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Miscellaneous Erie County, New York Obituaries

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CARROLL - Alfred E. Jr., of Tonawanda, formerly of Spring- ville, February 18, 2001. Devoted husband of Lorraine (nee Sharts); father of Nancy Peters, Barbara (Dan) Gauchat, Suanne Carroll and Alfred (Dawn) Carroll III; also survived by 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; brother of Clairose Cutt of California, Dolores Wright of Toledo, and the late William of Niagara Falls. Mr. Carroll was manager of Spring- brook Apartments in Springville from 1985-1997. A memorial service was held Tuesday from St. Paul's Lutheran Church in North Tonawanda.

GIMBRONE - Clara, 71, of Perrysburg, Sunday, February 18, 2001 at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester. Born July 31, 1929 in Buffalo, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Mary (Cirrito) Gimbrone; sister of Grace McDonough of Tonawanda, Mary Wisniewski of Cleveland, Ohio, Gloria Neubert of Elmira, Victoria Merzec of Springville, Rose Bischer of Almond, Nick Gim- brone of Cattaraugus, Edward Gimbrone of Salamanca, Charles Giambrone of Salamanca, and the late Josephine Meyer, Michael Gimbrone, William Gimbrone, Joseph Gimbrone, Charles Gim- brone, and Albert Gimbrone. Funeral service will be held Thursday morning at 11 o'clock from St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Cattaraugus. Father William E. Frankhauser will officiate. Burial will be in Liberty Park Cemetery, Cattaraugus. Arrangements were made by the Hills Funeral Chapel, 55 South Main St., Cattaraugus.

GUNSHER - John G., February 17, 2001, of Springville, after a lengthy illness of emphysema. Husband of Dolores (nee Emer) and the late Jane M. (nee Shields); devoted father of Michael of Reno, Nev., Patricia (Robert) Sanderson, Charles, Timothy (Marie) of Dahlgren, Vir., David, and Penny Sprague of Warren, Ariz., and the late John Gunsher; also survived by nine grandchildren and several nieces and nephews; brother of George and the late Catherine Clay. He was a World War II veteran, having served in Saipan, and was a member of various Western New York veterans' organizations. He was retired from National Fuel Services, and was a former Republican committee member for the town of Concord and a founding member of the Erie County Coon Club. A memorial service will be held Saturday morning, March 10, from St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 591 East Main Street, Springville. The Rev. Gary Schindler will officiate. Burial in Maplewood Cemetery, Springville. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Hospice Foundation. Arrangements made by the Smith-Weismantel Funeral Home, Inc., 271 East Main Street, Springville.

KOZA- John R., February 14, 2001, of Boston. Born June 2, 1913, died peacefully at home with his family with him. Husband of 60 years to Alfreda A. (nee Sendziak); father of Judith (Robert) Feltz, Mary (Keith) Grau and Marjorie Koza; grandfather of Robert R. (Lori) Feltz Jr., Scott Feltz, John (Katie) Feltz, Elizabeth, Katherine and Laura Grau; great-grandfather of Cody Feltz; brother of Theresa Rakoczynski, Edward Koza and the late Anna Dubiel, Anthony Koza and Clara Evans. 
Prayers were said Saturday morning at 9:30 from the Wurtz Funeral Home, 9287 Boston State Road, Boston, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial from St. John the Baptist Church, Boston. Memorials may be made to the St. John the Baptist School Roofing Fund.

ROTH - Richard J., February 16, 2001, of Springville. Beloved husband of Alice I. (nee Heidel); devoted father of Richard, Randy and Robert Roth, Kevin (Bonnie) Carter and Karen (Ronald) Miller; also survived by eight grandchildren, several nieces and nephews; brother of Eileen (Lawrence) Switzer, Marion (Walter) Hackett, and the late Doris Hunt, Gladys Roth, Jean Rettig and Florence McCarthy. A prayer service was held Monday morning at 10 o'clock from the Smith-Weisman- tel Funeral Home, Inc., 271 East Main Street, Springville, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial from St. Aloysius Church, Springville at 10:30. The Rev. John Kwiecien and The Rev. Norbert Orsolitz officiated. Burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery, West Valley.

Richard J. Roth
Dick Roth was born June 14, 1935 in Blasdell. He grew to early adulthood there and worked at Dairy Island on South Park Avenue. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954 and was a member of the military police, serving until 1957.
He met Alice Heidel in October 1957 and were married June 14, 1958.
After one year of marriage, the couple purchased a home on Route 240 in East Concord and began their family. They had three sons, Richard, Randy and Robert. During the years they also became parents of several foster children. Their twins, Kevin and Karen, remained with them, making their family complete.
They remodeled the sunporch of their home and began their first business venture with an ice cream stand, the R&R French Custard, which they operated for about three years.
While employed at South Buffalo Railroad in Lackawanna, the corner of Routes 39 and 240 in Springville became available. They purchased the one acre and built the Cozy Corner. This began as a seasonal ice cream, hamburger and hot dog, french fry business.
As time passed, Dick thought a coffee shop would be successful. After remodeling, Cozy Corners had a counter and dining area inside. Each family member began their work experience there.
In 1990, Dick installed gas pumps and started a convenience store. The couple leased the restaurant and, along with their son Robert, operated the store next door.
In 1970, the Roths purchased an old school bus, painted it red, put bunk beds in it and embarked on a trip to Florida. Each year, Dick took his family to Florida during the Christmas holidays. Snowmo- biling was also a family sport. Dick and his son Rick also took flying lessons, and he also had a great interest in driving demolition cars at Holland Speedway and the Erie County Fair.
Dick and Alice joined the WNYHH Association, owning standard bred horses and racing them at Hamburg and Batavia.
In 1996, Cozy Corner was sold and Dick spent summers working at Darien Lake and winters at Buffalo Ski Club.
He learned he had esophagus cancer in January 2000, and received chemotherapy and radiation treatments at Roswell Park. In June, he was determined to be cancer-free. On Jan. 16 of this year, he suffered a stroke and seizure while visiting in Florida. After being released from the hospital in Florida, they returned home. On Jan. 30, he suffered another seizure and was diagnosed with cancer pressing on his brain.
Discharged under Hospice care, Dick went home, where he passed away Feb. 16.
Survivors include his wife, Alice (nee Heidel); sons Richard, Randy, Robert Roth and Kevin (Bonnie) Carter; and Karen (Ronald) Miller; eight grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Monday morning at 10 o'clock from the Smith-Weismantel Funeral Home, Inc., 271 East Main Street, Springville, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial from St. Aloysius Church, Springville, at 10:30. The Rev. John S. Kwiecien and the Rev. Norbert F. Orsolitz officiated. Burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery, West Valley.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to Bertrand Chaffee Hospital or Hospice Foundation of Buffalo.

GUNSHER- John G., February 17, 2001, of Springville, following a lengthy illness of emphysema. Husband of Dolores (nee Emer) and the late Jane M. (nee Shields) Gunsher; devoted father of Michael of Reno, Nev., Patricia (Robert) Sanderson, Charles, Timothy (Marie) of Dahlgren, Va., David and Penny Sprague of Warren, Ariz., and the late John Gunsher; stepfather of Karen Stanley of Park City, Utah, Nancy Sutter of Stamford, Conn., Andrew (Elisabeth) Hirsch of Bern- hards Bay, NY, and David Hirsch of Chittenango, NY; also survived by nine grandchildren, several nieces and nephews; brother of George and the late Catherine Clay. Mr. Gunsher was a World War II veteran, having served in Saipan and was a member of various Western New York veteran's organizations. He was retired from National Fuel Services and was a former Republican Committee member for the town of Concord, and a founding member of the Erie County Coon Club. Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday morning, March 10, at 11 o'clock from St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 591 East Main Street, Springville. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Hospice Foundation. Arrangements by the Smith-Weismantel Funeral Home, Inc., 271 East Main Street, Springville.

HILL - Harold E., Sr., of Eden, formerly of Springville, February 26, 2001. Husband of the late Margaret "Peggy" (Guise); father of Harold (Carolyn) Jr., Dawn (Robert) Soule, and the late Jacquelyn, Richard and Gary; grandfather of Rachel (Steven) Gibson, Jeffrey Hill, Darrell and Alicia Soule; great-grandfather of three; brother of Helen Kuras, Elsie Baker and the late Frank Hill. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday morning at 10 o'clock from Immaculate Conception Church, Eden. Arrangements were made by the Laing Funeral Home, Inc., 2724 West Church St., Eden. Mr. Hill was a veteran of World War II, a member of Eden Memorial Post 8265 VFW, and the DAV.

BLAIR - Wesley C. "Buzz," March 9, 2001, of Colden. Husband of Doris L. (nee Heichberger) Blair; father of Dale G. (Donna Hoyt), Donna M. (Richard) Hanney; grandfather of five and great-grandfather of four grandchildren. Funeral services were held Monday morning at 11 o'clock from Redeemer Lutheran Church, Colden. Memorials may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church. Arrangements were made by the Wurtz Funeral Home, 9287 Boston State Road, Boston.

BLAKESLEE - Roy, March 5, 2001, of Williamsville. Son of the late Edna F. (nee Williams) and Robert Blakeslee; brother of Robert A. (Linda) Blakeslee Jr. of West Palm Beach, Fla., Lelah (Roy) Earle of Ellicottville, Lucille (Bruce) Koningisor of Cattarau- gus, Bonnie (Ed) Glow of North Collins and Richard (Kathy) Blakeslee of Homestead, Fla. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements were made by the Smith-Weismantel Funeral Home, Inc., 271 East Main Street, Springville.

JAMES - Patricia (nee Kelly), March 12, 2001, of Boston. Wife of Earl M. James; sister of the late Timothy Kelly; aunt of Christopher (Debby) Kelly and Ruth Kelly. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Wurtz Funeral Home, 9287 Boston State Road, Boston, where services will be held Friday morning at 11 o'clock. Memorials may be made to your favorite charity.

WRIGHT - Harrison L. "Roy" of Springville, March 12, 2001. Beloved husband of Lillian G. (nee Glass); devoted father of Judith W. (Thomas) Law, James L. (Sally) Wright, Dr. John "Jack" (Janice) Wright, Jeffrey F. (Susan) Wright and Joni L. (David) Wilson; loving grandfather of 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; brother of Shirley (Miner) Lang and the late Merle J. and William D. Wright. A memorial service will be held Thursday morning at 11 o'clock from the First United Methodist Church, 474 East Main Street, Springville. The Rev. David C. Derk will officiate. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Springville. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund. Arrangements were made by the Smith-Weismantel Funeral Home, Inc., 271 East Main Street, Springville.

Norman Heineman
Private funeral services were held at the convenience of the family for Norman R. Heineman, 95, of Savage Road, Sardinia, who died Sunday, March 11, 2001 at the Gowanda Nursing Home. The Rev. Jeffrey Nowak officiated. Burial was in Sardinia Cemetery. He was a son of the late William and Henrietta (Roth) Heineman.
He married the former Dorothy Neamon on Jan. 18, 1932 in Delevan. She died in 1998.
Mr. Heineman was retired from his dairy farm on Savage Road, and was a past member of the Chaffee-Sardinia Odd Fellows, a past member of the Farm Bureau.
He was the father of Donald (Carol) Heineman of Delevan, Ralph (Donna) Heineman of Chaffee, Danny (Constance) Heineman of Sardinia, Norma (Ronald) Weiser of East Concord, and Betty (Walter) McElheny of Delevan; grandfather of 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; also survived by several nieces and nephews. Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Henry, Harry and Millard Heineman; and sisters Alice Cruver and Lucy Tiffany.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Chaffee-Sardinia Fire Co., the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, or the American Diabetes Association.
Arrangements were made by the W.S. Davis Funeral Home, 358 Main St., Arcade.

Dolores Rodney
Dolores M. Rodney, 71, of Collins, died Sunday, March 11, 2001, at the home of her daughter in Springville, following a brief illness.
She was the daughter of the late John and Mary (Wrobel) Norgiel.
A registered nurse, Mrs. Rodney retired from the former Gowanda Psychiatric Center. Her nursing career at different hospitals in the area included Tri-County Memorial Hospital in Gowanda, the Gowanda Nursing Home, and Sister's Hospital in Buffalo.
She was a member of St. Joseph's RC Church, Gowanda.
Survivors include two sons, John Rodney of Cypress, Texas and Joseph Rodney of Silver Creek; a daughter, Mrs. Michael (Linda) Connors of Springville; a brother, Gerald Norgiel of Lockport; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph Rodney, who died in November, 1995.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Tri-County Memorial Hospital, Gowanda.
Arrangements were made by the Schindler Funeral Home, Gowanda.

Edwin Cook
Edwin J. Cook, 90, a resident of the Gowanda Nursing Home, formerly of Cattaraugus, died Wednesday, March 7, 2001 at the home.
He was born in North Collins, the son of the late George and Rose (Brenner) Cook.
Mr. Cook owned and operated a farm until 1970. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Survivors include a daughter, Betty (William) Schiefer of Cattaraugus; two sons, George (Margaret) Cook of Cattaraugus and Edwin (Mary Ann) Cook of Cattaraugus; a sister, Laura Fieblecorn of South Dayton; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Laura (Wysocki) Cook; and a brother, Herbert Cook.
Arrangements were made by the Mentley Funeral Home, Inc., Gowanda.

AST - John P., March 17, 2001, of Boston. Husband of Lorraine (nee Schick); father of Christopher P. Ast and the late John B. Ast. Funeral services were held Tuesday evening at 8:30 from the Wurtz Funeral Home, Inc., 9287 Boston State Road, Boston. Memorials may be made to Hospice Buffalo. Mr. Ast was a retired member of Armor Volunteer Fire Co. and Exempt Association, and a retired worker from Republic Steel.

McEWAN - Deane M., March 16, 2001, of East Concord. Beloved husband of Mary E. (nee Krueger) McEwan; devoted father of Daryl (Heather), David and Marianne McEwan; brother of Ronald (Kathryn) McEwan. Family and friends are invited to a memorial service Saturday morning, March 24, at 10 o'clock at Michael's Banquet Facility, 4885 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg. The Rev. Gary V. Burdick will officiate. Burial in Fairview Cemetery, town of Concord. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Roswell Park Cancer Institute, PO Box 631, Buffalo, NY 14240; or Faith United Church, 8651 Boston State Road, Boston, NY 14025. Arrangements were made by the Smith-Weismantel Funeral Home, Inc., 271 East Main Street, Springville

Walter E. Farner
Walter E. Farner, 80, of Spring Street, Collins, died Monday, March 19, 2001 at his home.
He was born in Collins on Feb. 6, 1921, the son of the late Egburt and Mildred (Heim) Farner.
Mr. Farner was a lifelong resident of the Collins area, and operated a dairy farm with his father until 1945. He started working for Farner and Parker Dairy and Restaurant in Gowanda in 1945 and worked there until 1979 as a milk delivery person, then became plant manager.
Surviving are two daughters, Marilyn Whitmer of East Otto and Caroline Dolph of Salaman- ca; a foster son, Dell Ball of Collins; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Wesley Farner.
Memorials may be made to the Collins Vol. Fire Department or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements, to be announced at a later date, were made by the Mentley Funeral Home, Inc., Gowanda.

SCHMELZ - Gladys R. Backes (nee Cobb) of Springville, March 13, 2001. Wife of the late Norman F. Schmelz and Norman Paul Backes; mother of Norma G. (late Stanley) Law- rence, June A. (Henry) Bilz, Henry W. (Patricia) Backes and Mary Jane (Thomas) Irish; stepmother of Richard F. (Carol) and David G. (Mary Anne) Schmelz; also survived by 16 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and nine stepgrandchildren; sister of the late Cullen R. Cobb, Russell R. Cobb and Mildred F. Varga. A memorial service was held Monday morning at 11 o'clock from the Smith-Weismantel Funeral Home, Inc., 271 East Main Street, Springville. Pastor Ruth Hetland officiated. Burial in Maplewood Cemetery, Springville. Mrs. Schmelz was a Daughter of the American Revolution and Eastern Star.

HANSON - Kenneth R., 54, of Sedona, Az., formerly of Cat- taraugus, March 13, 2001. Beloved son of Arlene and Harry Hanson of Cattaraugus; father of Jenna and Darby of San Antonio, Texas; brother of Terry Hanson of Valparaiso, Ind. and Sharon Farrington of West Seneca. A memorial service was held at the Chapel in the Hills, Sedona, Ariz.

SWIATKOWSKI- Cecilia A. (nee Praczkajlo), March 26, 2001, following a three-month illness of cancer. Beloved wife of Frederick J.; loving mother of Alexandra (Wayne) Adair of South Carolina, Faith (George) Burgard of Springville, Fred (Gloria) Swiatkowski of Holland, Joseph Swiatkowski (Michele Fricano) of West Valley; grandmother of Antionette (Webber) Dominey and Sabrina Webber of South Carolina, Brandi Burgard, Joshua and Jeremy Swiatkowski, Rachellelea and Carrielyn Founier; great-grandmother of Alexis Rea Dominey of South Carolina. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Aloysius Church, Springville.

WEAVER - Anna E. (nee Grandish), March 27, 2001, of Springville. Wife of the late Bert Weaver; dear friend of Carl Sponholz; sister of Matilda "Tilly" Wittmeyer of Glenwood and Isabell Ahnberg of Paradise, Cal., and the late Geraldine Lazaron; aunt of Ronald G. "Sonny" and Donald "Butch (Sally) Wittmeyer; great-aunt of Wendy R. Wittmeyer. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Springville Volunteer Fire Co., 65 Franklin St., Springville, NY. Mrs. Weaver worked for the Cattaraugus County Dept. of the Aging and was a member of Springville Vol. Fire Dept. Auxiliary and Felton Burns VFW Post Auxiliary. Private interment services will be held at the convenience of the family. Arrangements were made by the Smith-Weismantel Funeral Home, Inc., 271 East Main Street, Springville.


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