Wallace John Cropper
Wallace John Cropper
Wallace John “Wally” Cropper, 94, of Anna Maria Island, died Feb. 8.
He lived on the island for more than 20 years, enjoying with his wife the beach, bike rides and beautiful weather.
He was born Oct. 8, 1926, in New York City to LeRoy and Annie of Suffern, New York.
He graduated from Horace Mann High School in New York City, then Brown University and the University of Michigan, with a master’s in geology.
He served honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was a member of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers and the Society of Economic Geologists.
As a mining and metal exploration geologist, he worked and lived in numerous locations during a 35-year period, including five years in the Andes Mountains of northern Argentina.
He retired in Watertown, New York, as chief geologist with St. Joe Resources.
He moved to Florida from Wells, Maine, in 1987.
Memorial donations can be made to The Brown Fund, Division of Advancement, Box 1893, Providence, RI 02912.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria Hall; children Robert C. and wife Marie of Warwick, Rhode Island; Lorraine and husband Mark Clough of Peacham, Vermont; grandson Ben S. Clough of Boston; stepsons John Hall of Sarasota and Timothy and wife Ellen Hall of San Diego.
C. Melissa Williams
C. Melissa Williams
C. Melissa Williams
Carole Melissa Williams, 53, of Perico Island and formerly of Holmes Beach, died Feb. 11.
She was born Jan. 24, 1968, in Belleville Township, New Jersey, and grew up near the Jersey Shore in Red Bank and Middletown. She graduated from Middletown High School and earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1990 in visual media communications, including film and television production, photography and ancient Roman, Medieval and Renaissance art and architecture from American University, College of Arts and Sciences, in Washington, D.C., and Rome, Italy.
Williams soon took a job in London at Sky Photographics, where she met the love of her life, her husband Frank Williams. She stayed in London 10 years.
She then took a job as a designer with a trade show company in Tampa and came to Anna Maria Island — where as a child, she had enjoyed many vacations with her family — to reside with Frank.
They were married July 4, 2001, on the beach.
She worked as a graphic designer at The Islander before starting a business with Frank in 2006, SteamDesigns, a graphic design studio, art gallery and fine art printing business. They were awarded small business of the year in 2009 from the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.
She branded dozens of businesses locally, including Anna Maria Island Vacations — the flip-flop logo — Isola Bella Italian Eatery and Ross Built, as well as Eat Here and the Doctor’s Office, along with marketing for the Beach Bistro.
She ran for a seat on the Holmes Beach City Commission in 2013, but was not elected.
She had a passion for the history of the island and its preservation and the arts, and collected island-related historical postcards.
And she was an avid baseball and soccer fan, an avid supporter for Arsenal and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In July 2019, the couple took on management positions at Island Mail and Print, transitioning her graphic designs — and a new logo — and Frank’s giclee print-making business to the mail store.
She is dearly missed by Frank and their many friends.
A celebration of life is being planned for a date yet unknown — to be announced on social media and in The Islander.
Memorial donations may be made to HOPE Family Services, P.O. Box 1624, Bradenton, FL 34206, or a call to 941-747-8499.
She is survived by her husband, Frank.
John Frederick Zirzow
John Frederick Zirzow
John Frederick Zirzow, 86, of Bradenton and formerly of Holmes Beach, died Feb. 7.
He was born Sept. 13, 1934, in La Porte, Indiana, to John and Lucille. He was one of four siblings.
He grew up in LaPorte, attending St. Peter Catholic School, where he went to church daily, sang in the choir and was an altar boy.
At the age of 14, he attended the St. Peter Football Team Banquet — the guest speaker was Notre Dame quarterback Johnny Lujack, who presented a trophy to the most valuable back. This sparked Mr. Zirzow’s lifelong love for Notre Dame.
He graduated from Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana.
After college, he proudly served in the U.S. Army 1957-59.
One of his first jobs was pumping gas, which led him to the career he enjoyed for 30-plus years with Amoco Oil.
During those years he moved to many different cities with his family, making many great friends who are still part of the family’s lives today.
After his beloved wife Connie died, he became a longtime resident of Anna Maria Island, where he met his wife, Karen Clothier. They settled on the island, creating many memories with family and friends.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Messages of condolences may be posted online at What’s New LaPorte.
He is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Karen; daughter Lory and husband Dave Grames of Fort Wayne, Indiana; son Bryan and wife Chris of Vernon Hills, Illinois; son Greg and fiance Maggie Hartzler of Galena, Ohio; stepsons Bob and wife Kim Clothier and Cris Clothier of Colorado Springs, Colorado; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and sister Judy Bush of LaPorte.