Saturday, 23 November 2024

Obits

Charles A. West Jr. Courtesy photo.


CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Charles A. West Jr., 49, of Clearlake Oaks passed away on Jan. 7, 2021, in St. Helena, California.

He was born on Oct. 4, 1972, in Santa Rosa, California, the son of late Charles and Carmen West.

He graduated from Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa, California, in 1989.

He met the love of his life in January 2007 and married his wife, Gianne Taylor-West on June 28, 2020.

He worked at Costco in Santa Rosa, California, and at Safeway in Clearlake, California, as a butcher.

Charles was a devoted and loving, son, brother, husband and uncle. Besides spending time with family, Charles enjoyed gardening, reading and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles West and mother, Carmen West.

He is survived by his wife, Gianne Taylor-West of Clearlake Oaks; his sister and brother-in-law, Tina and Brian Herron of Santa Rosa; and nieces and nephews.

He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all who knew him.

A celebration of life will be scheduled for a later date. If interested please contact Gianne Taylor-West.

Charles West and wife, Gianne. Courtesy photo.

William McNabb. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Dec. 21, 2020, William Charles McNabb, better known as Charlie, passed away at home surrounded by loved ones, after a long, valiant fight with cancer.

Here a few words about Charlie: While trying to sum up my father-in-law’s life, I keep coming back to one thought … Never will you meet a man who more faithfully lived his values.

My father-in-law never let another man down. He fulfilled every obligation he ever undertook. His word was his bond, and everyone knew it. I never knew him to lie, nor intentionally deceive.

My father-in-law was self-made and self-reliant. Charlie was proud to be a painter. From his career to his skill with every kind of tool that could fashion wood or metal, brick or cement, cars or trucks, my father-in-law engaged with the world as a man who would be its master. Charlie was a teacher of all things. His method was simple. He taught by example.

My father-in-law was strong in body, in spirit and in commitment. In recent years Charlie, with Cherrill or Ryan by his side, was able to relish the good things in life including hunting, fishing, travel, food and wine, and friends and family.

He had a quiet dignity, respecting himself the way he respected others. As he faced his final days, his body ravaged with the cancer, he not once lost his good humor and he never had one moment of self-pity. The day before he passed when the hospice nurse asked him how he was doing, he gave the same answer he gave every day: “I’m fine.” In his mind he was fine, he was going home.

While I know that my father-in-law is gone from this world, I know that I am fortunate enough to still get to “see” him everyday, in both my husband and my son. Thank you, Charlie, for making Ryan the man he is today and thank you for showing Asher what the best grandfathers are made of.

Charlie is preceded in death by his mother and father, Imogene and Lorenzo McNabb; and his sister, Barbara Jean McNabb.

Charlie is survived by his son and best friend, Ryan McNabb, daughter-in-law, Erin McNabb; his beloved grandson, Asher McNabb; his brothers, Ronald (Ilona) McNabb, Carl McNabb and John (Sandy) McNabb; sister, Judy (Leroy) Pruett; many beloved nieces and nephews; and his partner in crime and love of his life, Cherrill Jones.

Charlie will live forever in the hearts of those he left behind. Will always be remembered for his jolly, “give you the shirt off my back” personality and for his unwavering love of his family. Charlie was most definitely one of the good ones. We love you.

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

Dale Donley. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, Dale Gene Donley, loving father of four children and six grandchildren, passed away at the age of 68.

Dale was born on June 28, 1952, in Los Angeles to Mickey and Joan Donley.

Dale received his Associate of Science degree from Ventura College and graduated at the top of his class.

He practiced as a Registered Respiratory Therapist for 15 years, where he met the love of his life.

Dale had a passion for travel, the ocean and the Grateful Dead. He was known for his quick wit, his infectious smile and his compassionate spirit.

Above all Dale loved his family. He worked hard to be able to take many family vacations, where he was always found with a huge smile and a contagious laugh.

He was an incredible father and a wonderful grandfather.

Dale will be missed by those who loved him.

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

Rosemarie Wood. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Our beloved mother, Rosemarie Wood, recently passed on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021.

She was born in Germany on Feb. 1, 1944, and married and came to the US in 1972. She dedicated her life to raising eight children.

She enjoyed flower gardening, reading, photography, crocheting and watching her family grow.

Rosie, as everyone called her, was a wonderful person who touched the lives of those around her. She was a bright light in her family. She loved to laugh, joke (gossip) and get together with her friends.

Our mom was one of those people that just drew others to her. Wherever she went she made friends, and she never neglected to keep in touch with them.

One of the most important things a mother can do is pass on her best traits. I can only hope that the kindness, compassion and generosity she has shown us over the years remains with us as we mourn her passing and celebrate her life.

She leaves behind daughters, Elke Caesar, Silvia Saldaña (Joel), Lisa Aguilar (Pablo), Madelena Saldaña and Natalia John (Haughton); sons, Thomas Wood, Paul Wood and Daniel Saldaña (Andi); grandchildren, Michael, Steven, Naomi, Angela, Jennifer, Shelby, Thomas, Tyler, Seth, Sterling, Garrett, Dalton, Maliyna, Cruz, Lamont, Steven, Jesse, Azalayah, Olivia, Eli, Mya, Jazzmyne, Haughton, Damien, Laylah and Nations; great-grandchildren, Bianca, Gabriella, Aidan, Robert, Sienna, Elena, Lareyna, Johnny, Luralei, Tayler, Emely, Josephina, Sophia, Leoni and Honas.

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

Marilyn R. Hettema. Courtesy photo.

Marilyn R. Hettema, 90, of Clearlake, California, and Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away Jan. 6, 2021, at the Indiana Veterans Home.

She was born April 29, 1930, in Chicago, to the late Charles H. Roth and Alvida Kellstrom Roth.

She was married to Joe C. Hettema on August 23, 1952, in Pasadena, California. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Joe, in 2015.

She graduated from West Suburban Hospital School of Nursing in 1951. She was a member of Lucerne Community Church in Lucerne, California, and was an alumni associate of the West Suburban Hospital School of Nursing.

She was a Registered Nurse at West Suburban Hospital School of Nursing in Oak Park, Illinois, in the oncology Department. She also worked at a nursing home in Florida.

Her hobbies were fishing, eating out and reading.

Surviving are one son, Charles D. Hettema (Leah) of Fairfax Station, Virginia; a daughter, Jennal Johnson (Kent) of Indianapolis; 11 grandchildren, Jennie Hettema, Michelle Ender (Robert), Kent Johnson, Jr., Melissa Johnson, Daniel Hettema (Florence), Rachel Johnson (John), Kaley Johnson, Camille Johnson, Alexis Johnson (Josh), Ian Johnson and Troy Johnson; and six great-grandchildren.

Along with her husband Joe, she is preceded in death by one granddaughter, Christine Hettema; two brothers, Don Roth and Ralph Roth; and one sister, Doris Johnson Wilson.

Private family services will be held at Indiana Veteran’s Home.

In lieu of usual remembrances, contributions may be directed to Lucerne Community Church, 5870 California, PO Box 144, Lucerne, CA 95458.

Share memories and condolences online at www.hippensteeelfuneralhome.com.

Pauline Keil-Stocker. Courtesy photo.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Pauline Denise Keil-Stocker, a Lake County native and descendent of Lake County's pioneer families, died on Jan. 3, 2021, age 71, at her home in Upper Lake.

Pauline was born Jan. 6, 1949, in Lakeport, the second daughter born of Barbara Leona Alley Keil Vengley and Paul Rudolph Keil. Pauline preferred to go by her middle name, Denise.

The Alley family was one of the earliest to settle in the Middle Creek Valley north of Upper Lake. Pauline was raised in the Victorian-style house sitting on land cleared and homesteaded by her great-great-grandfather, Andrew Jackson Alley, in the 1850s.

Her great-great-grandmother, Louisa Elizabeth Perkins Alley, died as the family traveled from Missouri to Oregon by wagon train and is buried along the Oregon Trail near the Snake River.

Her great-grandmother, Phebe Gordon Alley, came to Lake County with her family by walking and riding across the Isthmus of Panama.

Her great-grandmother’s family, the Hersheys, settled in the Sacramento Valley near Zamora. A great-uncle, David Newcomer Hershey, built the Woodland Opera House in 1885.

Denise grew up on her parent’s ranch in Upper Lake, breaking in her first horse at age 12. She graduated from high school in the class of 1965 and graduated from Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo. In college, she married Steven Orville Stocker and they raised two children together; Barbara was born in 1976 and Joseph was born in 1978.

Steven remembers when he first met Denise in a parking lot behind Fremont Hall at Cal Poly in 1969. “She was a beautiful young woman in a white dress that needed assistance with her Rambler station wagon. We married March 20, 1971.”

Denise was a poet her entire life and was honored to have her writing published and received various awards throughout her life.

For 20 years she attended writers workshops with the Lake County Arts Council and received a letter of recommendation from poet and author Clive Matson.

Denise returned to Lake County in the 1990s and settled in her hometown of Upper Lake where she enjoyed frequenting cafes and people watching.

Denise is survived by her two children, Joseph Byron Stocker and Barbara Schwenke Waken; her sister, Mary Lee Keil; her niece and nephew, Dan Patrick Russell and Meghan Kathleen Russell Rimrodt; her five grandchildren, Drake Schwenke, Logan Schwenke, Brennan Stocker, Brooklyn Waken and Hudson Waken; and good friend, Steven Stocker.

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

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