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2020MELTON, JR. KENNETH F. (1933-2020)
Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Frank Melton Jr. (US Army Retired), 87 years of age, of Stone Mountain Georgia, passed away in his home surrounded by the immense love of his family on 29 December 2020.
He was born in Columbia South Carolina on 27 December 1933, eventually graduating from Columbus High School in Columbus Georgia. Over the next twenty five years he chose to serve his country; first as a submariner aboard the USS Requin in the US Navy which he followed with a twenty one year career as an Intelligence Officer in the US Army. He then chose, for the sake of those he loved, to retire and pursue a civilian career in Personnel Management. During those years he dedicated to his family, he was active in his church and denomination eventually being recognized as Elder Emeritus in the Presbyterian Church in America. During his military career he served two tours in Vietnam- one with the 11th Armored Cavalry (Blackhorse) and a second with Military Assistance Command Vietnam- Studies and Observations Group. He also served as a military advisor during the Ethiopian Revolution. His decorations include two Bronze Stars with Valor Device, The Legion of Merit and The Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years Marilyn, three children: Lisa Cadora (Matthew), Linda Williams and Kenneth F Melton III (Holly), six grandchildren and one great grandchild.
This obituary is not meant as an announcement of mourning but as a celebration of a life well lived and the God that led it.
We Love You Pops…
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to either The 11th Armored Cavalry Blackhorse Association of The Wounded Warrior Project.
KOEHLER, Adi ( 1937-2020)Hawai’i’s ‘Mr. Mauna Kea’ Adi Kohler Dies at 83
Adi Kohler, often called “Mr. Mauna Kea” for serving as the highly regarded, long time General Manager and Executive Director of the world famous Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Kohala Coast of Hawai‘i Island, died at the age of 83 from natural causes at Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua, on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2020. Kohler had struggled with health issues for several years.For nearly three decades, Kohler welcomed generations of visitors from around the world to what was originally Laurance S. Rockefeller’s premiere Hawai‘i resort, and in the process he became one of Hawai’i‘s leading ambassadors of aloha. Among his many awards was being honored as America’s Resort Executive of the Year by the American Hotel & Motel Association in 1988 – a tribute he credited as much to his employees as to his own hard work.Kohler was born Dec. 20, 1936 in the Sudetenland (now a region of Czechoslovakia). In 1945, the family was forcibly relocated into rural Bavaria, where they opened their first restaurant. In 1953, Kohler enrolled in hotel school in Munich, and then became a front desk clerk at Frankfurter Hof, still one of the best hotels in Germany. In 1957, he was employed by a fashionable spa resort, where he met future wife, Kathrin Gutt.With aspirations of becoming a general manager, he worked for first class hotels in Munich and Paris, then relocated to the United States in 1963, first to Arizona, then Wyoming. He met Laurance S. Rockefeller at Jackson Lake Lodge in 1969, and worked for Rockefeller’s properties Caneel Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cerromar and Dorado Beach Hotel in Puerto Rico, before coming to the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in 1973. Kohler remained at the helm until 2000, and is remembered best as her beloved general manager.Upon retirement, he authored an autobiography, titled “Mr. Mauna Kea,” a nickname that stuck with him for the rest of his life. The popular book shared memorable stories of his years hosting world leaders, entertainment and sports superstars, captains of business, renouned journalists, authors, artists and ordinary people who loved the resort’s beauty, serenity, understated elegance and the employees’ aloha and attention to detail.Kohler was active in supporting and nurturing all aspects of the hospitality industry, and served as Bailli (president) of the island’s gourmet society Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, and in 2015 received a special Bailliage of USA award. He was also a member of the elite western riding club, Rancheros Visitadores. He was consistently involved in Hawai‘i Island business and community organizations including the Rotary Club of North Hawai‘i and served on the Board of Directors for Parker School. After retiring from the resort, he became a dedicated volunteer for Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital.Kohler is survived by wife Kathrin “Chacha” Kohler, son Christian Kohler, daughter-in-law Kristin Kohler, grandchildren Elyse and Alexander “Adi” Kohler of Lincoln, Nebraska, son-in-law Robert Johnson, and grandchildren Alicia and Ryan Johnson of Honolulu. Beloved daughter Ulrike “Bieni” Kohler Johnson passed in 2009.A family memorial is planned, with a celebration of life to be arranged at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Bieni Kohler Johnson Memorial Fund, c/o Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy, 65-1692 Kohala Mountain Road, Kamuela, HI 96743 (808-885-7321).
HEREDIA, Alejandro ( 1943-2020)
Renown chef and alum, Alejandro Heredia has died at the age of 77.
He was an icon of Mexican gastronomy and seedbed of the new generations that today oversee great restaurants. With five decades behind the stove, where the last 20 years he was in charge of the Hacienda Los Morales , in Polanco, is a great example that to be a chef requires perseverance and discipline as Alejandro began his hospitality career as a dishwasher at the Hotel Presidente In Mexico City.
An opportunity then beckoned at the Camino Real, where, for twenty years, he rubbed shoulders with international chefs from all over the world.
He later moved on to the Hacienda Los Morales located in the exclusive Polanco area of Mexico City. Under his direction the restaurant garnered numerous accolades by guests, hospitality journalists, his fellow culinarians, and was the first Mexican chef to be recognized by the French Culinary Academy.
GULLAKSEN, Bjorn ( 1944-2020)
Memorial service for Bjorn Gullaksen will be held on October 22nd at Ullern Church Holgerslystveien 22, 0280 Oslo, Norway at 10:00 am.
DUNFORD, James B. "Jim" ( 1944-2020)
We are very sad not to be able to gather in person due to the ongoing pandemic. But we have created this memorial site as a place to come together and celebrate our beloved father and grandfather, James B. (Jim) Dunford, who was born on October 10, 1944 and passed away unexpectedly from pancreatic cancer on October 3, 2020. He will be in our hearts forever. Please take a look at the Gallery tab for photos from Dad's life and share a memory or a photo of your own under the Stories tab above. We look forward to hearing from you!
With love,
Lisa & Billy Dickman; Kate, Brett, Abby & Bryn ShowalterPlease go to...[https://www.forevermissed.com/jim-dunford/about]
Hall, William Ames (Bill): ( 1949-2020)
William Ames "Bill" Hall Folly Beach - A successful entrepreneur who breathed life into mountain-sized ideas. A visionary leader who until recently had a flip phone. And a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. All of this and more describes William Ames "Bill" Hall, Founder of Hall Management Group and its signature Halls Chophouse restaurants located throughout South Carolina. But the east coast is not where this hospitality legend got his start. Born November 2, 1946 in Seattle, Washington and raised in Sausalito, California, Bill Hall began his hospitality career on the west coast, as a teenager working in both a restaurant and in the family grocery store. His resilience training came early. Bill's father fired him after Bill terminated the butcher who had been there for 25 years. But if you know Bill, that tough call was likely the right move. Bill's determination was only matched by his deep love for his family and his affection for serving people well. From Napa Valley to Vail, from Pebble Beach to Palmetto Dunes, Bill Hall ran some of the most luxurious resorts in the United States. Along the way, he always invested his time and money in the community, frequently going above and beyond the call for help. If we tried to list all of the charities blessed by Bill Hall and his family, we'd likely fill the page and more. He served on some of South Carolina's most prestigious boards including the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition and Patriots Point Development Authority where Governor Henry McMaster recently appointed Bill as Chairman. But he never sought the limelight. He put others above self and that graceful humility cultivated relationships beyond count. In 2008, Bill, his wife, Jeanne, and sons, Tommy and Billy, founded Hall Management Group in Charleston and opened their first steakhouse. In 2009, they cut the ribbon on the iconic Halls Chophouse Charleston. ess of fame or fortune. Family members are grateful for the outpouring of . Bill is survived by his wife of 48 years, Jeanne Lamond Hall and the loving Lamond family, son, Billy Hall, daughter, Stacey Gibson, son, Tommy Hall (Catherine) and grandsons, Redford Gibson, Ryland Hall and a Hall granddaughter on the way. Cousin, Barbara Bradeson and her husband Brian of Huntington Beach, California have meant so much to us over the years. A celebration of life will be held in the future when we can all be together safely. In lieu of flowers, please join us in supporting two charities near and dear to Bill's heart: MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children Hospital , MUSC Children's Hospital Fund, 59 Bee Street, MSC Code: 201, Charleston, SC 29425 and The Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College, Bill Hall Culinary Entrepreneurship Endowed Scholarship, TTC Foundation , PO Box 61227, Charleston, SC, 29419-1227. A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston
MASSAGLI, DON: ( -2020)
HAYDEN, John David: ( -2020)
O'Connell, Patrick James "Jim": (1945-2020)
Patrick James ‘Jim’ O’Connell, 74, of Hutchinson, died February 9, 2020, at Diversicare of Hutchinson. He was born April 4, 1945, in Peoria, IL, the son of Larry and Mary (Mooney) O’Connell.After attending school in Chanute, Jim graduated from Topeka Hayden High School in 1963. In 1967, Jim graduated from the University of Kansas with a BA degree in Sociology and Chemistry and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Immediately following graduation, he served for 2 years in the Peace Corps in Morocco and Micronesia as a medic and logistician.
Jim worked in marketing and sales management for Westin and Fairmont Hotels at some of the most famous hotels in the world, including the Mayflower in Washington D.C., the Fairmont in San Francisco, the Roosevelt in New Orleans, and the Westin Ilikai in Honolulu. In 1991, Jim retired from the hotel industry as Director of Sales, Weston Resorts Hawaii responsible for the Westin Kauai at Kauai Lagoons, the Westin Maui, and the Westin Mauna Kea.
Following a 3-year stint as Regional Sales Manager for NJA Publishing in San Diego, Jim returned in 1993 to Hutchinson to care for his ailing father. After the passing of his father, Jim made Hutchinson his home, where he was a member of the Church of the Holy Cross, Knights of Columbus Council #612, and the Hutchinson Bridge Club.
Jim’s passion for bridge began when he was asked by his parents to fill-in when they needed a fourth at a table at neighborhood gatherings. Because his work in the hotel industry took him all over the globe, he made lifelong friends in the bridge world playing in international tournaments. At home, he mentored beginning players and was always willing to help any that asked. An apt student of the game, Jim achieved the American Contract Bridge League rank of Gold Life Master in 2002 and was approaching Diamond Life Master status at the time of his death.
Jim is survived by: brother, Mike O’Connell and partner, Sharon Puddington of Olathe; nephew, Michael O’Connell of Kansas City, MO; nieces, Jessica O’Connell O’Neil and her husband, Dan O’Neil of Cottonwood, AZ, and Mary O’Connell of Overland Park.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Cremation has taken place. Parish rosary will be 10 a.m. Saturday, February 29, 2020, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., both at Church of the Holy Cross, 2631 Independence Rd., with Fathers Ned Blick and Michael Kerschen officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Elliott Mortuary. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, February 28, at Elliott Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Cause for Paws, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.
O'HEARN, JOHN FORSEE (1952-2020)
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John Forsee O'Hearn (Frisco, Texas), who passed away on June 10, 2020, at the age of 67, leaving to mourn family and friends. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of John Forsee O'Hearn to pay them a last tribute. You may also light a candle in honor of John Forsee O'Hearn.He was loved and cherished by many people including : his parents, Edward O'Hearn and Mildred O'Hearn. [everhere.com/us/obituaries/tx/frisco/john-forsee-ohearn-10987620
BLYTH, THOMAS PETER ( 1941-2020)
A beautiful life has ended. Peter died of congestive heart failure on June 10th, 2020. Those inhis orbit will miss his delicious English sense of humor, his compassionate soul, hisinquisitive mind. He was a cherished husband, father, brother, brother-in-law and uncle. He was a devoted friend.
Peter was born in August 1941 in Gravesend, England. He grew up on the Channel Island of Jersey where he graduated from Victoria College. He completed a five-yearapprenticeship program training as a chef. He began his exciting and rewarding hotel career in 1963 at the new London Hilton. It was Hilton that brought Peter to the United States in 1965.
He was with Westin Hotels for 19 years serving as a general manager, the Director ofFood and Beverage Worldwide and a development officer. He ended his career with Radisson Hotels and Resorts as Executive Vice President, Business Development Worldwide. He spoke English, French and Norwegian. His friendships circled the globe.
In retirement he became an accomplished Japanese sumi-e painter. He planned longsummer bike rides with friends on Minnesota’s remarkable bike trail system. He recentlyjoined a CBS men’s bible study group which brought him endless joy.
Peter is survived by his wife of 50 years, Linda; their children, Libby and Philip; sister,Trish Bloxham and her husband, David; his brother, Michael and his wife, Sylvia;brother-in-law, Bill Shoemaker and his wife, Annie Gehan; sister-in-law, Annie Mooreand her husband, Floyd; a niece and five nephews. He was predeceased by hisparents, Tom and Tru Blyth, and nephew, Benjamin Blyth.
He will be inurned in the Memorial Garden at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St.Paul. A memorial service will be held on August 14, 2020 at 11 am CDT at the Noerenberg Memorial Gardens in Minneapolis. It will be streamed live via Zoom. Details to log on will be provided at a later time.Peter supported programs that cared for children in impoverished countries. Memorialsmay be made through Bu i l d a b e t t e rb e n i n . o rg which provides a home and schooling forabandoned children in Benin, Africa
DUPAR. THOMAS, SR. (1930-2020)
Senior was the 6th of eight children. Tom spent quality time with his father and brothers fishing at various Northwest lakes.
He served in the Korean War in the United States Army Signal Corps, and later joined Western Hotel, the company his father founded along with Severt Thurston. Tom was a Seattle native to his core, but a transplant to the Palm Springs area for the last 30 years. A special thanks to the staff at Mission Hills Assisted Living and Eisenhower Medical Center staff.
He was preceded in death by sisters Dorothy Lynch, Marilyn McIntosh, brothers Frank, Jack, Bob, and Jimmy. He is survived by his brother Rev Ken (Kris) Dupar of Scotland.
Tom had four children. He is survived by his daughter, Michelle Dupar, Seattle, WA, and sons John Dupar (Renie), San Francisco, CA; Tom Dupar Jr. (Debbie), USVI, Mark Dupar (Gail), Anacortes, WA and his favorite son-in-law Charles Stuart (Seattle). He had five gorgeous granddaughters, two grandsons, and four beautiful great-granddaughters.
SCHNEIDER, GORDON (1925-2020)
Former Corporate Director of Personnel
OLSON, ORVIN "OLE" (1925-2020)
Former hotel controller and corporate internal auditor
KREKAS, Nicolette (Nikki) Krekas (1925-2020)
Nicolette S. Krekas was born May 12,th 1925 to Peter & Angeline Sikokis in Chicago Illinois. “Nikki” attended Rosary College and graduated with a degree in Home Economics and then went to work with her Family owned confectionary business. Nikki’s best friend growing up was her only sibling & brother George. Growing up together Nikki spent a lot of time attending and supporting their local church events with her loving brother.
In 1955 Nikki met her husband Charles at a church dinner dance - they were married shortly after on Feb 5th 1956. American society in the 1950s was geared towards the family. Marriage and children were part of the national agenda. Charles had just returned from WW II and was looking to settle down and start a family. Shortly thereafter their daughter Suzanne was born and became the center of their lives. Nikki would always let her friends and family know how blessed and thankful they were to have Suzanne in their lives.
While living in Illinois Nikki and family played a very important role in the formation of the St. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church. Much of Nikki’s time and activity was dedicated to the church and Greek Women’s University Club promoting the well-being and support of the Greek community and all the family’s that were new to the Chicago land area. Nikki will be remembered for her kind heartedness, soft touch & light laughter. She always had a positive outlook on life and loved all those unconditionally that were lucky enough to have her in their lives. May her memory be eternal….
A funeral service will be held at 11:30am on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at St. Demetrius Greek Orthodox Church in Seattle.
BURTON, PATRICK (1946-2020)
Former hotel general manager and mentor
SISUL, JUANITA "NITA" (1941-2020)
Juanita (Thomas) Sisul passed away peacefully Jan. 2, 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer. Nita is survived by her husband, William (Bill) Sisul; daughters, Lenée (Ron) Goyette of Hurst, Texas, Michelle (Mackenzie) Bottum of Dallas, Texas; son Greg Vaughn of Dallas, Texas; sister Dee Lesniak of Burns, Oregon; seven grandchildren, her brothers and sisters in-law, many nieces, nephews and numerous friends.Nita was born in Portland, Oregon on Nov. 6, 1941 to Chester and Mabel Thomas and graduated from Tillamook High School in 1959. Nita and Bill moved to Texas in the mid 70s where she retired from the Westin Galleria Hotel, Dallas, as the Director of Sales and Marketing in 1997. She and Bill retired permanently in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas in 2016. Nita was active in her community and in bible studies. She attended the Balboa Baptist Church where she was a member of the Faith Sunday School class.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 at the Woodlands Community Center, Hot Springs Village, with a friends and family reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations can be made to the American Cancer Society at ww
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