for two Purple Hearts but turned them down, saying his injuries were not serious enough. He began his civilian construction career as a state resident engineer on the Scajaquada Parkway construction and then formed an earth-moving and excavating company with his parter, William Rupert. They helped build the Niagara Power Project, Niagara Thruway, Niagara Parkway, Kinzua Dam, the Southern Tier Expressway. Mr. Smith later became an estimator for the William McClendon Paving Company and ABC Paving. He retired in 1984 and, with his wife, spent the next 19 winters in Bonita Springs, Fla. before illness forced him back home to Hamburg. He was a member of the American Legion and St. Bernadette's Church. He is survived by four sons, Richard A. of Walpole, Mass., David W. and Douglas A. of Hamburg and Mark E. of Boston; a sister, Betty Ducsay of Redlands, Calif.; and 10 grandchildren. SZRAMA - Leonard M. 4/4/2005 A Mass of Christian Burial for Leonard M. Szrama, a Korean War veteran, will be offered at 9:30 a.m. today in St. John Gualbert Catholic Church, Gualbert Avenue at Doat Street. Burial will be in St. Adalbert's Cemetery, Lancaster. Mr. Szrama died Friday in his Cheektowaga home after a long illness. He was 73. Born in Buffalo, he graduated from Bishop Ryan High School. Mr. Szrama served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He retired in 1997 from the Saginaw Gear & Axle Division of General Motors Corp., where he worked for 20 years as a tool-and-die maker. He was a member of Local 424, United Auto Workers. Mr. Szrama enjoyed camping with his wife, children and grandchildren. He was a committee chairman for a number of years for Boy Scout Troop 54 at St. John Gualbert Church. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Mary; two sons, Michael of Lancaster and Peter of Sloan; two daughters, Ann Marie Grillo of Cheektowaga and Margaret Delano of Cheektowaga; a brother, Joseph of Depew; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. WEGENER - James F. 4/4/2005 NIAGARA FALLS - James F. Wegener, a retired machinist, died Thursday in Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center after a brief illness. He was 85. Mr. Wegener was born in Niagara Falls and graduated from Trott Vocational High School. He served in the Army during World War II. He worked for more than 30 years as a machinist at Union Carbide Corp., retiring in July 1984. Mr. Wegener was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church. He served on the church council, including four years as treasurer and financial secretary. He also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and enjoyed square dancing. His wife of 39 years, Edith "Jean" Hanson Wegener, died in 1984. Survivors include three sons, James Jr. of Youngstown, Carl H. of Niagara Falls and Erwin W. of the Town of Niagara; a daughter, Elaine I. Fees of Niagara Falls; a sister, Mary Jane Westgate of Niagara Falls; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Otto Redanz Funeral Home, 2215 Military Road, Town of Niagara. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Lewiston. WETZLER - Thomas J., took part in WWII naval battles 4/4/2005 PENDLETON - Thomas J. Wetzler, a retired cabinetmaker and survivor of some of the fiercest naval battles of World War II, died Saturday in Veterans Affairs Medical Center after a brief illness. He was 85. A Buffalo native, Mr. Wetzler served as a coxswain aboard the USS Astoria and participated in the battles of Midway, the Solomon Islands and Coral Sea. During the Battle of Savo Island in 1942, the Astoria was shelled and set ablaze, forcing Mr. Wetzler and crewmates to abandon ship. More than 250 of his fellow crewmen were killed during the battle. After the war, he received training as an electrical technician. A cabinetmaker, Mr. Wetzler was a 25-year employee of Wurlitzer Co. in North Tonawanda. He retired in the late 1960s after the plant closed. After retirement, he worked as a security guard and in maintenance at the Audubon Golf Course. Before enlisting in the Navy, he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps. His wife, Alma Doran Wetzler, died in 2002. He was a member of Amherst Township Post 416, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Survivors include three daughters, Mary Ann Hum of Riverside, Calif., Judith Militello of Williamsville and Betty Grudzien of West Falls; a son, Thomas of Montour Falls; two sisters, Mary Ann Vuich of Hamburg and Josephine Weber of Lady Lake, Fla.; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Services will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Perna-Pellegrino Funeral Home, 1671 Maple Road, Amherst. Burial will be in Bear Ridge Cemetery, Pendleton.