Obituraries Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, November 30, 2006
Wade K. Chrysler
BERNE — Wade K. Chrysler, a competitive, humorous man, died on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany.
He was 55.
Mr. Chrysler worked as a laborer, and was a member of the Local #190 Laborers Union for 25 years. His passion was baseball.
His son, Jeremy Chrysler, recalled the last professional game Mr. Chrysler saw — the 2000 National League Championship at Shea Stadium between the Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Mr. Chrysler, after being diagnosed with scleroderma, a disease that attacks vital organs, took up golfing, a more laid-back game in which he could go at his own pace, his son said.
On July 20, 2003, he won a trophy at the Local #190’s golf outing.
"He was very competitive," Jeremy Chrysler said.
Around 2000, his illness forced him to retire. "For something to do," Mr. Chrysler got his umpiring license with the Capital District Umpires Association, and umpired for two years, his son said.
Mr. Chrysler also had a good sense of humor.
"He was funny. He always told jokes and stories," his son said.
Mr. Chrysler, a frequent visitor of the Hilltown Café, went to the café nearly every weekday for breakfast, where he spent his time with retirees and family, his son said.
Mr. Chrysler also enjoyed hunting.
"He wanted to be the best and win in everything he did," his son said of his father.
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Mr. Chrysler is survived by his son, Jeremy Chrysler, and his wife, Kathy, of Voorheesville; his daughter, Amanda Chrysler of Fort Ann (Washington County); his grandson, Jeremy Chrysler Jr., of Voorheesville; his sister, Diane Lounsbury, and her husband, John, of Westerlo; his brothers, Ricky Chrysler, and his wife, Kathy, of Surprise (Greene County), Roger Chrysler and his wife, Lillian, of Berne; Donnie Chrysler, and his wife, Diane, of Berne; Kevin Lounsbury, and his wife, Kathy, of Berne; and James Lounsbury, and his wife, Beth, of Westerlo.
He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and many friends at the Hilltown Café.
His parents, Lloyd and Cora Lounsbury, died before him.
A funeral service was held Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont, with burial in the Westerlo Rural Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Scleroderma Research Fund, 220 Montgomery St., Suite 1411, San Francisco, CA 94104.
— Tyler Schuling
Elsie Ransom Connell
VOORHEESVILLE — Elsie Connell, an artistic woman who dedicated her life to her family, died on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006, at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady. She was 84.
"Elsie was a very quiet, ladylike person," said her daughter-in-law, Pamela Connell. Always very involved with her church, she especially liked the crafters’ group at the Helderberg Reformed Church. "She was a beautiful painter, an artist," said Pamela Connell, whose walls are hung with her mother-in-law’s paintings. Elsie Connell hand-painted note cards. "Every year at our bazaar, they would be a big hit," said her daughter-in-law.
The Helderberg Reformed Church was the third church that Elsie Connell was involved with, said her daughter-in-law. She began with the First Baptist Church in her native Scotia. Born to James Ransom and Elsie Wiswall, she would later move to Voorheesville, where she spent most of her life, with her husband, the late William W. Connell.
The two met at Hoffman’s Rollarama, where her father was a roller-skating teacher. "She was an excellent roller skater," said Pamela Connell. Roller-skating didn’t stick for Mr. Connell, but the couple enjoyed camping together, said their daughter-in-law.
After the couple moved to Voorheesville, Elsie Connell got involved with the New Scotland Presbyterian Church and the Kiwanis Club. She worked as a postal clerk for the New Scotland Post Office for about 12 years, her daughter-in-law guessed. "I think she liked the social part of it," she said. When the office closed around 1980, "Then she really got to play cards," said Pamela Connell.
"She was a person who loved to play games," said Pamela Connell, who remembered her mother-in-law’s card group, which met weekly to play anything from bridge to yahtzee.
Elsie Connell spent a lot of her time supporting her family, including her grandson, William Scott Connell, who began racing motorcycles at the age of 10. "She would accompany us to the races," said Pamela Connell. "We would pack up early; we were the food caretakers for the motorcycle kids."
For the six years that her grandson raced, "She would stand on the sidelines and cheer," her daughter-in-law remembered. "At 16, it was either a new motorcycle or a car," Pamela Connell said, recalling the end of her son’s racing career. "Of course, he chose the car."
"She lived first for her husband," said Pamela Connell of her mother-in-law. "She lived for her son and grandson."
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Mrs. Connell is survived by her son, William J. Connell, and his wife, Pamela, of Slingerlands; her grandson, William Scott Connell, and his wife, Audrey, of Cary, N.C.; and her great-grandchildren, Julia Whitney Connell and Jeffrey Thomas Connell.
She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Sara Almy, of Rensselaer, and her children, Bonnie Montana, and her husband, Donald; Louis Almy; Gary Almy and his wife, Dale; and Mark Almy and his wife, Judy.
Mrs. Connell’s husband, William W. Connell, died before her, as did her brother, Robert Ransom, and her sister, Sylvia Wengert.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Reilly & Son Funeral Home in Voorheesville. Burial was in the New Scotland Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Helderberg Reformed Church Youth Fund, 435 Main St., Guilderland Center, NY 12085.
— Saranac Hale Spencer
Vincent A. Germani
WESTERLO — Vincent A. Germani, of Westerlo, a long-time equipment coordinator with a passion for NASCAR, died unexpectedly, at his home on Nov. 22, 2006. He was 60.
He was born in New York City on April 11, 1946, the son of Lucy (Robasco) Germani and the late Vincent Germani.
He had been an equipment coordinator for the Albany County Department of Public Works in Voorheesville.
"He enjoyed his work and was an avid fan of NASCAR and collected NASCAR and Lionel Train memorabilia. He also enjoyed his Harley Davidson motorcycle," his family wrote in a tribute.
He is survived by his mother, Lucy Germani; his wife, Josephine (Proscia) Germani; his children, Vincent Germani and his wife, Ruthie, of Westerlo, David Germani and his wife, Sara, of Westerlo, Stephanie Audino and her husband, Keith, of Berne, Jennifer Gibbs and her husband, Brian, of Berne; and nine grandchildren.
His is also survived by a brother, Gene Germani; a sister, Hilda Gerhard and her husband, Glen; a nephew, Matthew; and a niece, Christina.
Funeral services were held on Monday at the Cunningham Funeral Home in Greenville, with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. John the Baptist Church. Interment was in the Westerlo Rural Cemetery.
Katherine Sylvia Narrow Kunkel
ALTAMONT – Katherine Sylvia Narrow Kunkel, a dedicated teacher and avid reader, died Sunday, Nov., 26, 2006, at her daughter’s home in Altamont, following a lengthy illness. She was 87.
Mrs. Kunkel, who was known as Kay, was born in Norwood, N.Y. on March 7, 1919 to the late Francis and Nora Davis Narrow. She was the ninth, and last surviving of 11 children.
Mrs. Kunkel graduated from Potsdam State Teachers’ College in 1938, at age 19, and began her extensive teaching career. She was the first of her brothers and sisters to graduate from college, her son Joseph Kunkel said.
In the late 1930s, while working as a camp counselor at a summer camp for kids with tuberculosis near Utica, Mrs. Kunkel met Lambert J. Kunkel. They were married in 1941. They had seven children.
She taught in Rome, N.Y. and Schweinfurt, Germany. She was both an elementary school teacher, and taught math on the secondary level. While teaching at Staley Junior High School in Rome, she was the faculty advisor for the National Junior Honor Society for several years.
"She was a master teacher," her son said. She did a lot of tutoring, he said. He remembers having many different kids in the house for tutoring sessions.
"She got a lot of kids through the Regents," her daughter Jacqueline Ash said of the challenging statewide exams.
Mrs. Kunkel was very proud that she taught many different levels of students, her son said. She taught remedial classes, honors classes, and, when she had the time, she taught classes for parents on how to help their kids with their math assignments, he said.
When Mrs. Kunkel retired from the Rome City School District in 1974, she and her family moved to Germany, where she taught school for the Department of Defense. They lived there for 11 years.
While living in Germany, the Kunkels were able to travel throughout Europe. Mrs. Kunkel became an enthusiast of British monumental brasses. She began doing her own brass rubbings, and each of her children has one that she made, her daughter said.
Mrs. Kunkel really valued education, and thought it was important, her daughter said. All seven of her children graduated from college, she said.
Mr. Kunkel died in 2004.
Mrs. Kunkel had been living for several years with her daughter, Mrs. Ash and her husband, Clayton Ash, in Altamont, and spending her summers in Sandy Pond, N.Y.
Mrs. Ash said that she will likely miss her mother’s smile and being able to talk with her most.
"She was an interesting person," she said. "I’m really going to miss her."
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Mrs. Kunkel is survived by her seven children: Joseph Kunkel, and his wife, Mary Helen, of Guilderland; David Kunkel, and his wife, Barbara, of Guilderland; Michael Kunkel, and his wife, Marie-France, of Rome; Peter Kunkel, and his wife, Mary Beth, of Herndon, Va; Gretchen Feussner of Arlington, Va; Jacqueline Ash, and her husband, Clayton, of Altamont; and Kristine Schrepel, and her husband, Eric, of Hudson, Fla.
She is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Tracy Dyer, Kathleen Moffet, Joelle Kunkel, Michael Kunkel, Daniel Kunkel, Krista Mazzella, Jennifer Cox, Lauren Cook, Edward Ash, Joseph Ash, Jeffrey Ash, and Amy Schrepel. She is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be held today (Thursday) at the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont from 7 to 9 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church in Rome, N.Y. Burial will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Rome.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 1 Marcus Blvd., Albany, NY 12205.
— Rachel Dutil
Mildred Mae Walker Stahl
GUILDERLAND – Mildred Mae Walker Stahl, who enjoyed sewing, quilting, and flower gardening, died on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006, at the Hospice of Lake and Sumter in Tavares, Fla. She was 88.
Mrs. Stahl was born on Jan. 4, 1918, to Melissa Barrett and William Walker. She was their eighth child.
Mrs. Stahl was married to her husband, Leopold Stahl Jr., for 52 years.
She was a resident of Guilderland for 65 years. Mrs. Stahl was very active in the McKownville Methodist Church, where she was a member for 60 years, her son Russell Stahl said. She was a long-time superintendent for the church’s Sunday school.
Mrs. Stahl retired to Hibiscus Park in Mount Dora, Fla., where she spent the last 40 winters.
"She was a lovely lady," her son said.
Mrs. Stahl had always wanted to visit the west coast of the United States, her son said, but her husband wasn’t interested in traveling.
So together, Mrs. Stahl, and her son, Russell, took a three-week-long bus tour of the west coast, he said. They toured national parks and the cities of San Francisco and Las Vegas, he said.
"She just loved it all," he said. "She really got a kick out of Las Vegas."
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Mrs. Stahl is survived by her two children: Russell Stahl, and his wife, Valerie, of Livingston Manor; and Marjorie Bayer, and her companion, Michael McGarvey, of Ballston Spa.
She is also survived by her grandchildren: Martin Stahl, and his wife, Patricia, of Livingston Manor; Michael Stahl, and his wife, Kim, of Livingston Manor; John Harris, Daniel Harris, and Thomas Bayer, all of Saratoga Springs; and Holly Bayer, and her companion, James Pasquarell, of Cohoes.
She is also survived by her five great-grandchildren: Mikaela Stahl, Molly Stahl, Megan Eisenberg, Tegan Kern, and Adam Kern.
Calling hours will be held at Fredendall Funeral Home at 199 Main St. in Altamont, on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the McKownville Methodist Church at 1565 Western Ave. in McKownville. Burial will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Guilderland.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lake and Sumter, 12300 Lane Park Rd., Tavares, FL 32778.
— Rachel Dutil
Eugene A. Stutz
GUILDERLAND — Eugene "Bumpy" Stutz — a farmer, a charter member of the Fort Hunter Fire Company, and a founding member of the Lynnwood Reformed Church — died on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, at the Albany County Nursing Home.
He was 88.
The son of the late Mathias and Marie Stutz, Mr. Stutz worked as a foreman for many years on the Bigsbee Farm in Guilderland. He then purchased a portion of the farm, which later became the Stutz Farm. He was a former board member of the Capital District Cooperative, Inc. Farmers Market in Menands.
As a youth, Mr. Stutz was a memb
er of the Osborne Corners 4-H Club and later on, leader in Fuller Follies 4-H Club. He was also an avid bowler
Mr. Stutz is survived by his wife, Edwina M. Krausse Stutz; one son, Keith A. Stutz, of Guilderland; four daughters, Kathleen M. Lavigne, of Delanson, Karen E. Messercola, and her husband, Robert, of Guilderland, Kristen P. VanZandt, of Canton, Mich., and Kim A. Grippin, of East Berne; and one stepson, Richard J. Krausse, of Sanderson, Fla.
He is also survived by two sisters, Olga Gray, of Hornell, N.Y., and Elizabeth Markgraf, of Lodi, Wis.; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
His first wife, Ella Longendyke Stutz, died before him as did his son, Kenneth E. Stutz; his brother, Alois Stutz; and three sisters, Eleanor Barrie, Virginia Melius, and Marie Stutz.
A memorial service was held on Tuesday at the Lynnwood Reformed Church in Guilderland and arrangements were by Fredendall Funeral Home of Altamont, with calling hours at DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home in Guilderland. A graveside committal service was held Tuesday morning at Memory’s Garden in Colonie.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lynnwood Reformed Church Memorial Fund, 3700 Carman Rd., Schenectady, NY 12303.
Hazel E. Swint
BERNE — Hazel E. Swint, a homemaker with a passion for music and dancing who loved taking rides in the country, died on Friday, Nov. 24, 2006, at the Guilderland Center Nursing Home. She was 77.
Her family describes her as a "devoted mother" to her eight children and as a loving grandmother and great-grandmother to her 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Born in Summit, N.Y. on July 16, 1929, she was a long-time resident of Berne.
She was married to Giles Swint Sr., who died in April of 1986.
Mrs. Swint is survived by her children, Cheryl Schmidt and her husband, Stewart; Paulette Payne and her husband, Michael; James Swint and his wife, Kim; Margaret Cintula and her husband, John; Giles Swint Jr., and his wife, Karen; Michael Swint and his wife, Mary; Maureen Ellis; and Charles Swint and his wife, Jane.
Mrs. Swint is also survived by her grandchildren, Chasity McGivern and her husband, John; Che Smith, and spouse, Kim; Shawn Schmidt and his wife, Joye; Jennifer Colbert; Kevin Swint and his wife, Erica; Abigail Swint; Matthew Cintula and his wife, Rachel; Christopher Cintula; Heather Cintula; Lindsey Swint; Ashley Swint; Drew Swint; Kayla Swint; Michael Swint, and Charles and Derek Swint.
She is survived, too, by nine great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by her sisters and brothers, Gladys Lashaway, Emma Guy, William Sisson, Evelyn Dearstyne, and Shirley Akeley, Alice Stopa, Linda Knight, Roger Allen, Linda Aitken, Darlene Althifer, and Debbie Allen.
Her mother, Margaret Allen, and her sister, Leola Sisson, died before her.
A funeral service will be held today (Thursday) at 10 a.m. at the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont. Calling hours were held last night and interment will be held in Woodlawn Cemetery in Berne.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Berne Reformed Church, 1663 Helderberg Trail, Berne, NY 12023, or to the Helderberg Rescue Squad, Post Office Box 54, East Berne, NY 12059.