Obituaries for December 7, 2001

Friday, Dec. 7, 2001 | 9:35 a.m.

Helene Marie Branigan

Helene Marie Branigan, 77, of Pahrump died Tuesday in Pahrump. She was born Sept. 20, 1924, in Tennessee. A former Las Vegas resident for 29 years and a resident of Pahrump for 25 years, she was an electronics assembler in the aerospace industry, a member of the Moose for 20 years and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

She is survived by her companion, Billy Branigan; two sons, Michael Thurber and Richard Thurber; two daughters, Beatrice DePierre and Patty Cullison; three sisters, Bernice Durham, Kathleen Douglas and Dorothy Andrade; and five grandchildren.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Kenneth Carpenter

Kenneth Carpenter, 42, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 24, 1959, in Cheyenne, Wyo. A resident for one year, he was a roofer and a Marine Corps veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Jody; two sons, Zachary Carpenter of Grand Junction, Colo., and Nicholas Carpenter of Louisville, Colo.; one daughter, Myrhanda Carpenter of Grand Junction; his mother, Verona Jackson-Carpenter, and two brothers, Mike Carpenter and Clint Carpenter, all of Oxnard, Calif.; and one sister, Roxanna Belle Carpenter of Iowa.

Nevada Funeral Service-Nevada Cremation or Burial Society, 2983 Fremont St., is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to Narcotics Anonymous. World Service Office, P.O. Box 9999, Van Nuys, CA 91489.

Donald James Francis Haberek

Donald James Francis Haberek, 68, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. A resident for 11 years, he was born Feb. 28, 1933, in New London, Conn.

He is survived by his wife, Ruby F.; one son, Donald Haberek Jr.; one stepson, Bruce E. Conner of Austin, Texas; one brother, Walter Haberek of San Diego; one sister, Stella Varela of Waterford, Conn.; and two grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled one hour prior to a 1 p.m. service Saturday in Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave. Burial will be private.

William Andrew Hofer

William Andrew Hofer, 77, of Las Vegas died Nov. 28 in a local hospice. He was born Oct. 12, 1924, in Kansas City, Mo. A resident for seven years, he was a food brokerage salesman and a Navy veteran.

He is survived by one son, Michael Hofer; one sister, Rosemary Smith; and four grandchildren.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Iona D. Hudnell

Iona D. Hudnell, 86, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. She was born Aug. 29, 1915, in Cora, Fla. A resident for 11 years, she was a retired clerk in the communications field, a member of the Telephone Pioneers and a volunteer for the Pregnancy Center and Senior Dimensions.

She is survived by two nieces, Beulah Hutchison of Fairfield, Calif., and Myra Benjamin of Brandon, Fla.; two nephews, John McCullough of Newark, Del., and Willie J. Byrd of Pensacola, Fla.

Visitation was scheduled until 3 p.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Spring Valley Baptist Church, 3135 S. Rainbow Blvd.

Elsie W. Kai

Elsie W. Kai, 72, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local care center. She was born Jan. 27, 1929, in Honolulu. A resident for 13 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by her companion, Henry Kai of Honolulu; three daughters, Clara Makaipo of Makakilo, Hawaii, Colleen Fanning of Nevada and Julie Kai of Denver; one son, William Garcia of Kapolei, Hawaii; 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., is handling arrangements.

Richard K. Klaus

Richard K. Klaus, 54, of Henderson died Monday in a local hospital. He was born July 20, 1947, in Paterson, N.J. A resident for six years, he was a police officer and a Vietnam War Air Force veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Susan; four daughters, Alisha and Kelly, both of Connecticut, Toni Hart of Washington state and Patricia Davis of North Carolina; one son, Rick of Connecticut; his mother, Mary Bascelli of Pennsylvania; two brothers, Ed Klaus of Washington state and Dan Klaus of New York state; two sisters, Gayle Klaus of New York and Lynn Thoreson of California; and six grandchildren.

American Burial and Cremation Services, 310 Foremaster Lane, is handling private arrangements.

Julian C. Leone

Julian C. Leone, 86, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local care center. He was born March 17, 1915, in Des Moines, Iowa. A resident for six years, he was a retired newspaper circulation manager.

He is survived by one son, Jack Leone of Las Vegas; one sister, Esther Anania of Des Moines; and two grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd., is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to El Jen Convalescent Home, 5538 W. Duncan Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130.

Helen Wanda McChesney

Helen Wanda McChesney, 84, of Aurora, Mo., died Wednesday in Aurora. She was born May 14, 1917, in Racine, Wis. A former Las Vegas resident, she was a Las Vegas Hilton employee and a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by two husbands, Roman Roskuszka and Dwight McChestney.

She is survived by two daughters, Charlene Taber and Andrea Gold, both of Aurora; one son, Mike Ross of Spencer, Ohio; one brother, Ted Maciejewski of Sun City, Ariz.; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

No local services are scheduled. Crafton-Cantrell Chapel, Aurora, is handling arrangements.

Eleanor Mimms

Eleanor Mimms, 88, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospital. She was born Nov. 15, 1913, in Ocala, Fla. A resident for 48 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by two daughters, Georgia Conatser of Winslow, Ariz., and Cynthia Fleming of Las Vegas; three sisters, Lois Mimms and Eva Bratcher, both of Gainesville, Fla., and Marguerite Lyles of Ocala, Fla.; one brother, V.E. Knoblock of Ocala; and seven grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled one hour prior to a 2 p.m. service Saturday in Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd.

The family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society, 1325 E. Harmon Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Robert L. Oliver

Robert L. Oliver, 65, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. He was born Nov. 1, 1936, in Las Vegas. A resident for nine years, he was a retired principal teller for city government.

He is survived by one stepdaughter, Sandra Macias of Goleta, Calif.; one sister, Beverly Sullivan of Las Vegas; and two grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to the Nathan Adelson Hospice, 4141 S. Swenson St., Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Oran Garnett Osburn Jr.

Oran Garnett Osburn Jr., 75, of Las Vegas died Nov. 26 in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 3, 1926, in Dallas. A resident for nine years, he was a singer and actor in Broadway productions for 20 years and a World War II veteran who served 2 1/2 years in the South Pacific.

He is survived by one sister, Sybil L. Osburn of Dallas.

Graveside services were scheduled at 8 a.m. today in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave., is handling arrangements.

Frank William Pye

Frank William Pye, 76, of Las Vegas died Nov. 30 in Las Vegas. He was born Sept. 13, 1925, in London. A resident for 11 years, he was a steel draftsman, a member of the Chess Club of Las Vegas and National Institute of Steel Detailing.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela; three sons, Jeff Pye and Brian Pye, both of Las Vegas, and Bobbe Pye of England; and one grandchild.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

John G. Remeta Jr.

John G. Remeta Jr., 87, of Las Vegas died Nov. 30 in a local hospice. He was born March 19, 1914, in Rahway, N.J. A resident for 42 years, he was a casino bartender and a member of the Reno Elks Club.

He is survived by one son, Douglas Remeta, and one daughter, Wendy Remeta, both of Las Vegas; one brother, Emery Remeta of Rahway; four sisters, Arlene Muller of Fanwood, N.J., Marge LeBard and Helen Vedder, both of Fillmore, Calif., Mary Fedak of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Pat Hrevhovic of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; and two grandchildren.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling private services.

Shontell Denise Robinson

Shontell Denise Robinson, 29, of Las Vegas died Nov. 30 in a local hospital. She was born Feb. 27, 1972, in San Diego. A resident for 29 years, she was a certified nursing assistant.

She is survived by one son, Kristopher Robinson, her mother, Debra Robinson, and one brother, Johnathan Robinson, all of Las Vegas; and three sisters, April Davis of San Diego and Ashley Robinson and Christal Robinson, both of Las Vegas.

Services were scheduled at noon today in Garden Memorial Funeral Home, 3600 W. Vegas Drive. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Alfred D. Santoro

Alfred D. Santoro, 57, of Las Vegas died Thursday in a local hospital. He was born Feb. 26, 1944, in Winthrop, Mass. A resident for 13 years, he was a retired printer in the food industry and a Vietnam War Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy A.; and one son, Anthony Santoro of Las Vegas.

Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave., is handling private arrangements.

Bernard Simms

Bernard Simms, 86, of Henderson died Wednesday in a local care center. He was born July 8, 1915, in New York City. A resident for nine months, he was a retired Navy chemical engineer, a member of B'nai B'rith, Masons and Knights of Pythias.

He is survived by two sons, Edward Simms of Henderson and Allan Simms of San Diego; two sisters, Faith Walerstein of Jericho, N.Y., and Helen Stettner of Potomac, Md.; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be noon Sunday in King David Memorial Chapel and Cemetery, 2697 Eldorado Lane.

The family suggests donations to Jewish Family Services, 3909 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 205, Las Vegas, NV 89119.

James J. Stufkosky Sr.

James J. Stufkosky Sr., 77, of Boulder City died Wednesday in Boulder City. He was born Jan. 1, 1924, in St. James, N.Y. A resident for 22 years, he was a retired Air Force major and World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veteran.

He is survived by five daughters, Sheila Sanson of Tempe, Ariz., Deidre Heersema of San Diego, Jody Stufkosky and Ann Stufkosky, both of Henderson, and Lisa Lyons of Lewiston, Idaho; two sons, James Stufkosky Jr. of Riverside, Calif., and John Stufkosky of South Lake Tahoe, Calif.; two sisters, Audrey Aringer of Albuquerque and Sandy Dittman of Baldwinsville, N.Y.; one brother, Arthur Stufkosky of Chula Vista, Calif.; 11 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Visitation is scheduled 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. services Tuesday in Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson.

The family suggests donations to the Nathan Adelson Hospice, 4141 S. Swenson St., Las Vegas, NV 89119.