George J. Calderon

George J. Calderon, 56, died on September 3, 2011 at Froedtert Memorial Hospital, Wauwatosa, WI. George was born on September 3, 1955 in Racine, WI .

He was preceded in death by his father, George Calderon; his mother, Maria Calderon; his brother, Santiago Calderon; and his sister, Mary Jane Calderon.

George will be sadly missed by his Aunt, Paula Castillo; and his cousins and other relatives.

Private services were held with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32, with Deacon Roberto Fuentes officiating.

A very special thank you to Mary Vite for the care she gave George during his illness.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888

Frank Parco

Frank Parco, age 83, passed away Saturday, September 3, 2011, at Wheaton Franciscan All Saints Medical Center. He was born in Racine on June 4, 1928, son of the late Frank and Maria (Nee: Liuzza) Parco.

Frank was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He was employed at Massey – Harris during the '40s and then operated Parco’s Service Station on the corner of West and Spring Streets. From 1958-1973 he worked at Taylor Avenue Furniture and Revere Appliance, retiring from Tomco in 1989. Frank was passionate about gardening, especially growing tomatoes and eggplant. He also enjoyed hunting and was an avid Packer fan. He will be remembered for taking care of his mother in her later years. He will be missed.

Surviving are his brother and sisters-in-law, Paul and Nancy Parco of Racine, Patricia Parco of Tampa, FL; nieces and nephews, Mark (Madeleine) Parco, Victoria (Parco) Anthony, Kevin (Beth) Parco, Lori Minneti Parco, Kerry (Marcia) Parco; great-nieces and great-nephews, Mark Parco, Matthew (Jaclyn) Parco, Natalie and Nicholas Anthony, Natalie and Stephanie Parco, Veronica and Vincent Parco; other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother Louie and nephew Kent.

Private services were held followed by interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32. Memorials to Colorectal Cancer research have been suggested.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine  (262) 634-7888

Pearl Beggs

Mrs. Pearl (nee: Boomsma) Beggs, 97, passed away on Friday, September 2, 2011, at Lakeshore Manor.

Pearl was born in Michigan to Charles and Rose (nee: Smelt) Boomsma on April 17, 1914. In Racine, she was united in marriage to Lawrence O. Beggs on June 8, 1940.

Mrs. Beggs had been employed as a manager at Research Weld Inc. until her retirement. She was also a member of Racine Bible Church.

Pearl will be dearly missed by her children, Patricia (James) Erickson, David (Barbara) Beggs, and Jonathan (Kathy) Beggs; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence; and daughter, Judith Beggs.

A visitation in honor of Pearl will be held at Wilson Funeral Home on Thursday, September 8, 2011, from 6 to 8 p.m. Private interment will be held at Graceland Cemetery. Memorials to Racine Bible Church Missions have been suggested.

Wilson Funeral Home
1212 Lathrop Ave., Racine 262-634-3361

Robert L. Petersen

Oak Creek -- Robert Lee Petersen, age 89, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 1, 2011, at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Franklin. He was born in Racine April 10, 1922, son of the late James “Hank” and Susan (Nee: Sommerfeldt) Petersen.

Robert “Bob” graduated from Washington Park High School and served in the U.S. Army during WWII stationed in Utah. On August 25, 1951, in Pulcifer, WI, he was united in marriage to Hertha P. Helmle. Bob started his career at Massey Harris and retired from Massey Ferguson after 42 years of employment. He was a life member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church, a longtime church council member and served as the Superintendent of Sunday School for 40 years. Robert was an avid reader, baseball fan and, above all, enjoyed time spent with his family. He will be dearly missed.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Hertha; three children, Gary L. Petersen of Milwaukee, Susan E. Petersen of Wausau, WI, Ruthann P. (Terry) Liegler of Oak Creek; grandchildren, Heather (Shane) Hupp, Joshua (Tracy) Liegler; great-grandchildren, Chloe, Pierson and Lydia; a brother, Calvin (Lorraine) Petersen of Ashwaubenon, WI; sisters-in-and brothers-in-law, Betty Petersen of Racine, Willard Siewert of Racine, Fred (Joann) Helmle of Little Suamico, WI, Adele Helmle of Racine, Paul Dittman of Ashwaubenon; nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Eugene and Richard; and a sister, Arline Siewert.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 6, 2011, at 11 a.m. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 728 Villa St., with Reverend Aaron J. Dolan officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family Tuesday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until time of service. Private interment will be held at West Lawn Memorial Park. Memorials to First Evangelical Lutheran Church have been suggested.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Robert’s caregivers, especially Oreta, for all their love, compassion and support.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888

Robert M. 'Bob' Johnson

Robert M. Johnson, 90, passed away Thursday, September 1, 2011, at his residence, with his family by his side. He was born in Racine on March 26, 1921, son of the late Edgar and Marie (Nee: Friedrich) Johnson.

Bob proudly served his country as a Staff Sergeant in the US Marines during WWII. On June 24, 1944, he was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Venne. He was self-employed in oil burner service for 20 years and by W.H. Pugh Oil Co. for 20 years until his retirement in 1978. Bob was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Preservation Racine. He was a collector and a local Racine historian. He enjoyed traveling, backpacking and camping, but above all spending time with his family, and was a dedicated caregiver for his wife, Mary Ellen.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Ellen; four children, Cecilia (Ray) Johnson, Catherine (James) Stanek, Edward (Pat Duffy) Johnson, Robert II (Locki) Johnson; nine grandchildren, Ellen (Rob) Busch, Karen (John) Patterson, Brian Johnson, Bradley (Kristi) Johnson, Terese (Mark) Pearson, Anne Johnson, Nicholas Johnson, Catherine Johnson, Michael (Thea) Johnson; five great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Caroline and Emily Busch, Aidan and Morgan Patterson; sister, Jean Ketarkus; sister-in-law, Margaret Johnson; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to his parents, he also was preceded in death by his brother, Daniel; and his brother-in-law, Joseph Ketarkus.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, September 9 , 2011, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1533 Erie St., with Rev. Ronald O. Crewe and Rev. Thomas Venne concelebrating. Relatives and friends are welcome to join the family in a celebration of his life at the visitation Thursday, September 8, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the funeral home and on Friday from 10:30 until time of Mass at the church. Private interment will be held at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, town of Dover. Memorials to Lincoln Lutheran Community Services, or to the Racine Heritage Museum have been suggested by the family.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to those who provided excellent care and the visitors whose company Bob enjoyed so much.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine   (262) 634-7888

Irene Hetland

Mrs. Irene (nee: Thrasher) Hetland, 86, passed away on Thursday, September 1, 2011, at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-All Saints.

Irene was born in Stambaugh, MI, to the late Virgil and Ersle (nee: Powell) Thrasher on June 28, 1925, and moved to Racine with her family when she was a teenager. She was united in marriage to Donald Hetland on July 5, 1947.

Irene was employed in the shipping department of In-Sink-Erator for 24 years until her retirement in 1988. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, who loved her family most of all. She also enjoyed reading and collecting clowns.

Irene will be dearly missed by Don, her husband of 64 years; five children, Joan Brenner, Dax Hetland and Mark Hetland, all of Racine, Steve (Erica) Hetland of Sarona, and Dawn Hetland of Jacksonville Fla.; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother, Obed Thrasher; sister, Lois Sutton; and grandson, Christopher Brenner.

A visitation in honor of Irene will be held at Wilson Funeral Home on Saturday, September 10, 2011, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Private interment will be held at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery at a later date.

Wilson Funeral Home
1212 Lathrop Ave., Racine 262-634-3361

Frank C. Van Thiel, Jr.

Frank C. Van Thiel, Jr., age 94, passed away gracefully Thursday, September 1, 2011, at Wheaton Franciscan–All Saints Medical Center. Frank was born in Libertyville, IL, on August 17, 1917, son of the late Frank C. Van Thiel, Sr. and Sarah J. (nee: Martin) Van Thiel.

Frank was a proud veteran of World War II, having served as sergeant in the United States Army with the 10th Mountain Division, Battery A, 604th Field Artillery. He was wounded in Torbole, Italy, on April 30, 1945, just two days before the war’s end in Italy. He was decorated with the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

On December 16, 1950, at Berwyn, IL, he was united in marriage to Juanita M. Perry, who preceded him in death on October 2, 2001, after 50 years of marriage. The couple originally resided briefly in Kenosha, where Frank was raised, but made Racine their permanent home in 1951.

Frank was employed for 50 years as an agent of the New York Life Insurance Co., retiring in 2005 at age 88. He served his clients with integrity and honesty and always put helping others ahead of making a sale. Prior to his insurance career, he was a journeyman machinist, a police officer, and sold advertising, tavern and restaurant supplies, window glass and storefronts, among other things. He joined his family in starting Van’s Gas Service, a propane business still operating in Kenosha, and was co-owner of Olson Window Sales. In his first job with Peter Pirsch & Sons Co., a fire engine manufacturer in Kenosha, he helped to build the world’s first 100-foot all-aluminum aerial extension ladder truck. Frank was a member of the Wednesday Optimist Club, a past board member of the Racine Historical Museum, past president of the Racine-Kenosha Association of Life Underwriters, and former chairman of the Heart Fund. He loved people — most of all his family — and he loved life. He will be deeply missed.

Survivors include his children, Gary W. Van Thiel and Linda G. (Scott) Olsen of Racine, Scott M. (Holly) Van Thiel of Kenosha, and John A. Van Thiel (Karen Dombrowski) of Racine; grandchildren, Steven M. and Michelle L. Therkelsen (David Bruce), Tiffany M. Blatter, Brittany M. Giombetti (Sam Vix); great-granddaughter, Natalie L. Vix; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends -- the countless lives that he’s touched. Frank was the last of five brothers, having been preceded in death by John, Robert, Charles and William Van Thiel.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 9, 2011, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment with full military honors will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet with the family Thursday at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and Friday at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. Memorials to Racine Special Olympics have been suggested.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888