Obituaries (4/4)

Delane Daniels

MSGT (retired United States Air Force) Delane (Dan) Daniels, born in Sioux City, Iowa, July 1, 1927, was summoned to eternal rest with his wife, Laura, his shining star of 52 years, on March 28.

He served 25 years in the military and retired in 1970 at Williams Air Force Base. The couple settled in Tempe, and Daniels went to work for the Arizona Bank as vice president in property management. He retired from the bank in 1990.

The Daniels' moved to Ahwatukee Foothills in 1976.

Survivors include a son, Patrick Daniels; three daughters, Kimberlee Daniels, Peggy Gustafson and Sandra Vargas; and four grandchildren, Derek and Jordan Gustafson and Justin and Sydney Vargas.

Services were held April 2 at Carr-Tenney Mortuary in Tempe, followed by burial at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.

Robert M. Kountz

Robert M. Kountz, 81, died March 25 at Hospice of the Valley in Tempe.

He was born May 10, 1926, in Farlington, Kan., the son of Arista Chester and Oral (Adams) Kountz. He grew up in Girard, Kan., and later lived in Pittsburgh, Pa., and St. Louis, Mo. He moved to Ahwatukee Foothills in 1987.

Kountz graduated from Girard High School at 16 years of age and went on to receive bachelor degrees in chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. He was employed by and retired from Monsanto Chemical Corporation.

He served as a staff sergeant in the United States Army, receiving the World War II Victory Medal and Philippine Independence Medal.

He was with the Shrine and Mason organizations for more than 50 years, and a member of Pleasant Hills Guthrie Lodge 509.

On Sept. 29, 1951, Kountz married Avis Elaine Caldwell in Ottawa, Kan. She preceded him in death on Sept. 13, 1990. He was also preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Sherry. He is survived by his companion, Luetta, and his daughter, Lynda.

Services were held March 29 at Highland Cemetery in Ottawa, Kan. Memorial contributions may be made to K-State Foundation, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, KS 66067. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through dengelmortuary@sbcglobal.net.

Carla Gustafson

Ahwatukee Foothills resident Carla Gustafson, 73, passed away March 30. She was born July 18, 1934, to Dr. William and Evelyn Smith in Kewanee, Ill.

Gustafson was a school librarian and an accomplished quilter for more than 20 years. She loved to visit their home in Payson and spend time with her quilter buddies there. She was a member of the Saguaro Strippers Quilting Club at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center.

She was preceded in death by her son, Edward. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Gene; daughters, Lisa and Kim; sisters, Karen Hosman and Judy Finley; brothers, James Smith and Dr. William Smith; and grandchildren, Brian Gustafson, Daniel Tucker, Sydnee Tucker and Dennis Parker.

Private family services will be held at a later date. Carr-Tenney Mortuary handled arrangements.