From Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory
Terry Raymond Polaski, 87, Vero Beach
March 27, 1934 – September 11, 2021
“It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to” (W.C. Fields). Terry Raymond Polaski, who loved W. C. Fields, May West, the Hardy Boys, and the Honeymooners, answered to the things that resonated with him; love of family, friends, athletics, the Green Bay Packers and University of Wisconsin Badgers. Terry passed away at the age of 87 on Saturday, September 11 at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach, FL. Terry was born on March 27, 1934 in Beloit, Wisconsin to Raymond A. Polaski and Mary McQuade Polaski. He was a 1952 graduate of Beloit Memorial High School.
Terry learned early what it meant to have a work ethic. Beginning with his own Beloit Daily News paper route in grade school he later worked at Freeman Shoes in Beloit and in the foundry at Garner Machine in South Beloit, IL while attending high school. That same dedication carried over to his participation in sports.
Terry was a gifted athlete and sportsman who loved pick-up games, participating in junior high and high school sports, and playing baseball in the summer for the Legion team. He also took a keen interest in fishing and hunting throughout his life. A multi-sport athlete he found his greatest success playing basketball and baseball. After high school graduation, he turned to barnstorming with the House of David, playing both semi-professional baseball and basketball.
He returned to Beloit in 1953 to marry the love of his life Margaret Ellen Salamone, who predeceased him in 2000, in St. Thomas Catholic Church, Beloit, Wisconsin, and start a family. That same year he began a long career as a meat cutter and was best known for making the best bratwurst and Italian sausage ever. In 1970, he became a principal owner of Salamone’s Food Market.
Though family and work demanded much of his time, his love for sports remained a constant, be it coaching the Our Lady of Assumption basketball teams, the Roscoe, Illinois Bronco League baseball team, or continuing to play city league baseball or noon hour basketball and handball at the YMCA. Later in life golf became one of his favorite social outlets and as anyone who played with him can attest it was his rules that made it fun, even to the point of halting play so as not to miss happy hour!
In 1986, Terry and Margaret embarked on a new journey after having raised their six children: Mary Lynn Boscardin and her husband Marco and their children Tristan and Adriane of Amherst, MA; Philip, who predeceased Terry in 2015; Tom and his spouse Sherry of Rockton, IL and his child Weston; Gina Polaski of Bella Vista, AR; Anne Margaret Patrick and her husband David and their children Logan and Rylie of Vero Beach, FL; and, Jeffrey Polaski and his spouse Craig Marketty of Seattle, WA. The adventure began with their move to Vero Beach, FL followed by new employment, building a new home, boating and fishing, Sunday morning bicycle rides, traveling to visit their children and grandchildren, and vacation trips to Europe. Terry continued his career as a specialty meat cutter for Weiss Meats in Vero Beach from 1986 to 2009. He always enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life. But most of all, Terry could not pass up a good joke and beer in the comradery of his friends. Terry pre-dated Dad jokes!
A funeral mass for Terry will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, September 17 at St. Helen Catholic Church, 2000 20th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960. The service can be viewed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/604421522
Terry will be dearly missed. In his memory and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VNA & Hospice Foundation, 920 37th Place, #101, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach, FL.
From Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory
Alice Marie Duerigen, 78
August 17, 1943 – September 09, 2021
Alice Marie Duerigen, age 78, passed away on September 9, 2021 at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Vero Beach, Florida after a two year fight with pancreatic cancer.
Alice was born in Rushville, Indiana to George and Opal Burris on August 17, 1943. She attended Indiana Business College. Bob and Alice were married May 3, 1964 at the United Methodist Church, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Alice was employed as a Receptionist at Stewart, Due, Miller & Pugh Attorneys at Law. Bob and Alice retired to Florida in 2003. Alice is known for her kindness and determination to excel at whatever she applied her hand. She enjoyed gardening, crafting, cooking, sewing, and celebrating with her family and friends. Bob and Alice were members of Southport Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana and affiliate members of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Vero Beach, Florida.
Alice is survived by her three children: Cynthia Duerigen Nixon; Lucinda Duerigen Poholarz and her husband John Poholarz; Robert William Duerigen and his wife Brooke Duerigen; and her nine grandchildren: Megan Patera, Nicole Nixon, Philip Nixon III, Tiffany Nixon, Michael Nixon, Joshua Nixon, Jonathan Poholarz, Brittany Poholarz, and Drake Duerigen; and her one great grandchild: Zeddicus Patera. Alice is survived by her brothers: William Henry Burris and Joseph Allen Burris and by her sisters: Judith Baker and Sharon Turner and husband Kenneth, and several nieces and nephews. Alice is predeceased by her husband Robert Thomas Duerigen and her brothers George Burris, Harlan Burris and Charles Burris, her sister, Caroline Jones and nephew, Jeffrey Burris.
A Memorial Service in honor of Alice Duerigen will be held Monday, October 11, 2021; 10:00 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church; 2555 58th Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida. Dr. Graham Bingham will officiate. An Interment service will immediately follow at the Westminster Presbyterian Memorial Garden.
The family invites you to make a memorial donation to the Westminster Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 2555 58th Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida 32966.
Alice has been and continues to be a faithful, humble servant of God. Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Brandi Maria Steele, 46, Niceville
October 30, 1974 – September 10, 2021
Mrs. Brandi Maria Steele, 46, died September 10, 2021 at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida.
She was born in Vero Beach, Florida and resided in Niceville, Florida.
Survivors include her mother, Karen Cogar of Vero Beach, FL; maternal grandmother, Vivian Fendely of Vero Beach, FL; sons, Cody Jacobs and Corey Jacobs and ex-husband, Jason Steele of Niceville, FL.
A Graveside service will be held for Brandi on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 1:00 PM in Winter Beach Cemetery located in Winter Beach, Florida.
Arrangements are by Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1623 North Central Avenue, Sebastian, Florida 32958.
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From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Herman Walter Schmidt Jr., 86, Port St. Lucie
January 26, 1935 – September 09, 2021
Herman Walter Schmidt Jr., 86, of Port St. Lucie Florida, died Thursday, September 9, 2021. “Smitty” as he was affectionately known, was born to the late Herman and Allie Schmidt on January 26, 1935 in New York, New York. He graduated from George Washington High School in 1953. In the summer of 1955, he pushed his draft date up and was inducted into the United States Navy as an E-1. During his boot leave from the National Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland, he married his hometown sweetheart, Sheila Maura Caulfield on the 21st of February, 1956. They lived together through many cruises and deployments, from Key West, FL to Brunswick, Maine throughout his 20 years in the Navy. After his military retirement, he worked as a corrections officer while simultaneously attending college and completed two (2) Associate Degrees, Bachelors Degree followed by his Master Degree at St. Leos College. He was a Computer Systems Engineer where he supported both the DDG-51 Ships Design Program and subsequently the Test Team for the Aegis Weapons Systems Program in Bath, Maine. Smitty was an active member of the Knights of Columbus of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Port St. Lucie, FL.
Smitty was blessed in many ways to have the love of his hometown sweetheart, Sheila, for over 66 years and spending most of his life close to the sea as well as a good deal of his life around his second passion, aviation. He is survived by his wife, Sheila, of Port St. Lucie, his daughter, Barbara Lee Schmidt Washington, his two sons, Robert William Schmidt and Brian Eugen Schmidt, his four grandchildren, Melvin Lewis Washington, Michelle Lynnette Washington, Jeffrey Schmidt and Conor James Schmidt and his only great-grandchild, Malachi Lee Washington.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 11:00 am at Forest Hills Funeral Home, 2001 SW Murphy Road, Palm City, FL 34990 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 pm at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2330 SE Mariposa Avenue, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952.
Anyone wishing to send the family a message or share a story is asked to visit Herman’s memorial page at: www.coxgiffordseawinds.com
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