John Victor Willenborg, 75, Vero Beach
John Victor Willenborg, 75, of Vero Beach, passed away Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, at Palm Garden of Vero Beach. John was born in Jersey City, NJ, and moved to Vero Beach in the late 1990s. Previously John resided in Montauk, NY, and Upper Saddle River, NJ.
He had attended Fairfield University before entering the family business, C. & J. Willenborg, Inc.John dedicated over 20 years of his life to the family business before retiring as President of C. & J. Willenborg, Inc.
John was a member of the Lions Club of Fort Pierce and Lions Club of Montauk, NY. In addition, John was actively involved with St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church in Montauk, NY, serving as Eucharistic Minister, Reader, and member of the church restoration committee.
John enjoyed collecting coins/stamps, shooting pool, playing tennis and traveling abroad.
Survivors include a son, Christopher J. Willenborg (Taryn), of Southwick, Massachusetts; a daughter, Dr. Laura Walsh (Dennis), of Stafford, Va.; grandchildren, Luke and Amelia Willenborg, and Maria, Sara and Eva Walsh; sisters, Gerda Della Valle, of Vero Beach, and Joan Cosgrove, of Mahwah, NJ; former spouse, Christa Paon; many nieces and nephews; and dear friend, Suki Willenborg, of Japan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Victoria Willenborg.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lion’s Club of Fort Pierce, P.O. 1052, Fort Pierce, FL 34954-1052 in memory of John Willenborg.
A private Interment service will be at Maryrest Cemetery in New Jersey at a later date.
Mary Katherine Olney Tiers Frankeberger, 92, Vero Beach
Mary Katherine Olney Tiers Frankeberger, 92, of Vero Beach, died Aug. 17, 2017, at Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach. Kay was born in Sandusky, Mich., Jan. 3, 1925, and lived in Vero Beach for almost 70 years.
She was a (WAVE) World War II veteran and owner/operator of Tiers Country Store for 20 plus years. The “Store” was a landmark on Azalea Lane in old Vero.
She is survived by her daughters, Lowber Vreeland, of Woodbridge, Va., Lynn Shuford (Wayne), of Forest, Va., Helen Reed, of Vero Beach, and daughter-in-law, Lauren Tiers, of Wayne, NJ. “Marna” dearly loved each of her 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Mary Kay shared her love for adventure with her best friends and sisters Ruth Stewart and Elaine Sheridan.
Kay was preceded in death by her husband, William Twells Tiers Jr.; her second husband, Joe Frankeberger; and her son, William Twells Tiers III.
