Kim Ann Angell Thorstenson, 57, Died; Staples Grad, “tenacity and strength unmatched”
Kimberly 'Kim' Ann Angell Thorstenson- beloved mother, sister, daughter, and friend- passed away on October 22, 2022, at the age of 57 in Chattanooga, TN.
Kimberly grew up in Upstate New York, graduated Staples High School in Westport CT, and attended the American School of Paris while living in France. She graduated with honors in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University in 1987, and earned a masters in business administration from University of TN, Chattanooga.
She was a member and former president of the Kappa Alpha Theta Women's Fraternity, and graduated with numerous accolades and honors. Kimberly also excelled in business, and was recognized as one of the top employees during her career working at IBM.
After moving to Signal Mountain in 1994, Kim invested her time and energy into helping those in need, and acted as a leader in her community. Throughout the years, she was an active member and teacher in the Church, a CASA representative for the Chattanooga Juvenile Courthouse, and served on the Signal Mountain Social Services board in Finance and Development. She was invariably and wholeheartedly dedicated to all of those in her life.
Kimberly's tenacity and strength was unmatched, and her brilliance was evident in every activity she participated in. She will be dearly missed, but will always be remembered for the devotion, authenticity, and kindness she consistently radiated, and will live on through the many lives she continues to touch.
Her family includes daughters Noelle Elizabeth Thorstenson, Jenna Claire Thorstenson, and Kaedra Mae Thorstenson, former husband Jon Thorstenson, parents Carol Dee Angell and David Roger Angell, and sisters Janet Angell Frink, Jennifer Angell Shannon, and Karyn Angell.
Memorial services will be held at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church (612 James Blvd, Signal Mountain, TN 37377) on Friday, October 28th at 11:00am with The Reverend Dr. Andy Cornett hosting and The Reverend Margaret Ferguson officiating. A reception will follow at the Chattanoogan Hotel (1201 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402) between 2pm and 5pm to congregate and pay respects.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Kim's name be made to Signal Mountain Social Services at signalmountainsocialservices.org
Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory, Battlefield Parkway.
Published by Heritage Funeral Homes & Crematory from Oct. 26 to Oct. 28, 2022.
Martha Ordeman, 97, Died; “grew up in Westport, CT, where she met the love of her life, Skip, on the steps of the YMCA.”
Martha Ordeman, age 97, passed away on May 29, 2022, with her family by her side. Martha grew up in Westport, CT, where she met the love of her life, Skip, on the steps of the YMCA. She attended the University of Connecticut where she became a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She graduated in 1947. She and Skip were married the same June. They lived most of their early married years in Westport before moving to Dayton in 1963.
While raising five children, Martha still found time to volunteer. She was involved in many organizations such as Dayton Children's Hospital, AFS, Smith Gardens and St. Paul's Episcopal Church's Alter Guild. She was most proud of chairing the group of volunteers from St. Paul's that delivered meals for Meals on Wheels. She was best known for being there to help others in need. Many have enjoyed a meal from Martha delivered on a tray complete with homemade dessert and a flower in a small vase.
She was a competitive person when it came to sports and games. She enjoyed playing golf and bowling throughout her life. She was on the same bowling team, the Alley Cats, for over 50 years. She was a sharp card player. She continued to beat her family in Casino and double solitaire up until her final days. She was also in several bridge groups until 2020 when COVID prevented them from meeting.
Martha was a woman with many talents. She was a wonderful cook, an experienced seamstress and an avid gardener. She knitted beautiful sweaters for her family and made many cross stitch and embroidered items for family and friends. She was quite the "handy woman". She wallpapered, she painted, she made slipcovers and could fix about anything. She was one of the first among her friends to get a computer. After that she became Skip's secretary, typing many letters and notes for him and helping with all the committees he was on.
Skip and Martha traveled to many places in the U.S. and in other countries but their favorite home away from home was their condo on Sanibel Island. There they created many wonderful family memories. They were avid shellers. In their later years, they enjoyed sitting on the porch, looking out at the gulf and watching the younger family members continue the tradition of shelling.
Martha loved her family more than anything. She was a very caring and supportive wife, mom, grandma and great-grandma. She and Skip attended all their kids' activities and attended as many of the grandkids' activities as possible. She was predeceased by her husband Richard "Skip" Ordeman who died in 2020. They were married 72 years. She is survived, dearly missed and remembered by her children Susan Duncan (Jack), Janet Campbell (Doug), Nancy Downey (John), Linda Miller (Mike), Rick Ordeman (Constance), 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank all the caregivers from Loving Senior Home Care and the nurses and therapists from Fidelity that gave Martha such wonderful care. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 1:30 PM at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 33 W. Dixon Ave., Oakwood, OH. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Dakota Center, 33 Barnett Street, Dayton, OH 45402 in Martha's memory. To share a special memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.
Colonel Charles H. Gobrecht III, 82, Died; Staples Grad, Air Force Veteran
Charles H. Gobrecht, III
December 7, 1939 - September 26, 2022
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina - We celebrate the vibrant and full life of Colonel Charles H. Gobrecht III, who passed away peacefully at home on Hilton Head Island, SC on September 26, 2022, with his loving wife Karen Gobrecht at his side. He was welcomed to Heaven by the Lord and by the spirit of his beloved daughter Heather G. Holcomb, who preceded him is death in 2014.
Charles was born in Philadelphia, PA on December 7, 1939, and graduated from Staples High School in Westport, CT. He was an alumnus of The College of William and Mary and upon graduation in 1962 entered the US Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas. While there, he met and married a fellow lieutenant, Karen Marsh. They were assigned together to Kadena AB on Okinawa and traveled extensively throughout the Far East. Upon return to the US and completion of their master degrees at the University of Colorado, Charles served on the faculty for several years at the US Air Force Academy while Karen joined the faculty of the University of Colorado.
In 1974, Charles entered the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA, and was later appointed the Air Force Representative to the US State Department's Senior Seminar in International Affairs. In 1978, he became Air Attache at the American Embassy in London, and in 1986 was the Air Force representative to the 40-nation Conference on Disarmament with rotating postings at the State Department in Washington, the United Nations, and Geneva, Switzerland.
Following his retirement from the Air Force in 1988, Charles followed his passion to enter the sports management business. In 1990 he became Director of Events for ProServ based in Arlington, VA. Two years later Charles became Chief Operating Officer of USA Volleyball, The US Olympic National Governing Body including men's, women's, and beach teams.
In 2005, Charles retired to Hilton Head where he was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church and its Sanctuary Choir. With a deep commitment to the community, Charles held leadership positions in the Military Officers Association of America, the Hilton Head Island Military Veterans Coalition, the Indigo Run Community Owner Association (10 Years), The Golf Club at Indigo Run, the Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE), and the Boys and Girls Club of Hilton Head.
Charles enjoyed the game of golf with friends and was known for his relentless exercise routine. He loved to travel. Always curious and ready for the next adventure, Charles lived a very rich life. He was kind, grateful and generous.
Charles will be forever loved and missed by his surviving wife Karen Gobrecht; son, Stephen Van Rensselaer Gobrecht; daughter-in-law, Marsha Hartmetz Gobrecht; son-in-law, Sean Joseph Holcomb; granddaughters, Rachel Elizabeth Gobrecht and Haley Ann Holcomb, and grandson, Ren Alexander Gobrecht.
Memorial services will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 2:00pm. Burial at Beaufort National Cemetery will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Charles's memory to the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head, P.O. Box 22267,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29925, or the charity of your choice. Islandfuneralhome.com.
Robert “Bob” Weiss Died; “He will be missed by his loving family”
Robert E. Weiss (Bob), 1930 – 2022, died at his home in Westport, CT after an eight-year challenge with Lewy Body Dementia. His family was with him at the time of his passing.
Bob was born in the Bronx and attended James Monroe High School and New York University. He honorably served in the Coast Guard during the Korean War. Bob retired after many decades as president of F.M. Weiss Realty Company. He was an inveterate collector. His passions included antique cars, toys, stamps, tools of every shape and form, and DIY projects (for himself and unsuspecting neighbors).
He will be missed by his loving family: his wife of 67 years, Sylvia Weiss (Adler); his children, Amy Weiss (John Yankovich), Liz Weiss (Timothy Carruthers), and Marian Cherrone (Jim); his grandchildren, Joshua Carruthers, Simon Carruthers, and Andrea Yankovich; and his many friends.
He was predeceased by his older brother, Murray Weiss, and his parents, Albert and Sophia Weiss.