Dorothy L. Erickson
Dorothy Louise Erickson (nee:Zoelner) born September 1,1922, in St. Louis, Missouri, passed from death to life November 15, 2019, in Sun City Center, FL. She is predeceased by her husband Morris (Eric) E. Erickson, and son, Norman, in 1983. She is survived by two daughters and two sons, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Dorothy was raised in a Christian home and became a supportive Christian wife and mother for her family. All her children and grandchildren are grateful for having had a caring mother and grandma who demonstrated her love, giving and seldom, if ever, judging or complaining. The tough resilience of her character became especially evident in her later years. She will be remembered fondly.
She and Eric, career Air Force, married in 1942, moving a great deal the first 17 years of their marriage. After Eric’s retirement in 1959, the family spent nearly 30 years in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. They finally moved to Sun City Center in 1989 and had been married nearly 58 years when Eric died.
After Eric’s passing, Dorothy continued her life, being an active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and volunteering at Nearly New, Meals on Wheels and the Sun City Center Security Patrol. She even continued golfing for a time and played bridge and other card games into her 80s.
A celebration, giving thanks to God for Dorothy Erickson — a life well lived — is scheduled for January 11, 2020, at 11 a.m., at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sun City Center, Rev. David Allman officiating. The family invites any of Dorothy’s friends who are able to attend to please do so. A light luncheon will be served.
<h2><strong>James “Peter” Konkle</strong></h2>
James Frederick Konkle, father, labor relations advocate, HR manager, carpenter and storyteller, passed away at age 71.
Born to parents Doris Wunderle and James Konkle Senior in Orange ,New Jersey, his birth certificate says “James,” but at home everyone called him “Peter.” And no, it’s not his middle name. As Peter explained, Dad won the name battle, but Mom won the war. Most of his childhood was spent in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, with loving sisters Gail Konkle Myers and Carol Konkle Dawrant. By age 15 Peter would take on gymnastics, speed skating, wood work, drawing and student government at Glenbard West High School.
College would bring him to DePauw University in Indiana, where he studied philosophy and religion and became a proud member of “The Men Of Note,” a particularly talented all mens choir. At the same time Peter discovered the liberal hippy inside, grew his own pot and became politically active. When Vietnam broke out, Peter lived in his VW van, touring the country, sewing patch after patch on his bell bottom jeans, singing to his guitar, attending the early concerts of some guy named Bob Dylan and waxing poetic, likely to no end. When he ultimately parked, he landed in Maine where he bonded with his best college friends, Chris Crawford and Nick Kirby, of Gorham, ME. They would continue to surround him with love and humor until the very end of his days.
Eventually Peter settled in Plainfield, VT, and restored a little house full of light, polished wood and green plants. Around this time he met his former wife, Janet Ryan, and sweet step-son-to-be, Jamie Libertoff, and seven years after that, Janet gave birth to their daughte,r Anna Konkle. Peter was an adoring father and a natural care-taker.
His daughter remembers visiting him in his Burlington office while he was an organizer for the Vermont Labor Union. Vivid in her memory is his office balcony and a chipmunk outside that her dad said was his pet. At her skepticism, he pulled out a can of honey roasted peanuts. The chipmunk descended from its tree, sauntered in and onto the desk, just inches from his hand, and nibbled on the bits. In this moment his daughter was absolutely sure of her dad’s magic. Soon after he became president of the Vermont Labor Historical Society and became passionate about the “The Bolton War,” so much so that in 2013 he self published a historical novel, “On Bolton Flats” about Vermont’s sordid history. Peter remained in Vermont for over 20 years but re-located with his family to Scituate, Massachusetts, and began his long career in human resources.
After retirement, Peter discovered Kings Point in Sun City Center, FL, and filled his days with pickleball, woodwork, volunteering and writing. He lived six lovely years here, accompanied by his best friend Victoria Harper.
Then, in August of 2019, Peter was diagnosed with lung cancer. Despite his strength, he passed a few months later. As he journeyed, his soul shone through as eccentric and exceedingly good. He made his doctors laugh in the darkest of moments, philosophized between jokes, danced to Van Morrison and showed unparalleled bravery as a devoted friend and father. In the final weeks he was surrounded by his longtime friends Chris, Nick, Gary Vassar and David White. His partner in crime, Victoria, was also there, along with Alex Anfanger, his daughter’s partner, whom Peter affectionately called “brother” and his daughter Anna, whom he told he loved every two minutes, even when he could barely speak, whom he let wash his face and comb his hair, despite being a prideful kind of person. At the end, he described his relationship with his daughter as profound. She agrees and is honored to have been by his side through his courageous journey. It was a privilege for everyone involved in his life to experience him. Peter’s grace, sharp wit, love of music, nature and all people rang out, even in his most difficult final moments.
He began as his daughter’s hero, the tamer of chipmunks, the funniest guy in the room, and left as his daughter’s hero, the gracious recipient of mortality and an incredible father.
Peter Konkle will be cremated at Cremations of Greater Tampa Bay, 110 N Macdill Ave, Tampa, FL. A memorial service will be held in his honor on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, at All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farm Road, Shelburne, VT 05482, at 11 a.m. All are welcome to attend, with a reception to follow.
Dorothy was raised in a Christian home and became a supportive Christian wife and mother for her family. All her children and grandchildren are grateful for having had a caring mother and grandma who demonstrated her love, giving and seldom, if ever, judging or complaining. The tough resilience of her character became especially evident in her later years. She will be remembered fondly.
She and Eric, career Air Force, married in 1942, moving a great deal the first 17 years of their marriage. After Eric’s retirement in 1959, the family spent nearly 30 years in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. They finally moved to Sun City Center in 1989 and had been married nearly 58 years when Eric died.
After Eric’s passing, Dorothy continued her life, being an active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and volunteering at Nearly New, Meals on Wheels and the Sun City Center Security Patrol. She even continued golfing for a time and played bridge and other card games into her 80s.
A celebration, giving thanks to God for Dorothy Erickson — a life well lived — is scheduled for January 11, 2020, at 11 a.m., at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sun City Center, Rev. David Allman officiating. The family invites any of Dorothy’s friends who are able to attend to please do so. A light luncheon will be served.
<h2><strong>James “Peter” Konkle</strong></h2>
James Frederick Konkle, father, labor relations advocate, HR manager, carpenter and storyteller, passed away at age 71.
Born to parents Doris Wunderle and James Konkle Senior in Orange ,New Jersey, his birth certificate says “James,” but at home everyone called him “Peter.” And no, it’s not his middle name. As Peter explained, Dad won the name battle, but Mom won the war. Most of his childhood was spent in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, with loving sisters Gail Konkle Myers and Carol Konkle Dawrant. By age 15 Peter would take on gymnastics, speed skating, wood work, drawing and student government at Glenbard West High School.
College would bring him to DePauw University in Indiana, where he studied philosophy and religion and became a proud member of “The Men Of Note,” a particularly talented all mens choir. At the same time Peter discovered the liberal hippy inside, grew his own pot and became politically active. When Vietnam broke out, Peter lived in his VW van, touring the country, sewing patch after patch on his bell bottom jeans, singing to his guitar, attending the early concerts of some guy named Bob Dylan and waxing poetic, likely to no end. When he ultimately parked, he landed in Maine where he bonded with his best college friends, Chris Crawford and Nick Kirby, of Gorham, ME. They would continue to surround him with love and humor until the very end of his days.
Eventually Peter settled in Plainfield, VT, and restored a little house full of light, polished wood and green plants. Around this time he met his former wife, Janet Ryan, and sweet step-son-to-be, Jamie Libertoff, and seven years after that, Janet gave birth to their daughte,r Anna Konkle. Peter was an adoring father and a natural care-taker.
His daughter remembers visiting him in his Burlington office while he was an organizer for the Vermont Labor Union. Vivid in her memory is his office balcony and a chipmunk outside that her dad said was his pet. At her skepticism, he pulled out a can of honey roasted peanuts. The chipmunk descended from its tree, sauntered in and onto the desk, just inches from his hand, and nibbled on the bits. In this moment his daughter was absolutely sure of her dad’s magic. Soon after he became president of the Vermont Labor Historical Society and became passionate about the “The Bolton War,” so much so that in 2013 he self published a historical novel, “On Bolton Flats” about Vermont’s sordid history. Peter remained in Vermont for over 20 years but re-located with his family to Scituate, Massachusetts, and began his long career in human resources.
After retirement, Peter discovered Kings Point in Sun City Center, FL, and filled his days with pickleball, woodwork, volunteering and writing. He lived six lovely years here, accompanied by his best friend Victoria Harper.
Then, in August of 2019, Peter was diagnosed with lung cancer. Despite his strength, he passed a few months later. As he journeyed, his soul shone through as eccentric and exceedingly good. He made his doctors laugh in the darkest of moments, philosophized between jokes, danced to Van Morrison and showed unparalleled bravery as a devoted friend and father. In the final weeks he was surrounded by his longtime friends Chris, Nick, Gary Vassar and David White. His partner in crime, Victoria, was also there, along with Alex Anfanger, his daughter’s partner, whom Peter affectionately called “brother” and his daughter Anna, whom he told he loved every two minutes, even when he could barely speak, whom he let wash his face and comb his hair, despite being a prideful kind of person. At the end, he described his relationship with his daughter as profound. She agrees and is honored to have been by his side through his courageous journey. It was a privilege for everyone involved in his life to experience him. Peter’s grace, sharp wit, love of music, nature and all people rang out, even in his most difficult final moments.
He began as his daughter’s hero, the tamer of chipmunks, the funniest guy in the room, and left as his daughter’s hero, the gracious recipient of mortality and an incredible father.
Peter Konkle will be cremated at Cremations of Greater Tampa Bay, 110 N Macdill Ave, Tampa, FL. A memorial service will be held in his honor on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, at All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farm Road, Shelburne, VT 05482, at 11 a.m. All are welcome to attend, with a reception to follow.