Kevin J. Barile
Kevin Barile of Florida Tower Partners and Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale celebrate the raising of the Bradenton Beach cell tower Sept. 11, 2014. Islander Photo: Jack Elka
Kevin J. Barile, 50, died April 21 in Tampa.
Mr. Barile was a 1982 graduate of Plant High School and received a bachelor’s degree in building construction from the University of Florida.
After graduating, he worked for Harbert Construction. He then went back to school before graduating with his law degree from UF. He worked at Pinnacle Towers before starting Acme Towers in 1997. He founded Midwest Tower Leasing, which served 27 states before it merged with ClearShot Communications. He then went on to found Ridan Industries, where he worked in the tower industry
He was an animal lover and a supporter of both the ASPCA and the Humane Society.
A visitation was held April 25. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the ASPCA or The Humane Society.
He is survived by his mother, Sandra Barile, of Tampa; sister Dana Ruiz and husband Alan; their children, Alexa, Isabella and AJ, all of Tampa; sister Laura and husband David; their children Benjamin, Matthew and Joshua, all of California; and his Chihuahua, Gracie.
Ruth-Ann Herman
Ruth-Ann Herman, 94, died April 22 in Bradenton.
She was born in New York City and spent the summers of her youth in Milford, Connecticut, where she met husband Richard A. Herman at the age of 15. They married in 1941 and would have celebrated their 74th anniversary in August.
From 1948 until she retired in 1981, she was a kindergarten teacher in Milford.
After retirement, she and her husband spent winters in Holmes Beach.
She was an avid reader, a tennis and croquet player and a swimmer. She enjoyed playing bridge, socializing with many friends and cruising on the family sailboat.
In her later years, she took up watercoloring and had a show of her work in Milford in 2013.
A memorial will be held later this spring in Connecticut. Donations may be made to the Sierra Club or the World Wildlife Foundation.
She is survived by daughter Nancy A. and husband Patrick Decker; grandchildren Magen Tracy, Jeremiah Tracy, Sean Tracy and Olivia; nieces; and grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.
John J. Lach
John J. Lach, 88, Anna Maria, died April 22. He was born July 24, 1926, in Detroit, to the late John and Anna (Piotrowski) Lach.
He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and moved from Lincoln Park, Michigan to Anna Maria Island in the mid-1970s. He was co-owner of J&J Graphics Screen Printing in Anna Maria. He was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach. He was an avid animal lover, and loved boating and fishing.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated April 25 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach with interment and final military honors at Skyway Memorial Gardens in Palmetto.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Bernard Catholic Church, the Manatee County Humane Society or Tidwell Hospice. Condolences may be made online at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.
He is survived by son Gary; brother Walter of Livonia, Michigan; sisters Ann Miedlar and Sophie Bennett, both of Redford, Michigan; many nieces and nephews; and close friend and business associate Joan Carter of Bradenton.
Martha Wiersema
Martha Wiersema, 90, of Bradenton, died April 22. She was born Dec. 2, 1924, in Chicago, and moved to the Bradenton area 52 years ago from Hickory Hills, Illinois.
She was a member of the Bradenton Christian Reformed Church.
Visitation will be Tuesday, April 28, 10-11 a.m. at the Bradenton Christian Reformed Church, 4208 26th St. W., Bradenton. A funeral service will follow. Memorial donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice Care of Bradenton, 3355 26th St. W.
She is survived by four sons, Robert of Bradenton, Daniel of Holmes Beach, Carl of Texas and Michael of Kentucky; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.