Citrus County Chronicle Obituaries

January 05, 2004

Used with permission of the Citrus County Chronicle

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William Brozek, 80 Dunnellon

William Earl Brozek, 80, Dunnellon, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, in Ocala.

He was born in Detroit, Mich. He moved to the area in 1984 from Garden City, Mich.

He was a retired machinist.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

He was a member of VFW Post 7991.

His daughter, Ann Yvonne Brozek, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Fernande Brozek of Dunnellon; five sons, William John Brozek and his wife, Patricia, of Garden City, Mich., Robert Andrew Brozek and his wife, Pamela, of Wayne, Mich., Jack Michael Brozek and his wife, Lynne, of Plymouth, Mich., Patrick Thomas Brozek and his wife, Crystal, of Westland, Mich., and Thomas Earl Brozek and his wife, Deborah, of Garden City, Mich.; four daughters, Marie Elizabeth Wolfe and her husband, Ronald, of Howell, Mich., Carol Lynn Brozek of Garden City, Mich., Jean Leone Winchester of Garden City, Mich., and Suzanne Fern Belrose and her husband, Mark, of Walled Lake, Mich.; sister, Leona Czyrak of Detroit, Mich.; 25 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.

Roberts Funeral Home, Dunnellon.

David Byers, 76 Hernando

David I. Byers, 76, Hernando, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, at his home under the care of his family and Hospice of Citrus County.

He was born Aug. 24, 1927, in Kittery, Maine, to Raymond and Alice Byers, and came here in 2002 from Marathon.

Mr. Byers was a retired lieutenant for the U.S. Navy.

He was preceded in death by his father and brother, Harold Byers.

Survivors include his wife, Lorraine K. Byers of Hernando; mother, Alice Byers of Kittery, Maine; three sons, Stephen Byers and wife, Rhonda, of Bonney Lake, Wash., Bryan Byers and wife, Cindy, of Tacoma, Wash., and Sam Kirby and wife, Lisa, of Sterling Park, Va.; five daughters, Sue Odom and husband, Fred, of Jacksonville, Linda Rhee and husband, Jimmy, of Clarksville, Md., Lorna Kinard and husband, Hollis, of Front Royal, Va., Carrie Kirby of Cocoa and Diana Pollard and husband, Bo, of Holiday; sister, Connie Gallagher and husband, Bob, of York Harbor, Maine; one aunt; and 14 grandchildren.

Heinz Funeral Home and Cremation, Inverness.

Irene Christiansen, 66 Homosassa Springs

Irene Christiansen, 66, Homosassa Springs, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, in Crystal River.

She was born Sept. 10, 1937, in Canada to Eleazer and Ursula Hiscock.

She moved to the area in 1990 from Middlesex, N.J.

She was a homemaker. She also worked seven years for the Key Training Center.

Survivors include her husband of 48 years, Charles W. Christiansen of Homosassa Springs; three sons, Charles Christiansen and his wife, Joyce, of Brooksville, Kenny Christiansen and his wife, Phobe, of Denton, Texas, and Mickey Christiansen of Inverness; two daughters, Tracy Axmann and her husband, Bob, of Somerville, N.J., and Kelley Bellalabia and her husband, Ralph, of Frenchtown, N.J.; sister, Phelena Bailey of Mount Pearle, New Foundland, Canada; and seven grandchildren.

Hooper Funeral Homes, Inverness.

Opal Emberton, 100 Inverness

Opal B. Emberton, 100, Inverness, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at Avante of Inverness.

She was born Oct. 7, 1903, in Portland, Tenn. to Euin and Dora Barnard. She moved to Inverness in 1989 from Portland, Tenn.

She was a retired medical laboratory technician.

She was a member of the McKindry Memorial Methodist Church in Portland, Tenn.

Her husband, Bevlie L. Emberton, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her daughter, Virginia Sudbury of Lake Panasoffkee; a stepgrandson, Steve Sudbury of Gallatin, Tenn.; three great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Heinz Funeral Home, Inverness.

William Ferris Jr., 92 Hernando

William George Ferris Jr., 92, Hernando, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, in Inverness.

He was born May 28, 1912, in Flushing, N.Y., to William and Christina Ferris. He moved to the area in 1986 from Long Island, N.Y.

He worked as a manager for Circle K.

He was Christian.

His sister, Pat Mullen, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Mary "Pelli" Ferris of Hernando; son, William Ferris of Farmingdale, N.Y.; daughter, Linda F. Seidel of Hernando; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Hooper Funeral Homes, Inverness.

John Ficarola, 76 Beverly Hills

John Ficarola, 76, Beverly Hills, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, in Beverly Hills.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Mario and Vita (Billordello) Ficarola. He moved to the area in 1987 from Queens, N.Y.

He retired after 25 years as a sanitation worker for New York City.

He served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of World War II.

He was a former member of VFW Post 4252 in Hernando. He was Catholic and attended Grace Catholic Church in Beverly Hills. He enjoyed dancing.

He was preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters.

Survivors include two daughters, Vita Dwyer and her husband, Tom, of Maspeth, N.Y., and Florence Blumlein of Middle Village, N.Y.; brother, Sam Ficarola of Valley Stream, N.Y.; sister, Anna Ballatore of Beth Page, N.Y.; and two grandchildren.

Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.

Walter Gwilym, 67 Rushville, Ohio

Walter L. Gwilym, 67, Rushville, Ohio, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, in Inverness.

He was born March 6, 1936, in Glouster, Ohio, to Belford and Willo Gwilym.

He was a winter resident of Inverness for the last six years.

He was a member of the Elks, Eagles and Moose of Ohio. He was also president of the Hickory Hills Homeowners Association in Inverness. He was Protestant.

A sister Sally Hudson preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Judith C. Cline Gwilym of Inverness; three sons, Walter L. Gwilym of Columbus, Ohio, Peter Gwilym and his wife, Pam, of New Albany, Ohio, and Michael Gwilym and his wife, Lisa, of Columbus, Ohio; three daughters, Susan Harrington of Columbus, Ohio, Tracy Wise and her husband, Darren, of Toledo, Ohio, and Cynthia Cochran of Rushville, Ohio; two sisters, Patricia Drever and her husband, Ray, of Groveport, Ohio, and Sandra Preston and her husband, James, of Lithopolis, Ohio; nine grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Hooper Funeral Homes, Inverness.

Clara Howton, 66 Crystal River

Clara W. Howton, 66, Crystal River, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, at Citrus Memorial Hospital, Inverness.

She was born June 15, 1937, in Jefferson County, Ala., to Bob M. and Edna Ledbetter Watson. She moved to the area in 1986 from Brookwood, Ala.

She was Baptist.

Survivors include her husband of 47 years, Robert E. Howton of Crystal River; two sons, William J. Howton of Crystal River and James E. Howton and his wife, Connie, of Brooksville; daughter, Robin Howton of Istachatta; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.

Steven Jenders, 79 Homosassa

Steven R. Jenders, 79, Homosassa, died Saturday, Jan.3, 2004, at his home.

He was born Nov. 21, 1924, in Detroit, Mich., to Valentine Felix and Julia M. Pruss Jenders. He moved to the area in 1989 from Romulus, Mich.

He was a member of the Moose Lodge in Michigan. He was also a member of the Eagles Lodge in Michigan and the West Citrus Elks Lodge 2693. He was Catholic.

Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Luella (Kraatz) Jenders of Homosassa; three sons, Stephen Jenders and his wife, Roxanne, of Romulus, Mich., Jerome Jenders of Dearborn, Mich., and Roger Jenders of Miami; daughter, Wilhelmina Hooks of Detroit, Mich.; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.

David Justice, 41 Inverness

David S. Justice, 41, Inverness, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, in Inverness.

He was born Oct. 26, 1961, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Russell and Violet Justice. He moved to Inverness in 2002 from Patrick, S.C.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

He was Presbyterian.

Survivors include his father, Russell Justice of Parma Heights, Ohio; son, David S. Justice Jr. of Hamilton, Ohio; daughter, April Justice of Hamilton, Ohio; two brothers, Gary Justice of Patrick, S.C., and Gregory Justice of Springboro, Ohio; and two sisters, Debbie Stout of Inverness and Donna Conley of Sugar Grove, Ill.

Heinz Funeral Home, Inverness.

Gene Ann Lanni, 78 Inverness

Gene Ann Lanni, 78, Inverness, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, in Inverness.

She was born July 9, 1925, in Olean, N.Y., to Morton and Ruth Piatt and came to the area more than 35 years ago.

She was a licensed practical nurse.

She was Episcopalian.

Her husband, Carl Lanni, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her daughter, Rebecca Kilcrease and her husband, Ronnie, of Sterlington, La.; two grandchildren, Connie and Seth Borden; two great-grandchildren; and two cousins.

Hooper Funeral Homes, Inverness.


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