Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • May 9, 2012 Obituaries Gerda T. Berversluis of Wyckoff, formerly of Prospect Park, died April 28. She was 85. She had been a teacher with the Eastern Christian School and the Pequannock Township School system. She is survived by her sister Anne Etterbeek of Wyckoff, and more than 120 nieces and nephews, grand- and great-grand-nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Henry, Martin, Adrian, William, Peter, and Nico; and her sisters Anna Beversluis and Elizabeth Rooze. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Memorial donations may be made to the Eastern Christian School Association, 50 Oakwood Avenue, North Haledon, NJ 07508. Dorothy May Heitmann, nee Koelln, of Midland Park, formerly of Wyckoff and Ridgefield Park, died April 27. She was 91. She was an executive secretary at Grand Met in Montvale for 10 years and spent many years in the casualty insurance business. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church of Ridgefield Park and Advent Lutheran Church in Wyckoff. She was a member of Insurance Women of America and the Wyckoff Seniors, where she served as the trip coordinator. She is survived by her sons John W. Heitmann of Big Flats, New York and Kenneth A. Heitmann of Hillsdale, and two grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Warren Heitmann, and her brothers Raymond William Koelln and Howard William Koelln. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Donations may be made to Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc., 2 Shelter Lane, Oakland, NJ 07436. Lawrence B. Knapp of Jupiter, Florida, formerly of Ridgewood and Franklin Lakes, died April 29.He was 82. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, where he served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. He graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1947 and attended Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia. He began his career with Berkshire Life Insurance Co. and later formed the Knapp Insurance Agency in Ridgewood, which he owned and operated until retiring in 1991. He worked part time at Enterprise Rent-A-Car until recently. He is survived by his wife Betty Woods Knapp; his children Mary Knapp, Nancy Klavis, and Randy Knapp; three grandchildren; his stepchildren Barbara Batten, Daniel Talbot, and Nancy Muldowney; and five step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother David Knapp. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Memorial donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, Bergen Unit, 20 Mercer Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 or The Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc., 2 Shelter Lane, Oakland, NJ 07436. Anthony Orsini of Wyckoff died on Jan. 21. He was Gerda T. Berversluis Dorothy May Heitmann 93. He graduated from The Cooper Union with a BSME. While growing his private consulting engineering firm, he played a key role as project director in the development of thermodynamics and propellants used in rocket engines and missiles for NASA and the military over a nearly 60year career. He contributed to the early design work of what became the International Space Station. He published several papers in astronautics journals and held four patents. He was a member of the Wyckoff Recreation Commission, WHOA, and was president of Activities Unlimited, where he served as chairman of the Investment Study Group for several years. He volunteered with the office of Congressional Representative Marge Roukema. He is survived by his wife Clara (McAloan) Orsini, his daughters Patricia of Medford, Oregon, Alice of Aquasparta, Italy, Virginia of South Hadley, Massachusetts, Kathryn of Oakland, California, and Susan of Athens, Georgia, and four granddaughters. A memorial is planned for 11 a.m. on May 17 at the Wyckoff Reformed Church, 580 Wyckoff Avenue. Gary A. Reiss of Franklin Lakes died May 2. He was 68. Arrangements were made by Robert Schoem’s Menorah Chapel in Paramus. Blanche G. Sterling of Kendall, Florida, died April 30. She was 93. She was a journalist and newspaper editor for more than three decades for the Bergen Record, the Ridgewood News, and the Dolphin Digest in Miami. She was past matron of the Ridgewood Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star and a past grand officer in New Jersey. She was past queen of Nahum Temple, No. 35, Daughters of the Nile in Miami, Florida. She is survived by her children Bonnie of Kendall, Florida, and William of Greenfield, Wisconsin, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband William. Chester “Benny” Walker of Mahwah, formerly of SoddyDaisy, Tennessee, died April 27. He was 65. He is survived by his brothers Eugene “Bevy” Walker, Jack D. Walker, James R. Walker, and Eddy J. Walker. He was predeceased by his father Leander L. Walker, his mother Pauline D. (Goode) Walker, and his siblings Lee “Elton” Walker, William “Leon” Walker, Samuel “Lillard” Walker, Norman Walker, Abe Walker, and Peggy Sue Penny. Arrangements were made by Scarr Funeral Home in Suffern, New York. Harold “Harry” George Werner of Mahwah, formerly of Point Pleasant Beach, died May 3. He was 77. He is survived by his wife Andrea, his children Sharon Newbold of Orlando, Florida, Cathy Werner of Mahwah, Mark of Chesterfield, Virginia, and Laura Krumm of Long Valley, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Barbara Hauser of Spokane Washington, John Werner of Alta Loma, California, Robert Werner of Lakewood, and Marilyn Werner of Lyndhurst. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Memorial donations may be made to the Live Strong Foundation, National Mail Processing Center, P.O. Box 6003, Albert Lea, MN 56007-6603. Mary Edwards Whitford, nee Reyner, of Palm Beach, Florida, formerly of Paramus, Wyckoff, Jamestown, New York, and Saint Simons Island, Georgia, died Jan. 29. She attended Saint Luke’s Elementary School and was a graduate of Ramsey High School. She was president of the Paramus Junior Woman’s Club in 1965-66 and volunteered at many senior homes in Bergen County. She was a member of Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps and worked for Stella Antique Shows in New Jersey and New York. She was the daughter of Arthur A. and Edith Reyner, founders and original owners of Brookside Park Swim Club in Allendale. She is survived by her children Diane Edwards Rosetto, Sue Ann Edwards Staley, Walter Edwards, and Patricia Ann Edwards Wilcox, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Raymond Whitford. Condolences may be sent to: Diane Edwards Rosetto, 3 Field Street, Toms River, NJ 08753. Mary Edwards Whitford Gary A. Reiss Blanche G. Sterling Religious News Seven local church members honored Anne Banta and the Shean family of Ridgewood’s Old Paramus Reformed Church were recently honored by the Reformed Church in America’s Synod of the Mid-Atlantics. Almost 500 people attended the 2012 dinner. Rev. Tom Marsden, OPRC pastor, wrote, “Every church should have an Anne Banta. Tirelessly, she works behind the scenes to organize, motivate, and follow through with projects and programs. Quietly and faithfully, she oversees the annual Fall Harvest Fair, Spring Flea Market, periodic antique appraisal events, covered-dish/game nights, and receptions for bereaved families smoothly and with dignity. If something is in need of doing, Anne is there.” Describing the Shean family, Marsden wrote, “The Shean family is the heart and soul of, not only their church, but their community. Rob and Elyce mentor to their children Emily, Rebecca, Alex, and Anna, are the best in loving, faithful service and responsible citizenship. Whether serving on consistory, teaching Sunday school, creating and setting up a church lawn, moving the Christmas manger scene, shoveling snow, or mowing lawns for an elderly congregant, or a myriad other services to the church and their residence community, the Sheans are always doing God’s work, living the Lord’s command to serve faithfully and lovingly.” Lawrence B. Knapp Chester ‘Benny’ Walker Harold George Werner Anthony Orsini