Connie K. (Cowan) Grebetz

Connie K. Grebetz, age 50, passed away Thursday, December 6, 2012, with her family by her side. Connie was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on November 22, 1962, daughter of Lawrence and Kathleen (Nee: Cuzner) Cowan.

Connie graduated from Walden III High School, class of 1980, where she was know as “Slim” to many. This is where she met the love of her life, and was united in marriage to David M. Grebetz on September 3, 1983. She was employed by Allesee Orthodontic Appliances as an Orthodontic Lab Technician. She was a member of Evangelical United Methodist Church. Always a bundle of energy, Connie loved a nice steak and a good glass of wine. She kept active camping, kayaking, hiking, skiing, snow shoeing, biking, running, gardening, decorating, antiquing and motor cycling, all with her lover and best friend by her side. She will forever be remembered for her radiant smile, stunning blue eyes, and zest for life.  She was a great mother, wife and loyal friend and will be dearly missed.

Survivors include her husband, David;, sons and daughter-in-law, Taylor and Mikki Grebetz, and Maxwell Grebetz; parents, Lawrence (Patricia) Cowan, Kathy Hyatt (Tom Bergmann), brother, Patrick (Kathy) Cowan; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Arthur (Judith) Grebetz; brother-in-law, Kevin Grebetz; nephews, Haydon, Evan and Mason Cowan, Trenton Grebetz; niece, Amanda Trimberger; special friends, Deke and Devon Schwaab, other relatives and many dear friends.  She was preceded in death by her grandparents.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 14, 2012, at Evangelical United Methodist Church, 212 11th St., at 7 p.m. with Rev. Creighton Kaye officiating.  Visitation and time to meet with the family will be held on Friday at the church from 4 p.m. until the time of the service.  An Irish Wake celebrating Connie’s life will immediately follow.  Memorials to Evangelical United Methodist Church or River Bend Nature Center, 3600 North Green Bay Road, Racine WI 53404 have been suggested by the family.

A very special thank you to Dr. Ben George and the entire staff at Froedert Memorial Hospital.

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

David Joseph Olley

David Joseph Olley, age 71, passed away on December 6, 2012, at Lakeland Regional Hospital, Lakeland, Florida. David was born in Racine WI, on June 11, 1941, son of the late George Walter and Alvina Catherine (nee: Meyer) Olley.

On October 21, 1941, he was united in marriage to Gail Hansen at St. Patrick’s Church.

David is survived by his loving wife, Gail; his two sisters, Sister Michelle and Sister Betty Olley, of Racine; brother, Francis (Doc) of Franksville; sister-in-law Gladys Olley of Franksville; brother-in-law, Jeffery Hansen of Racine. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two brothers, Rev. Edmund and Donald Olley; and two sisters-in-law, JoAnn and Nancy. Recently his brother, Raymond Olley, passed away on May 12, 2013.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church 1100 Erie St., on Saturday, June 8, 2013, at 11 a.m. Private internment will be held at Calvary Cemetery at a later date. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the church Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials to family, Health Care Network or St. Catherine’s High School have been suggested.

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

Craig Griffith

Craig L. Griffith, age 79, passed away Thursday, December 6, 2012, at Froedtert Memorial Hospital. He was born in Racine on March 1, 1933, son of the late Winfield and Alice (Née: Kappel) Griffith.

Craig graduated from Washington Park High School "Class of 1951." On November 7, 1959, he was united in marriage to Mary L. Presta, who preceded him in death on April 22, 2010.

Craig was employed by J.I. Case Co for 20 years, retiring in 1992. He previously was employed with Gorton Machine Co. In his spare time, Craig enjoyed golfing. He will be dearly missed.

Surviving are his children, Thomas Griffith of Madison, Gerald (Teresa) Griffith of Lancaster, OH, Louis (Brenda) Griffith of Racine; eight grandchildren; sisters, Nanjean (Harold) Beck of NC, Doris Mae Zimmerman of Racine, Suzette (Daniel) Cabush of Racine; brother-in-law, Eugene Presta of Racine; other relatives and dear friends.

Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at noon with Rev. John Fleming officiating. Entombment will be held at Holy Cross Mausoleum, Hwy 32. Relatives and friends may meet with the family Wednesday from 10 a.m until time of service.

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

Gunter E. Kramer

Gunter Erick Kramer, age 83, passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2012, at Wheaton Franciscan All Saints Medical Center.  He was born in Schweidnitz, Germany, on August 3, 1929, son of the late Wilhelm and Martha (Nee: Hiecel) Kramer.

Gunter immigrated to the United States in 1955, to Florida and then to Racine.  On August 10, 1974, he was united in marriage to Maria H. Kröschel.  Gunter was employed by Hartman Hydraulics for many years, retiring in 1991 from Rexford Corp.  He also worked at Quad Machine Co. for a number of years and enjoyed fishing.  Gunter was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who will be dearly missed.

Surviving are his loving wife of 38 years, Maria; his sons, Peter (Jackie) Kramer of Indianapolis, IN, George Kramer of Stanley, WI; five grandchildren, Paul (Julie) Kramer, Eric and Kari Kramer, Tabitha Scruggs, Katelyn Christensen; great-grandchildren, Justin and Christian Kramer; brother, Rudolph Kramer of Germany; special friend, Sally Hudec and son, Dennis; other relatives and dear friends.

Private services with entombment will be held at Holy Cross Mausoleum, Hwy 32.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Sally Hudec for her loving and compassionate care.

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

R.J. Monroe

R. J. Monroe “Russell Joel Turner,” age 15, passed away Tuesday, December 4, 2012.  R.J. was born in Alpharetta, Georgia, on February 23, 1997, son of Jeana (Nee:  Turner) Monroe and Anthony Dupee.

R.J. attended Trevor Grade School, Badger High School, Lake Geneva, and was currently attending William Horlick High School.  In his spare time he loved playing video games, basketball and watching sports, especially the Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers.  He will be best remembered as a great kid with an abundance of love for everyone and who everyone loved abundantly.  He will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his parents, Jeana (Scott) Monroe of Racine, Anthony (Angie) Dupee of Lake Geneva; brother and sisters, Nathan, Cheyenne, Lex, Ashley and Max; his grandparents, Richard Turner, Joy Dupee, Mark and Lynn Monroe; great-grandparents, Norbert and Bev Landreman, Ruth and Richard Mondrzejewski; aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and dear friends.  He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Barbara Turner.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 7, 2012, at noon at the funeral home.  Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32.  Relatives and friends may meet with family Friday at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until time of service at noon.  Memorials to the family have been suggested.

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

Florence 'Mickey' E. (Schorle) Grey

Florence E. Grey, “Mickey,” age 89, passed away Monday, Dec 3, 2012, at Wheaton Franciscan All Saints Medical Center.  She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 28, 1923, the first of  three children of the late Albert and Gladys (Nee: Conrad) Schorle.

As a young girl, her father’s job brought the family to Toronto, Canada.  Mickey took an early interest in music and learned to play the trumpet.    In 1948 she toured with Virgil Whyte’s All Girl Band.  Later she settled down in Washington, D.C., and worked for the U.S. Department of the Treasury.  During this time she also taught herself the bass and played and sang in a girls trio.   After three years she returned home to Toronto. Saxophonist Norbert Gosieski knew Mickey back in 1947 while she was working at a Racine factory office.  When he was discharged as a U.S. Army Bandsman in 1953 he called Toronto and asked her to join his quartet to tour professionally.

On August 6, 1955, in Traverse City, MI, they were united in marriage.  Mickey and Norby played with their quartet for many years while at the same time running the family business, Gosieski Music, from 1956 until their retirement in 1999.  Mickey was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who will be dearly missed.

Surviving are her husband of 57 years, Norby; her daughter, Noreen (Nate) Lienhard of Wayne, NJ; granddaughter, Karlyn  Lienhard;  brothers, Albert (Jean) Schorle, Donald Schorle of Canada; other relatives and dear friends.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Mike; sister-in-law, Trudy Whyte; brothers-in-law, George Gosieski and Chester Goss.

Private services will be held.

Being an avid Mickey Rooney fan as a child, she adopted the nickname “Mickey,” which stuck for the rest of her life.

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

Mary Ann (Nelson) Caffery

Mary Ann Caffery, age 79, passed away at Wheaton Franciscan Hospital on Sunday, December 2, 2012. She was born in Rock Island, IL, on January 5, 1933. She was the daughter of the late Konrad and Margaret (Schroeder) Nelson.

Mary Ann was a graduate of Rock Island High School “Class of 1951.”  She was united in marriage to Richard T. Caffery on April 18, 2009, in Racine, WI, and was previously married to Adrian Beaudry, who passed away in 2000. She was a former member, board member and volunteer for over thirty-five years at Trinity Medical Center, formerly Franciscan Hospital, and St. Anthony’s Hospital of Rock Island. In her spare time she was an avid walker. Above all she treasured her time with family and friends.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Caffery of Racine; her son, Eric Beaudry of Rock Island; her daughter, Dee Dee (Mike) Doeckel of Woodstock, GA; her grandchildren, Dan Beaudry, Kaitlin and Landon Doeckel and Jennifer (John) Haig; three great-grandchildren, Arista, Aislyn and Cullen Haig; sister, Donnie (Ed) Cwynar of Rockford, IL, and two stepsons, Brandon (and daughter, Lindsey) and Brian Beaudry; nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. In addition to her parents and first husband she was preceded in death by her daughter, Sheree Woodburn, who passed away in 1995; and sister, Sonya Caffery in 2007.

Funeral services will be held at the Wheelan-Pressley Funeral Home, 3030 7th Ave., in Rock Island, IL, on Thursday, December 6, 2012, at 1 p.m. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the funeral home on Thursday from 11 a.m. until time of service at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Rock Island Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Friends of Trinity, 2170 17th St., Rock Island, IL 61201.

A private celebration of life will be held in Racine at a later date.

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