Richard was the youngest of 6 children (one girl and five boys) born to Harry and Ruth Nelson. He grew up in the small town of Forest City, Iowa and attended Waldorf and Luther colleges where he majored in biology and minored in religion and art.



After college, he was drafted into the Army and did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was assigned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. where he began his scientific career, focusing on the effects of radiation. He met his wife Nancy at a young people’s church group while he was still in the Army and she was a student nurse. They married in the summer of 1967 and enjoyed exploring our Nation’s Capital, as well as traveling with their pop-up camper. They bought their first home in Rockville, MD and had a daughter, Jennifer, in 1974.



Once his military obligations were fulfilled, he embarked on chromosome research at the National Children’s Hospital in Washington, DC on a March of Dimes grant. For the next ten years, he worked at National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland where he co-authored many scientific papers on potential carcinogens, the effects of certain chemicals on chromosomes (ie, Benzapyrene) and the potential therapeutic use of Methotrexate in the treatment of cancer. He also presented his work several times at the American Tissue Culture Association meetings.

The appeal of the Midwest drew Richard and Nancy to Minnesota, where their son Matthew was born in 1978. Dick continued to pursue his research at the University of Minnesota. He authored many papers and presented at the Mutation Research National Meetings on topics including chemical, environmental, and pesticide hazards. His free time was spent as a renaissance man: nurturing a B/W photography hobby, making pizzas and soups from scratch, gardening, and working on DIY home projects. He also liked to spend time boating, fishing and riding his bike at the family lake cabin in northwest Wisconsin - one blustery winter, he even attempted ice fishing! 


Having endured many long and cold Minnesota winters, he jumped at the chance to retire to Florida in 2010, and quickly adapted to the warm and sunny climate. There he rekindled his early love of art and took up painting vivid watercolors - many featuring his favorite subject, lighthouses. Most afternoons you could find him in his “artist’s studio” listening to big band or jazz music and searching Google images for artistic inspiration. Some of his favorite Florida travels were to the Ringling and Dali art museums, and two memorable trips to St. Augustine – where he once climbed all 216 steps to the top of the lighthouse! He also enjoyed taking walks along the ocean, often collecting seashells along the way. 



Dick had a great sense of humor and especially liked telling the Scandinavian Sven, Ole and Lena jokes. He loved to sit down and chat with family and friends over a cup of coffee and a sweet pastry. Besides his love of family and art, he always had a lifelong curiosity for the study of nature and history. 



He was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer in January 2013 and received treatment at the University of Florida in Gainesville as part of a clinical trial. He was in remission for the last seven months of 2014 before passing away peacefully at home on the evening of February 5th, 2015 surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife Nancy, daughter Jennifer (Matt Keating), son Matthew, and a granddaughter that is due in early March.



Although he will be deeply missed, he left us with many wonderful memories and amusing stories to share. His spirit will live on in our hearts and minds forever. We welcome you to pay tribute to Dick by sharing your favorite memories and/or photos of him.



In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his honor to your favorite charity or:

Hospice of Citrus and the Nature Coast: hospiceofcitrus.org/

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: pancan.org/ 

Fisher House: fisherhouse.org/

Linda Marie (Schumacher) Meek, 68, of Redding, California, passed away suddenly on January 5, 2015, at Mercy Hospital in Redding.

If my Daddy could be described in a few words, some of those would be; Courageous. Giving. Loving. Gentle. Kind. He was a loving, hands on father. A loving and devoted husband. A loving and proud Grandfather

Husband Extraordinaire, loving step dad, brother, friend, world traveler, and engineer with an optimistic, courageous fighting spirit, His body finally surrendered to a long, hard battle with cancer on January 30th, 2015, but his spirit lives on. My beloved husband went to his eternal resting place where he suffers no more. He fought with everything he had in him. While he suffered greatly and spent a lot of time in pain, he always put on a good face and never wanted people to see him as the sick guy with cancer. He never wanted people to feel uncomfortable around him or feel sorry for him…he always thought about children fighting cancer, and because of that, he never complained. He fought his battle with dignity and grace, and lived his life to the fullest.

He retired from Lockheed Martin (Orlando Division) in 2010 as an Aerospace Engineer where he enjoyed his career for over 30 years. He was born and raised in Meriden, CT and lived a wonderful boyhood life there. Rob was raised Catholic, attended Catholic school, and served as an alter boy for several years. Even though he wasn’t a big fan of organized religion, he reconciled his own personal relationship to God and was at peace before he passed. He was charitable to several organizations that he truly believed made a difference in people’s lives.

He settled in very quickly to his little beach condo in Clearwater, Fl.. He loved his wife with all of his heart, and his family and friends, loved his beach life, he loved cars, especially his, he loved to fish, swim, dive, kayak, work out at the gym, travel, ski, and sit on the beach with his wife and friends where he spent many wonderful days soaking up the sun and enjoying the wonderfulness of friendships that began there.

For those of us who mourn his loss, he wanted celebrations of his life where friends and family could gather together to celebrate his life and share stories that were unique to him. He always recognized and was grateful that he lived a blessed life. He will always be loved and missed, and he left all of us who knew him with rich, wonderful memories that will last for a lifetime.

Rob is survived by his wife Trish, Adam Long, his stepson, Andrew Schipke, his brother, Rose Schipke, his Aunt, Braden, Melissa, and Ryan Schipke, his niece and nephews, Connie Schipke, his Cousin, and the rest of his family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert N. Schipke and Ethel Schipke.

Gary Lee LaMonica was born in Dover, Ohio to Ross LaMonica and Irma Polilli LaMonica on September 12, 1939. He lived more than 30 years of his life in Northeastern Ohio, graduating from St. Joseph's Catholic High School in Dover where he played football and served as an altar boy. Gary has attended many class reunions and stayed in touch with several people from his graduating class throughout his entire life.

Gary went on to attend college at Kent State University, graduating with Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Experimental Psychology. While still in college, Gary met and married Sandra Faysash. It was not long before they became the parents of twin boys, Gregory Ross and Jeffrey Scott.

Gary was employed for more than 25 years in the defense industry beginning with Goodyear Aerospace which later became Loral Defense Systems and Lockheed Martin. It was this employment with Goodyear that relocated Gary to Arizona in the mid-1970's.

Gary's passion for hunting and the outdoors that began as boy in Ohio expanded over many years in Arizona and became one of the major themes of his Life. Gary was an avid member of the Arizona Varmint Callers Association and later served as president of The Arizona Wildlife Foundation. Many sunny days and starry nights were enjoyed in the beautiful Arizona mountains with good friends and family.

Gary would tell you that the most important event of his life occurred when, as an adult, he found the love of a Savior and committed his life to following Jesus Christ. Much of his energy has since been spent in the service of his Lord: caring for people, working in various capacities in the church and proclaiming God's message of salvation. After retirement, Gary was led to a missionary calling and spent several years working overseas. It was while attending a conference in Hungary that Gary met and fell in love with Nataliya Bannikova. Although her home was in the Ukraine, Nataliya agreed to become his wife and accompany him on an adventure that would take them to Spain, Morocco, Sicily and eventually back to Arizona where they have built a happy life together in the United States. Together they attended Calvary Church of the Valley in Paradise Valley, where they have many good friends and frequent fellowship.

Gary is survived by his wife Nataliya Bannikova and her grandson Yan who has lived with them. Gary's son Greg and his wife Peggi live in Ahwatukee and their three children are Lauren Anderson, Aaron LaMonica-Weier, and Jeremy LaMonica. Gary's son Jeff lives in Alexander City, Alabama with his wife Natalie and his step-sons son Jarrod and JT. Gary sister Rebecca lives in Tucson, Arizona and his brother Lew Gerrick is still in Ohio with his wife Victoria and other extended family members.

My beloved sister passed away in July 2014. She had breast cancer and didn't manage to win against that enemy inside her body. She left 2 smart kids and they will always remind me about her.I always wish my sis was still here with me enjoying life. She was just 32.
I am going to miss you, Olechka, so much but you will always have a big place in my heart.
love you forever,
your little sis Valya.

KEVIN JOSEPH ZIENTEK

Kevin Joseph Zientek was born on April 2, 1993 and passed away January 22, 2015.
He had an exuberant smile, captivating eyes and a very kind soul.
He knew no stranger and was a loyal friend. He was a free spirit.
He was a loving son, brother, nephew and grandson. He was proceeded in death
by his Great Grandfather: James R. Gailey and Grandfather: Edward M. Zientek
and younger sibling. Survived by his mothers: Kristi Prickett and Barbara Zientek,
Joseph Graham and Ed Zientek. Stepfather: Jeremy Bayer,
Brothers: Chris, Shawn and Collin, Sisters: Alyssa, Abigail, Alexis and Alivia.
Great Grandmother: Theresa Gailey, Grandparents: Philip and Susan Smith,
Debbie Gross, Tim Graham, Lonnie and Suze Gray, Todd and Sonya Peters,
Aunt: Ashley (Adam) Eichman, Uncles: Joshua (Uncle J) Graham, Steve Graham
and Jeremy Smith, Fiance Mackenzie Coleman and countless cousins and friends.