Fort Myers News-Press

John "Jack" Griesinger died August 6, 2022. Jack was born in Dayton, Ohio to his parents John and Ruth Griesinger on April 14, 1945. Jack graduated from Beaver Creek High School, class of '63. He graduated from Morehead University in Kentucky with a BA degree in history and then from Nova Southeastern University with a MS in Educational Administration. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam era. Jack was a life long educator. He began teaching history at Cypress Lake High School in the early 70's. He also served as a Dean at Fort Myers High School. He then became an Assistant Principal at LaBelle High School, Principal of the Adult School at LaBelle High School and then...

Glenn Allen Healey age 93, passed away on July 15, 2022, and was born on March 22nd, 1929, to the late Geneva and Albert Healey. Glenn was a very successful businessman with several companies in the railroad industry. He always gave a lot of the credit of his success to the individuals that worked for him. He was also known for his humor and would never let a chance go by to tell a joke or two. Glenn was married twice, the first marriage to Norma Jean. Glenn and Norma Jean had four children: Glenn Victor, Tim, Terry, and Denise. Glenn Victor is married to Cassie, and they have 3 children: Glenn Arthur, Carrie Lynn and Jill Edith. Glenn Arthur is married to Nichole, and they have three...

Harry P. Shewmaker, 85, passed away peacefully on May 13, 2022, at IU Arnett Hospital in Lafayette. Born May 17, 1936, in East Chicago, Indiana, Harry was the son of Harry Paul Shewmaker and Caryl A. (Ready) Shewmaker Brown. He graduated in 1954 from East Chicago Washington High School and in 1958 from DePauw University. On September 7, 1958, Harry married Janice Rae Aldrin. In 1968, he graduated from Chicago Theological Seminary and was ordained as a United Methodist minister. Together, Harry and Jann served many congregations until he retired in 1976 but continued as an interim pastor for many years. In the following years, Harry worked with Area I. He organized the councils in the...

James William Viergutz, 85, of Bonita Springs, FL passed away Monday, May 9, 2022. He was born July 22, 1936 in Cleveland, OH to Walter and Rose Viergutz. Jim was a veteran serving with the U.S. Army and was a member of the Lamb of God Church. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine "Gerry" Viergutz; sons, Christopher Nutting, James W. Viergutz, Jr. and Dwayne Viergutz; daughter, Dawn Johnson; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, JoAnn (Robert) Walker and several loving nieces and nephews. A celebration of Jim's life will be held Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 11:00 at Lamb of God Church, 19691 Cypress View Drive, Ft. Myers, FL 33967. Memorial contributions...

Charlotte Ann Ohmes, 84, a current resident at Calusa Harbor, and formerly a neighbor to many at Tara Woods and Heron's Glen in N. Fort Myers during the past 28 years, passed away unexpectedly on April 28th 2022. The unanticipated timing and sudden loss leaves Roy Ohmes, her adoring & loving husband of nearly eighteen years, as well as children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, siblings and endless friends with a heavy heart. It was Charlottes's wishes that all rejoice when this day came and have the opportunity to gather in celebration of the life she devoted to being of service to God, her devotion to the love of family, kinship, friendship, community and creating the life she...

Ralph B. Darrow, age 94. Passed away on April 10, 2022. He was born January 3, 1928 to the late Bert and Helen Darrow. He worked for 35 years with the A&P Tea Company and was the owner of Darrow Family Foods for 17 years. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Karen L. Thompson. He is survived by his wife, Jewell F. Darrow; son, David R. Darrow (Denise); grandchildren, Julie Davis (Dan), Steve Thompson (Lesa), and Amy Darrow; great-grandchildren, Derek, Katie, and Chelsea Davis, Lauren and Ryan Thompson, Emmanuel and Isabel Lopez. Family and friends will be received Friday, April 22nd from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 547 Canton Rd. Akron, OH...

Dr. Alvin Kaplan, of Fort Myers, Florida, and previously of Sanibel, Florida, and Martinsville, New Jersey, died peacefully at home on April 2, 2022, surrounded by loving family members. He was 92 years old. Alvin, known to friends and family as "Al" and to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as "Poppop" or "Popcorn", was born in Philadelphia on February 18, 1930. The only child of Harry and Dora (Lesack) Kaplan, Jewish immigrants from what is now Ukraine, he grew up understanding that education and family were of the utmost importance. He excelled as a student at Philadelphia's exam-entry Central High School, at Temple University, and at Temple University Medical School. After...

Patricia Kathryn Cyr, 84, a proud resident of Fort Myers since 1994, went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 30, 2022. Pat was born on October 28, 1937 to the late Edward L. and Helen H. Cyr in Orange, New Jersey. She was a loving and caring person who will be greatly missed. Pat is survived by her two sisters, Barbara Bohinsky and husband Joseph, and Kathleen Cyr. In addition, she is survived by her nephew, Brian Bohinsky and wife Melinda and nieces Erin Martin and husband Wyatt, and Alina Arnheim. She was a great aunt to Jonathan Bohinsky and wife Tessa, Amy Bohinsky, Julie Bohinsky, and Megan Martin. She is also survived by numerous loving cousins and friends. A Mass of...

Donald Jean Hanson, 89, of North Fort Myers, passed away Saturday, March 26, 2022. He was born February 23, 1933, in Wausa, Nebraska. He served in the United States Marine Corp. in the early 1950s. After an honorable discharge he returned to California and began working various construction jobs that eventually led him to Florida. He married and had four children. He worked with Florida Rock Industries, had a dump truck and clearing business, and drove a school bus, in Lee County, Florida, before eventually retiring. He enjoyed pool, softball, golf, and maintaining his 30-acre cattle ranch in North Fort Myers. He is survived by his beautiful wife, Trula M. Hanson; his four children, Donald...

Kay Dellabella of Ft. Myers, FL, age 69, passed from this life to the next on March 16, 2022. Kay touched the lives of so many through her roles as mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, daughter, friend, educator, artist, and activist. She taught elementary art at Canterbury School in Ft. Myers, Florida. Although born in Wisconsin, Kay considered herself a "beach kid" and grew up on Ft. Myers Beach. Kay was passionate about life and making the world a better place. She is probably making friends in heaven talking about a new biography she read or chatting with Janis Joplin. She is survived by her daughters Jana and Andrea Bailey, her grandson Edwin Cox, her mother Carol Dellabella, and her...

Frances R. Thornton, 87, of Ft Myers, FL, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2022. She was born on September 11, 1934 in Gainesville, GA to Lula R. Jackson. Frances dedicated her life to Jehovah God and symbolized it by her baptism on August 8, 1949. She was a member of Terry Park Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. Frances was preceded in death by her mother, Lula R. Jackson; husband of 66 years, Howard Thornton, Sr.; and son, Howard Thornton, Jr. Left behind to cherish her memory are her daughter, Arlene Thornton Moodie (Ramas); grandchildren, Raette Hall (Jason), Mahraina Moodie-Henry (Chris), Christina Mack (Rick), Breiann Moodie, David Smith (Candice), and Michael Thornton;...

Joseph G. Bathon, age 64, of Cape Coral, Florida, formerly of Elkton, Maryland, passed away February 3, 2022, at his Florida home. Born with cerebral palsy in 1957, Joe began a lifetime journey of exceeding expectations and surpassing limitations. Never expected to walk, talk, attend traditional schools, drive, work, or succeed, he accomplished all that and much more with unwavering determination. With the persistence of his parents and advocacy of the Oblate Sisters of St. Frances De Sales, Joe was finally admitted to Immaculate Conception School with his siblings, proving that children with disabilities enhance the education of all, long before the term "mainstream" was in vogue. ...

Brian Edward Laurent Sr., 52, died suddenly at his home in Naples, Florida on Dec. 22, 2021. Brian was born in York, Pennsylvania, moving to Rochester, New York and then to Wakefield, Massachusetts when he was 7. Even as a young boy, he developed a passionate interest in Egyptian mummies and sarcophagus, which became his favorite word. He credits these interests in choosing his future career. From a young age, Brian discovered a love for cooking. The kitchen was his happy place and he shared this with his kids over the years perfecting his chicken marsala and many other favorites. He rescued, raised, and was passionate about his 14 exotic parrots, called his "baby chickens." For seven...

It is with great sadness that the family of John Sidney Williams announces his passing on Tuesday November 30th at the age of 61 years old. John was a loving father, brother, son, friend and servant of God, who will always be remembered by his loved ones for his warm spirit and kind heart. John was born in Ann Arbor, MI, raised in the Mid-west where he graduated from Southern Illinois University before settling in Naples, FL. John was an invaluable asset to RWA Inc. and the Southwest Florida community as a loyal member of the Student Advisory Committees, CBIA, REISS, and much more. We want to remember John for his great contributions to everything he's been involved in. If you knew John,...

Lovgren - Jean Lovgren, age 95, of Lawrenceville, GA, previously of Ft. Myers, FL, passed away on Monday, November 29, 2021. Mrs. Lovgren was an accounting bookkeeper with the Des Planes- Cook County School System in Chicago, Ill and retired to Florida in the 1970's. She was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, Arthur Fredrick Lovgren; son, Donald Hultgren; daughter, Ann Hudson Stevens; sisters, Mae Wagner; Marion Healey; Pearl Moritz; and brother, John Erickson. She is survived by her son & daughter-in-law, Arthur & Dagmar Lovgren, Wilmington, NC; grandchildren, Dr. Arthur & Rachel Lovgren, La Jolla, CA; Michelle Lovgren; Krystal & David Kellner, NC; Douglas &...

Miriam Kaplan, of Fort Myers and previously of Sanibel, Florida, and Martinsville, New Jersey, died peacefully in her home on November 22nd. She was surrounded by loving family members. She was 89 years old. Miriam, known to all as Mickie (and to her beloved grandchildren as Bubbe), was born on July 8, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Max and Rose Kincus. Mickie and older sister Tobie grew up across the street from the Cobbs Creek Park Public Library, where her mother would regularly call and ask for the girls to be sent home if they weren't found outside. Mickie was an avid reader and a lifelong learner. She was curious, open-minded, and reflective. After graduating from Atlantic...

Hunter Collins Leake III of Fort Myers, FL passed away November 12, 2021 at the age of 84. Hunter was born May 8, 1937 in New Orleans, LA to Hunter Collins Leake II and Eleanor Shands Leake. He graduated from The New Orleans Academy (NOA,) Louisiana State University, and LSU School of Medicine. Later he earned a Masters degree in Human Development from the University of Kansas. He married Janet Callanen September 3, 1963 and together they raised two children, Erin and Hunter IV. After serving in the United States Navy as a flight surgeon, he completed his medical residency and joined the faculty of University of Kansas School of Medicine as an assistant professor of pediatrics. After a...

Larry Mennitt, 92, passed away November 8 after a brief illness. He was born in Toledo OH and raised in Detroit MI and Miami FL, where he became fascinated with broadcast radio. Larry learned radio engineering at Miami Technical High School and, due to a shortage of workers during WWII, he was employed at Miami radio stations starting at age 16. Soon after getting married to Faye Stallings in his early 20s, he was hired by Voice of America, part of the State Department's Foreign Service. This was the start of a life-long career stationing him in many different countries, from Greece to Germany to Thailand and more, totaling 20 years of living overseas, plus various stateside assignments,...

Debby Wood Hobe, aged 76, of Atlanta and Fort Myers, died November 5, 2021, surrounded by her loving family. Originally from Wheeling, WV, Debby had a journalism degree from Bethany College. She was a reporter, author and beloved columnist in southwest Florida, under the name Debby Wood, for many years. She is survived by her husband, David Hobe, their two daughters, Beth Chaffins and Andrea Hobe, and their granddaughter, Maggie Chaffins. In addition, she is survived by her mother, Mamie Wood, her sister, Donna Stuek, and her brothers, Chipper Wood and James Brian Wood. She will always be remembered for her witty sense of humor, infectious laughter and engaging smile. Services will be...

David Wayne Caldwell of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away on Sunday, October 31st at the age of 65. Dave was born on April 22nd, 1956 and grew up in Camden, Indiana, graduating from Delphi Community High School. After moving to Fort Myers, he worked in construction across Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva before joining the USPS as a mail carrier in 1995. As he had for the past twenty years, he enjoyed working his mail route through The Vines and Belle Lago communities until the week before his passing. Dave was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth Lee and Sarah Jane Engle Caldwell and his brother Jerry. He is survived by his wife Mary, children Tricia and Kenny (Kelsey), grandson...

Janice LaDonna Meyer, age 71, of Knoxville, Tennessee, went home to be with the Lord on October 21, 2021. Jan, who grew up alongside her sister in the family's Sidney, Ohio hardware store, continued in the "family business" working with equipment and tools at Sidney's Monarch Machine Tool Company and then ultimately retired after 25 years of service as a tool crib tech from Pall Aeropower in Fort Myers, Florida. Jan, and her soulmate of 26 years, Charles "Steve" Idle, settled to the warm temperatures of Cape Coral, Florida in 1988. After retirement and Steve's passing, Jan made Knoxville, Tennessee home in 2015. Jan was an explorer at heart and a lover of all animals. Gardening, trying...