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Date of these obituaries: 01-20-2004
Dorothy Bamberger, 'unsung hero'
The home of Dorothy O'Donovan Bamberger was always a hub of social activity.
Family friends, children's friends, neighborhood acquaintances and down-on-their-luck strangers always felt at home there, whether they just wanted to say hello or needed a place to stay.
"She certainly had a full life, " said a daughter, Joan Brennan Kennedy of Crescent Springs.
"She was a very energetic lady. She lived life to the fullest."
Mrs. Bamberger, 97, died at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Charles Care Center in Covington.
"She played bingo on the very day she died, " Mrs. Kennedy said. "She died peacefully in her sleep."
Among her children were Boone Circuit Judge Jay Bamberger and Father Robert Bamberger, a retired Trappist monk who lives in Piffard, N.Y.
Although strong in her faith in God, Mrs. Bamberger was dead set against his becoming a monk, Robert Bamberger said.
She knew it would take him away from his home and family, and she didn't like that one bit, he said.
It wasn't until he took his final vows -- more than five years after he first entered the abbey -- that she accepted his calling in life.
"She would always come up to see me, but she was unhappy about it, " he said. "But when I said my definitive vows, she came around, and her faith became stronger.
"She was a woman of great faith and great energy."
In 1988, in honor of Cincinnati's bicentennial, The Post named her as one of 200 "unsung heroes." It noted her dedication to those less fortunate than herself and her family.
"Even as far back as 1937, a homeless family found shelter with the Bambergers, " the article said. "Throughout her life, she has been active in Northern Kentucky's women's groups and church organizations."
She was a member of St. Helen's Society of Holy Cross Church, Latonia; the Catholic Ladies of Columbia; St. Charles Nursing Home Guild; St. Gemma Guild; Villa Madonna Guild; St. Benedict Guild and St. Mary's Cathedral Society.
Her husband, Joseph Frederick Bamberger, died in 1964. A son, James Bamberger, died in 1991. A daughter, Dorothy Ruth Bamberger, died in 1934.
Besides her sons and daughter, other survivors include daughters, Nancy B. Egan of Fort Wright and Michaelle E. "Mickey" Bamberger of Chicago; 18 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Wed-nesday at St. Charles Care Center Chapel, Covington. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Latonia.
Memorials are suggested to St. Charles Care Center, 500 Farrell Drive, Covington, Ky. 41011; Abbey of Genesee, P.O. Box 900, Piffard, N.Y. 14533; or Holy Cross Church, 3612 Church St., Covington, Ky. 41015.
Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger, is handling arrangements.
Barbara Jennings, helped others
Barbara Jean Bartels Jennings was a small woman with a big heart.
Mrs. Jennings, who stood only 4-foot-10, was well known for taking in stray animals. She had one dog and five cats at the time of her death Sunday at age 72, and "at no time did she ever have less than that, " said a daughter, Mary Jennings, of Southgate.
And even though Mrs. Jennings raised four of her six children alone, she was always looking for ways to help others in need.
"She knew how to economize, " her daughter said. "She raised us alone, but we never went without. And she was always helping people worse off than she was."
Mrs. Jennings and her husband, Robert Kenneth Jennings, saw much of the eastern U.S. and Europe during his 21 years in the Air Force, before returning to their native Northern Kentucky in 1971 with their six children in tow.
Robert Jennings died four years later with four of his children -- ages 9, 10, 12 and 13 -- still at home.
Mrs. Jennings augmented his pension with various jobs, including cleaning houses and working at Holy Family Nursing Home at St. Anne Convent in Melbourne.
"She had a hard life, but a great sense of humor, which helped her get through it, " Mary Jennings said. "She could find something funny in the stupidest things."
Mrs. Jennings had a heart attack Dec. 10 and open heart surgery Dec. 18. She seemed to be on the mend until she collapsed Sunday. Her family suspects that the cause of death was a blood clot.
"She was a strong, independent woman who taught her children to treat everyone with respect and dignity, to think for ourselves and to fight for what we believed in, " Mary Jennings said.
Mrs. Jennings was a retired campground manager of Rhein Main Recreation Center in Frankfurt, Germany, and a member of St. Philip Church, Melbourne.
Besides her daughter, other survivors include another daughter, Cathleen Jennings of Melbourne; sons, John Jennings of Cold Spring, Daniel Jennings of Ludlow, Jeff Jennings of Grants Lick and Richard Jennings of Ross; brothers, John Bartels of Highland Heights, Carl Bartels of Cincin-nati and Ferdinand Bartels of Fort Thomas; sisters, Sister Emmanuel Bartels of St. Anne Convent, Melbourne, and Rita Weiss of Germantown; six grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Philip Church, Melbourne. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial is in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas.
Memorials are suggested to Campbell County Animal Shelter, 200 Poplar Ridge Road, Alexandria, Ky. 41001 or to Be Concerned, 714 Washington St., Covington, Ky. 41011.
Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, is handling arrangements.
Dr. Andy Renz, 42, Louisville pediatrician
Many people admired Dr. Andy Renz for his work as a pediatrician and for his unflagging efforts with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, but he considered himself a lucky, lucky man.
"Just last summer, Andy told me, 'It is really neat to have a job that you really like -- and get paid for it, '" said Bill Renz Sr., Dr. Renz's father. "Andy loved people and he loved kids and he loved practicing medicine. Some people work to make money, but he really loved what he did. Money was just a byproduct."
Dr. Renz, 42, of Louisville, died there Friday of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He was diagnosed with the disease seven years ago, but was doing well until last fall. He was scheduled for a Feb. 3 bone marrow transplant in Seattle, but his health deteriorated after a recent surgery.
"Up until a few months ago, we thought he was well on the way to licking this thing, " said Bill Renz. "We had a place rented in Seattle and even had the car packed, but it just didn't work out."
Dr. Renz, a native of Sharonville, Ohio, graduated from Princeton High School in 1979, where he played offensive tackle for the 1978 state champion football team. He had major roles in school musicals, sang in the choir and played cello. He married
his high-school sweetheart, Laura Shaffer Renz, in 1984.
Dr. Renz attended Wabash College, where he was an active member of Beta Theta Pi as an undergraduate and alum. He went on to medical school at Wright State University. Dr. Renz began practicing medicine in 1991, where he became a partner in East Louisville Pediatrics.
Dr. Renz was a board member for the Louisville Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the "Dr. Andy Renz Team" -- a group of family and friends formed to honor his struggle -- helped raise thousands of dollars for research over the years during Light the Night fund-raising walks in both Cincinnati and Louisville. He also did volunteer work with abused children.
"Andy always wanted to be a pediatrician, even in high school, " said Bill Renz. "Andy's grandfather was also a doctor (another Dr. Andy Renz) and he wanted to follow in his footsteps -- and that's just what he did."
Dr. Renz was also a sports fanatic, according to his brother, Dr. William Renz Jr., a Cincinnati dentist: "I am a sports nut and I got it all from my big brother. He was always willing to talk about the Reds and Bengals."
Dr. Renz was passionate about reading, golf and music, but, most of all, his family. In addition to his wife, father and brother, survivors include his children, Meredith, 11, and Griffin, 8; his mother, Carolin Renz of Sharonville; his sister, Cynthia Dotzauer of Seattle; his parents-in-law, Richard and Catherine Shaffer of Evendale; and his sisters-in-law, Jennifer Mullert and Kelly Ronyak.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Pearson-Ratterman Bros. Funeral Home in Louisville. Memorial services are at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church, Louisville, where Dr. Renz was a church elder.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Southern Ohio Chapter, 105 W. 4th Street, Suite 400, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
Lee Earhart Jr., 61, of Ludlow, died at 12:10 a.m. Saturday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington.
He was a diesel mechanic with Metro Transit Co., Cincinnati, and formerly with the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky. He was a member of Amalgamated Transit Union Local No. 627 in Cincinnati and an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War.
Survivors include his partner, James Johnson of Ludlow; his mother, Eleanor Jackson Phillips of Cincinnati; a brother, John W. Phillips of Latonia; and sisters, Pat Stalf of North Bend, Ohio, Jackie Ramsey of Tampa, Fla., and Kathy Lewis of Ross, Ohio.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Taylor Mill. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association, 2936 Vernon Place, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219.
Mary B. Ellis, 89, of Warsaw, died Sunday at Gallatin County Health Care Center, Warsaw. She was a homemaker and a retired bus monitor with Gallatin County Schools. Her husband, James Ellis, died in 1995.
Survivors include cousins, Redford Thomas Jr. and Thelma Donahue, both of Warsaw, Mary Flynn of Ghent and Jimmy Stephenson of Carrollton.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Carlton-Lowder Funeral Home, Warsaw. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Warsaw Cemetery.
William "Al" Groh, 87, of Bellevue, died Sunday at his home.
He was a shoe repairman and owner of Groh's Shoe Repair in Dayton. He was a member of St. Anthony Church in Bellevue, American Legion Post No. 153, and Dayton Eagles, and an Army veteran of World War II. A daughter, Karen Mayer, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Margie Geisler Groh; daughters, Cindy DeSerna of Lebanon, Ohio, and Kathy Groh of Bellevue; a son, Mike Groh of Fort Thomas; and six grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Bernard Church, Dayton. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at A.C. Dobbling and Son Funeral Home, Bellevue. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas.
Memorials are suggested to Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3229 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 or to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075.
Earl G. Marksberry, 75, of Holly Hill, Fla., formerly of Boone County, died Friday in Holly Hill.
He was a retired linesman with General Motors in Indianapolis, a member of United Auto Workers Local No. 23 in Indianapolis and an Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Dzidra Marksberry; daughters, Betty Ann Craig of Holly Hill and Gizela Plumins of Latvia; a sister, Patricia McGeorge of Louisville; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at Ormond Funeral Home, Ormond Beach, Fla. Visitation will begin there at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Nellie "Nug" Riley, 76, of Florence, died Monday at Residence of Salem Woods, Cincinnati.
She was a homemaker. Her husband, Gilbert Riley Sr., died in 2002.
Survivors include a daughter, Bea Honeycutt of Florence; sons, Gilbert Riley Jr. of Verona, Sam Riley of Carrollton and Stanley Riley of Independence; sisters, Mickey Eger of Ludlow and Patty Rump of Visalia; nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Latonia Christian Church. Cremation will be at Northern Kentucky Cremation Services, Walton.
Memorials are suggested to Latonia Christian Church, 3900 Decoursey Pike, Covington, Ky. 41015. Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.
Louise Rodgers, 75, of Florence, died Sunday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. She was a retired saleswoman and homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Rev. Delmar Rodgers; a son, Rev. Lauryn Rodgers of Brighton, Mich.; daughters, Cheryl Muir of Florence and Gayle Spears of Burlington; seven grand-children and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Burlington. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Burlington Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Cincin-nati Bible College and Seminary, 2700 Glenway Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45204.
Paul Schmitz, 75, of Hebron, died Monday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas.
Arrangements are pending at Peoples Funeral Home, Grants Lick.
Fred James Thompson, 75, of Newport, died at 12:45 p.m. Saturday at his home. He was a driver with City Products Co., Cincinnati, and a member of Teamsters Union Local No. 105.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Thompson; sons, Joseph Michael Thompson of Dayton, Fred James Thompson Jr. of Newport and Paul Edward Thompson of Taylor Mill; daughters, Teresa Thompson of Alexandria, Kathaleen Foley of Erlanger, Evalyn Caylor of Independence, Susan Helton of Helton of Covington and Janet Gayle Robinson of Hebron; brothers, Kenneth Earhart of Mount Vernon and Robert Earhart of Dry Ridge; 19 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
No services are planned. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Newport. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Charles Weaver, 46, of Walton, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. He was a regional sales district manager with the Lexington Herald Leader newspaper, a member of First Baptist Church of Walton and a member of the Civil Air Patrol.
Survivors include his wife, Vicky Weaver; sons, Troy W. Weaver and Trent L. Weaver, both of Walton; his parents, Charles and Clara Weaver of Fair Play, Mo.; sisters, Carla Hronek of Olathe, Kan., Cathey Jones of Wichita, Kan., Cheryl Smith of Augusta, Kan., and Charlene Weaver of Fair Play; and a brother, Craig Weaver of Douglass, Kan.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
