Frank J. Rahija
April 29, 1942 –
Frank J. Rahija, 75, of Ruskin, Florida went to be with his Lord on January 28, 2018. He passed away in Haley’s Cove hospice care unit at the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Tampa, Florida. Frank was born on April 29, 1942, in Kansas City, Kan. Immediately following graduation from Washington High School, Frank joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Orleans, France, where he served for three years in the Signal Core.
Frank was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 101 of Kansas City, Mo. He operated heavy equipment on multiple construction engineering projects in the metropolitan area of Kansas City throughout his career. Frank completed an associate’s degree in information technology from the Johnson County Community College. He belonged to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
Frank held a pilot’s license and enjoyed flying single-engine aircraft whenever the opportunity presented itself. He was also a short wave radio enthusiast and member of the National Association for Amateur Radio.
His father, Frank P. Rahija, preceded him in death. Survivors include his mother Pauline Rahija, a sister Paula Snider, two brothers, Dan (Sheri) Rahija and Richard (Linda) Rahija, and two nephews, Paul (Beth) Snider and Bryan James Rahija. The Funeral Mass with military honors will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2018, at Saint Anne Catholic Church, 106 11th Avenue, N.E., Ruskin, Fla. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. A private burial will be held at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Anne Catholic Church in Ruskin, Florida. The Rahija family extends their special thanks to the parishioners of Saint Anne church who prayed for Frank, all the veterans who provided him with camaraderie, his friends of the Irongate Community for their fellowship and to the compassionate caring staff of the Tampa VA hospital and Haley’s Cove hospice care unit who gave so much of themselves to comfort Frank in the final days of his life. We are grateful to all of you for being like family to him.
<h3><strong>Charles E. Simmons</strong></h3>
Charles (Charlie) Earl Simmons, 93, of Inspired Living in Sun City Center passed away on January 25, at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa. He was a member of the First Christian Church Sun City Center. Born in Lancaster, Pa., he was the son of Earl and Anna Wiegand Simmons. He served in the U.S. Army, and was captured by the Nazis in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. He was a POW for seven months, and was liberated at the end of the war.
Charlie enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, snowmobiling and photography. He mostly enjoyed making others smile!
Surviving are two children, Charles R. (Chub) married to Shirley Simmons of Lancaster, Pa., and Cindy married to Al Hingerty of Wimauma, Fla.; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Dolly Mimnall of Akron, Pa. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Hazel Brooks Simmons; two sons, Michael and Donald; and one great-grandson Tyler.
A Memorial Service will be held at First Christian Church Sun City Center on Tuesday, February 13, at 11 a.m.. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his church located at 1707 33rd St. S.E., Ruskin, FL 33570.
Frank was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 101 of Kansas City, Mo. He operated heavy equipment on multiple construction engineering projects in the metropolitan area of Kansas City throughout his career. Frank completed an associate’s degree in information technology from the Johnson County Community College. He belonged to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
Frank held a pilot’s license and enjoyed flying single-engine aircraft whenever the opportunity presented itself. He was also a short wave radio enthusiast and member of the National Association for Amateur Radio.
His father, Frank P. Rahija, preceded him in death. Survivors include his mother Pauline Rahija, a sister Paula Snider, two brothers, Dan (Sheri) Rahija and Richard (Linda) Rahija, and two nephews, Paul (Beth) Snider and Bryan James Rahija. The Funeral Mass with military honors will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2018, at Saint Anne Catholic Church, 106 11th Avenue, N.E., Ruskin, Fla. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. A private burial will be held at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Anne Catholic Church in Ruskin, Florida. The Rahija family extends their special thanks to the parishioners of Saint Anne church who prayed for Frank, all the veterans who provided him with camaraderie, his friends of the Irongate Community for their fellowship and to the compassionate caring staff of the Tampa VA hospital and Haley’s Cove hospice care unit who gave so much of themselves to comfort Frank in the final days of his life. We are grateful to all of you for being like family to him.
<h3><strong>Charles E. Simmons</strong></h3>
Charles (Charlie) Earl Simmons, 93, of Inspired Living in Sun City Center passed away on January 25, at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa. He was a member of the First Christian Church Sun City Center. Born in Lancaster, Pa., he was the son of Earl and Anna Wiegand Simmons. He served in the U.S. Army, and was captured by the Nazis in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. He was a POW for seven months, and was liberated at the end of the war.
Charlie enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, snowmobiling and photography. He mostly enjoyed making others smile!
Surviving are two children, Charles R. (Chub) married to Shirley Simmons of Lancaster, Pa., and Cindy married to Al Hingerty of Wimauma, Fla.; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Dolly Mimnall of Akron, Pa. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Hazel Brooks Simmons; two sons, Michael and Donald; and one great-grandson Tyler.
A Memorial Service will be held at First Christian Church Sun City Center on Tuesday, February 13, at 11 a.m.. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his church located at 1707 33rd St. S.E., Ruskin, FL 33570.