In Passing – April 2024

Jan McGee

Jan McGee, Unit 62B, died suddenly very early on Wednesday, Feb. 14 with her husband Greg by her side. She was born March 31, 1954, in Wichita, Kan., to Carmelita and Eugene Hawk. Jan graduated from Bishop Carroll High School in 1972 and moved to Dallas, Texas. She worked in the finance and home-building industry until she retired in 2016. Jan married Greg McGee on June 4, 1999.

Jan and Greg moved to Goodyear, Ariz., in 2018. Jan loved playing cards, shopping with friends, gardening, caring for dogs, golfing with Greg, and enjoying a glass of fine wine. Jan is preceded in death by her parents Eugene and Carmelita, her stepfather Earl Sayler, her sister Teri Hawk, brother Kim Hawk, niece Jessie Bruggeman, and nephew Josh Bruggeman. She is survived by her husband Greg; stepsons Justin & Katie, Patrick & Katie, and Stuart & Erica; sisters Kit Bruggeman (Dave), Lisa Sayler, and Pam Sayler (Bill); brothers Mike Hawk (Linda) and Gene Hawk; nieces Kitty and Katie; nephews Jake, Joel, David, Ryan, and Matt; and 12 grandchildren, Alexis, Evelyn and Imogene (Justin), Ellie, Emma, Nora, Daisy, and Luke (Patrick), and Elijah, Jude, Ezra, and Jeptha (Stuart).

Jan loved dogs; her fur babies Tootsie, Raleigh, Randi, Abbey, Suzie, Barney, and Maggie were waiting for her on Heaven’s rainbow bridge. Jan did not want a funeral or memorial. Instead of flowers, please donate to a local food pantry or a local animal rescue group and lift your glass to toast farewell to Jan for a life well lived.

Daniel Phelka

Daniel “Dan” E. Phelka of Goodyear, Ariz., passed away Feb. 2, 2024, at the age of 79. He was born April 10, 1944, in Detroit, Mich., to the late Edward W. and Elsie K. Phelka. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kathleen Phelka; sons Edward (Amanda) Phelka and Andrew (Gillian) Phelka; and four grandchildren: Daniel John, Katherine, Annika (Sean) Udrys, and Nora Udrys.

Dan grew up in Detroit, Mich. He graduated from Denby High School and went on to graduate from GMI (now Kettering) and University of Michigan.

Dan was a loving husband and father whose proudest accomplishment was his family. He married the love of his life on May 24, 1968, and together they raised their sons. He was known for telling jokes, playing in the PebbleCreek softball league, and helping others through the PebbleCreek computer club. He enjoyed listening to classical music and had an amazing memory for music facts, dates, and names. He also managed to visit all 50 states, went on several cruises, and explored many other countries. He made friends wherever he went.

Dan’s passing has left a wound on many hearts. His thoughtful nature and gentle touch will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

There will be a memorial service to be announced at a later date.

Please leave condolences at thompsonfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/daniel-e-phelka.

Joan Ragsdale

Joan Ragsdale was born in Kansas City, Mo., on March 15, 1935, to Louis and Mabel Palmer. She passed peacefully in Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 22, 2024. She lived in Colorado, Kansas, and most recently Arizona. She had a short stint in California in 1948 where she would sometimes walk to school with Elizabeth Taylor. She married Grant Ragsdale on May 17, 1958 (together for 65 years) and raised two children, Kenneth Ragsdale and Carolyn Ragsdale, in the Kansas City area. She grew up with two little sisters Jane (Way) and Joyce (Wright), who filled her life with lots of fun and joy.

She is survived by her husband, Grant Ayres Ragsdale; her son Kenneth Ayres Ragsdale and his wife, Teri Bellamy Ragsdale; grandson, Albert Ragsdale; and her sister, Jane Palmer Way; as well as cousins, nieces, and nephews and many, many friends. She is preceded by her parents; her daughter, Carolyn Joan Ragsdale (1966-2020); and her sister, Joyce Palmer Wright (1943-2009).

She was a longtime hotel and restaurant management professional holding a HRM degree from the University of Denver where she was an active member and alumni of the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women. She started in the business working as a car hop in the 1950s in her parents’ restaurant. She went on to manage up to 13 successful cafeterias at the same time throughout the Kansas City area. While in greater Kansas City, Joan and Grant were particularly active in People to People International. She finally earned a nice retirement in the Goodyear, Ariz., community of PebbleCreek where she volunteered extensively. She and Grant traveled all over the world.

Joan was a lifelong friend and churchgoer with connections in Kansas City to Roanoke Presbyterian Church, Old Mission United Methodist Church, and Village Presbyterian Church. In Arizona she was active at The Church at Litchfield Park. At the time of her passing she and Grant were both Deacons Emeritus.

Her last years were spent enjoying many friends and family including grandson, Albert. She will be missed by her family and many friends in Arizona and across the country.

A Celebration of Life was held at The Church at Litchfield Park on March 19, 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the church or Hospice of the Valley.

Janice Sandberg

Janice L. (Valentine) Sandberg, 88, formerly of Wausau, Wis., passed away on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at The Heritage in Appleton, Wis.

She was born on March 13, 1935, to the late Gerald and Violet (Nelson) Valentine in Suring, Wis., where she grew up with her brother Jack and sister Judy. Janice spent summers of her teen years as a lifeguard at Kelly Lake and was a drum majorette for the Suring High School band. In the summer of 1954, before returning to college at UW-La Crosse, she fell in love with her childhood friend, John Sandberg. They parted briefly while she finished college and he served in the Army, but their love letters during that time sealed their bond and live on to this day. They married in Suring on June 8, 1957.

Education was always Janice’s passion. She married an educator and was a teacher herself, first in elementary education and physical education with the Wausau School District and Newman High School. She pursued her love of learning and books by returning to UW-La Crosse in 1983 where she earned a master’s degree in library science, always intending to use her new skills in a school setting. She served as the librarian at Tomahawk High School, then D.C. Everest High School until her retirement in 1997. Janice instilled the importance of education in her five children and nine grandchildren and generously established a college fund for each one. A lifetime learner, she continued to read voraciously until her death.

Janice was a determined career woman, and a devoted wife and mother. She loved to travel, and she and John managed many road trips across the country with five children, dogs, a station wagon, and a pop-up camper in tow. In later years, she traveled to many more far away destinations, such as China, New Zealand, Sweden, Netherlands, Ireland, and France. She was always on the go, independent and eager to learn new things.

Establishing a home in PebbleCreek in the early 2000s, Janice was involved in many activities. She belonged to a women’s golf group that golfed Tuesdays and Thursdays and even made a hole-in-one during one of her games. She participated in LifeLong Learning, was a member of the Democratic Club, and belonged to a book club at the Tuscany Falls clubhouse. Janice attended the Phoenix Symphony monthly and enjoyed the “out to dinner” experience after each performance. She also attended the Artist Series and was a member of the Cinema Club. Her many friends will miss hearing from her.

Janice is survived by her children, John (Verna) Sandberg, Mary Sandberg (Andy Tautges), Joel (Karon) Sandberg, Brian (Kris) Sandberg, and Kerry Sandberg Arndt; grandchildren, Jamie Sandberg, Kathy McCarthy, Kristy McCarthy (Cris Choquet), Brandon Tautges, Derek Sandberg (Mallory McShane), Claire (Nash) Sanderson, Anna Sandberg, Ryan (Rachel) Arndt, and Ross (Teona) Arndt; a great-grandchild, Barrett; her siblings Jack (Darlene) Valentine, and Judy (Ted) Knapp; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, John Sandberg; and parents, Violet and Gerald Valentine. A small, private family service was held on Jan. 29. An interment and Celebration of Life with her many grandchildren and friends will be held at a later date in Wausau.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to your favorite school or school district foundation.

Joe Scalzo

Joe passed away peacefully on Jan. 30, 2024, after a full and joyous life. He is survived by his wife, Rayma Scalzo, Eric Cavanagh (son), Melissa Lohmann (daughter), and four grandchildren. Joe was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Sept. 22,1940. He received his B.A. from Long Island University and his Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York College of Dentistry. Soon after graduation he was drafted into the Army and served as a Captain at the 95th Evacuation Hospital during the Vietnam War. He was honored to receive the Bronze Star Medal for his meritorious service.

When he returned home, he became a Prison Dentist for the Arizona Department of Corrections and worked his way up to the Director of Maricopa County Correctional Health services. He wasn’t ready for retirement and so he took a job as a Court Expert/Representative for the U.S. District Court in the Perez vs Cate lawsuit in California.

Joe and Rayma were married in 1990 and moved to PebbleCreek in 1995. In PebbleCreek, Joe enjoyed golf, including making golf clubs. After a few years of golf, Joe developed an interest in target shooting. He became a gun collector and was a member of the PebbleCreek Gun Club. He also was a terrific support for Rayma, who founded Kare Bears.

Donations in Joe’s memory can be sent to Kare Bears at 15383 W. Cheery Lynn Road, Goodyear, AZ 85395. Condolences to Rayma and the family may be sent to her at Robson Reserve, 15833 W. Clubhouse Drive, #254, Goodyear, AZ 85395.