Hoffmann, Robert J.

Robert J. Hoffmann of Batavia Funeral services for Robert J. Hoffmann, 48, will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 950 Hart Road, Batavia, where he will lie in state from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will follow in West Batavia Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 8, at Moss Family Funeral Home, 209 S. Batavia Ave. (Route 31 and Main St.), Batavia. Robert J. Hoffmann went home to heaven on Thursday, April 5, 2007, while surrounded by his family. Bob fought against Lyme disease and/or ALS, a/k/a Lou Gehrig's disease for over two years, most of which was on a vent. We thank God for His presence during our journey and for the rest and peace He now provides for Bob. Bob was employed as a mortgage banker with Fannie Mae in the Chicago office since 1997. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Vicki; their three sons, Bob, Tom and Dan; his sister, Barbara (nee Hoffmann) Preloger of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and his father, William Hoffmann of Brookfield, Wis., along with many members of extended family, church family at Immanuel in Batavia, and friends from the neighborhood and his office. He was preceded in death by his brother, Bill Hoffmann (18 years ago); and his mother, Jean Hoffmann (6 years ago). Contributions would be welcomed for Immanuel Lutheran Church, 950 Hart Road, Batavia, IL 60510, and for Les Turner ALS Foundation, 5550 W. Touhy, Suite 302, Skokie, IL 60077 in Bob's memory. For information, 630-879-7900.
Published in the Chicago Suburban Daily Herald on 4/7/2007.

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Robert "Mike" Williams

Robert “Mike” Williams, 68, of Ona, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 3, 2007, after a long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

He was born in South Charleston. He was retired from FMC Corporation with 35 years of service. He was an Army veteran.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earnest and Ruth Williams; sisters, Pauline Wing, Jean Reed, Carol VanDyke, and Margie Carter.

Mike is survived by his wife, Helen Rader Williams, son, Mike Williams and his wife, Julie, and their children, Bradley and Rachel; sisters, Virginia Ross of Sour Lake, Texas, Phyllis and husband, Carroll Safreed, of St. Albans, Remona Beaver of Lee Vining, Calif., Jo and husband, Ronnie Westfall, of Charlotte, N.C.; brother, Bill Williams and wife, Rose Marie, of Tennessee; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Mike's life will be 11 a.m. Saturday, April 7, at Tyler Mountain Funeral Home with Bishop Gordon D. Ford officiating. Entombment will follow in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens Mausoleum. There will be a gathering of family and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, 5233 Rocky Fork Rd, Cross Lanes, WV 25313.

You may express online condolences at tylermountainfuneralhome.com.

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BRUCE E. ELMORE, 61, formerly of MIDDLETOWN
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 04/5/07
BRUCE E. ELMORE, 61, formerly of MIDDLETOWN, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 29, with his loving wife at his side, at their home in Washoe Valley, Nev., after a courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). A former resident of Middletown, he graduated from Middletown Township High School in 1963. Bruce went on to serve his country during the Vietnam Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1968. He had an extensive career in the telecommunications industry beginning in 1968 with New Jersey Bell. When AT&T merged with New Jersey Bell in 1983, he continued to advance his career as a systems technician. Bruce retired from Lucent Technologies in 1999 and resumed his career with Verizon Communications in New York City in 2000. He was a former union delegate for the IBEW, and an active member of CWA Local 1101 in Manhattan. Bruce was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hike, ski, fish and hunt and was an excellent marksman. He had a deep respect and appreciation for the beauty of nature and had always dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail. He had hiked portions of the Tahoe Rim Trail in Nevada, and was always eager to explore new adventures. Bruce always kept his Nikon with him to capture the special moments of his experiences.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Caril; and his four children from a previous marriage, Rachael Elmore of Port Monmouth, Daniel and his wife Joy of Keansburg, Rebekah Anderson and her husband Daniel of Charleston, W.Va., and Sarah Sambucini and her husband Michael of Atlantic Highlands. He took great joy in spending time with his eight beautiful grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. today at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, 115 Tindall Road, Middletown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the ALS Foundation of Nevada, 6370 W. Flamingo, Suite 3, Las Vegas, NV 89103. Letters of condolence may be e-mailed to pflegerfh@aol.com.

HARRISON, Franklin Wayne Elmer -His family mourns his . . .

(Apr 9, 2007) -- HARRISON, Franklin Wayne Elmer -His family mourns his passing, at The Woodhaven Nursing Home, Markham, on April 7, 2007, in his 72nd year from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrigs Disease). Wayne will be sadly missed by his brothers, Jack (Connie) Stouffville, Bill (Pat) New Hamburg; his sister, Margaret Cosgrove of Cape Canaveral, FL; his step-brother, James Steen; step-sister, Ann Smith, their families; nieces; nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews. He was predeceased by his mother, Dorothy Eleanor (June 1943); his step-mother, Vera Esther (June 1989) and his father, William Austin Harrison (October 1989). Friends may call at O'Neill Funeral Home, 6324 Main St., Stouffville (905-642-2855) on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Service in the chapel Wednesday at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at Memory Gardens, Breslau, Ontario. Donations in Wayne's name to the ALS Society of Ontario or the charity of choice would be deeply appreciated by the family.

Dr. J. Jeffrey Eaves


April 09, 2007



Dr. J. Jeffrey Eaves passed away on April 3, 2007, from complications of ALS. Born February 9, 1947, to Jack and Marianne (nee Campbell) Eaves. He grew up in Delafield on Lake Nagawicka and raised his family in the Lake Country area.


Jeff will be deeply missed by his loving wife Deborah; and children Jack, Mick and Liz; mother-in-law Donna Farley; sisters Marcia and Sherry (John) Kennedy; and brother Jamie (Barbara); brothers-in-law Tom Farley (Kathy), David Farley (Chris); nieces and nephews: Jessica, Patrick, Caity, Megan, Courtney, Bridget, Maggie, Cullen, Kerry; other relatives; devoted friends; and loyal patients. Preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law James Farley and Aunt Gertrude Campbell.

Jeff was a 1965 graduate of Arrowhead High School. He graduated from Marquette Dental School, class of 1974. A private practice dentist for 30 years, Jeff was a member of the ADA, WDA and past President of the Waukesha Dental Society. He was also an alumnus of the L.D. Pankey Institute and recipient of the prestigious Academy of General Dentistry fellowship award. Jeff volunteered for many years at St. Joe's Dental Clinic in Waukesha and was active in the Waukesha Rotary Club.

Jeff's great loves, beyond his wife and family, were fishing, snow and water skiing and an avid Packer fan. Jeff spent many hours fishing and enjoyed Lunkers Unlimited outings and trips to northern Wisconsin, on Long Lake with family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all of his fishing buddies. Jeff was a member of the National Ski Patrol at Little Swiss Valley and was a founding member of the Nagawatics Water Ski Club. He skied competitively, and was one of the first people to barefoot ski on Lake Nagawicka. His last barefoot run was at age 50 while teaching his own children.

Coaching his children's sports teams through grade school, high school and CYM basketball at St. Charles, was one of his greatest joys. This past season, his team won the Division Championship. An active member of St. Charles Parish, Jeff helped to start the successful St. Charles fish fry.

The visitation will be Thursday, April 12th from 4:00-7:00 PM at St. Charles Catholic Church, 313 Circle Drive, Hartland. Mass will follow. If desired, memorials to Wisconsin ALS Association or to St. Charles Parish.

Heartfelt thanks to the many friends, patients, relatives, caregivers and parish members who helped to support Jeff and his family with their thoughts, prayers and visits. A special thanks to the caring staff of ProHealth Homecare and the ALS Association.

"Just tell me old shipmates, I'm takin' a trip mates and I'll see you one day in Fiddler's Green."

Church and Chapel
(262) 827- 0659
www.churchandchapel.com

Thelma (Schmidlin) Foley March 28, 1925-April 8, 2007

story updated April 10. 2007 10:55AM


LAMBERTVILLE - Thelma (Schmidlin) Foley, 82, of Lambertville died Sunday morning in her home. She had suffered from Parkinson's Disease for three years and from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) for three years.

Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Blanchard-Strabler Funeral Home, Toledo, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday. Private burial will take place later.

Born March 28, 1925, she was the daughter of Louis and Pauline (Dolgner) Schmidlin. She married Gerald (Jerry) Foley July 3, 1948.

Mrs. Foley worked for Walding, Kinnan and Marvin of the Toledo area. Later, she was a homemaker.

She graduated from Clay High School, Toledo, with singer Theresa Brewer.

Surviving are her husband; two daughters, Shelly (Dave) Antkowiak of Lambertville and Robin (Kevin) Raley of Palm Coast, Fla.; four brothers, Harold (Kathy), Bob (Donna), Frank (Donna) and Bill (Betty); two sisters, Ruth (Bud) Wolf and Hazel (Bob) Holden; four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Glen.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Toledo and Perrysburg, Ohio.

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Naomi L. Disbennett-Heavlin

DELAWARE - Naomi L. Disbennett-Heavlin, age 69, of Delaware, died early Tuesday morning, April 10, 2007, at Wintersong Village following a courageous four-month battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, April 12, 2007, at DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, 75 W. William St. (Ohio 36), Delaware, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 13, 2007, with Pastor Darrell Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery.



Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice at Grady, 561 W. Central Ave., Delaware, OH 43015.

Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuner alhomes.com

Hurst, Steven Robert, 41, of Dade City, died Tuesday (April 10, 2007) after a long battle with Lou Gehrig?s disease. He came here from his native New Jersey. He was a Navy veteran and a general manager at Celebration Station until illness forced him to retire. He was a member of Riverhills Church of God and served as chairman of the church?s school board. He enjoyed NASCAR, riding motorcycles and fishing. Survivors include his wife, Laura; two children, Shawn and Lauren; his mother, Barbara Hurst, New Jersey; his father, Joseph Hurst, Hawaii; two sisters, Donna Walton and Sandra Beckett; and two brothers, Kevin and Patrick. Hodges Family Funeral Home, Dade City.

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Willard Madison Marvel died at Rex Hospital on Easter Sunday after a long and courageous battle with ALS.
He was born in Milton, DE. Will served in the United States Air Force for eight years before completing a degree in Computer Science. He managed the Technical Support Division of Perdue, Inc. for the last 17 years of his career. Will had a passion for cycling. Before his illness, Will and his wife spent many hours riding their tandem bicycle, planning vacations around cycling events with a wide circle of friends. Will was an active member of Genesis United Methodist Church and loved his church family.
He was a devoted father, friend, and mentor.
Surviving are: his cherished wife, Carol Adams; two children, Sharon Johnston and Jeffery Marvel and his wife, Blair; two stepchildren, Kimberly Small and Clayton Small and his wife, Ann; brothers, James Marvel and his wife, Marion, Phillip Marvel and his wife, Beverly; sister, Amy Smith and her husband, Carlton.
Son of Ruth Marvel, Will was predeceased by his father, Harry Marvel. A tireless champion for quality living with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Will inspired all who knew him. He was a role model for many affected by this terrible disease and kept his wry sense of humor. He spent much of his time involved with ALS support groups, planning fundraisers, and participating in ALS Advocacy Days in Washington, DC. Although Will's presence will always be with us, he will be greatly missed.
A celebration of Will's life will be held 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 12, 2007 at Genesis United Methodist Church, 850 High House Road, Cary, NC 27519. A memorial service will also be held in his hometown of Milton, DE on April 21, 2007.
Will would want to be remembered by donations to the ALS Association, Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter, 120-101 Penmarc Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603.
Published in The News & Observer on 4/11/2007.
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Sherry Gay Ketzbeau
KETZBEAU, Sherry Gay - Age 56, of Linden, died Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at home. Funeral services will be held 1PM Saturday, April 14, 2007 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton, Rev. Allen F. Schweizer officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Linden. Visitation will be held 1-9PM Friday and 11AM Saturday until time of service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to ALS of Michigan or the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Sherry was born November 2, 1950 in Flint the daughter of Ward and Mildred (Eggelston) Kramer. She married Steven Ketzbeau on May 25, 1991 in Port Austin. Sherry was a graduate of Mott Community College Nursing School, and had been employed by McLaren Regional Medical Center and Kith Haven Care Center. She loved animals of all kinds and had rescued many from undesirable conditions. Sherry enjoyed gardening, but most of all she loved her children and grandchildren. Surviving are her husband, Steven of Linden; 2 children, Kristina Vert (Herbert) of Burton, Jeremy Vert (Manda) of Flint; 3 grandchildren, Megan Vert, Faith Sego, Tyler Vert; and many other loving friends. She was preceded in death by her parents. The family extends many thanks to Heartland Hospice and all the caregivers throughout the years. Those desiring may share online condolences or post a tribute at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.

My sincere condolences go out to Sherry's family.

Sherry Ketzbeau
http://lindenwoods.tripod.com/

ALS victim's advocacy, attitude recalled
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
By TJ Greaney ~ Southeast Missourian
Jim Trickey, a local man who fought a five-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, died Saturday at his home in Cape Girardeau.

Friends and family gathered Monday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home to remember the man who traveled to China to undergo radical surgery in an attempt to extend his life.

"He just made the best of the situation and he was such an advocate for the cause and became a poster child for it. He kept that attitude to his last day," said his father, James Trickey Sr.

In 2005, Trickey traveled to China, where surgeons implanted four million cells into the frontal lobe of his brain. The stem cells from aborted fetuses were intended to regenerate and possibly repair damaged nerves in his brain.

Similar tests have been conducted in the United States, but never on human patients.

The disease, also known as ALS, causes a progressive degeneration in the central nerve system resulting in the atrophy and lack of control of muscles.

Trickey Sr. said the operation had a temporary positive impact.

"There was an improvement. He went over there and couldn't walk very well, but he spent the next day after the operation walking to Tiananmen Square and to the Great Wall of China. Within months of coming home he had regressed and was back in the wheelchair," he said.

Trickey Sr. wants people to remember someone who kept his dignity and humor while facing the grimmest of diseases.

"He had the greatest attitude and the greatest smile and he was so mischievous. You know throughout his fight he was constantly cutting up with everybody which made it easier for the whole family," he said.

Trickey worked as a building inspector for the city of Jackson and is survived by his wife, Brandy Nichole Trickey. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at La Croix United Methodist Church.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

http://www.semissouria...(cropped)

Music legend Gary Rosen dies
By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN, Reformer Staff



Wednesday, April 18
BRATTLEBORO -- For more than 25 years, Gary Rosen's music has encouraged us to get up and sing.
And now his audience and fans will have to continue the song without him.

Rosen, the Brattleboro musician who took his inventive and unique style of family entertainment to audiences of all ages across the country, died Saturday from complications brought on from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

He was 60.

Rosen and his former partner, Bill Shontz, formed the duo Rosenshontz in New York City in the late 1970s and they moved up to the Brattleboro area at about the same time.

Rosenshontz is credited with bringing a higher level of sophistication and musicianship to children's music. The group performed at hundreds of shows and appeared on national television before breaking up in 1996.

Rosen continued performing for families and released a number of solo CDs after Rosenshontz split up.

He recorded and performed in concert until complications from ALS made it impossible to perform.

In a prepared statement from the Rosen family, Mary Rosen said her husband kept a positive outlook


throughout the time that he battled the incurable sickness.
"Gary lived life to the fullest and found joy in every day, despite his disease," she wrote.

"Gary always said, 'It's not going to get my spirit.' And it didn't. He kept the twinkle in his eye, and the smile on his face, and he overcame the fear of knowing what the day might bring."

In Rosen's final two years, a group of about 20 volunteers cared for him and his family as the debilitating illness progressed.

The family said the Brattleboro community came together to lend tremendous support. "In April of 2005, Bonnie Stearns pulled together a 'circle of care,' and what a circle it has been. Since Bonnie held the first meeting, the family has welcomed and loved all the support that everyone provided. Because of Bonnie's initiative, patience, determination, and understanding of what was needed, Gary continued to live comfortably in his home."

Stephen Stearns, director of the New England Youth Theater and a close friend of the family, worked with Rosen and the two shared performing stages around New England throughout their careers.

Stearns said Rosen helped build Brattleboro into a strong community that supports artists, and he said the music Rosen wrote will live on like the great traditional folk songs of the past.

"He made a huge difference on the music scene in New England and nationwide," Stearns said. "He wrote songs that touch people. Gary's music goes beyond cute. It goes to the heart and soul of the human experience and the dreams of the child. It is not simple, formula stuff. It comes out of a deep understanding of children, and their longing to find their voices."

Stearns also said Rosen's success changed the way the entertainment industry looked at children's music.

The success of Rosenshontz created a market that could fill a small hall with parents and children who were willing to pay for a ticket and come out to hear his songs.

"Gary's music opened that door and people saw that you could make a living and raise children because out of the work he was doing there was demand for those things," said Stearns. "It became a real way for artists and theater and children performers to succeed."

Peter Amidon, a Brattleboro musician who came to southern Vermont at about the same time that Rosen did, said that the town was drawing artists from around the East Coast.

Amidon said he remembers walking down Elliot Street and hearing the music of Rosenshontz coming from a performance space that has since closed.

Amidon said he was struck by how the young audience reacted to the music.

"Young children can be brutally honest and they will not be engaged against their will," said Amidon. "He definitely had a particular gift for engaging young children and he had a lot of other gifts as well."

Amidon performs folk music, and though he did not cross musical paths often with Rosen, he said Brattleboro's cultural palette has lost a color that will never be replaced.

"He was always very expressive and we always came out feeling like we got a gift from him," Amidon said. "Gary had a particular niche carved out and I don't see anyone jumping in to fill it."

Rosen and Shontz started playing children's music almost by accident. The two met and started playing folk and rock and roll in Greenwich Village in the mid-'70s.

After performing for tips outside of the gorilla cage at the Central Park Zoo, Shontz remembers, the pair found that parents and children reacted well to their early brand of family entertainment.

"We would play every gig we could get and children's music was one," Shontz remembered.

After playing a show in Vermont, they decided to move to the area.

They got a job playing for the schools in Windham County and, after working up a repertoire that would appeal to anyone between the ages of 5 and 17, the duo decided to concentrate on playing music for young people.

For many years Rosenshontz booked its own shows and sold albums out of the back of a well-traveled vehicle.

"We had to create a show for every age group and decided that was our niche," said Shontz.

Then a national booking agent signed them and the duo started appearing on national television and touring more extensively.

"It took off, and everything went crazy," he said.

Their recordings featured professional session musicians, which Shontz said was a change from most of the children's music available at the time.

The new musical form appealed to parents as well as their children, and at one point Rosenshontz sold out 43 shows in a row across the country.

Their original 1978 album, "Rosenshontz Tickles You," still sells. "From the beginning we never babied the music," Shontz said. "If we played rock it was rock. If it was swing, we played swing. We took children's music up several notches. The whole point was to make music that wouldn't drive parents crazy."

Rosen was born in Amherst, Mass., and attended Oberlin College. He played the clarinet in junior high school and picked up the guitar with millions of other teenagers during the folk movement in the 1960s.

He cited Pete Seeger as an early influence.

Throughout his career, Rosen has performed at The White House, New York's Town Hall, The Smithsonian and he once sang the National Anthem at Fenway Park.

His recordings have been recognized with a National Parenting Publication Award, a Children's Music Web Award and a Parent's Choice Award.

He was diagnosed with ALS in 2004 and lost the ability to play his guitar shortly thereafter, though he continued to sing at local shows with his children.

At a benefit concert last year, about $20,000 was raised to help the family augment what insurance does not cover. Some of the money is being put away in a trust fund for Rosen's family.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, and their three children; Lela, Penn and Eliza.

Gary Rosen's obituary, click here
For a guest book where friends may share remembrances, click here
Audio clips of Gary Rosen's music
Photo gallery
http://www.reformer.com/ci_5692110