Daniel Russell Woodward of Lakeport, Calif., passed peacefully Sept. 9, 2012, surrounded by his family at the age of 26.

Dan fought a courageous battle with a hereditary liver disease over the last eight years.

Dan is survived by his father, William Woodward of Lakeport; mother, Sandi (John) Jackman of Needles, Calif.; brother Joseph (Christoph) Woodward-Jenkinson of Portland, Ore.; Uncle Joe (Erin) Woodward of Lakeport; Uncle Robert Woodward of Chicago; grandmother, Ethel Rodgers of Santa Rosa, Calif; and numerous cousins and nephews. Dan also leaves behind a very special girlfriend, Christy Schuber.

Dan graduated from Clear Lake High School in 2004 and enjoyed a good game of cards, bowling, fishing, hunting and camping.

Dan’s tremendous strength and courage carried him through these past eight years, but in the end, it was just too much and Dan chose to move on to his next adventure.  

In true Dan fashion, his last three words were, “I love you.”

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Hartley Cemetery.

Dan will be buried next to his special Grandma Bobbie and Grandpa Russ.
 
For further information call Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

Eldora Rose Yensen passed Sept. 9, 2012, at the age of 95.

Eldora was born in western Nebraska on Sept. 8, 1917, along with her twin brother, Elwood.

She attended two country schools and graduated from Gering, Nebraska High School in 1935 and from Scotts Bluff Junior College in 1937.

The family moved to California that year and Eldora continued her education at Bible Institute of Los Angeles (Now BIOLA University), graduating with a Bachelor of Christian Education degree.

Eldora worked in Bible Book Stores in Oakland and Portland, Ore. She returned to California in 1950 and worked at Lakeside Hospital and later for the Lake County Department of Social Services for 15 years. She took an early retirement to live part time in Mexico off and on for seven years.

She had many volunteer opportunities teaching Bible classes for children and setting up women's groups in the church and other missionary type activities.

From the time Eldora accepted Christ as her Savior at age 11, and until her passing, she served the Lord.

She was active at Lake County Bible Fellowship (formerly First Baptist Church) in Lakeport and, Casa de Luz in Kelseyville.

Since 1984 Eldora worked as a volunteer as her health permitted doing translation and interpreting for the Spanish speaking community.

Eldora is survived by her sister, Bettina Bourjaily of Iowa, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Anna and Joseph Yensen; brother, Elwood; and niece, Anna Bourjaily.

Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Lake County Bible Fellowship (formerly First Baptist Church), 775 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

Eldora prefers flowers from your garden or donations to Casa de Luz, 6716 Live Oak Dr., Kelseyville.

For further information call Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

Gladys Elaine (Hatch) Reitman died at her home in Seal Rock, Ore., on Thursday, September 6, 2012. She was 89 years old.

She was born on Jan. 9, 1923, in Colorado Springs, Colo., to parents Lee Sabastian Hatch and Lillian Alice Fahrenwald.

In March 1943 Gladys entered military service as an apprentice seaman, serving her duration before entering the Army in December 1944. She left both branches of the military with honorable discharges.

She married Howard Reitman; they celebrated 46 years together in June 1990. She was a loving wife, mother, chef, bottle washer and babysitter.

She was a member of the Waldport Assembly of God Church. Her hobbies included horses, collecting jewelry and knick knacks, and bowling.

Gladys is preceded in death by husband Howard, who died in 1990; son, Howard W. Reitman; sisters, Geri, Phyllis and June; brother, Jr. Lee; and brothers-in-law, Richard and Robert.

She is survived by children, Anita and Gary Heading of San Marcos, Calif.; Michael and Carmen Reitman of Santa Cruz, Calif.; and Helen and Ted Dougherty of Seal Rock, Ore. Gladys also is survived by 15 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Services entrusted into the care of Affordable Burial & Cremation Co.

Alleva Allien Thornburgh of Kelseyville, Calif., went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Sept. 9, 2012, at the age of 86.

She is survived by her loving and adoring husband of 62 years, Rolla Thornburgh; her devoted children, Gary (Jan) Thornburgh of Rohnert Park, Calif., and Cyndi (Paul) Obest of Castaic, Calif.; her fantastic grandchildren, Jonathan (Sheila) Obest of Tustin, Calif., Thomas Thornburgh of Kelseyville, Kattie (Mike) Orian of La Mesa, Calif., and her special great-grandson, Benjamin Orian.

Married for 62 years, she was a loving wife and homemaker, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

As a child she traveled throughout the states with her mother and grandmother as they looked for work during the Great Depression. She settled in Southern California as a young adult. She worked in Los Angeles a a seamstress where she met, fell in love with and married the man of her dreams, Rolla in May of 1950.

They settled in the town of Sun Valley just north of Los Angeles where they purchased their first home and raised their family. She was very active in their church, president of the local PTA and the local Women's Club, also she and Rolla were very active in their support of the local Girl Scouts and YMCA.

Upon retirement in 1979, they purchased a walnut orchard in Kelseyville and started a whole new adventure there (not really retiring).  

As a church volunteer at Kelseyville First Baptist Church she was a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher along with hosting college interns as they also worked at Vacation Bible School.

Due to their health, Rolla and Alleva have spent the last four years near their son in Rohnert Park, Calif.

Visitation will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary with the funeral service following.

For further information call Chapel of the Lakes at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

Joe Jess Totorica was born Jan. 5, 1931, in Oakland, Calif., to his parents Jose and Hattie May Totorica, and died on Sept. 7, 2012, the result of leukemia. He was 81 years old.

Joe is survived by two older sisters, Margaret and Alta; wife, Bobbie; his children, Joseph, Frank, Mark and Robin; their spouses; grandkids; and great-grandkids.

Joe loved his family, his life was a good one and we all loved each other in a great family relationship.

Joe graduated from Alameda High School in February l949 and later attended Diablo Valley College and John F. Kennedy University in Contra Costa  County under the GI Bill.

Prior to World War II, Joe as a young man moved to Alameda, Calif., with his mom, dad, three sisters and one brother.

Joe had a paper route during World War II, drove an ice truck delivering ice in the late war years, worked for his father in their Party Potato Chip plant, worked for San Jose Steel Co. building the Oakland freeways and the Soledad State Prison before joining the United States Marine Corps on February l9, l951.

Joe served in Korea, receiving the Purple Heart for injuries received in July 1952 and was discharged on Feb. 19, 1954, as a staff sergeant.

While in the Marine Corps he met and fell in love with his wife, Bobbie, an Alameda resident. They were married on Feb 21, 1954, eventually raising three boys and one girl. Bobbie was his treasure and they were partners for 58 years enjoying family, travel and good times together.

His loving mother-in-law Rose Vierra, still living, and father-in-law Frank Vierra were a happy part of his life. Frank predeceased Joe.

In September 1955 Joe was hired by the Alameda Police Department and worked there until his retirement in 1980. He attained the rank of lieutenant before retiring.

Joe attended the FBI National Academy, 92nd session, and graduated with scholastic excellence. In 1980 Joe and Bobbie and eventually his family moved to Lake County, where they still reside.

While residing in Lake County Joe worked for the Middletown Unified School District as a maintenance and grounds director for two years; for the Lake County Office of Education from 1985 to 1995, where he developed the current truancy reduction program, and was the lone truancy officer for all Lake County Schools for 10 years.

Joe also worked for the Clearlake Police Department from 1995 until 2000 as an administrative analyst and was charged with the task of equipment purchase and installation, and moving the police department  from an old building to its present location.

Following this task as a licensed private investigator he worked for several attorneys in Lake County, served court process, performed police background investigations and worked many other type cases. His association with Lake County’s dedicated law enforcement personnel was an added highlight in his career.

Joe loved his life, especially his family and his various occupations over the years, and was a qualified cabinet maker, performing wood working tasks that gave him pleasure as a hobby. He pleased people with wood projects they needed to make their life happier or more comfortable.

Joe had many “special” friends who he loved and was proud to spend quality time with them in a variety of ways. His sense of humor was always sharp and witty and his friendships and love for his family and friends was never ending.

Joe was a 48-year member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and was active with the Alameda, Clearlake and Lakeport Elks lodges. He also was a member of Rotary in Alameda, Lakeport Sons in Retirement, Kelseyville Lions Club, Sons of Italy, the American Legion in Kelseyville and many community service organizations.

Our family loved and will miss “Pops.” In many ways he was our rock. He loved and was very pleased with how his children have developed into good citizens and professionals in their fields. His family of in-laws of every type gave him pleasure and he loved them also.

Joe’s life was good and the way his leukemia progressed allowed him special time with family and friends before he passed. It was quality time, warm, loving and connecting.

Graveside services will be private at Kelseyville Cemetery. His remains have been entrusted to Chapel of the Lakes, 1625 N. High St., Lakeport, 707-263-0357.

A Catholic Mass will be offered at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 801 N. Main St. in Lakeport on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 11 a.m.

Following the Mass a reception will take place at the Son’s of Italy in Nice, 2817 W. Highway 20. There will be a hosted Italian lunch. A no host bar will be available. All family and friends are encouraged to attend to celebrate his life.

The wonderful Lake County Military Honors Team will perform their service for a veteran who has left us. A United States Marine Corps Detachment and a chaplain also will officiate.

And from our Pops, he leaves this message: “Thank you for the pleasures you have all provided and your friendship and love. ‘Semper Fi’ and goodbye to all.”

Agda Marie Rentsch passed away peacefully in her home August 31, 2012.

She was born May 18, 1917 in Oakland, Calif.

She is survived by her son, Eugene (Glenda) Rentsch; daughter, Francine (Dom) Traverso; granddaughter, Tori (Ryan) Warren; and great-granddaughter, Lillie.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Rentsch; brothers, Erick Petterson and Jean Petterson; and sister, Emmie Rettig.

Private services will be held at Kelseyville Cemetery.

For further information contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .