In Passing

Al (Alton) Holmes

Al (Alton) Holmes passed away Christmas Day. He is survived by his loving wife Rosemary, son Bryan, daughter Kim, and his six grandchildren Kendra Rosenthal, Jennifer Amerio, Amber Amerio, Alton Sands, Aiden Holmes, and Gavin Holmes. He was predeceased in 2016 by his daughter Julie.

Al was born and raised in San Francisco and spent his pre-retirement years in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Al was proud to serve his country as a Marine. He served the city of San Francisco as a plumbing and heating inspector and retired from that position in 2001. In his position as a City Inspector, Al taught apprentice plumbers. His enjoyments in life focused on golfing, hunting, fishing, woodworking, and cooking.

Al and Rosemary moved to PebbleCreek at the end of 2002. During those eighteen years, he was involved with the 18- and 9-hole leagues, PC Players, Showtime, Gun Club, Bocce, and Bowling Leagues, Wine Club, and the Italian American Club. Al thoroughly enjoyed his time in PebbleCreek.

During Al’s retirement years, he and Rosemary traveled extensively, and he especially enjoyed cruising.

Al was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later time. If desired, contributions in Al’s name may be made to Kare Bears, the New Life Center, or a charity of your choice.

Clifton “Cliff” George Olson

Clifton “Cliff” George Olson, Jr., 74, of Goodyear, Ariz., went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 5, 2021, as a result of Pulmonary Fibrosis. Cliff is surrounded in heaven by those he loves.

Cliff was preceded in death by his father, Clifton Sr., his mother Norma, and his brother Roger. Cliff is survived by his loving wife, Lois; two children—daughter Krischelle Tennessen and son Chad Olson, as well as their spouses Scott Tennessen and Merry Joy Olson; and three loving grandchildren John, Julia, and Jacob Olson.

Cliff was born in Owatonna, Minn., in 1946 and later moved to McIntosh, Minn. On June 29, 1968, he married Lois Ness from Fosston, Minn. After graduating from Bemidji State University in Minn., Cliff joined the Army and attended Officer Candidate School in Ft. Belvoir, Va. During his military career, he was located at Ft. Carson, Colo., and Ft. Campbell, Ky. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam as a Counterintelligence Officer. After his active duty, he was in the National Guard and retired as a Major with 21+ years combined service. Cliff’s remaining career years were in Personnel and Training until his retirement from the State of California.

Cliff was an avid automotive enthusiast and builder throughout his life as well as enjoying golf. He and Lois moved to PebbleCreek in 2008 where he managed to combine all of these passions in retirement by building golf carts for those in the PebbleCreek community. He was a golf ranger at PebbleCreek for several years. Cliff and Lois were active members at Christ’s Church of the Valley, volunteering at the Peoria campus frequently.

Cliff was always quick witted and quick to forgive. Always ready to volunteer or lend a helping hand to those who needed it, constantly going over and above for others as long as they would listen to his stories. He and Lois moved several times throughout their marriage and viewed each one as an adventure during their 52-year marriage.

As a retired military Officer, Cliff will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial Service information will be shared at a later date.

The family kindly requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at pulmonaryfibrosis.org. Online donations are preferred; however, checks can be mailed to Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 500, Chicago, IL, 60611.

David Harvey

David Harvey, of PebbleCreek, Goodyear, passed away after a brief illness on Dec. 29, 2020.

Dave was an avid golfer on his never-ending quest for the proverbial hole-in-one, which he finally achieved on July 10, 2017.

Born in Lovell, Wyo., to Sophie Fink Harvey of Lovell, Wyo., and Clyde Gutke Harvey of Cowley, Wyo.

Dave enlisted in the United States Air Force June 29, 1969, and served his country for over 20 years. He rose to the rank of CMSGT (Chief Master Sergeant) and was honorably discharged Sept. 1, 1990.

David married Virginia G Bush née Patton on March 13, 1974. They had three children: Richard, Margaret, and Christina. Virginia passed away on Oct. 12, 2003.

Dave went on to a successful second career in transportation when he worked for the Lompoc School District and eventually retired in June of 2013 as Superintendent of Transportation for the city of Glendale, Ariz.

Dave was preceded in death by his first wife Virginia, his son Richard, and brothers Richard and Jerry. He is survived by his wife Barbara, daughter Margaret Cushine and her husband Michael, daughter Christina Varner and her husband Dwayne, stepchildren Kristen Clodfelter and Daniel Paulson, 10 grandchildren, and two great grandsons. He is also survived by brothers Clyde and Allen and sister Rose.

Due to the unprecedented circumstances presented by COVID-19, no services are planned at this time. When the pandemic has subsided, we will look to have a Celebration of Life here in PebbleCreek, Ariz. Dave will be laid to rest in his birthplace in Lovell, Wyo.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona.

Dr. George Henry Benz, Jr., M.D.

DOB: Jan. 5, 1942

DOD: Dec. 24, 2020

Survived by: loving wife Joanne M. Benz; devoted father to: Jeffrey Benz (Jiuzhou Qiao), Jennifer Beckemeyer (Robert), Julie Benz (Richard Orosco); beloved grandfather to: Christopher and Austin Benz, Robert and Tatum Beckemeyer, and Maggie Qiao; oldest of eight siblings.

Years of Marriage: 53.5; date moved to PebbleCreek: June 2004

Activities in PebbleCreek: Avid golfer with the Rat Pack, Ballroom Dance Club, Irish American Club, Italian American Club, Artist Series, Bocce Ball Club, Cinema Society, Fine Dining Club, Wine Club, and a Marshall for the Fiesta Bowl Parade for a decade.

Career Information: He was a graduate of LaSalle College in Philadelphia, Pa., and University of Pittsburgh Medical School in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was honorably discharged as a Major from the U.S. Air Force after serving from 1973-75 where he was a surgeon at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., and he became an accomplished general and vascular surgeon in Pittsburgh, Pa. for 29 years. He was formerly on staff at Forbes Regional Hospital and at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Funeral arrangements to be held later in Pittsburgh, Pa., will be made privately by the immediate family.

Memorial donations may be made in his name to PC Kare Bears.

Memorial Information: Condolences can be made at Wickenburg Funeral Home at www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com/obituary/george-benz-jr-md.

Eugene Michael (Mike) Der Manuel

June 23, 1942 to Nov. 9, 2020

Mike was born in Erie, Pa., to Eugene and Helen Der Manuel. The family moved to Buffalo, N.Y., when Mike was young, and he enjoyed playing football and baseball through high school, graduating in 1960 from Kenmore East.

Upon hearing from friends about Mesa Junior College in Grand Junction, Colo., and the National Junior College Baseball Tournament held each spring there, Mike and a friend arrived in Grand Junction in Jan. 1962 and enrolled at Mesa. Mike played Maverick Baseball under Coach Bus Bergman 1962-63 and in the JUCO Tournament ’62-63. He was named to the All Tournament Team in ’63. He played in the 1963 season with the GJ Eagles under Sam Suplizio.

Mike met Nancy Kirkpatrick at Mesa, and they were married in GJ in December 1963.

Mike received a baseball scholarship to the University of Kansas. He played as a Jayhawk 1964-65 under Coach Floyd Temple, 3rd base. Graduating June ’66 with a degree in education, he was hired to teach Jr. High in Pico Rivera, Calif. Mike taught history and coached football there from Sept. ’66 until Dec. ’67. A daughter, Lisa Michelle, was born in March 1967.

Having completed his private pilot’s license in ’67, Mike decided he loved flying and enlisted into the U.S. Navy, applying for flight school, Dec. ’67. He graduated O.C.S., Pensacola in ’68 and began flight training, moving to jets, and obtaining his Navy wings at Kingsville, Texas, the summer of ’69 with orders to U.S. Naval Air Station, Miramar Calif. Call sign “SLUF” Mike flew A4, A7, F4, F8, and F14’s. He made several combat cruises with West Pack on several aircraft carriers from 1969-79. He also attended Top Gun School at NAS Miramar.

Mike joined the Western Airlines family in April 1979 but stayed in the Naval Reserves and retired CMDR with 23 years of service. He flew for Western Airlines, later Delta Airlines, out of LAX, SLC, CIN, flying domestic and international routes on 737,727, MD80, MD11,757, retiring off the 767 at 60 years old.

Upon retirement in 2005, Mike and Nancy moved to the PebbleCreek Community in Goodyear, Ariz.

Mike enjoyed golf with the Birdie Chasers, Rattlers, PC Men’s Golf League, and Sunday Friends. He participated in church functions and was MC for the Colorado parties. Spending summers in Colorado at his family ranch, he worked continuously and hosted many friends visiting from PC and GJ. After 15 years in Arizona, Mike and Nancy moved back home to Grand Junction in April 2020. In October, Mike contracted COVID-19 and pneumonia and passed on to his real home Nov. 9, 2020. He is survived by Nancy.

Marion J. Wakefield

Marion J. Wakefield, age 88, passed away peacefully on Dec. 17, 2020, with family by her side. She was born in San Rafael on Sept. 18, 1932, and she graduated from San Rafael High School with the class of 1950. Marion worked in banking for 37 years and retired from Wells Fargo Bank in 1988. Marion enjoyed a long and active retirement. She regularly went on trips and participated in activities with the San Rafael Goldenaires and the Marin YMCA. She was a regular volunteer at the Nazareth House of San Rafael. Marion was also a dedicated fan of the San Francisco Giants and took great pleasure in cheering for them throughout the years. In 2016, she moved to Goodyear, Ariz. to be near her family but remained a committed fan and would attend Giants spring training games in Arizona.

PebbleCreek and her Unit 4 neighbors welcomed Marion with open arms. One of Marion’s favorite pastimes was playing Bingo, where she developed so many new friendships, whether it be with the Friday Share Bears, Monday Night Eagle’s Nest Bingo, or venturing to nearby bingo halls.

Marion will be remembered by her family and friends as a beautiful, kind, and loving person who treasured life’s simple pleasures, spending time with her family, visiting with friends, gardening, and lovingly caring for her dog Haley. She was preceded in death by her parents Alfio and Jennie Colombo, sister Genevieve Colombo, and sister-in-law Gertrude Colombo. She is survived by her two daughters Sharon and Laura; sons-in-law Terry Johnson and David Dakin; brother Leslie D. Colombo; beloved grandchildren Kristi, Alyssa, Trent, and Lisa; and three great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made in Marion’s memory to one of the following: Kare Bears at 15383 W Cheery Lynn Rd, Goodyear, AZ 85395-8513, 623-536-1200, online donations at karebears.org; or the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association 800-242-8721 or online donations at heart.org or stroke.org.