Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Minna Leibenguth Russell
No services are planned for Minna Leibenguth Russell, who died Tuesday in Santa Cruz. She was 90.
A native of Wheeling, W.Va., Mrs. Russell had lived in Santa Cruz for the past four years.
Mrs. Russell was the eighth of nine children. Her parents were German immigrants who had come to America in 1905.
She graduated from Wheeling High School in 1930. She began working as a secretary at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. in 1942.
She marriage Donald George Russell of Bridgeport, Ohio, in 1942.
During World War II, Mrs. Russell worked as a secretary at a surgical supply company in New York City while her husband served aboard a ship in the North Atlantic.
After the war, the couple settled in Hackensack, N.J., and began their family. The family moved to San Diego in 1951 so Mr. Russell could find employment in the aeronautics industry. The couple remained in San Diego until 1999 when they moved to Santa Cruz.
She enjoyed reading, bowling, square dancing and listening to music. She and her husband held season tickets to the San Diego Opera for 15 years and regularly attended symphony concerts.
For the past four years, she had enjoyed spending time with her friends and neighbors at Oak Tree Villa and Twilight Manor in Santa Cruz.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Donald E. Russell of Santa Cruz; daughter Kathy Eva Haber of Santa Cruz; and two grandchildren.
A daughter, Donna Ann, died before her.
Burial will be at Santa Cruz Memorial Park.
April 12, 2003
Ignacia Laso ‘Nacha’ Acosta
Services will be today and Thursday for Ignacia Laso "Nacha" Acosta, who died Saturday at her Watsonville home. She was 76.
Ms. Acosta was born in Marfa, Texas, and had lived in Watsonville for 50 years. She belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliary and enjoyed knitting and playing bingo.
She is survived by sons Tony Morales of Watsonville and Albert, Mario, Jimmy, George and Stephen Acosta, all of Watsonville and Kalaca Lesui of San Jose; daughters Josephine Hernandez of Watsonville, Norma Jimenez of Freedom, Anna Perez of Castroville and Elizabeth Carlos of Watsonville; brothers Lupe Laso of Nevada and Frank, Adam, David and Adolph Laso, all of Colorado; sisters Jennie Amaya of Holtsville and Margaret Ramirez of Nevada; 31 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Her husband, Jose Acosta, son John Acosta and daughter Kathy Morales all died before her.
Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel, 222 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville.
A rosary service will be at 7 tonight at Mehl’s.
A memorial service will be noon Thursday at the VFW Hall on Freedom Boulevard.
Private graveside services will be later.
April 16, 2003
Harry A. Rhodes
Services will be Thursday for Harry A. Rhodes, who died Sunday at his Watsonville home. He was 80.
Mr. Rhodes was born in San Luis Obispo. He lived in the Watsonville area for 72 years.
Mr. Rhodes graduated from Watsonville High School and served in the Army during World War II, stationed in the Pacific Theater.
He worked as a clerk for Southern Pacific Railroad for 40 years and enjoyed raising cattle and tending his ranch. He was a member of Watsonville United Presbyterian Church for many years.
He is survived by daughter Jennifer Rhodes of Watsonville; son Harry D. Rhodes of Aptos; and two grandchildren.
His wife, Angeline Rhodes, died in 1989, and his brother, Richard Rhodes died in March.
Friends may call from 2-5 and 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at Davis Memorial Chapel, 609 Main St., Watsonville.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Pajaro Valley Memorial Park.
April 16, 2003
William ‘Bill’ Campbell Berry
Services will be Thursday for William "Bill" Campbell Berry, who died Sunday at Dominican Hospital. He was 87.
Mr. Berry was born near Bronson, Kan. He lived in Wichita and Philadelphia before he and his wife, Dorothy, moved to Capitola in 1978 to be near his son’s family.
He was an active member of the Capitola and Soquel communities, family members say.
Mr. Berry served in the Navy during World War II. He worked as a industrial engineer for Boeing Aircraft Co. for 37 years.
Mr. Berry was a Masonic Lodge member for more than 50 years and was active in the Santa Cruz Shrine Club, serving as honorable president from 1999-2000. He was also president of the Alimur Home Owner’s Association in Soquel for several years.
Mr. Berry was an avid deep-sea fisherman who bowled and played pool weekly.
He is survived by sons Lonnie Berry of Ben Lomond and James Berry of Boston; daughter Janice Jurek of Prospect Park, Penn.; sisters Verlin McKee, Elizabeth Thompson and Wilma Raguiel, all of Texas; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
His wife of 58 years, Dorothy Berry, died in 1997.
Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at the Confidence Hall, Soquel Masonic Lodge, 3001 Main St., Soquel.
Contributions are preferred to Shriners Hospital for Children, Burn Unit, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817.
April 16, 2003
Christopher Francisco Castro IV
Services have been held for Christopher Francisco Castro IV, who died April 4 in San Francisco after contracting a bacterial infection. He was 35.
Mr. Castro was raised in Santa Cruz and lived in San Francisco at the time of his death. He had lived in Hawaii, Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Mr. Castro attended Branciforte and MacQuiddy elementary schools and E.A. Hall Middle School. He worked in restaurants most of his adult life and had worked at the Boardwalk as a youngster.
He was a world traveler and socialite, family members say, who enjoyed studying the word of God and being outdoors. He enjoyed "catching the perfect tan" at a great beach, family members say.
Mr. Castro was a member of First Baptist Church of Watsonville.
He is survived by his partner of 10 years, Christopher Eppler of Hawaii; brother Allan Castro of Santa Nella; mother and stepfather Teri and Richard Canada of Santa Nella; father Chris Castro III of Auburn, Wash.; and grandmother Mary Dubois of Manteca.
Services were held last week at Seacliff State Beach.
Contributions are preferred to a favorite charity.
April 16, 2003
Alfred H. ‘Al’ Schurek
Services will be held Tuesday for Alfred H. "Al" Schurek, who died Thursday at Watsonville Community Hospital of a brief illness. He was 86.
Mr. Schurek grew up in New York and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He moved his family to the Pajaro Valley after a short stay in Washington, D.C. After his move, he became one of the pioneers in the frozen food industry in the mid-1950s, when he founded the Valley Packing Service.
Mr. Schurek enjoyed boating and traveling after his retirement.
He is survived by a son, Peter Schurek, and daughters Gail Haas of Watsonville, Jill Reed of Port Aransas, Texas, and Kris Miller of Reno; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His wife, Helen, died before him.
A memorial Mass will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, also known as Valley Church. Internment will be later at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. Arrangements are by Mehl’s Colonial Chapel.
Contributions are preferred to the Hospice Caring Project, P.O. Box 670, Aptos, CA 95001 or a charity of choice.
April 14, 2003
Ignacia Laso ‘Nacha’ Acosta
Services will be today and Thursday for Ignacia Laso "Nacha" Acosta, who died Saturday at her Watsonville home. She was 76.
Ms. Acosta was born in Marfa, Texas, and had lived in Watsonville for 50 years. She belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliary and enjoyed knitting and playing bingo.
She is survived by sons Tony Morales of Watsonville and Albert, Mario, Jimmy, George and Stephen Acosta, all of Watsonville and Kalaca Lesui of San Jose; daughters Josephine Hernandez of Watsonville, Norma Jimenez of Freedom, Anna Perez of Castroville and Elizabeth Carlos of Watsonville; brothers Lupe Laso of Nevada and Frank, Adam, David and Adolph Laso, all of Colorado; sisters Jennie Amaya of Holtsville and Margaret Ramirez of Nevada; 31 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Her husband, Jose Acosta, son John Acosta and daughter Kathy Morales all died before her.
Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel, 222 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville.
A rosary service will be at 7 tonight at Mehl’s.
A memorial service will be noon Thursday at the VFW Hall on Freedom Boulevard.
Private graveside services will be later.
April 15, 2003
