Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc.Funeral Home: September 2016

Justin R. Hoag (Hoagster)

1984 - 2016

COOPERSTOWN - Justin Robert Hoag, 32, passed away unexpectedly in the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 27, 2016, at his home after a long and courageous battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

He was born March 31, 1984, at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, the son of Donald Philip Hoag, Jr. and Rosemary Dorothy (Kirn) Hoag.

Born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Justin never let this get in the way of achieving his goals. He graduated with the Class of 2005 from Cooperstown Central School, where he was affectionately known as "Hoagster the Weatherman" for his ability to accurately predict the weather.

Due to the extraordinary care provided to Justin by his mother and father, Rosie and Don Hoag, he was able to enjoy many experiences traveling and camping throughout the United States. An avid baseball fan, he was devoted to his New York Yankees and was thrilled when he got to meet his idol, Derek Jeter. He also personally met Goose Gossage, Reggie Jackson, Pete Rose, and Yogi Berra, who visited with Justin at his home. A fan of NASCAR, Justin also met his favorite drivers, Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon. Justin also loved watching TV- never missing an episode of "Days of Our Lives" or a Yankee game - as well as listening to country music, especially Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, Don Williams and his beloved Taylor Swift. He even liked Neil Diamond! Justin was a whiz on the computer and after high school he used it to educate himself . In later years he utilized a special program that allowed him to use the keyboard by means of a special device he moved with his cheek.

Justin will be forever greatly missed by his mother and father, Rosie and Don Hoag of Cooperstown; his sister, Tammy Sickmon and her husband, John and their children, Garrett and Rianna of Cortland; and his grandmothers, Christine Gray and her husband, Robert, and Barbara Hoag of the Town of Maryland. He is further survived by his many aunts and uncles including Joan and Timothy Cauley, Edward and Pat Kirn, Jr., Robert and Charlene Kirn, Mark and Robin Walley, John and Jennifer Walley, Steven and Yvonne Hoag, Kimberly and David Beckley, Heather Gray, Hayden Gray, Luca Gray, Lori Motel, and Madeline Socci; several great aunts and uncles; and many, many cousins. Justin touched many lives and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Edward Louis Kirn, Sr. and Mollie Marie Oblak Kirn; his paternal grandfather, Donald Philip Hoag; his beloved great-grandmother, Ruth M. Gray; and great uncle Edward Socci.

Justin's family wishes to express deep appreciation to his caregivers, Jen Marriott and Mary Kohler and their families for the kind, compassionate and understanding care they provided, as well as, all the doctors and nurses of Bassett Healthcare. Also a very special heartfelt thanks to long time childhood friends, Jake, Billy and Ben Smith, who were like brothers to Justin, and their father Russie Smith. They would also like to thank all their co-workers for their continued support and understanding over the years, and deep appreciation to Fly Creek Emergency Squad, Cooperstown Emergency Squad and the Cooperstown Fire Department for all their care and consideration of Justin.

As Justin would often say, "I'll be okay, Mama!"

Friends may call at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown on Friday, September 30, 2016, from 4 - 7 p.m. when Justin's family will be in attendance.

On Saturday, October 1, 2016, Justin will be brought to the Hartwick Seminary Cemetery aboard Cooperstown Fire Department's 1952 Mack Fire Truck for a funeral service at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Ronald Fralick, officiating.

Should friends so desire, expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorial gifts to Cooperstown Central School for the benefit of a scholarship to be created in memory of Justin. Please make checks payable to "Cooperstown Central School", place Justin's name in the memo line, and mail to the attention of the Business Office at 39 Linden Avenue, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.

Orrin D. Higgins

1940 - 2016

HARTWICK - Orrin Dixon Higgins, 76, a former New York State Trooper, Undersheriff for the Otsego County Sheriff's Department and longtime Justice for the Town of Hartwick, passed away Wednesday afternoon, September 21, 2016, at his home in Hartwick with his family by his side.

He was born June 8, 1940, in Hunter, a son of Leland and Mildred (Nicholls) Higgins.

After graduating from high school he attended the State University of New York College in Oneonta with the idea of becoming a teacher. He became a student teacher, but changed course and went on to attend and graduate from the New York State Police Academy .

His career in law enforcement spanned over fifty years, during which time he served as a New York State Trooper based out of several different posts in the Central New York region. He also served as Undersheriff for the Otsego County Sheriff's Department and was currently serving as a Justice for the Town of Hartwick, a post he held for twenty years.

He was an active member of the Hartwick community. He served on the Hartwick Planning Board for many years, organized community events, served on the Board of the Hartwick Insurance Co. and lobbied to keep Hartwick's schools active. He was also actively involved with keeping the Hartwick Center Union Cemetery maintained and in good order, and was instrumental in preserving the Swart-Wilcox Home, now a museum in Oneonta.

It was always important to Orrin that history be preserved and passed on to future generations, which he did through the collection and restoration of antiques and buildings throughout the counties. Always an environmental advocate, Orrin worked extensively with Otsego 2000 and Otsego Land Trust through the years and preserved as many open acres as his bank account would allow.

It was at a dance at the Fly Creek Hotel that Orrin met Mary E. Millea. The pair was a perfect match and were married July 29, 1974, in a ceremony at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Cooperstown. Sadly, his beloved Mary passed away just this past December following a long illness.

Orrin will be greatly missed by his family and the community at large. He was always known for his sense of humor, the twinkle in his eyes, compassion for people and animals, and commitment to fairness and justice.

Orrin is survived by three daughters, Brenda Nass (Bryan) of Ellensburg, Washington, Tamara Ashley (Matt) of Cortland, and Carrie Higgins Lorenz (Mike) of Hartwick; son Orrin D. Higgins, Jr. (Melissa) of Hartwick; special member of the family, Paige Shaul (Nicole); and four grandchildren, Mitchell and Morghan Nass of Ellensburg, WA and Lily and Sawyer Higgins of Hartwick.

He is further survived by his brothers, John (Mary) Higgins, Richard (Kathy) Higgins and Leland (Lucy) Higgins, his nieces Shelly, Jackie and Becky and nephews Bill, John and Rich. He is also survived by many members of the Millea family including his wife's father, six brothers and one sister and their families.

With respect for Orrin's love of his stone house at the four corners in Hartwick, calling hours will take place at 3109 County Highway 11, from 3-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.

Orrin loved flowers, but for those who wish to remember him with a memorial gift, his family suggests that donations be made to the Hartwick Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 208, Hartwick, NY 13348, or The Hartwick Historical Society, P.O. Box 1, Hartwick, NY 13348.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Bassett Medicine and Special Care Units, Bassett Cancer Treatment Center, Hartwick Emergency Squad, his home health aides and his many friends and family members who supported him through these hard times.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

Carol Ann Krisch

1955 - 2016

FORK SHOP - Carol Ann Krisch, 61, died unexpectedly early Thursday morning, September 8, 2016, at her home in Fork Shop.

She was born August 3, 1955, at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, a daughter of Rudy J. and Elizabeth Katherine (Schultz) Krisch.

Raised in Fork Shop, she graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1974. Her first job was managing the Quickway in Hartwick, as well as the Hartwick Vets Club.

She will be fondly remembered for her 16 years with Cooperstown Central School District serving as a teacher's aide as well as a monitor both in the Elementary and Middle/High School buildings and on school buses. She truly adored each and every student and treated them as if they were her own. Her presence will be greatly missed by the students, faculty, administration and staff at CCS.

A member of the Native Daughters of Cooperstown, Carol Ann was also an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 579 in Cooperstown and was currently serving as Secretary.

Carol Ann is survived by her sister, Katherine Redding and her husband, Thomas ("Stretch") Redding of Hartwick; her beloved nephew, Thomas John Redding and his fiancé, Dayna, of Hartwick (Carol was really looking forward to being a great aunt in the near future); and her extended family of Tom's friends, including Pat, Tyler, Brad and Ryan. She will especially be missed by her faithful Great Dane, Charlie.

She was predeceased by her father, Rudy J. Krisch, who died October 5, 1991, her mother, Elizabeth "Liz" Krisch, who died September 24, 2010; her son, Joseph Anthony Brunner, who died January 1, 1988; and a nephew, Andrew Thomas Barrett, who died October 4, 1991.

Friends may call at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown on Monday, September 12, 2016, from 4-7 p.m., when Carol Ann's family will be in attendance.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, presiding.

The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Index.

As an alternative to flowers, Carol Ann's family respectfully requests that donations in her memory be directed to Friends of Bassett, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326 for the benefit of pediatric cardiology.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

Doris Ruth Crippen

1920 - 2016

COOPERSTOWN - Doris Ruth Crippen, 95, a long-time resident of Cooperstown, passed away Thursday night. September 8, 2016.

She was born November 14, 1920, in Albany, the daughter of John and Pearl (Empie) Parcher.

For many years she was employed as a nursing assistant at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.

Doris is survived by her five children, Ruth (Al) Greco of Bainbridge, NY; George (Toni) Crippen of Cooperstown, NY; Patricia Crippen of Ontario, NY; Michael (Joan) Crippen of The Villages, FL; and John (Paula) Crippen of Guilford, NY. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and a special nephew, Ronald Jamison of Cherry Valley, NY.

She was predeceased by two sisters, Eva Rowe and Daisy Eckert; and a granddaughter, Cheri Crippen.

Service will be private. Doris will be laid to rest with her parents in Memory Gardens Cemetery and Memorial Park in Albany.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

Keith D. Olmstead

1962 - 2016

COOPERSTOWN - Keith Douglas Olmstead, 54, of Cooperstown, died unexpectedly early Friday afternoon, August 26, 2016, at Samaritan Hospital in Troy.

He was born May 16, 1962, the son of Douglas John Olmstead and Rose Marie née Dziergowski.

Raised in Middlefield, he graduated from Cherry Valley High School with the Class of 1980. On September 10, 1981, he entered into active service in the United States Army and served as a medical specialist. He went on to become a practical nurse and ward master for 11 years, and received his honorable discharge from the Military March 17, 1995, while stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.

Through the years, Keith was employed as a Licensed Practical Nurse at several places, including The Meadows and Otsego Manor, as well as Albany Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany.

Since January 2013 Keith has been a member of the Disabled American Veterans.

Keith is survived by his wife Grace and sons Joshua and Nathaniel; a son Kristopher and a daughter Kelly and their mother Tina; a daughter Corey and her mother Maggie; and sons Eli and Samuel and their mother Tara. He is further survived by two sisters Karen and Kathleen; several nieces, nephews and cousins and their families; and two special uncles, Michael and Stephen.

He was predeceased by his mother Rose Marie who died July 24, 1972; his step mother Esther who died September 26, 2010; and his father Douglas who died February 14, 2014.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2016, in Hartwick Seminary Cemetery, with the Rev. Douglas Burleigh officiating. Military Honors will be accorded by members of the New York State Military Forces Honor Guard and the Cooperstown Veterans Club.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.