Albert Whaanga and Henry Fonda
Albert Whaanga, 19__ - 2001
by Bartje Miller
Albert who was very proud of his heritage of being a Maori Indian, came to the United States from down under and started his life in America as a High School Teacher. He became ill and his Doctor said that it was stress. He was too sensitive a man to handle a large room full of unruly students. The Doctor suggested that he find a job outdoors. Being Albert had a large garden at home he decided to try gardening for pay. Albert was very successful and ended up with many contracts. He had to hire several men to assist him as his jobs became to much for one person. During this time he started his own roses. This led to joining several rose societies and competing in rose shows. Albert was a hard worker and gave of himself in helping set up rose shows, giving many lectures around Southern California and helping others whenever he was needed. He worked hard at selling roses at shows and making arrangements to sell. Albert became a ARS Rose Judge and a consulting Rosarian and excelled in both positions. He held offices in many societies and was President for two years for the Pacific Rose Society. He was a very religious man and very dedicated to his Mormon Church. Every Sunday after church services Albert spent the rest of the day visiting the shut-ins and elderly members of the church and brought them a bouquet of roses, from his own garden. He would only work at rose shows on Saturdays because of his devotion to his church. He always said that these church shut-ins could not go to a rose show so he would bring the show to them. Albert never said anything bad about anyone. If anyone else would start saying something derogatory about someone he would say something nice about that person or immediately change the subject. The world would be a better place if there were more people like Albert. Albert suffered from cancer for many years and had hoped to be able to go home one more time, but his time ran out.
Henry Fonda, 19__ - 2001
by Bartje Miller
Henry was born in Europe and came to the United States as a young man in 1939. During World War II He joined the US Army and worked his way up to being Master Sergeant in Intelligence. While in the service he met Catherine Hansen, who was a W,A,C. and they fell in love and were married in 1945. When they came home, He started growing roses as a hobby. This led to showing roses in rose shows and then, both of them became A.R.S. Rose Show Judges and Consulting Rosarians. Henry lectured all over Southern California and demonstrated rose pruning. He was one of the early pruners for the Glendale Rose Pruning demonstrations held in Fremont Park, Glendale and then later because there were so many interested people they moved indoors to the Glendale Senior Citizen Building. He belonged to many rose societies, some of which were the San Gabriel Valley Rose and Horticulture Society, Pacific Rose Society, Southland Rose Society, El Monte Rose Society and the Greater Los Angeles Rose Council. The San Gabriel Valley Rose and Horticulture Society honored him and Kay at one of their meetings for their generosity in donating miniature roses for their plant sales, trophies for their shows and for all the work they had done helping them with shows or where ever they were needed. One of the things He was most proud of was his winning the Silver Medal of Honor in 1985 at the Pacific Southwest District Convention in El Paso, Texas. He and Kay did many very impressive installations of officers. They, themselves, were officers of many clubs. In 1981-1982 Henry was president of the Greater Los Angeles Rose Council. Henry and Kay were devoted to each other. When you saw one you would see the other. They had a very happy life together and with their two daughters, Patty Mitchler and Carol Greenwood. Patty gave them two grandchildren, Heather Rose Brister and Joshua Randall Brister. Kay and Henry were very loving Grandparents. While living in Southern California Henry started a small miniature rose nursery in his back yard. He also, hybridized several mini's some of which were Gourmet Popcorn, Heather Rose and Little Josh. When Kay became too ill for Henry to take care of alone, they sold their home in Southern California and moved to the city of Folsom, in Northern California, where their daughter, Patty, lived. Kay preceded Henry in death.
Both of these gentlemen were great and devoted rosarians and what's more important great gentlemen. We, that knew them will feel a void in our lives without them being here. They will be greatly missed.
