Ardeth Ann Abke (Ann) Our mom, Ardeth Ann Abke (Ann) died peacefully and surrounded by family on January 14, 2020 after a long and heroic battle with cancer. Mom was born in Grand Rapids, MI where she attended Mount Mercy Academy. She then attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Saginaw, MI, where she was…
Gary Atkinson Gary Atkinson, formerly of Olathe and Wichita, KS, ended his battle with cancer Dec. 19. He was 66 years old. Gary was born in Oklahoma City on July 4, 1953, to Bill and Dorothy Atkinson, interrupting a family picnic. He is survived by his wife Lynda, mother-in-law Cathy Black, sister-in-law Mary Ann Atkinson,…
Donald Earl Fritsche, Sr Donald Earl Fritsche, Sr. was called home by his Heavenly Father on Nov. 28, 2019 “Thanksgiving Day” at Banner Estrella Hospital in Phoenix, AZ after a brief stay in hospice. Don was born on April 22, 1935 to Earl Fritsche and Emma Fay Fritsche in Orange, CA. In 1953 he graduated…
Kay Acuff Kay Acuff, age 81 of Goodyear died Oct. 22, in Goodyear. She was born Nov. 14, 1937, in LaGrande, OR, the only child born to Tom and Garnet Ruckman. Kay grew up on a farm in the small town of Imbler, OR. Community service came naturally to her, inspired by the examples of…
Joana Cornelia Pietersma Joana Cornelia Pietersma, age 93 of Goodyear, died on Sept. 24, in Litchfield. She was born Aug. 6, 1926, in Medan, Indonesia to Cornelis Johan and Jacomine (Jentink) Derksen. As a Dutch citizen, Joana and her family were imprisoned in Japanese concentration camps in Indonesia during World War II. Though just a teenager,…
Karl Bergstrom Karl G. Bergstrom, of Goodyear, died on Aug. 5. He was born on March 23, 1934, in Boise, ID. Karl served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1954 on submarines and continued to serve in the U.S. Naval Reserve until 1985, achieving the rank of chief petty officer. Tall, confident, and courageous,…
Carolyn Shirley Colton Mrs. Carolyn Shirley Colton, age 83, died on June 8, 2019, in Goodyear, AZ. She was born on April 21, 1936 in San Diego, CA to Carroll and Shirley Chapman. Carolyn was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also belonged to the California Teachers Association and was voted…
Mitchel Irlenborn Mitchel (Mitch) J. Irlenborn, age 77 of Goodyear, AZ passed away May 27, 2019. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. He was born September 18, 1942, in Philadelphia, PA to Gus and Ann Irlenborn. Mitch graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1964. He earned a master’s degree…
Marilynn Louise Smith, age 89 of Goodyear, AZ died April 9, 2019, surrounded by her family and friends. She was born April 13, 1929 in Topeka, KS, the oldest of two daughters to Owen and Alma (Tillmans) Smith. Marilynn grew up in Wichita, KS with a love of baseball and a dream of becoming a…
William Colton William Sprague Colton, age 85 of Goodyear, AZ died March 16, 2019, in Goodyear, AZ. He was born November 28, 1933, in Altadena, CA to William and Ethyl Colton. William served in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Commander. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master’s Degree in…