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Obituaries 4-24-07

THEO JOHNSON SAWYER  

Middlebury - Born June 9, 1912 on the Chalker Farm in New Haven, VT, Theo Sawyer enjoyed 94 years of memorable life as an elementary teacher and on the Ledgeholm Farm on Munger Street in Middlebury, VT. She married Gerald Sawyer in 1935 and together they owned and operated the farm with registered Holstein cattle from 1939-1984.

    Theo graduated from Beeman Academy in 1931 and Castleton Normal School in 1934. With a love for children, Theo entered the teaching profession with enthusiasm and a determination to inspire and educate children in diverse areas of VT. The towns in which she taught included Salisbury, Starksboro, New Haven Mills, Middlebury and Bristol. During the last 12 years of Theo's teaching career, she immensely enjoyed helping children as a reading specialist in the Ripton and New Haven schools.

    She was a life member of the VT Retired Teachers Association, a past president of the Addison County Home Demonstration Council, a member of the Middlebury Methodist and New Haven Congregational Churches where she enjoyed teaching Sunday School for many years.

    Theo lived in New Haven, Munger St., Painter Road and Brookside Drive in Middlebury and with her son Ron Sawyer in Reading, MA. During her retirement years she spent winters at Vista del Lago and Lakebridge in Bradenton, FL. For the last three years, Theo has been a resident of Addison House in Middlebury where she was able to interact and enjoy new friends. The family thanks the staff of the Addison House for the many acts of kindness and love during her stay as a resident.

    She is survived by a son Ronald Sawyer of Ferrisburgh, VT and Bradenton, FL, a daughter Beryl Notman and her husband Donald from Somers, CT, a granddaughter Heather Machado and her husband Arthur from Windsor, CT, a grandson Peter Notman from Enfield, CT and three great grandsons, Adam, Thomas and Tyler Machado. She is also survived by a sister-in-law Irene Johnson, Bristol, VT, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by three sisters Madeline Spencer, Ferrisburgh, VT, Muriel Thorn, Deerfield, MA, Wilma Begg, Manchester, CT, a brother Reginald Johnson, Bristol, VT, and a granddaughter Andrea Notman, Enfield, CT.

    Funeral services were held on Sunday April 22nd at New Haven Congregational Church. Interment was be in Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven. Contributions may be made to the New Haven Congregational Church, New Haven, VT 05472 or the Addison House, 152 College Street, Middlebury, VT 05753.

Robert M. Pramuk

Bristol - Robert Michael Pramuk, 66, of Bristol, Vermont, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 11, 2007.

     Bob was born on September 29, 1940 in Whiting, Indiana, the youngest son of Steve and Helen (Yager) Pramuk. Following two years of active duty in the Navy, Bob returned to complete his education, graduating from Purdue University in 1965 with a Bachelors Degree in Forestry and from Clemson in 1967 with a Masters in Recreation Management. He worked for the National Forestry Service for 30 years, first in California and for most of his career in the Green Mountain National Forest.  Working with the Youth Corps, Bob’s forestry responsibilities included oversight of the development of the Long Trail in the Rutland and Manchester regions of Vermont. Following his retirement in 1997, Bob continued to pursue two life-long passions. He was a true Vermont outdoorsman and loved to work in the woods. Cutting firewood helped him maintain his forestry roots. Snowmobiling was his winter recreation. Sugaring marked the end of winter and the beginning of the Model A circuit. Bob’s true love was “Helen”, his 1930 Model A Coupe. Bob pursed his passion for Model A’s in the Green Mountain Model A Club where he was a member for more than 20 years, the VAE (Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts) and the Green Mountain Slow Spokes Car Group. Summers for Bob revolved around the Model A car show circuit. Bob was a 32-year member of the Knights of Columbus, attaining the level of 3rd Degree, Rutland Council 232.

     Bob is survived by two brothers, Al and his wife Eileen Pramuk of Crossville, TN, and Rich and his wife Ann Pramuk of Highland, IN; six children, Jeff Senecal of Caselton, VT, Dawna Swahn of Rutland, VT, Marc Pramuk of Bolton, MA, Eric Pramuk of Wallingford, VT, Dana Johnson of Pittsford, VT and Kara Pramuk of West Warwick, RI; and by 10 grandchildren. Bob also leaves behind his true soul mate, Wilma Lea. They found one another in the year 2000 and together Bob and Wilma shared seven wonderful years. He will be deeply missed by his friends and family.

     A service in Bob’s memory and in celebration for his life was held at the Vergennes Congregational Church, 30 South Water Street, Vergennes, VT on Saturday, April 21, 2007.

    In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Bob’s name to the American Cancer Society, the Vermont Special Olympics or the Vergennes Lions Club.

Kenneth Thiess

Vergennes - Kenneth Thiess 89 died Friday April 13, 2007 at his home in Vergennes.

    He was born July 11, 1917 in Meadville, Pennsylvania the son of John and Marie (Kessler) Thiess.

    He was a veteran of World War II and graduated in 1949 from the University of Vermont as an Engineer. He was a Quality Control Manager at Simmonds Precision for twenty-five and a half years, and he was City Manager of Vergennes from 1974 to 1981.

    Kenneth is survived by his wife of 65 years, Vera (Ackerman) Thiess of Vergennes; a daughter, Carolyn Hollembaek of New Bern, North Carolina; three sons, William Thiess of Charleston, South Carolina; Thomas and Kevin Thiess of Vergennes, VT; two grandchildren, Kelly Brizendine of Fairport, NY; Thomas Hollembaek of Rochester, NY; two great grandchildren, Jack and Kate Hollembaek of Rochester, NY; several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by a sister and four brothers.

    A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. on Saturday May 12th at Prospect Cemetery in Vergennes. There will be no public calling hours. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Vergennes United Methodist Church Main St. Vergennes, VT 05491.   

Jeanne H. Bodette

Ferrisburgh - Jeanne H. Bodette, 80 died Sunday April 15, 2007 at her home in Ferrisburgh.

  She was born September 2, 1926 in Proctor, VT the daughter of Burt and Helen Clark Howland.

   She graduated from Brandon High School in 1944 and UVM in 1948. She married Harland E. Bodette on August 12, 1950 and he predeceased her in 1994. A teacher at Vergennes High School from 1948 to 1960, Ferrisburgh School Director from 1968 to 1974 and involved with Bixby Memorial Library from 1976 to 1991.

       To express Jeanne’s thanks her dear friend Janet Price helped her put into words her deepest thoughts.
                                    Many Thanks
                        We never know what lies ahead
                                    As we go on our way
                        And often times there comes the time
                                    A sad and lonely day.
 
                        It makes life so much easier
                        To share your woes with friends
                                    It lessens temporarily
                        The fear of how it ends.
 
                        I have so many friends to thank
                                    For all they’ve done for me
                        I have a list so very long
                        The end I cannot see
 
                        For all the lovely cards and flowers
                                    For al the tender care
                        I can’t begin to list them all
                        There’s always someone there
 
                        The calls from many caring friends
                        They brighten every day
                        I want to tell each one of you
                        You helped in every way.
 
                        To all the doctors I have seen
                                    The kindly nurses, too
                        And all Home Health and Hospice care
                                    I owe so much to you.
 
                        So thanks again to everyone
                        You mean so much to me
                        I never will forget your love
                                    Wherever I may be.

   Jeanne is survived by two children, Jo-Anne and Dale Aherns of Carbondale, Colorado; John and Traci Bodette of Andover, Mass.; five grandchildren, Christian and Marshall Walker, Meghan, Jack, and Elizabeth Bodette; two sister in laws, Ester Miller and Elsie Riely; a brother in law, Richard Wheel; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

   Funeral services were held on Saturday April 21st at Brown McClay Funeral Home in Vergennes. Interment will be at Prospect Cemetery in Vergennes. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Addison County Home Health PO Box 754 Middlebury, VT 05753 or Bixby Memorial Library 258 Main St. Vergennes, VT 05491.  

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