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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 2016)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2016 OBITUARIES RUSSELL—Karen Jane Russell, 53, of Florence, passed away Jan., 18, 2016, at home sur- rounded by her family. She died of a brain tumor that she coura- Karen Russell g e o u s l y fought for five years. Karen was born April 28, 1962, to Byron and Reta Pengra. She was the youngest of their five children. Born and raised in Florence, she attended school and gradu- ated from Siuslaw High School in 1980. After high school, she attended Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, where she pursued a diploma in medical sciences. She returned to Portland, Ore., after college and worked in the dental field. She also worked in Eugene. Eighteen years after leaving Florence, Karen and her family moved back to Florence to be closer to friends and family. Throughout her life, she worked in the care and service to others. She worked in the dental field, medical field, as a Certified Nursing Assistant and as a teaching assistant in the Siuslaw School District. Karen was kind and loved fiercely and deeply. She was quick-witted, funny and knew how to have a good time. Karen’s laugh was conta- gious and she laughed easily. She was a great cook and an avid sports fan. Her devotion to the Oregon Ducks and the Denver Broncos was intense. She had a life-size standup poster board of John Elway in her entryway at one time. What a fan! If asked, Karen would tell you that the best thing she did in her life was being a mother to her daughter, Kelcee, and her son, Justin. She did every- thing she could to allow them to succeed in life. She loved them unconditionally and understood the trials of grow- ing up. She always wanted them to learn from her mistakes and was honest in sharing her feel- ings and concerns with them. Karen is survived by her daughter, Kelcee Pengra; son Justin Russell; sisters: Sue Scarberry and husband Dan, Joyce Rines and husband Eric, and Teresa Anderson; her brother, Bob Pengra and his wife, Lyn; and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by spe- cial friends Tim Mcginnis and Debbie and Kip Mckay. A celebration of life will be held today, Jan. 30, from 2 to 4 p.m., at The Riverside Restaurant, 1340 Bay St.. Burns’s Riverside Chapel Florence Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements. JACKSON—A celebration of life for longtime resident and author Bob Jackson will be held Sunday, Jan. 31, begin- ning at 1 p.m., at the Florence Events Center. The public is invited to attend. DI GIORGIO—John Di Giorgio, 91, formerly of John Di Giorgio Florence, died Jan. 22, 2016. He was born Jan. 14, 1925, in the family home in Somerville, Mass., the son of Joseph Anthony Di Giorgio and Josephine (Brescia) Di Giorgio of Boston. A 1943 graduate of Somerville High School in Boston, John served 24 months in the European Theater with the U.S. Army. He landed on Utah Beach, Normandy, on D- Day +11. He served across France and Germany and was in Czechoslovakia at war’s end. Returning to the U.S., his ship was nearly sunk in a North Atlantic hurricane Christmas, 1945. His crippled ship limped into the Azores, and eventually the men were transferred to the aircraft carrier Enterprise for the voyage to New York City. The entire return trip, sched- uled to take eight days, lasted exactly one month. One of John’s strongest memories of World War II was of war-weary vets on the ship crying, feeling certain they would not survive the storm. This likely explains John’s lifelong refusal to take a pleas- ure cruise! Discharged January 1946, by March he began 16 years of studies in biochemistry that included a bachelor of science in chemistry, with minors in math and physics, from Northeastern University; mas- ters and doctorates in Biochemistry from University of Buffalo and post-doctoral work in clinical chemistry at the University of Washington. He also had research posi- tions at Washington State College (now university), Boston University School of Medicine and two stints at the Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health. Entering the industry in 1966, John spent 15 years with Dow Chemical Health Sciences, developing blood chemistry tests and reagent sets, helping to set up the Diagnostic Products group at Dow Lepetit in Milan, Italy, and researching hemodialysis therapy for patients with kid- ney failure. He later performed research at two venture capital-funded COURTS Florence Municipal Court Jan. 19 Byron Leroy Barnett plead- ed guilty to criminal trespass. He was sentenced to nine days in Florence City Jail. He must pay $50 in fines. Jan. 26 Nickolas Wayne Burch pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and attempting to possess methamphetamine. He was sentenced to six days in Florence City Jail. He must pay $525 in fines. Joseph Ryan Coldiron pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and unlaw- fully entering a motor vehicle. He was sentenced to five days in Florence City Jail. He must pay $1,131 in fines and not contact or be in or about the residence or place of employ- ment of the victim. Aaron Solomona Teo plead- ed no contest to theft, harass- ment and resisting arrest. He was sentenced to seven days in Florence City Jail and must report to Emergence Addiction and Mental Health Services. He must pay $525 in fines and not contact or be in or about the premises or place of employment of the victim. Jessica Nicole Daggs plead- ed no contest to resisting arrest. She was sentenced to two days in Florence City Jail. She must pay $825 in fines. Tanner Glen Mace pleaded guilty to theft. He was sen- tenced to six days in Florence City Jail. He must pay $525 in fines and not contact or be in or about the residence or place of employment of the victim. Melvin Bruce Lytle pleaded no contest to harassment. He was sentenced to six days in Florence City Jail and must report to Emergence Addiction and Mental Health Services and Siuslaw Batterer’s Intervention Pro- gram. He must pay $505 in fines and not contact or be in or about the residence or place of employment of the victim. companies before spending eight fulfilling years in public service at the State of California Genetic Disease Laboratory for newborn babies in Berkeley. Following retirement, John and Barbara settled in Florence for 22 wonderful years. John greatly enjoyed play- ing saxophone and clarinet with many bands including the Yachats Big Band, the Florence Saxophone Quartet and the Florence Community Concert Band, as well as in the pit orchestra of many musi- cals. He and Barbara were active volunteers for the Florence Events Center and treasured the dear friendships they devel- oped through the Presbyterian Church of the Siuslaw and Florence Rotary Club. Declining health forced a move back to California in June 2015, where he passed away at home with Barbara and his sons at his side. He is the beloved husband of 58 years to Barbara Ann Di Giorgio; father of Marlene (d.1972), Carl of Lafayette, Calif., and Brian of Oakland, Calif.; father-in-law to Mary Di Giorgio and Elizabeth Southwick Adam; “Papa” to grandsons Evan and Connor Di Giorgio; beloved uncle of Joanne Bryanos and Janet Taylor, both of Nahant, Mass.; and loved by the Di Giorgio families throughout the Boston area. A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6, at Grace Presbyterian Church, Walnut Creek, Calif. The family will also hold a service in Florence in the spring. BIRTH JOHNSON—Odin Nikias Johnson, a boy weighing 7 lbs., 9 ozs., was born to Daryl Chante Wood and Jacob Michael Johnson of Florence on Jan. 23, 2016, at 5:49 p.m., at PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center. Kiwanis to begin offering See’s Candy for sweethearts The Florence Kiwanis Club is once again selling See’s Candy. The Kiwanis will set up its candy display beginning Monday, Feb. 1, in the Florence Sears Showroom at Sixth Street and Highway 101, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. The drive will continue until the candy is sold out. This year’s candy selection includes Valentine specialties and discounted one- and two- pound boxes of assorted chocolates, nuts and chews and dark chocolates. The See’s Candy sale is a fundraiser for the Florence Kiwanis Club. All proceeds from the sale support programs for children and youth in the community. For more information, call 541-997-3455. CITY LIGHTS CINEMAS 1930 Hwy 101 • Florence, OR 97439 TIMES BELOW ARE ONLY VALID FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 $9 Regular/$8 Senior or Student/$7.50 Matinee/$7 Child/$6.50 Member | Performing Arts $19/$15/$10 NO SURCHARGE FOR 3D – GLASSES TO KEEP $2 NEW: The Finest Hours (PG-13) – Tells the true story of a 1952 rescue by the Coast Guard after a massive nor’easter strikes New England, including the SS Pendleton, an oil tanker bound for Boston. Stars Casey Affleck, Chris Pine and Eric Bana. Daily: 12:20, 6:20 NEW: The Finest Hours 3D – With more advanced and thrilling effects than The Perfect Storm. Fri-Sat: 3:30, 8:30 | Sun-Thu: 3:20 NEW: Kung Fu Panda 3 (PG) – “Emotionally, dramatically and perhaps most of all visually, this delightful trilogy capper is almost as generously proportioned as its cuddly warrior hero.” Variety Fri: 3:30, 9:00 | Sat: 11:00am, 3:30, 9:00 | Sun – Thu: 3:30 NEW: Kung Fu Panda 3 3D (PG) Fri: 12:30, 6:00 | Sat: 1:15, 6:10 | Sun, Mon: 12:30, 6:00 | Tue: 1:10, 7:45 | Wed, Thu: 12:30, 6:00 The Revenant - 156 min (R) – “A riveting saga of pain, grit and the brute moral relativism of revenge... The Revenant is one of the best pictures of the year.” MovieNation Fri: 12:10, 3:00, 5:45, 8:50 | Sat: 3:00, 5:45, 8:50 | Sun, Mon: 12:10, 3:00, 6:00 Wed: 12:10, 3:00, 6:10 | Tue, Thu: 12:10, 3:00, 6:00 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi - 144 min (R) – “…a well-photographed, visceral action film, and a sincere and fitting tribute to those secret soldiers.” Chicago Sun-Times Fri, Sat: 12:00, 3:10, 6:10, 9:10 | Sun, Mon, Tue: 12:00, 3:10, 6:10 Wed: 12:00, 3:10 | Thu: 12:00, 3:10, 6:10 Special Events: Jane Eyre - 180 min – Encore of this fantastic National Theatre Live production Sat: 11:00am – The Bronte classic brought to theatrical life with unique staging and gorgeous music A Ballerina's Tale – True Story Tuesdays returns! Tue: 11:00am, 5:45 – The rise of ballerina Misty Copeland and her return a devastating injury. Bolshoi Ballet: The Lady Of The Camellias (NR) – Our 1 st Bolshoi! Join us. Wed: 6:00 – Critics praised the Moscow production of John Neumeier’s adaptation. Music by Chopin. WWW.CITYLIGHTSCINEMAS.COM Keep your heart happy Who do you love with all your heart? Turns out the same people who warm your heart can help keep it healthy too. They inspire us to stay heart healthy. If you need more support in your pursuit of heart health, PeaceHealth is here with screenings, nutrition advice and teams of specialists who never miss a beat. Learn more about local heart health events sponsored by PeaceHealth at peacehealth.org/heart. #hearthappy CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 2 A