Marjorie E. Bachmann

Marjorie E. Bachmann passed away on Jan. 31, 2012. She was born in Lorain, Okla. Sept. 17, 1920 to George and Rena McGunagle.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph A. Bachmann Jr. She is survived by her sons, Joseph, Thomas and Michael.

She was a member of the Church of the Ascension and the Daughters of Isabella.

She was a 12-year resident of Fountain Hills.

Services will be held in Akron, Ohio.

Donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley – Eckstein Center, 602-530-6900.

Eileen C. Brown

Eileen Christine Brown, 62, of Fountain Hills passed away on Wednesday, Feb 8, 2012 after a long battle with cancer.

Her strength and determination was an inspiration to all those around her from family, friends, caregivers and even those that did not know her as well.

Eileen had worked for Osco/CVS for more than 33 years and only stopped working due to her illness and treatments. It did not, however, stop her from being the kind, caring, loving person she was, even up until her final days.  She was a fighter until the end and will be greatly missed by all.

She is survived by her husband Larry, of Fountain Hills; son, Philip Guza, Plantation, Fla.; Sister Dolorita O/P, Chicago, Ill.; brother, John J. Brown, Chicago, Ill.; sister, Noreen (Jim) Richert, Round Lake Beach, Ill.; and Bailey, her faithful companion throughout her illness.

She is preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Joan Duplex and Patricia Burke.  A memorial service was held on Saturday, Feb. 11, with family and friends paying their last respects and goodbyes at Messinger Fountain Hills Chapel.

Donations or contributions in memory of Eileen should be made to either the American Cancer Society or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014.

Bruce Florence

After creating a lifetime of memories and supporting others, Bruce Florence faded from this life on Feb. 9, 2012.

Born in Denver, Colo. in 1930, he spent his childhood in Iowa and later moved to Michigan in 1957, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education along the way.

Bruce relocated to Fountain Hills in 1983 and retired in 1992 after careers in teaching and administration in public education. He dedicated his life volunteering in his community.

Bruce contributed to the Fountain Hills Art League as an artist, teacher and volunteer. Most notably, he was the founder of the Parkinson’s Support Group and the Caregivers’ Support Group in Fountain Hills.

He was especially proud of creating the fund-raising initiative entitled “Pennies for Parkinson’s.” In 2008, Bruce was named Fountain Hills’ Volunteer of the Year.

He is survived by his wife Lorraine; brother, Earle; sister-in-law Donna; six children; 12 grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held Feb. 12 at St. George Orthodox Church in Phoenix, with funeral services following Monday, also at the church.

 To continue Bruce’s work, in lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations can be made to: Senior Services, Inc. for Fountain Hills Parkinson’s Support Group at P.O. Box 18561, Fountain Hills, AZ 85269. Arrangements entrusted to Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary.

Frank Jakubs

Family and friends lost a wonderful man when Frank Jakubs, 83, died unexpectedly, while sleeping next to Grace (nee Piorkowski), his wife of 55 years, on Feb. 10, 2012, at their Fountain Hills home.

Sharing Grace’s devastation are daughters Bonnie (Mike Perkins), Donna (Dave Rankhorn) and Linda (Bill Wigoda), all of the Chicago area.

Predeceasing Frank were his parents, Stephen and Pauline Jakubowski (nee Urbaniak); cherished sister, Esther Maksym (Edward Sr.); and beloved nephew James Maksym.

Frank leaves to mourn him, his brother-in-law Edward Maksym Sr.; nephew Edward Maksym Jr.; niece Barbara Bulanda (John); nieces-in-law Linda Maksym (James) and Irene Maksym; and step-grandson Andrew Wigoda.

Frank was born Dec. 3, 1928, in Chicago, grew up on the south side of the city, attended St. Joseph Grammar School and Lindblom High School where he excelled in academics and sports. He graduated with a degree in accounting from DePaul University where he was a brother in Phi Kappa Alpha and honed what became a lifelong gift for dominating, lighting up and cutting up a dance floor.

After serving in the Air Force, he married Grace, moved to Lincolnwood, Ill. and later to Lake Forest, Ill., where he resided for 30 years.

He received a master’s degree in business with honors from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. As twice-past commander of American Legion Post 1226 (Lincolnwood), Frank continued his commitment to our country and its servicepeople.

His broad-based business experience encompassed controllership at Lake Forest School of Management, Link America Corporation and Lyon-Healy, Inc., and financial management for Abbott Laboratories and Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra.

As an adjunct professor at Columbia College at Fort Sheridan, Ill., he taught undergraduate students in accounting, finance and tax courses and was singled out by students for his efforts to pull each individual up to his and her academic potential.

After retirement, Frank and Grace relocated to Fountain Hills in 1997 where Frank pursued global travels, volunteer service and outdoor activities with the same enthusiasm that he chased rebounds on the basketball court while in high school.

He served as treasurer of Kiwanis Club of Fountain Hills, Golden Eagle Foundation, Fountain Hills Civic Association and Fountain Hills Community Theater.

For more than a dozen years he channeled his love of music, understanding of the financial needs of musical organizations and his outgoing personality toward raising funds for the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra by volunteering in sales at the Orchestra’s Gift Shop.

He was loved by many and will be missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, and to honor Frank, donations may be made to the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, One North First Street, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85004 or Kiwanis Club of Fountain Hills, P.O. 17831, Fountain Hills, AZ 85269.

A memorial celebration of Frank’s life will be held at a future date. Arrangements were entrusted to Messinger Mortuary, Fountain Hills.

Ruth E. Lesnick

Ruth Ernestine Lesnick, 93, of Fountain Hills, died peacefully at Hospice on Jan. 21, 2012. Ruth had been a resident for 12 years, most recently living at the wonderful Tuscan Manor Assisted Living here in Fountain Hills.

She was born in Detroit, Mich. on Oct. 27, 1918. Her parents, Bernard John and Alma Henrietta Mielke Degen, told her she was born to celebrate the end of WWI.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Lane and Rod Sabourin, also of Fountain Hills; her grandson, Evan Sabourin of Brentwood, Calif.; and her well-loved caretaker, Christine Ramos, who brought sunshine to all of our lives.

Her “grand-cats” include Layla, Roxie, Shannie, Ginger and her beloved, Lily, known for her head and neck massages and her head bumps which produce chiropractic results.

Ruth was a member of the Eastern Star, Alcona Lodge, Michigan and was involved in numerous social clubs over her lifetime.

At golf she sometimes scored close to par for 18 holes and she could whip through a New York Times crossword puzzle even until her nineties.

An outstanding seamstress, she could make her own patterns and sew items that could be worn inside out. She designed her own quilts and knitted cable-knit sweaters to perfection.

Her skills at typing often saved a daughter from turning in late research papers. And those chocolate chip cookies!

Graduating from East Commerce Business High School in Detroit, Mich. at age 16, she worked for her father in his dairy business in Mt. Clemens, Mich. as book-keeper and ice-cream taster. At 13, she learned to drive and received her driver’s license as a reward for being good when having her tonsils taken out the “old fashioned” way.

Ruth met the love of her life at a backyard party in 1937 when someone decided there weren’t enough guys. So, they went over to Selfridge Air Force base in Mt. Clemens and picked up a few soldiers, including one Fred S. Lesnick of Chicago, Ill.

Responsibilities and WWII kept them apart, but when Fred received his discharge papers while in a hospital in the South Pacific, he sneaked out, walked through a jungle and stowed aboard his ship until the ship was far enough out not to return before he reported to sick bay. Nothing was going to keep him from his Ruthie. They were married in April 1945.

They lived in Chino and Upland, Calif. for a while and returned to Michigan to help the family and to raise their daughter, Lane, in St. Clair Shores, where they lived until 1970.

Fred retired and Ruth designed and drew the plan for the “dream cottage” which they had framed in, but finished mostly on their own, at Lost Lake Woods in Lincoln, Mich.

After Fred’s death in 1977, Ruth moved to Livonia, Mich. to be near her daughter, son-in-law and newly-born grandson, Evan.

Her favorite trip was a visit to France to attend a friend’s daughter’s wedding in Normandy. While there she was able to visit a 14th century home where, with determination and a cane, she climbed the ancient spiral stairs at 81 because she said, “I have not come all this way not to see what’s upstairs.” She was part of our lives in everything we did. She loved us unconditionally.

As a high school assignment, her grandson, Evan, interviewed her as his “best friend” concluding she was his “angel.”  He recalled a moment from his past when Gramma was disciplining him. She had told him, “You better be careful, the Big ‘G’ is watching over you.”

Evan asked, “God?”

“No, GRAMMA!”

And we all hope she is watching over all of us now.

Well loved…Well done “Fancy Lady,” my mother, my love, my very best friend.

Ruth was cremated and will be taken to the family gravesite in Mt. Clemens, Mich. in the spring.

Any donations or tributes could be sent to a local no-kill cat center or any humane society and would be very much appreciated.

Mary C. Manfredi

Mary Manfredi, 93, passed away quietly on Feb. 10, 2012 in Fountain Hills. She was born April 10, 1918.

Her loving husband, Frank; granddaughter, Christina; and grandson, Robert, preceded Mary in death and they are now joyfully reunited.

She is survived by her son, Fred Manfredi; daughter, Lucy (Lucile) Morris and son-in-law Michael Morris.

We thank the staff at Fountain View Village Skilled Nursing in Fountain Hills who cared for Mary compassionately and with dignity for over a year as well as the team from Hospice of the Valley who gave unselfishly of their time to ensure Mary’s comfort and allow her to pass peacefully into the arms of the Angels.

Arrangements entrusted to Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary.

Services will be private.

Clarence McConville

Clarence “Mac” McConville, 86, passed away in the early hours of Feb. 8, 2012 in the presence of his loving wife, Gloria; his daughter, Casey, and her husband, Jim Rohe.

Mac was born on Aug. 22, 1925 in LaCrosse, Wis. to Mary and Bernard McConville. After moving around the states of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, they settled in Minneapolis when he was 10. He graduated from De LaSalle High school in 1943.

Mac enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and attended Miami U in Oxford, Ohio, and Columbia where he was commissioned as an ensign. He served on an aircraft carrier in the Far East for 10 months and was stationed in Minneapolis for a brief time before his release to inactive duty at the rank of lieutenant (jg).

In the fall of 1946, he attended the University of Minnesota, obtained his law degree and was admitted to the bar in 1950. While attending the university, Mac worked at Minnesota Title, part-time, as a junior abstracter in 1947.

This was the beginning of a rewarding 45-year career. He was made assistant secretary in 1950, assistant vice president in 1952 and vice president in 1955.

From 1971-1987 he was president of Minnesota Title and was chief executive officer 1972 – 1988.  Mac also served as a senior vice president of Old Republic International Corporation that acquired Minnesota Title in 1978.

Mac's contributions to the title industry are numerous. He was past president of the Minnesota Land Title Association (1961-62) and the National Title Underwriters Association. He was elected president of the American Land Title Association (ALTA) in 1977, and served as ALTA treasurer from 1979 through 1981. 

Mac maintained strong relationships in outside interests such as Toastmasters, Jaycees (local, national and international), and the Minneapolis Aquatennial where he held every office including Skipper and General Festival Chairman.

Mac and his wife, Gloria, moved to Rio Verde in October, 1990. Mac served on the association board for six years (one year as vice president and two years as president).

Mac was the chair of the judicial, government relations and audit committees and chaired the ad hoc committee to acquire tennis courts.

He served on the St. Dominic’s church council for three years and was a member of the Rio Verde Advisory Council for three years.

He was the co-chair of the Rio Verde Christmas project for two years (was ‘Santa’ on the fire truck with his ‘elf’ Gloria) and was vice-chair of the initial Rio Verde Habitat for Humanity Project.

Mac is survived by his loving spouse of 58 years, Gloria (nee Bourbeau); four children: Mary Langdon (Richard Langdon) of Des Moines, Iowa, Casey Rohe (Jim Rohe) of Shakopee, Minn., Tom (Kristin) of Westminster, Md. and Father Jim, St. Paul, Minn.; seven grandchildren; Audra (Eric) Vance, John “JJ” (Annette) Ouverson, Brent Rohe, Yvonne (Dan) Shealy, Chistopher (Rena) McConville, Jeffrey McConville, Trevor McConville; and seven great grandchildren; Shane, Seth, Madison, Rylann, Savanna, Jacob and Tanner. Mac is preceded in death by his parents, Mary “Mayme” (nee Fries) and Bernard; his sister, Leona; and his daughter, Theresa.

A memorial service will be held at the Rio Verde Community Church on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. Following the service a reception will be held at the Rio Verde Country Club. Donations are requested in lieu of flowers to Habitat for Humanity (Rio Verde chapter) or Hospice of the Valley.