Kirk James Madsen, 69, Vero Beach
Kirk James Madsen, 69, of Vero Beach, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, at his home. Kirk was born in Chicago, Ill., and moved to Vero Beach in 1986 from Coral Springs, Fla.
He was a graduate of Roosevelt University and had served in the National Guard during the Vietnam War.
Prior to his retirement, Kirk had been a General Contractor and owner of Apache Systems Construction. He was also known as “The Man Who Could Fix OR Build Anything.”
Survivors include his high school sweetheart, wife, Nancy Jo Tracy Madsen; sons, Erik C. Madsen, of Kailua, Hawaii, Jon C. Madsen, of Vero Beach, and Jeffrey (Jaime) Madsen, of Winter Park, Fla.; daughter Jaime (Carl) Claymore, of Lawrenceville, Ga.; mother Helene Madsen, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; brother, Scott (Annalisa) Madsen, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; sisters, Lorrin (Tom) Wessel, Maria (John) Volpe, of Lincolnwood, Ill., Lisa Krol, of Kenosha, Wisc.; and grandchildren, Emma, Orin, Sophia, Connor, Kyler, Trevor, and Jeffrey Jr.
He was preceded in death by his father, James Van Every; and stepfather, Orrin C. Madsen.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Relay For Life, 3375 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
A Mass celebrating his life will begin at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 1, at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach.
Lovina Albrecht Taber, 92, Vero Beach
Lovina Albrecht Taber, 92, of Vero Beach, died peacefully at Florida Baptist Retirement Center on Feb. 12, 2018. She was born to Christian Albrecht and Barbara Jantzi Albrecht on July 26, 1925, in Wellesley, Ontario, Canada.
Her family moved to Buffalo, N.Y., where she became a naturalized U.S. citizen. After graduating from Orchard Park High School, Orchard Park, N.Y., in 1942, she met Clarence Thomas Taber, of Warsaw, N.Y., and, in 1946, moved with her parents to Vero Beach.
Lovina and Clarence began their marriage of 51 years on June 28, 1947, at the Vero Beach Community Church. After getting married, they resided continuously in Vero Beach for the remainder of their lives; and, it was here that they worked, raised four children and operated their hospitality, construction and real estate businesses.
Lovina worked for Pillsbury Flour Company in Buffalo during WWII. A professional seamstress, upon moving to Vero Beach she operated a sewing business out of her home while her children were young, then later drove a school bus for the Indian River County School System to pay for flying lessons.
Upon becoming a licensed real estate broker, Lovina co-owned Taber Real Estate & Construction, managing all aspects of the real estate sales and property management business while her husband, a general contractor, operated the construction business. She also owned and operated Tropical Palms Apartments until her retirement in 2012.
Lovina was active in her local church and numerous non-profit organizations. She traveled extensively and worked tirelessly for the mission of the Gideon Bible Society, serving as a leader in local and state organizations, including three terms as State President of the Florida Women’s Auxiliary, with other terms as its State Secretary and State Treasurer.
Lovina was a Founding Executive Board Member of Real Life Children’s Ranch in Okeechobee, Fla., and served on its Board of Directors since its inception in 1957. Real Life Children’s Ranch is a state-licensed, faith-based 501(c)3 that provides Christian residential group home services to abused, neglected or abandoned children in a beautiful, farm-based, family setting on the shore of Lake Okeechobee.
Her son, Gerald Leonard Taber joined her on the Board of Directors for over 20 years, and her granddaughter, Jennifer Taber Reelitz, continues the family’s support of this important ministry.
Lovina loved to fly. After taking her first airplane ride in 1965 at the age of 40, she and her sister, Anna Albrecht Walker, took flying lessons and earned their private pilot licenses.
She owned her own plane and enjoyed flying with her husband, sister, family and friends. She flew her plane for the real estate business, to attend Gideon Bible Society meetings, and to visit family and friends throughout the country. She logged over 4,000 hours of flying time traveling from Vero Beach to locations as wide spread as California, New York and Canada.
She was active for over 40 years in The Ninety-Nines, Inc., International Organization of Women Pilots, founded in 1929 by Amelia Earhart, an organization that promotes the advancement of women in aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support while honoring their unique history and passion for flight. She maintained her medical certification and flying proficiency as pilot in command until she was 80 years old. Her love of flying never diminished.
Lovina is survived by her sisters, Ruth Albrecht McCloud and Martha (James) Albrecht Kry; sister-in-law, Jean Albrecht; sisters-in-law, Priscilla Albrecht and Janet Taber; brother-in-law, Peter (Della) Taber; daughter, Maxine Taber Dunlop; son, Donald G. (Jill Millikan) Taber; four granddaughters, Kristin Taber Wolfe, Lisa Dunlop-Zed, Jennifer Taber Reelitz, and Alisha Taber; seven grandsons, Thomas Taber, Scott Taber, John Taber, Jonathan Dunlop, Michael Taber, John Michael Taber, and Jason Taber; and 14 great-grandchildren; and 53 nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by Clarence Thomas Taber, beloved husband of 51 years; sons, Thomas Harry Taber and Gerald Leonard (Wendy Smith Taber) Taber; and her parents, four sisters and six brothers.
A celebration of Lovina’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Florida Baptist Retirement Center, 1006 33rd St., Vero Beach, in the Assisted Living Unit. Visitation with the family will begin at 9:45 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Lovina’s name to Real Life Children’s Ranch. Checks may be mailed to 777 US Hwy. 441 SE, Okeechobee, FL 34974.
Online donations can be made by going to the “Donate Now” tab at www.rlcr.org. Please designate “Lovina Taber Memorial Fund” in the “Organization (optional)” box under “Contact Information.”
Bruce Belden Way, Sr., 87, Vero Beach
Bruce Belden Way, Sr., 87, passed away on Feb. 13, 2018, in Vero Beach. He was born on March 1, 1930, in Westchester County, N.Y., the son of George B. Way and Mary E (Holmes) Way.
He attended FD Roosevelt High School and State University of N.Y. at Cobleskill.
He married Nettie Beatrice (Bea) Pratt on May 28, 1949, in Canisteo, N.Y.
Bruce had various occupations before becoming a self-employed salesman in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. After one year in Binghamton, N.Y., Bruce moved to Schenectady, N.Y., as a self-employed salesman in the food distribution industry before retiring with Archway Cookies in 1983.
Bruce enjoyed boating, camping, playing cards, dancing, and fishing, tennis and pickleball. He was a dedicated Buffalo Bills fan and was friends with everyone. Bruce was a past Commodore of Crescent Boat Club in Clifton Park, NY.
In 1984, Bruce and Bea moved to Fort Myers Beach, Fla., before moving to Vero Beach in 2013. Bruce had a wonderful retirement enjoying over 40 cruises.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Bea; his children, Joyce and Marlin Klatte, Bruce Jr. and Julie Way, and George and Denise Way; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He is predeceased by his parents; a sister, Margaret Reed; and a grandson, Justin Way.
Arrangements are being made by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory in Vero Beach. A burial service will be held at West Middlebury Cemetery in East Bethany, N.Y., in the spring.
