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Patricia Ann Kangas
Patricia Ann Kangas died at her Rocklin home surrounded by family on Dec. 9, 2005, after a four-year battle with lung cancer. She was 66 years old.
A celebratory memorial begins at 6 p.m. Friday at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A St.
Born April 9, 1939, she grew up in Oakland, graduated from Oakland Technical High School in 1957, and then went on to San Jose State University where she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology. She was a long-standing resident of Davis and was an active member of the Rotary Club of Davis.
She was director of the Davis Senior Center for more than 20 years, and she was the driving force in the design and completion of the current Davis Senior Center facility.
She co-created Senior Learning Unlimited, which set the standard for continuing education for senior citizens. This she shared with other cities so they could also provide such programs.
She was one of the founding members of the Crustaceans, a book review group founded in 1979 with friends who still meet monthly to discuss literature. She spent many years traveling with her husband all over the world, enjoying all of the activities and cultural events in the countries they visited.
All who knew her will remember her kindness, equity, sense of style and quick wit. She will be remembered for the laughter she shared and the cohesiveness she generated.
“The warmth felt as she and Mal danced, the songs they parodied at their kids' weddings, or their review of the many books they read are lifelong memories, ” her family says.
The family would like to thank Dr. Delphine Ong of the Sutter Cancer Center, who treated her with tenacity, compassion and vision.
She was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Vernon Peters.
She is survived by her husband, Mal of Rocklin; her children, Alison Page of Fremont; Monte Kangas of Little Rock, Ark.; Sylvia Moir of Roseville; Larry Moir of Santa Maria; and Matt Kangas of San Clemente.
She is further survived by her sister, Bette Peters of San Leandro; her brother, Allan Moir of Sonoma; her grandchildren, Katie and Tyler Randolph; Loran, Riley and Lucas Moir; and Elisse, Sean and Sophia Kangas; the spouses of her children, Joe Page, Cheryl Bond-Kangas, Michele Gigante, Donica Moir and Michelle Kangas; and her niece and nephew, Karen Knox and Steven Peters.
Donations may be made in her name to the Sutter Cancer Center, Davis Senior Center or a charity of the donor's choice.
KANOFF
Alma Marie Kanoff
Passed away on Saturday, November 7, 1998 in her home; she was born in Muscatine, Iowa on July 7, 1901. In 1942 she and her husband George Kanoff, moved from Muscatine to Sacramento where she bagan working for Winstock-Lubin, Co., until her retirement in 1966. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1959. She leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law, Faye and Les McNeil of Davis, and her son and his wife, Bruce and Marjorie Kanoff of Kephyr Cove, Nevada. She is also survived by five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. A family memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to American Cancer Society, or the charity of your choice.
KARRAKER
Kenneth ‘Poppy’ Ramon Karraker
Kenneth Ramon Karraker died on Dec. 31, 2005, at his Woodland residence. He was 75.
Born May 12, 1930, in Placentia, to Dean and Christina (Spencer) Karraker, he attended local schools and made Placentia his home, prior to moving to Woodland where he resided for the past 21 years. He worked in maintenance and was a caregiver for more than 40 years.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Buford, Dean Jr., and Vernon Karraker; and great-granddaughter Vanessa Navarrette.
He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Naomi Karraker of Woodland; and six daughters, Lori Carter and her husband Terry of Woodland; Betty Bassnett and her husband David of Alma, Ark.; Joni Dunkak and her husband Bill of Dixon; Evie Doupe and her husband Steve of Sacramento; Sandee Tafoya and her husband Chris of Woodland; and Heather Navarrette and her husband Anthony of Woodland.
He is further survived by 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, with two of his great-grandsons, Anthony and Austin Navarrette, sharing an especially close relationship with their grandfather.
At his request, no services will be held. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Yolo Hospice or Maxwell Elementary School.
Evergreen Funeral Service of Woodland is assisting the family with arrangements.
KASMIRE
Nancy Lynn Kasmire
Nancy Lynn Kasmire, 48, died Jan. 16, 2004, at her childhood home after a valiant struggle with cancer. At her side were her mother, Evelyn Kasmire, and her stepmother, Arleen Kasmire, both of Davis.
She was born in Riverside and spent her childhood in Davis, graduating from Martin Luther King High School. She spent most of her adult life in Anchorage, Alaska. She was known for her love of life and sense of adventure and will be greatly missed by all who knew her, her family says.
She is survived by her mother, Evelyn Kasmire, and brother, Charles Kasmire, both of Davis; her sister, Kathleen Kasmire of Eureka; her sons, Eli Ross and Glade Lusk of Anchorage; her daughter, Shannon Lusk of Tacoma, Wash.; her grandchildren, River, Sierra and Silas Ross of Anchorage; her stepmother, Arleen Kasmire; and her stepsisters, Audry and Jayne.
At her request, she will be cremated. Her friends are invited to a celebration of her life at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, 27074 Patwin Road.
In lieu of flowers, she requested that donations be made in her name to the Heifer Project.
KAUFFMAN
Jean P. Kauffman
Jean P. Kauffman of Davis died Jan. 29, 2004, in Davis. She was 86.
She was born on Sept. 30, 1917, in Spokane, Wash.
She is survived by her daughter, Terry Davison and her husband, and son, Doug Kauffman, all of Davis. Other survivors include her granddaughter, Tracy Brezinski and her husband, David, of Sacramento and their daughter, Emily; her grandson, Mark Ryan, his wife, Gina, and their son, William, of Palo Alto; her older brother, Alan Porter, and his wife, Auriol, of San Rafeal; and her beloved cousin, Sydney Lindauer, of Red Bluff.
A celebration of her life will be held at the Unitarian Church, 27074 Patwin Road, in Davis at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, 2004.
KAUFMAN
Mildred E. Kaufman
Mildred E. Kaufman died Jan. 1, 2004, in her home. Born Dec. 31, 1914, in Hartington, Neb., she was 89 years old.
She was the oldest of five children and moved with her family to Oregon in 1937 to live near her father's brother. Her parents leased farm land and auctioned their personal property and farm equipment to pay for their move.
In 1941, Mildred and her friend Eudene moved to California. Mildred worked at Mare Island in Vallejo and the State Book Bindery in Sacramento. After her marriage to Fred Kaufman -- just three months after a blind date -- the couple lived with his parents while they saved for their own home, which they began building in 1950.
Mildred worked as a housekeeper for prominent campus faculty and administrators, and Fred retired in 1976 after 37 years of service to UC Davis in the grounds maintenance department. Fred died in 1988 from lung cancer, and Mildred continued to live in their home independently until her recent illness.
She published comprehensive books tracing her mother's, her father's and Fred's family's histories. The couple traveled across the country to collect information for her genealogies. They visited libraries, state archives, county recorders' offices, newspaper offices and cemeteries. She was honored with a special citation from the Nebraska State Historical Society for her contribution to Nebraska state history.
She loved hand crafts and regularly visited museums, galleries and state fairs to view her favorite: quilts.
She was a cancer survivor, having a double mastectomy in 1991, but eventually succumbing to complications from colon cancer for which she had surgery in October 2002.
She was active in the Davis Senior Center, the Davis Veterans of Foreign Wars, Yolo Camera Club and her favorite activity -- water aerobics at a local fitness center. Her aerobics friends recently celebrated an early birthday and Christmas in her home.
She had no children, but she is survived by numerous relatives locally, in California and across the country, as well as by even more numerous friends who will miss her caring nature and willingness to listen and share.
Friends are invited to a service Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Davis Funeral Chapel, 116 D St. She will be buried
next to her husband in the Davis Cemetery.
"In lieu of flowers, Mildred would prefer that you call a close friend on the phone and say hello, take someone important to lunch or write a letter to someone you care about who needs to know you are thinking of them, " a friend says.
KAUFFMAN
Jean P. Kauffman
Jean P. Kauffman of Davis died Jan. 29, 2004, at Courtyard Healthcare with her family by her side. She was 86.
Kauffman was born Sept. 30, 1917, in Spokane, Wash. She attended University of Washington for two years. Several years later, while working as a private secretary at Cal-Western Life Insurance Co., she decided to pursue a teaching career so that she could spend more time with her children. She attended Sacramento State University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1957 and master's degree in 1966.
She lived in Sacramento and taught school in the San Juan Unified School District until she retired. Family members said she was an innovative and creative teacher and taught students in the gifted program. She spent several years as a resource teacher advising classroom teachers about ways to enrich the curriculum.
Kauffman moved to Davis in 1985 to be close to her two children. She immediately became involved in community activities. In 1986, she developed and hosted a program especially for seniors called "Sunny Side Up" on Davis Community Cable. For years, she taught a popular class through Davis Adult Education on writing memoirs, where she made many friends. She was also active in establishing Senior Learning Unlimited and at International House, where she taught a class on English idioms for foreigners.
She marriage Fred E. Kauffman and was divorced in 1952.
She is survived by daughter Terry Davison and her husband Jay; son Doug Kauffman; granddaughter Tracy Brezinski and her husband David; grandson Mark Ryan and his wife Gina; great-grandson William Ryan; and great-granddaughter Emily Brezinski.
She is also survived by her older brother Alan Porter and his wife Auriol and her beloved cousin Sydney Lindauer.
A celebration of her life is planned at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Davis on Feb. 20.
