David Earl Myers
October 1, 1922 – December 17, 2014
<a href="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2014/12/flag-in-color3.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-8682" src="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2014/12/flag-in-color3-150x150.jpg" alt="flag-in-color" width="150" height="150" /></a>David Earl Myers passed away peacefully Thursday, December 18, at James A Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, surrounded by his loving family.
Dave was born in Hartford City, Ind., on August 7, 1925, and he spent more than half his life there. He graduated Hartford City High School, then joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in World War II.
Honorably discharged, he then met the love of his life and wife of 67 years, Dessa Elizabeth Florence. Dave and Dessa started their family and a trucking business in Hartford City.
They moved to Florida in 1977 and continued in the trucking business. Later they downsized to just one truck. Dave and Dessa drove for 10 more years before finally retiring in 2004.Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert Myers and Blanche Myers; brother Burl Myers; sisters Virginia Jones and Joan Myers.
Dave is survived by his spouse, Dessa Florence Myers; sister Martha Sue Hill; son Dennis Herbert Myers; daughter Donetta Sue Myers; grandchildren Angela Jo Howell and Dennis David Myers; and great-grandchildren Steven Quinn Parsons and Donovan Holt Stewart.
A private family memorial service was held at Ruskin Church of Christ on Dec. 20. David Earl Myers will be laid to rest at Sarasota National Cemetery.
Arrangements by Zipperer’s Funeral Home.
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<h3><b>Joseph Durward “J.D.” Stanlake</b></h3>
J.D., age 92, of Sun City Center, Fla., formerly of Kalamazoo, passed away December 17, 2014. He was born October 1, 1922, to Joseph and Jane Stanlake and raised in Duluth, Minn.
As a young boy, he enjoyed playing hockey, skiing, working as a golf caddy and delivering newspapers in Duluth. He also spent much of his boyhood years in the northern woods of Minnesota where he, his father and his mother built a family cabin. It was there and growing up on the shores of Lake Superior that he learned to love the lakes and the woods — a love that stayed with him throughout his life.
After graduation from Duluth Central High School in 1940, J.D. (or Durward, as his parents called him) attended college for a couple of years before joining the U.S. Naval Air Corps. Aviation had intrigued him as a boy and his dream of flying came to fruition during World War II. He was trained as a pilot and flight instructor. He flew a number of planes but during the war, he primarily flew the Curtiss SB2C Dive Bomber off the aircraft carrier <i>Essex</i> in the South Pacific. After active duty, J.D. remained in the Naval Reserve, flying transport planes until 1964.
<a href="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2014/12/flag-in-color3.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-8682" src="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2014/12/flag-in-color3-150x150.jpg" alt="flag-in-color" width="150" height="150" /></a>In November 1945 he was united in marriage to Dorothy Jean Johnson in Hastings, Mich. In 1952, the Stanlakes moved to Kalamazoo, where he worked as a self-employed building contractor. Kalamazoo was their home for many years and where they raised their three daughters. In the mid-’60s he was hired by the City of Kalamazoo Building Department as an inspector and later, supervisor. He retired from the City of Kalamazoo in 1980.
While maintaining a summer home in Lake County, he spent many summers volunteering at Habitat for Humanity and other organizations in that area. However, in 1981, J.D. and Dorothy made Sebring, Fla., their permanent residence. There they enjoyed many years of retirement, playing golf and participating in volunteer activities. They also enjoyed traveling and taking grandchildren to the theme parks and attractions in Florida. The Stanlakes were charter members of the Emmanuel Church of Christ in Sebring. While in Kalamazoo, the First Congregational Church of Kalamazoo was his church home. In 2010, J.D. moved to Sun City Center, where he enjoyed exercising, riding his bike and various activities in that community and attending the United Community Church.
Throughout his life, he was a hero to his girls; he could build anything, fix anything and was a wealth of knowledge in many areas. He loved to learn and eagerly jumped into the electronic age, becoming very computer-savvy. He was always eager to help with any projects his family had going on and generously gave his time and energy. He was loved by all the family pets and he loved them as well.
J.D. was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy Stanlake in 2006, and his half-brother, Charles Turcott in 1999. Surviving are his daughters Candace Stanlake (Alan Beth) of Sun City Center, Rene (Richard) Bush, Teresa (Marvin) Simon, and “child of the heart” Carole Sweet, all of Kalamazoo. He is also survived by grandchildren Joseph Beth, Bridgett Bush, Benjamin (Stephanie) Bush, Nicholas (Jody) Simon, Traci (Kelly) Krepps, Matthew Sweet; great-grandchildren Gracie and Leyton Eagle, Nicky and Jenna Simon, Graham Krepps, Layla Rose Bush, Nicolette, Katelyn and Emery Sweet; sister-in-law Marcia (Kenneth) Lane and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, at First Congregational Church of UCC, 345 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, followed by a committal service with military honors at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, Mich. Visitation will be Thursday morning from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to LifePath Hospice (Hillsborough County, Fla.), Kalamazoo County Humane Society (Kalamazoo, Mich.) or C.A.R.E. Animal Shelter (Ruskin, Fla.). Arrangements were entrusted to Langeland Family Funeral Homes. Please visit J.D.’s personalized webpage for directions, his online guestbook or to leave a condolence to his family at www.langelands.com.
Dave was born in Hartford City, Ind., on August 7, 1925, and he spent more than half his life there. He graduated Hartford City High School, then joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in World War II.
Honorably discharged, he then met the love of his life and wife of 67 years, Dessa Elizabeth Florence. Dave and Dessa started their family and a trucking business in Hartford City.
They moved to Florida in 1977 and continued in the trucking business. Later they downsized to just one truck. Dave and Dessa drove for 10 more years before finally retiring in 2004.Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert Myers and Blanche Myers; brother Burl Myers; sisters Virginia Jones and Joan Myers.
Dave is survived by his spouse, Dessa Florence Myers; sister Martha Sue Hill; son Dennis Herbert Myers; daughter Donetta Sue Myers; grandchildren Angela Jo Howell and Dennis David Myers; and great-grandchildren Steven Quinn Parsons and Donovan Holt Stewart.
A private family memorial service was held at Ruskin Church of Christ on Dec. 20. David Earl Myers will be laid to rest at Sarasota National Cemetery.
Arrangements by Zipperer’s Funeral Home.
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<h3><b>Joseph Durward “J.D.” Stanlake</b></h3>
J.D., age 92, of Sun City Center, Fla., formerly of Kalamazoo, passed away December 17, 2014. He was born October 1, 1922, to Joseph and Jane Stanlake and raised in Duluth, Minn.
As a young boy, he enjoyed playing hockey, skiing, working as a golf caddy and delivering newspapers in Duluth. He also spent much of his boyhood years in the northern woods of Minnesota where he, his father and his mother built a family cabin. It was there and growing up on the shores of Lake Superior that he learned to love the lakes and the woods — a love that stayed with him throughout his life.
After graduation from Duluth Central High School in 1940, J.D. (or Durward, as his parents called him) attended college for a couple of years before joining the U.S. Naval Air Corps. Aviation had intrigued him as a boy and his dream of flying came to fruition during World War II. He was trained as a pilot and flight instructor. He flew a number of planes but during the war, he primarily flew the Curtiss SB2C Dive Bomber off the aircraft carrier <i>Essex</i> in the South Pacific. After active duty, J.D. remained in the Naval Reserve, flying transport planes until 1964.
<a href="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2014/12/flag-in-color3.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-8682" src="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2014/12/flag-in-color3-150x150.jpg" alt="flag-in-color" width="150" height="150" /></a>In November 1945 he was united in marriage to Dorothy Jean Johnson in Hastings, Mich. In 1952, the Stanlakes moved to Kalamazoo, where he worked as a self-employed building contractor. Kalamazoo was their home for many years and where they raised their three daughters. In the mid-’60s he was hired by the City of Kalamazoo Building Department as an inspector and later, supervisor. He retired from the City of Kalamazoo in 1980.
While maintaining a summer home in Lake County, he spent many summers volunteering at Habitat for Humanity and other organizations in that area. However, in 1981, J.D. and Dorothy made Sebring, Fla., their permanent residence. There they enjoyed many years of retirement, playing golf and participating in volunteer activities. They also enjoyed traveling and taking grandchildren to the theme parks and attractions in Florida. The Stanlakes were charter members of the Emmanuel Church of Christ in Sebring. While in Kalamazoo, the First Congregational Church of Kalamazoo was his church home. In 2010, J.D. moved to Sun City Center, where he enjoyed exercising, riding his bike and various activities in that community and attending the United Community Church.
Throughout his life, he was a hero to his girls; he could build anything, fix anything and was a wealth of knowledge in many areas. He loved to learn and eagerly jumped into the electronic age, becoming very computer-savvy. He was always eager to help with any projects his family had going on and generously gave his time and energy. He was loved by all the family pets and he loved them as well.
J.D. was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy Stanlake in 2006, and his half-brother, Charles Turcott in 1999. Surviving are his daughters Candace Stanlake (Alan Beth) of Sun City Center, Rene (Richard) Bush, Teresa (Marvin) Simon, and “child of the heart” Carole Sweet, all of Kalamazoo. He is also survived by grandchildren Joseph Beth, Bridgett Bush, Benjamin (Stephanie) Bush, Nicholas (Jody) Simon, Traci (Kelly) Krepps, Matthew Sweet; great-grandchildren Gracie and Leyton Eagle, Nicky and Jenna Simon, Graham Krepps, Layla Rose Bush, Nicolette, Katelyn and Emery Sweet; sister-in-law Marcia (Kenneth) Lane and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, at First Congregational Church of UCC, 345 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, followed by a committal service with military honors at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, Mich. Visitation will be Thursday morning from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to LifePath Hospice (Hillsborough County, Fla.), Kalamazoo County Humane Society (Kalamazoo, Mich.) or C.A.R.E. Animal Shelter (Ruskin, Fla.). Arrangements were entrusted to Langeland Family Funeral Homes. Please visit J.D.’s personalized webpage for directions, his online guestbook or to leave a condolence to his family at www.langelands.com.