Lake County News,California

Obits

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Wednesday, 08 January 2020 01:47; 08 January 2020

Ann Hansberg

Ann Hansberg
June 29, 1937 – Dec. 30, 2019

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Services will be held for Ann Hansberg at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Lakeport.

Starting on Friday, Jan. 10, visitation will be held from 10 to 10:45 a.m. with Rosary service at 10:45 a.m. followed by funeral Mass at 11 a.m.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Sunday, 05 January 2020 00:31; 05 January 2020

Patrick J. Gallagher Sr.

Patrick was born on Nov. 30, 1973, in San Francisco and passed away suddenly from a stroke on Dec. 29, 2019, in Santa Rosa, California.

Patrick was dedicated, hardworking, a loving husband and father of four amazing children.

He’s greatly cherished and will be greatly missed.

Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, Jan. 10, at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Middletown.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Saturday, 04 January 2020 02:24; 04 January 2020

Raymond Brown Jr.

Raymond James ‘Imek’ Brown Jr.
July 13, 1969 - Dec. 27, 2019

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Raymond James “Imek” Brown Jr. was born to the late Diane and Raymond Brown Sr.

Imek is also predeceased by his sister, Melissa Brown; his daughter, Baby Brown; grandparents, Jim and Elvina Brown and Theresa and Sandy Boggs.

He is survived by his siblings, Joe, Monte, Ericka, Lisa, Raylene and Tiara; children, Hason, Taylor, Emick, Paul, Makoa, Wa'kea, Milei, Kaleo and We’ka; godchildren, Stoney, Ki-Yana, Eric and Lalo; grandchildren, Emick Jr., Kei'ana, Kameron and Ke'oni; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Growing up, Imek was an athlete in basketball, baseball and football, which inspired him to coach his children with his knowledge.

Imek Brown was strong in his ceremony ways from Elem Indian Colony, Big Valley, Scotts Valley and Robinson Rancheria; his heart was set on trying to change the cycle for the youth and to teach the Traditional Ways to his people.

Traditional visitation will start on Saturday, Jan. 4, at Elem Indian Colony at 1 p.m., and end on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 1 p.m.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Sunday, 05 January 2020 00:32; 05 January 2020

Richard Hoyt

Richard Hoyt
March 2, 1942 - Dec. 23, 2019

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Richard Hoyt passed away Dec. 23, 2019, in Lakeport, at the age of 77.

He was born in Minnesota and lived most of his life in the Bay Area until moving to Lake County.

He was preceded in death by parents, Robert and Margaretta Hoyt, and brother, Charles Hoyt.

He is survived by brother Schuyler “Sky” Hoyt, and sisters-in-law, Paula Mune and Junko Hoyt; nieces, Ryoko Osako, Karen and Mari Hoyt, Nanami and Sora Uchiyama; nephew, Ari Kai Bueson; and friend, Nancy Hodges.

Richard was a professional photographer, fisherman, and Bonsai enthusiast.

There will be a service at the Kelseyville Methodist Church on Jan. 19 at 1:30 p.m.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Saturday, 04 January 2020 02:26; 04 January 2020

Joy Ruzicka

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Joy Ruzicka was born on July 9, 1958, in Lincoln, Nebraska, the first of six siblings.

She passed away on Dec. 31, 2019, in Roseville, California, after an eight-month battle with anaplastic carcinoma, an aggressive and fast-growing cancer.

The Ruzicka family moved to Lakeport in the fall of 1965. Joy attended Lakeport schools beginning in the second grade, where she made friends that have lasted her lifetime. She graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1976. Joy was very involved in music throughout school, participating in chorus and playing the clarinet in band.

She attended college at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln where she studied Russian literature. With her beautiful smile and happy personality, Joy made many college friends.

Joy returned to California in the early 1980s, moving to Santa Rosa. She enjoyed music and concerts in Sonoma County with her numerous friends.

In the late 80s, Joy attended and graduated from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Joy worked in the San Francisco/Bay Area for many years as a pastry chef.

Joy’s first daughter, Allegria was born in 1992 and her second daughter, Avalon, joined the family in 1995. Joy was happiest being a mother to her two daughters for the last 27 years.

In 1995, Joy was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (kidney failure). She waited on the organ transplant list for over five years before she received a kidney in 2003 from Adam, a young man who lost his life in a motorcycle accident. Her kidney worked wonderfully for 16 and a half years, much longer than anticipated.

Unfortunately, the immunosuppressant drugs that she took daily to prevent rejection of the organ, suppressed her immune system making Joy especially susceptible to cancer and other diseases. Joy managed her health issues with strength and stoicism.

Upon her passing, Joy was able to donate her corneas to someone in need. It was a wonderful consolation to her daughters and family that Joy could still be an organ donor after her illness. She believed strongly in giving the gift of life.

Besides being a mother, Joy loved to garden and camp. Her flower gardens rivaled those of her grandmas. She also loved music and dancing. And she could always be found in a rocking chair. She even had a rocking camping chair!

Joy is survived by her daughters, Allegria and Avalon Ruzicka, of Los Angeles, California. She is also survived by her mother, Marie (Hospodka) Blanche of Verdigre, Nebraska; father and stepmother, Clifford and Nancy Ruzicka of Lakeport; siblings, Jon Ruzicka, Jim Ruzicka, Jill Ruzicka and Mark Ruzicka; her nephews, Oliver and Philip Leighton, and Mark Brayden Ruzicka; and her niece, Nancy Alejandra Ruzicka.

She is preceded in death by her younger sister, Marla Ruzicka, and stepfather, Dr. Robert J. Blanche.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 11 a.m. at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary located at 1625 N. High St., Lakeport, followed by a reception. Attendees are encouraged to wear purple, Joy’s favorite color.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Tuesday, 31 December 2019 02:37; 31 December 2019

Gene R. Helmuth

Gene R. Helmuth
Jan. 9, 1926 – Dec. 9, 2019

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Gene passed peacefully on Dec. 9, 2019, exactly one month prior to his 94th birthday.

Gene grew up, got married and spent his entire working career in the Bay Area. He always had a deep connection to country living as his grandfather lived on a secluded 110 acres in the mother lode country near Jackson where he became an accomplished hunter and trout fisherman.

During World War II, he fought in the infamous Battle of the Bulge and was one of the first recipients of the “super drug” penicillin.

Unfortunately, he received it too late and the lower part of his right leg had to be amputated. Very few people noticed the difference as it hardly held him back in his life. He received the Purple Heart for his sacrifice to the war effort.

After the war, he came back to Oakland and married his sweetheart, Greta Darrow. Their first date was at the old Oakland Oaks baseball stadium, now the home of Pixar Studios. They bought a home near the bottom of the Oakland hills and began raising a family.

Gene was trained as a machinist and soon got a job at the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in the Prosthetics Department. By the time of the Vietnam war, he was the head of the department and was using his mechanical ingenuity in making creative new designs for the returning amputees.

The family moved to the more rural Castro Valley around 1960. It was there that he began restoring classic cars, many classic Corvettes and Mercedes Benz. Well into his 90s Gene was always thinking of large and small ways to make the world a better place. His children never saw repairmen, the car never went to the repair shop, Gene did everything himself.

Gene and his family began to visit Clear Lake soon after he returned from the war. First in Lower Lake where he and his son Ron were always catching their limit in bass and later in Lakeport, where Greta and Gene retired and he spent his last 38 years.

Lakeport became a Mecca for family holidays and visits. Gene loved taking people out on his classic wooden boat, the "Saw Dust," his last restoration project.

Gene and Greta traveled extensively during their retirement, across the United States twice and down into Mexico to Puerto Vallarta. They always came home with many stories to the quiet stillness of Lake County.

In his later years, Gene was well known for his easy-going nature, his kindness, fairness and his generosity.

Gene was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Greta. He leaves behind his son, Ron (Beverly) Helmuth of Albuquerque; daughters, Sally (Dave) Anglin of Grass Valley and Julie (Keith) Emory of Lakeport; and his grandchildren, Ericka Anglin of Sacramento and Dylan Anglin of Santa Rosa. He also leaves behind his dear and close friend, Pat Harpham.

Rest in peace, Dad, you will forever be in all of our hearts.

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