Thursday, 21 November 2024

Obits

Jack Mathews. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Jack Mathews was born Nov. 20, 1946, and went home on March 1, 2022, after a brave 16 month battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was our warrior; his doctor said “he had great courage and was remarkable!”

Jack grew up in Lower Lake and graduated from Lower Lake High School. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force as a jet engine mechanic during Vietnam.

He came back to Lake County and before long went to work for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. as a general construction field equipment mechanic. He retired in 2018 after 41 years of dedication.

Jack enjoyed lots of fun times with family and friends gathering, hunting, fishing, camping, quad rides, meadow barbecues (where he was master of the grill), good wine, good food and especially homemade desserts. :)

And we can’t forget the 25 years of “Noggers” where he always made a toast to celebrate the happy events of the year!

He worked hard all of his life, at work and at home, taking care of his family, his hunting buddies and his PG&E crews. Everyone that knew Jack looked forward to his genuine smile, warm hugs and words of wisdom. He was more than special in all of our lives and he will be missed more than words can say …

Jack Mathews. Courtesy photo.

Jack was a loving husband of 25 years to Lynda; Dad to Jessica (Josh) Chernoh, Liza (Justin) Esayian, and Heather (Kevin) Murray; Poppy Jack or Papa to Garrett, Evan and Madalynn, Aryana and Ethan, Sophie, Kamden, Grayson and Clark; Big Brother to Polly (Dave) Gubser; uncle to Jenean (Tim) Smith; and great uncle to Brad and Brian Smith.

He also leaves our Sweetwater family, the Garretts, Maces, Mertles and Dyes, his PG&E family and many other loved ones.

Here’s to a life full of love and memories that will last forever! We love you so much… Until we meet again …

Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary on Friday, March 11, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Celebration of life barbecue will be held at Ripe Choice 2550 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport on Saturday, March 12, at 12:30 p.m. Please bring your favorite pictures to add to our picture boards!

In lieu of flowers, a donation in his memory to the Martin-O’Neal Cancer Center will help them to continue their wonderful care for other families. You can mail a check to Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center in Memory of Jack Mathews to 10 Woodland Road St. Helena, CA 94574.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Lisa Jameson Ryan. Courtesy photo.

Lisa Jameson Ryan lived a life of kindness and love, courage and compassion, joy and faith.

Her life was filled with gratitude for every moment. This spirit of gratitude sustained her optimism as she faced the challenge of living and thriving with cancer. She used both traditional medicine and alternative healing methods to live her best life.

Just weeks before her death she rode roller-coasters with her family at Disneyland, toured Christmas lights with friends and donned a silly Santa outfit showing her amazing sense of humor and zest for life.

Lisa passed peacefully, under hospice care, surrounded by family and close friends, on Dec. 20, 2021, in Los Angeles at the age of 59.

Lisa Diane Jameson was born on Aug. 17, 1962, in Ukiah, California, to Jack and Joanne Jameson.

Later Lisa's family moved to Lakeport, California, where she graduated from Clear Lake High School.

Lisa attended the University of North Florida where she earned her nursing degree. During her career, she worked in labor/delivery and medical surgery.

Lisa and James Ryan were married for 32 years and had two children.

Lisa embraced the joy life had to offer. She loved being a wife and mom. She was passionate about her friendships and nurtured these connections. She loved animals, especially her own.

Lisa was adventurous, her enthusiasm contagious, and she enjoyed taking her family and friends along on the journey. She thrived in the outdoors: cycling, horseback riding, skiing, water sports and even trying rock climbing.

Her artistic talents emerged through guitar playing, singing, dancing and the practice of acroyoga. She enriched her spiritual life with prayer, meditation and beautiful beach sunsets.

A celebration of life for Lisa, will be held in Rocklin, California, on March 19, 2022.

Lisa is survived by her husband, James, and adult children, Matthew David and Brooke Elizabeth; mother, Joanne Jameson; siblings, Lynn Kesling (Steve), Ann McKee (Myron), David Jameson (Mei-Ling) and Aaron Jameson (Wendy); and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Lisa shared her love of faith, family and friends and her vibrant spirit continues to inspire us.

Dennis Bender. Courtesy photo.



Dennis Richard Bender
July 11, 1949 — Jan. 26, 2022

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Gandhi

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Dennis Richard Bender found himself consistently by losing himself serving as many people as possible.

Born at Mercy Hospital in Sacramento in July 1949, he graduated from Grant High School in 1957 and served in the United States Air Force from 1969 to 1972.

He continued to follow his servant heart as a carpenter and later a general contractor where building homes and remodeling existing housing was his way to improve the lives around him.

After moving to New York in 2001, he returned to Clearlake Oaks, California, in 2016 to be closer to his three sons, Douglas, Daniel and David, his eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Clear Lake provided the backdrop for Dennis’s enjoyment of fishing with his sons, and tournament fishing with his eldest son, Doug.

Dennis lived his life in deep commitment to Jesus Christ, which empowered his ability to bless all who crossed his path.

You may have met Dennis on the docks of Clear Lake, where he worked as a quagga mussel inspector and ramp monitor since 2018.

If you have met Dennis, you knew beyond a doubt that he was honest, reliable, and a pleasure to be around — unless you were a fish, that is. As a fish, you knew you couldn’t escape his hook forever. Dennis embodied the quote, “It is better to sit in a boat thinking about God, then to sit in a church thinking about fishing.”

It is with a sad yet hopeful heart that we say, “till we meet again” to Dennis Bender. As a Christian family we are assured to see Dennis once more as he has returned home with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He was preceded in the afterlife by his father Richard Bender (1994), his mother Hilda Bender (1992), and his sister Marlene Kilponene (1988).

A celebration of a life well spent will be held at Grace Church, 6716 Live Oak Drive, Kelseyville, on Saturday, Feb. 19, from 3 to 5 p.m.

John “Charlie” Cruz. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Charlie was born March 8, 1951, in Lakeport, California.

He passed away peacefully on Feb. 24, 2022 with family at his bedside.

Charlie was also a tribal member of Big Valley Rancheria.

He is survived by his son, John Cruz Jr.; daughter-in-law, Natalie Cruz; granddaughter, Kylie Cruz; goddaughters, Alicia and Yolanda; and grandson, Nick Jack.

Charlie had many great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. He had many nieces, great-nieces, nephews and great-nephews, as well as friends.

We will surely miss him as he was a big part of our lives.

He is preceded by his parents, Jose and Vivian Cruz; as well as his brothers and sister.

Visitation will be held at his Home at 5240 Gunn St. in Kelseyville from Wednesday, March 2, to March 4, at 11 a.m. Rosary service will be held on March 3 at 6 p.m. at the same location.

There will be no graveside services due to his wishes for cremation.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Marilyn La Vonne Smith (nee Kruger) passed peacefully with her family at her side.

She was born Oct. 22, 1933, and died Feb. 10, 2022, at 5:27 p.m. at the age of 88 in Yuba City, California.

She was welcomed in Heaven by her parents, Alvin and Pauline, as well as all of her siblings, Alvin Jr., Patricia, Jureen and Dallas.

Marilyn was a loving wife for 64 years, an excellent mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She worked as a bank teller, retiring in 1995.

She enjoyed her family and gardening and was a talented oil painter.

She was an excellent example of strength, love for her family and devotion.

She is in Heaven free of her earthly body and no longer in pain.

Marilyn is survived by her husband, Herbert; her daughters and their spouses, Sheryl and Pat and Janell and Chris; and her son, Robert.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jesse, Jene, Jillian and Dustin, along with her great-grandchildren, Avery, Mia, Jude and Jameson.

A graveside service will be held Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. at the Memorial Park Cemetery, 5646 Lincoln Blvd. in Oroville, California.

Dana Parker Obermeyer. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Dana Parker Obermeyer, age 74, of Glenhaven, passed away peacefully on Feb. 5, 2022, in the care of Sutter Lakeside Hospital ER with her beloved husband Dan at her side.

Dana worked hard for 10 years battling a rare autoimmune disease.

Dana leaves behind her husband of 17 years and love of her life, Dan Obermeyer; stepdaughter, Lisa (Dan) Currier; grandson, Stan Currier; sister, Leslie (Bob) Rumfelt; niece, Amy Rumfelt; niece, Melanie (Paul) Brown and family; nephew, Ron (Samantha) Rumfelt and family; and many cousins.

Special friends include Patsy Thorburn, Cathy Wilson and Melody DeLeon, and the Fourth of July group including Susan and Dan, Robin and Vonn.

Dana was preceded in death by her father Frank Parker in 1961, and mother Lucille Parker Walker in 1994.

Dana was born Aug. 17, 1947, in Oakland, California, to Frank and Lucille Parker. They lived in San Pablo at that time. Dana attended schools in the San Pablo/Richmond area through her sophomore year of high school.

In 1963 Dana and her mother and sister moved to the family vacation home in Clearlake Oaks where she graduated from Lower Lake Union High School in 1965.

After graduation she became the school secretary at Lower Lake Union High School, and later became district secretary for the Konocti Unified School District where she worked for several years.

Dana was married to Carl Burton Jr. before his deployment to Vietnam. They lived in Clearlake Oaks. This marriage lasted 10 years. They have remained friends.

Dana briefly lived in Napa, moved to Redding where she lived for eight years, then moved back to Lake County where she remained.

Her last job was partnering with Jeff Lucas to run Community Development Services for
approximately 30 years to assist local businesses and local governments to obtain small business loans and grants and create jobs. She retired in approximately 2012.

In 2005, Dana and Dan got married and went on to build a lovely house in Glenhaven with a great view, where they lived for their entire marriage.

In 2006, Glenhaven was in need of a water master, so Dana took the schooling and training needed and passed her exam for water master. She and Dan have worked closely with
the Glenhaven Mutual Water Co. and the Glenhaven community for many years.

In her healthy years Dana was always full of energy and on the go. She and Dan enjoyed hiking, camping and traveling. Her favorite area was Mt. Lassen, camping at Hat Creek, visiting Burney Falls and hiking to Lake Britton.

Early in their marriage D & D (as they were known) bought a truck and fifth wheel RV in 2003 and traveled the Western U.S. for many great adventures until Dana’s health prevented this.

Several years ago Dana prompted Dan to finish restoring a 1929 Model A. They enjoyed touring with the Lake County A’s for several years.

When Dana was 40, she and friends Susan, Robin and Vonn began annual girls’ trips to Pelican House in Bodega Bay in the spring, and Sardine Lake in the fall which were very special times.

Dana and Dan enjoyed years of inviting neighbors together for dinners in their home. Dana had a great big heart and was always willing to help others.

A celebration of Dana’s life is planned for the beginning of summer as she so loved summers.

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