Published: 2/6/04

Plattsburgh — Alexander L. Krusz Sr., 90, of Johnson Avenue, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

He was born in Vandergrift, Pa., on Dec. 1, 1913, son of the late Theodore and Marie (Michalowski) Krusz.

Alexander was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Force, stationed in Puerto Rico. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 125 in Plattsburgh, the American Legion Post 20 in Plattsburgh and the Plattsburgh Senior Citizens. Alexander was an active golfer and enjoyed walking.

Alexander is survived by his wife, Betty Jane (Corodimas) Krusz of Plattsburgh; one son, Alexander Krusz Jr. and his wife Shirley of Fort Worth, Texas; five grandchildren, Richard Scott and Karen of San Diego, Calif., John Scott and Evelyn of Keeseville, Susan Lauze and Joe of Lewiston, Maine, Jay Ann Stevens and Craig of Plattsburgh and Victoria Scott of San Diego, Calif.; and eight great-grandchildren.

Alexander was predeceased by his wife Julia; and a daughter, Elizabeth Scott.

A funeral service will be held Saturday at noon from Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. Burial will be later in the year in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Plattsburgh Senior Citizens.

Plattsburgh — Mrs. Colleen M. LaFave, 80, of Meadowbrook Health Care Facility, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on Sept. 20, 1923, the daughter of Eugene E. and Kathleen (Brothers) Light.

Colleen enjoyed playing bingo and garage sales. She retired from CVPH Medical Center after many years of service and she was a member of St. Peter’s Church.

Colleen was predeceased by her parents; and her husband, Robert M. LaFave.

She is survived by her only son, Donald J. Dube, and his wife Beverly A. of Sciota; four grandchildren, Lisa M. Trombley and her husband Todd of Champlain, Scott M. Dube and his fiancée Nancy Mills of Chazy, Steven J. Dube and his wife Tammy of Sciota and Camilla M. Dube and her companion Rodney Duprey of Altona; and eight great-grandchildren, Chris, Craig, Bradley, Joshua, Lauren, Ryan, Parker and Nicholas.

Calling hours will be Saturday from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at 2 p.m. from St. Peter’s Church.

Interment will be later this year at St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Keene — Madelyn F. Pulver Wessman, 90, of Keene, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, at the Adirondack Medical Center, Saranac Lake.

She was born in Pittsfield, Mass., on Jan. 28, 1914, the daughter of Henry C. and Alice (O’Keefe) Roberts.

She lived in West Pittsfield, Mass., with her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John O’Keefe until her marriage to Henry Pulver. She later lived in Columbia County, N.Y., Pittsfield and Lanesboro, Mass., and worked in the former Pittsfield General Hospital as an EKG technician.

After becoming a widow, she married HaroId R. Wessman. She was a communicant of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Lanesboro. She and her husband moved to the Adirondacks in 1991, where she was a member of the First Baptist Church in Jay.

She is survived by her husband Harold; a son, Donald H. Pulver of Cheshire, Mass.; a sister, Marian R. Moore of East Longmeadow, Mass.; a brother, John F. Roberts and his wife Theresa of Ellington, Conn.; a daughter-in-law, Deborah Pulver Heath of Egremont, Mass.; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Another son, John A. Pulver, predeceased her.

Calling hours will be Sunday from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m., followed by funeral services at 1 p.m. at the Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home, AuSable Forks. A reception will follow the funeral service at the Fellowship Hall of Jay Baptist Church. Burial will be at a later date in Norton Cemetery, Keene.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 64421, St. Paul, MN 55164-0421 in memory of Madelyn.

Lyon Mountain — Joan W. LeClair, of Lyon Mountain, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Massena, the daughter of Oswald and Rose (Egley) Walker.

She was a member of St. Bernard’s Church in Lyon Mountain.

She is survived by two sons and daughters, Joseph and Sharon LeClair of Lyon Mountain and John and Carol LeClair; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Joan and Joe Houser of Cohoes, Judith and Anthony Dashnaw of Clayburg and Jean LeClair of Lyon Mountain; a brother and sister-in-law, David and Susie Walker of Johnson City, Tenn.; eight grandchildren, Megan and John LeClair Jr., Jeff LeClair and Jodie Finlayson, Anthony Dashnaw Jr., Candace Brennan, Tracey Cherney and Chris LaClair; and three great-grandchildren.

Her husband, Joseph L. LeClair, died on Oct. 6, 1970. Her parents and a son-in-law, Joseph Getavesky, also died earlier.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Lyon Mountain Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday from St. Bernard’s Church in Lyon Mountain. Interment will follow in Whispering Maples Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Ellenburg Depot.

Moriah — Walter F. Yakalis Sr., 85, of Harry Allen Road, Moriah, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, at Moses-Ludington Hospital in Ticonderoga, N.Y.

He was born in Lyon Mountain, N.Y., on Jan. 1, 1918, the son of Peter and Marcella (Kovalaski) Yakalis.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served in the battles of Naples-Foggia, the Rhineland, Rome-Arno and southern France. He was a self-employed logger and woodsman.

Walter is survived by his sons, Walter F. Yakalis Jr. and Thomas P. Yakalis of Moriah; his sister, Patricia Rodick of Clifton Park; and his grandchildren, Katheryne Yakalis, Marcella Yakalis, Thomas Yakalis and Caleb Yakalis.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Ann (Rytell) Yakalis; his sisters, Anna Tursik and Stella Dereski; and his brother, Thomas Yakalis.

Calling hours will be held Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church in Port Henry. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in the spring.

Donations may be made in Walter’s memory to the Town of Moriah Ambulance Squad.

Forrest Benjamin Cranker, age 13 months, of 168 Old Lake Colby Rd., Saranac Lake, died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt., as a result of an automobile accident.

He was born in Saranac Lake, N.Y., on Dec. 19, 2002, the son of James S. and Joy (Brown) Cranker.

Friends may call at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake on Sunday from noon until 1 p.m. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Carol Drew, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating.

Geneva V. Denno, 70, of Hague, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, at her residence.

She was born in Hague on July 1, 1933.

Calling hours will be Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga. A funeral service will follow on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Marjorie J. Floor, rector of the Episcopal Church of the Cross of Ticonderoga, will officiate. Burial will take place at the family plot of the Valley View Cemetery of Ticonderoga in the spring.

Egbert (Bert) Harris, 75, of Stone Street, Port Henry, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004, at Moses-Ludington Hospital in Ticonderoga.

Bert was born in Glens Falls, N.Y., on May 16, 1928.

There will be no services at this time.

Thomas Miller of Ivy Terrace, Tupper Lake, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004, at his home.

Calling hours will be held at the Richer Funeral Home on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held Monday at a time to be announced at St. Alphonsus Parish. Burial with full military honors will be held in the spring.

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Press-Republican, 170 Margaret St., P.O. Box 459, Plattsburgh, NY 12901

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