Alois Grant Beer
Alois Grant Beer, 75, died March 1. He was born in Monroe, Wisconsin, April 24, 1941, and was the oldest of two children of Alois “Allie” Beer and Betty Smith Beer.
He graduated from high school in Monroe in 1959. He attended Stout State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial education in 1964 and a master’s degree in 1965. He taught industrial education at Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wisconsin, until he moved his family to Anna Maria Island in 1971. He taught at Bradenton High School.
In 1972, he moved his family to Wisconsin Dells to become manager and owner of the Showboat Saloon until his sons graduated from college. He was an active member of the community and the Jaycees.
He moved to back to Florida to be with his mother in Bradenton and began doing home enhancements until his retirement.
He enjoyed playing golf and was an active member of the Moose lodge and the Anna Maria Island Privateers.
He liked to travel with friends for Nascar events and with his sons to play golf and watch Green Bay Packers games.
A memorial service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 8, at St. Joseph Church in Bradenton. Memorial donations may be made to the Privateers, P.O. Box 1238, Holmes Beach FL 34218; or Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota FL 34238.
He is survived by sons Scott and wife Sarah of Lawrence, Kansas, and Tony and wife Andrea of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin; granddaughters, Karly, Taylor and Morgan; niece Rebecca and husband Brian Folkerts; and fiancée Marlene Thebert.
Marie Franklin
Marie Franklin, 76 of Holmes Beach, died Feb. 25.
She was born Nov. 2, 1940, in Tampa, to the late Bennie and Antoinette Scanio. She was a longtime resident of Anna Maria Island, having moved here at the age of 5.
She attended Roser Memorial Community Church in Anna Maria, where she was married in 1960. She was the owner of Anna Maria Realty for many years and started working as a broker when the agency was known as Blassingame Realty.
She was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Norman M. in 2015, and a brother Benji Scanio.
A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 11, at Roser Memorial Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Memorial donations may be made to Southeastern Guide Dogs, Paws for Patriots, 4210 77th St. E. Palmetto FL 34221. Condolences may be made online at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.
She is survived by daughters Dina Franklin of Anna Maria and Dawn and husband Dusty Bates of Bradenton; sister Rosemary and husband Roy Griscom of Holmes Beach; grandchildren Johnathon, Tiffany, Tyler and Travis; her faithful companion Zion; and many extended family members and friends.
James W. ‘Jim’ Kissick Jr
Retired U.S. Navy Cdr. James W. “Jim” Kissick Jr., 92, of Bradenton Beach, died Feb. 24.
A descendant of pioneers, including the individual responsible for the formation of Manatee County in 1855, and a grandfather who represented the steamship line serving the travel needs to Tampa from the 1880s until 1909, who then became director of the Seaboard Rail Line.
Mr. Kissick was born on Terra Ceia Island in 1924 to the late James W. and Mabel (Armstrong) Kissick. He graduated from Palmetto High School and entered the U.S. Navy in June 1942, and served as a combat air crewman in dive bombers over Japan, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, the battleship Yamato, and others.
He earned a bachelor’s of science degree in aviation operations engineering in 1948 and accepted a U.S. Navy commission. As a pilot he qualified in many props, all early jet fighters, as an airship commander, and extensively in anti-sub helicopters. In late 2014, he learned he was the only known quadruple-qualified pilot of all active/retired aviators.
His unusual military career also included carrier bridge qualifications to task-force level. During Vietnam, he served as staff operations officer of the Amphibious Ready Group, and later, in Southern Command, became the military assistance director for Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross and many other awards. He also received several “Winged S” awards from Skikorsy Helicopters for saving lives and being saved by their aircraft.
Military retirement in 1967 led to piloting a helicopter for a newspaper in Illinois. Concurrently, he became technical editor, columnist, feature writer and test pilot for a world-class aviation magazine.
Returning to Florida in 1971, Mr. Kissick flew for corporations, operated his own aerial advertising business and was twice elected as city councilman in Bradenton Beach. For a period, he managed a helicopter company in Louisiana, and, later he led an airline/helo company serving the Bahamas.
In Manatee County, his memberships included the Veteran’s Council, Military Order of the World Wars, the Naval Aviation “Squadron,” the Military Officers Association, the American Legion, the Manatee County and Anna Maria historical societies and others. He also was a member of Roser Memorial Community Church and sang for 23 years in a Methodist choir.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at Christ Episcopal Church, 4030 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, with final honors by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard. Memorial donations may be made to Manasota Operation Troop Support, 4301 32nd St. W., Suite C-20, Bradenton FL 34205. Condolences may be made at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.
He is survived by wife Marcella of Bradenton Beach; son James W. III of Bradenton; daughters Anita and husband Tony Walters of Springfield, Illinois, Peggy and husband Jerry Jamison of Denver, Ginger McLin and Mary Kay Vanasse both of Bradenton; step-son Thomas and wife Yvonne Tryon of Ellenton; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren; and friends.
Marie Elaine Vandeman
Marie Elaine Vandeman, 91, of Holmes Beach, died March 1.
She grew up in St. Clair, Michigan, the daughter of Theo and Myra Rose Southworth Eddy and sister of Ruth Eddy Harris and brother Paul.
She graduated from Western Michigan University in 1947. She was the first woman to serve as student body president.
After being widowed in 1968, she raised their three young sons and worked as a social worker.
In 1978, she met and married Ron Vandeman.
She and her husband moved to Henderson, Kentucky, in 1981 and began volunteering.
Upon retiring to Holmes Beach, she enjoyed volunteering with turtle watch and was active in Roser Memorial Community Church, chairing and participating on several committees and boards.
She became interested in watercolor and was known for her hand-painted Christmas cards.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18, at Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, with a reception to follow. Memorial donations may be made to Roser Church, P.O. Box 247, Anna Maria FL 34216, or Tidewell Hospice, 3355 26th St., Bradenton FL, 34205.
She is survived by husband Ron; sister Margaret Eddy Zimmer of Clive, Iowa; children Jim Drum and wife Nanci of Midlothian, Virginia, Dave Drum and wife Kate of Newport, Washington, Steve Drum and wife Diane of Burlington, Kentucky, Julie Vandeman Woeste and husband Ron of Springboro, Ohio and Steve Vandeman and wife Emilie of Vandalia, Ohio; eleven grandchildren; and eleven great grandchildren.