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At random: "Of all the branches of men in the forces there is none which shows more devotion and faces grimmer perils than the submariners." Sir Winston Churchill

FridayObits and some catchups Moderators: Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]
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Pig

Posted 2017-09-15 3:29 PM (#85078)

Plankowner

Posts: 5024

Location: Gulfport, MS

Subject: FridayObits and some catchups

KONOPKA, Peter Walter, 61, of Plowville, passed away August 30, 2017. He was married to Elizabeth (Pierie) Konopka for over 29 years, with whom he had 3 children, Anastasia, Maxine and Seth (predeceased). Pete was born in Englewood, N.J. to parents Genevieve (Gasiorowski) and Walter Konopka. He is survived by siblings John and Dorothy. Peter enlisted in the Navy as a submariner and traveled the world. Later he received a B.S. from Fairleigh Dickinson University and went to work as an Executive Housekeeper in New York Hotels where he met his wife. After relocating to Pennsylvania, Pete was the owner and operator of Konopka's Cleaning for 25 years. Pete loved Disney and Cape May and took many trips with his family there. He loved the sea where he will be laid to rest. Published in Reading Eagle on Sept. 1, 2017

McFARLANE, Alan Garland, passed away quietly in his sleep on September 6, 2017. Mick was born March 20, 1926 in Garfield, Utah to Abner Winfield McFarlane and Margaret Garland McFarlane. Immediately after graduation from Cyprus High School in 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the Ex-U-858, a captured German U-boat. He was extremely proud of his Navy service and regaled his children and grandchildren with his adventures in the Submarine Service. One of the highlights of his Navy career was being present in Tokyo Bay to witness the signing of the surrender of the Japanese Forces to the US Forces. He married his soulmate Alice DiPietro at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in Murray, Utah on May 28, 1951. She predeceased him in 2013. Together they led quiet lives that warmly touched people wherever they went. Mick loved trucks, history and working with his hands; his workshop was legendary. As an active member of St. Vincent's Parish, he served as head usher and past president of the Vincentinos Club. Thanks to the staff and his friends at Cottonwood Place for making his last years so enjoyable. He is survived by his daughter Michele, son Gregory (Rhio Ahlin), and daughter Alison; the grandchildren he loved and inspired, Alexa and Elle McFarlane and Zan and Wyn Barnett; and his brother Robert L. McFarlane. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, 1375 Spring Lane, Murray, Utah at 11:00 am Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017 (visitation at 10:00 am) Holy Rosary at St. Vincent's on Monday, Sept. 18 at 7:00 pm (visitation at 6:00 pm) In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Monastery, 5714 Holladay Blvd., Holladay Utah. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com Published in Deseret News from Sept. 15 to Sept. 16, 2017

OLSON, Vernon Vernon, MMC(SS), USN, Ret., 73, passed away on August 31, 2017 in St Cloud, Minnesota. He was born October 28, 1943, and raised on the family farm in Becker, Minnesota. Even though he had farm blood in his veins, he joined the United States Navy. He served his country for 20 years and retired at 39 years old. He was machinist mate chief petty officer Olson. He attended several schools, becoming a welder and nuclear trained. While in San Diego he met Joy Sides, who asked to drive his 1965 Corvette Stingray. They got married and drove that “vette” all the way to Groton, CT where he attended submarine school attaining the highest score in his class, the 2nd highest score in the history of the school. After graduation from sub school, he was assigned to the USS Henry L Stinson, a nuclear-powered sub where he stood “watches” on the nuclear plant. After coming back from the North Atlantic and being underwater for 2 months, his wife felt that being underwater that long wasn’t healthy?? –he sold the little green convertible corvette to buy a horse! He was proud of his very 1st Arabian stallion! The next duty station was the USS Bluefish in Virginia where son, Matthew, was born in 1971 in the oldest Navy hospital in the US. He bought a few acres in Chesapeake, VA. Virginia wasn’t to be home for long as he was sent to Portsmonth, NH for ship repairs. While there, he bought his 2nd Arabian, a beautiful mare, who he trained for show and won ribbons with. His 3rd duty station was aboard the USS Kamehameha. Vern was gone 6 months out of the year, 3 months at a time and spending as much as 60 days underwater. (Submariners are rightly called “bubble heads”) Vern was an unusual submariner, pulling into his duty station with a pickup truck and behind it a trailer full of horses! He became a Chief Petty officer who drank 30 cups of coffee a day! After so many years of sea duty, he became eligible for shore duty, so he became a Navy recruiter out of Portland, Oregon-his desk was in Pendleton, Oregon. The family bought a “ranch” in Hermiston, Oregon where daughter, Rachel, was born in 1974. Vern built a sturdy barn to house his growing horse herd. He trained his 2nd stallion to “drive” and to pull a 2-wheeled jog cart, giving the kids rides around the field of hay he grew. He was so proud of Roland Sands, the 2nd stallion he “drove” at the Pendleton Rodeo and Round Up parade. That horse was so well trained that it qualified for the US Arabian Horse Nationals. In between raising kids, hay, reading Louis L’amour novels, training horses, he did some recruiting for the Navy, traveling to many towns to tell young men and women how great Navy life could be. Three years was his limit on shore duty. The Navy moved the family back to CT, where he bought a 100 year old house and boarding stable in Mystic, CT. After getting settled in there, he once again moved to Oregon transferring from submarines to surface craft on the USS Lange. In 1978, the family transferred to San Diego and settled in Spring Valley. Again, he had horses in the back yard and Rachel had a pony named Minnesota. Vern wasn’t one to sit around after retirement; he drove trucks and hauled horses around the country. Eventually he bought a string of ponies to give rides at Birthday parties, churches, Royal Family Kids Camp, pumpkin patches, and where ever else he could make money. He said this was the best job he ever had and he affectionately because known as “Vern the pony man”. His 2 kids, Matthew and Rachel, made a ton of money giving pony rides which funded their college tuition. Even when he resided in Arizona, Vern loved spending summers in Minnesota, fishing with his family and attending Family Reunions every Memorial Day weekend at Thunder Lake Lodge while fishing Big Rice lake. He loved all the potlucks, garage sales, and auctions too. Vern loved Jesus, Bible studies, and church - rarely missing a Sunday or Wednesday night service. Vern loved his family-he brought ponies to the grand kid's birthday parties, making a back yard swing and bringing them stuffed animals. Noah loves his little stuffed puppy from “Papa Horse”. He lived a busy, full life, always on the go, always thinking of ways to make extra money! Vern has been to the depths of the sea, but is now at his final duty station beyond the clouds in heaven with his Savior, Jesus Christ. Vern is survived by his children, Matthew (Joy) and Rachel; grandchildren, Titus, Piper, and Noah; siblings, Donna, Paul, Jerry, Jon, Randy, Donovan, and Joyce; other family and friends. Memorial service at 11:00AM, Saturday, September 23, 2017 at Bridgeview Assembly of God Church (763-263-6274), 20500 County Road 11, Big Lake, Minnesota 55309.

WASER, Dale, of Bedford, died Saturday, July 29, 2017. Dale served 6 years as a submariner on the USS John C. Calhoun, nuclear class. He earned a BS in Sociology at Iowa State, a Masters of Divinity at Brite Divinity School of TCU, and served as a pastor in the United Methodist Church for 30 years. He was a patient, gentle and compassionate person, friend to so many, the best of fathers and loving husband and partner in ministry. Survivors include wife, Patti; daughter, Katie and husband, Chris Smith; grandson, Lucas of Houston; mother, Katheryn Waser; sister, Linda Trimble; brother, Carroll Waser of Indianola, Iowa. Published in Star-Telegram on Sept. 1, 2017

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