Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!William B. Boone
William Bradford Boone, who traveled around the world seven times in the merchant marine business, built Little League fields and Masonic lodges, worked in the aerospace industry and enjoyed a long, healthy and active retirement, died on Dec. 3, 2002, at Sierra Convalescent Hospital. He was 93 years old.
He was born at home in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 10, 1909. He enjoyed a happy childhood until divorce split the family home, forcing him to leave school after the eighth grade to work to help support the family. His early adolescent life was shaped by hard work in the grocery business and periods of time living with an uncle in rural New Jersey, unable to see his mother.
After his mother remarried, she produced three more children whom he always loved and treated fully as his brothers and sister. He showed an early fascination with the sea, spending many hours on the docks of New York watching ships come and go, imagining their exotic destinations and himself in such places. Knowing of this interest, his stepfather called upon an old friend in the merchant marine business and soon he was on the high seas, at the bottom rung of the shipboard pecking order in the galley.
But pots and pans were not for him. During off hours he spent time in the engine room and learned enough to hire on there on his next voyage. He eventually earned a high school equivalency certificate and a first engineer's license.
After seven trips around the world, the exotic ports of call became humdrum. He returned from a long voyage to find that one of the kids from his old neighborhood had grown up into a lovely young woman. In 1934, he bid farewell to the sea and wed Dorothy Felton at Fort Washington Presbyterian Church in New York City. They made their home in Bridgeport and Milford, Conn., until August 1941, when they hitched a car and trailer, piled in two small children and all their possessions, and drove cross-country to California.
They had barely set up household when Pearl Harbor and World War II swept Boone back to sea, his engineering skills and knowledge of ships landing him in the Pacific theater, as an engineering officer on a transport ship delivering troops and equipment to engagements in Iwo Jima, Okinawa and other battles.
After WWII, the couple decided that farm life would be good for the children, and hand-built a house in Chino. Soon thereafter, the Korean conflict sent him to San Diego for further military service. Following discharge after Korea, he went to work for Aerojet General in Southern California.
The company won important contracts in the new aerospace industry, and opened a plant in Rancho Cordova. Boone moved the family there in 1957, where they lived until 1972. While in Rancho Cordova, he helped establish the Rancho Cordova Little League and the Masonic Lodge known as American River Lodge #795. He and other parents built the Little League fields behind St. John Vianny Catholic Church.
When their last child graduated from Cordova High School in 1972, he and his wife moved to San Luis Obispo, where they lived for 25 years in the Laguna Lake mobile home village next to a golf course and close enough to the ocean to go fishing and clamming. He continued his Masonic work, serving as Master of King David's Lodge #209 in 1982.
When his wife began to suffer from Alzheimer's in the early1990s, he cared for her at home as long as he could, before moving to Davis in 1996 to be nearer their children. She lived at Sierra Convalescent Hospital, where he visited her daily until she died in 1999.
During this time, Boone volunteered at the Davis Senior Center and developed an interest in computers. He purchased a Macintosh computer and attended classes to learn how to use it to write a narrative family history. He lived at Covell Gardens, where he developed a special friendship with longtime Davis resident Jean Stanford. They cared for each other and kept each other company until he fell ill and moved into Sierra in March 2002.
He is survived by his children, William Boone Jr. of Sacramento, Patricia Boone of Anchorage, Alaska, and Daniel Boone of Davis; and grandchildren, Brad Boone of Sacramento, Krista Boone of Columbus, Ohio, Eryn Boone of Girdwood, Ark., and Ariel Boone of Davis. He elected to have his ashes scattered at sea, where he spent so many years.
Julia A. Johnson
Julia A. Johnson died on Dec. 15, 2002 at the age of 92.
She was born in Sharon, Pa., on May 3, 1910, the middle child of Andrew and Julianna Makl. The family moved to Saginaw, Mich., when she was a child. In 1934 she marriage Chauncey Johnson, a U.S. Army colonel.
She often told the story of driving across the country pulling a trailer, with two small children, the family dog and crossing over the Rocky Mountains. When Col. Johnson left the Army, they settled in Davis, where he attended UC Davis Veterinary School and she went to work at the university.
After his graduation, they moved to Calistoga to open a private veterinary practice in which she assisted her husband in a variety of ways.
After the death of her husband, she went to work as a geriatric technician at the Yountville Veterans Home where she remained for 12 years until her retirement. She moved to Napa 25 years ago and during that time she played bridge with fire in her eyes and winning in her heart. She also participated in swimming exercises and volunteer work. She loved life, people and politics.
She is survived by her daughters, Penny Pawl of Napa and Julia Montgomery and her husband Robert of Santa Barbara.
She was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters and is survived by her brother, Albert Maki of Saginaw; two sisters, Helen Willing and Aggie Logan, both of Saginaw; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Most importantly, she leaves a legacy of humor, intelligence, adventure and tolerance.
A celebration of a life will be held Thursday, Dec. 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Brookside Club House, 113 Belvedere Court in Napa. Memorial gifts are preferred for the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center of Yolo County or diabetes research.
Peter Gee
Peter Gee, a longtime Davis resident, died in his home on Dec. 12, 2002.
His friends and family will remember the 85-year-old as an intelligent, athletic and highly capable man.
Born on Aug. 28, 1917, in San Francisco, he was the first child of successful businessman Noon Gee and Marian (Jung) Gee. His father died when he was 12, bringing financial hardship to the family and forcing him to make his own way in the world.
The family moved to Berkeley while he was a child and there he became interested in playing sports. Purchase of a second-hand tennis racket at a pawn shop began a life-long love of tennis. Though he never took a lesson, his natural ability allowed him to win many tournaments. He was active in the Chinese Tennis Club in San Francisco and his highest achievement was winning the West Coast championship of the Chinese Nationals.
He attended UC Berkeley and was awarded a degree in business in 1939. He began to work for the state after graduation, but because discrimination against Chinese Americans was still prevalent, he initially took a clerical job.
He joined the U.S. Army is World War II and finished officer candidate school at the top of his class. He served in the China/Burma/India theater for most of the war. Back in the States for a time, he began a correspondence with Corrine Louie, a childhood friend of his family, which culminated in their marriage in Indianapolis in 1944.
After the war, he returned to California in 1946 and went back to work for the state. He also earned his CPA, a proud personal achievement. By 1950 he and Corrine had three children (Ken, Kathleen and Perry). His job took the young Gee family to Sacramento in 1951, where he worked for the Department of Finance, Audit Division.
In Sacramento, he turned his athletic abilities to golf and joined the Sacramento Chinese Golf Club. As with tennis, his natural abilities allowed him to excel and he was soon adding golf trophies to his already large collection of tennis trophies.
He shared his love of sports with his children and encouraged their athletic endeavors. He also challenged his children to think analytically and to excel in mathematics and science.
The family moved to Davis in 1964 after Corrine began working for the Davis Joint Unified School District. When he was almost ready to send his youngest child to college, he became a father again, with the birth of his son Peter Michael in 1966.
In Davis, Peter renewed his passion for tennis and began playing competitively. He worked to the top of the Davis Tennis Club ladder when he was 50 years old and was proud of having beaten a young Bob Dunning, now an Enterprise columnist.
He and Corrine were very active in the University Covenant Church. He set up the accounting system, served as treasurer, was chairman of the Stewardship Board and taught Bible study classes.
He retired at 56 and afterward kept up an energetic schedule of tennis, golf, home improvement projects and stock market investing. He stayed active even after developing congenital heart failure. Though his health gradually declined, he did not become seriously ill until November. With the love and support of his family, he was able to stay at home until his death.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Corrine Gee of Davis; children, Ken Gee of Colorado Springs, Colo., Kathleen Gee of Albuquerque, N.M., and Perry and Peter Gee of Davis; and grandchildren, Sarah and Jeff Gee of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Adrienne Gee of Davis.
A memorial service will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the University Covenant Church, 1715 Anderson Road. Remembrances can be sent to the Peter Gee Memorial Fund at University Covenant Church, or to any desired charity.
Beverly Crane
Beverly Dorothea Walker Crane died on Dec. 21, 2002, at Sierra Healthcare in Davis. Born on Aug. 26, 1927, in Great Falls, Mont., she was 75 years old.
A buyer and manager of Discoveries gift shop, she lived in Yolo County for 36 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband Philip Crane and son Peter Crane.
She is survived by daughter Andrea Diane Crane and her partner Jeff Woodhead; daughter-in-law Kathy Crane; grandchildren Erin and Ryan Crane; sister Correan Cushman; sister-in-law Phyllis Walker; nieces and nephews.
She will be cremated and her ashes interred at the Davis Cemetery.
Leonard Bishop
Author and writing teacher Leonard Bishop died on Dec. 19, 2002, at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan, Kan. Born Oct. 17, 1922, to Edward and Esther Bishop, he was 80.
His 50-year career in writing and teaching is documented at Boston University in the "Leonard Bishop Collection."
He was a novelist, writing teacher and newspaper columnist. He was a colleague of Mario Puzo, William Styron, Joseph Heller, Richard Wright and Harlan Ellison. Listed in the "Who's Who of American Authors," he was also recognized as one of the seven top writing teachers in the U.S.
He pioneered the use of multiple viewpoints and wrote the instructional classic, "Dare to Be a Great Writer." At the time of his death, he was marketing his most recent book, "To Hell with Talent."
He published 12 other books as well: "The Everlasting," "The Desire Years," "Make My Bed in Hell," "The Butcher's," "Days of My Love," "Creep Into Thy Narrow Bed," "Down All Your Streets," "The Angry Time," "Biography of Maurice Utrillo," "Centennial Edition for Southern Pacific Railroad," "The Life and Times of William Penn Patrick" and "Against Heaven's Hand," which was made into the movie, "Seven in Darkness." He also wrote short stories.
He taught fiction extensively at many institutions, including Columbia University and UC Berkeley. He was an acclaimed keynote speaker at writing conferences across the U.S. His passion for writing influenced generations of children who adored him. His teaching at Ft. Riley Middle School was filmed at a video series, "A Writer Teaches Writing."
He attended Living Word Church in Manhattan.
He is survived by his wife, Celia; four sons, Luke Bishop of Kansas City, Mo.; Matthew Bishop of Davis; Michael Bishop of Yorba Linda; and Shannon Lawrence of Kansas; a daughter, Celia Garrett of Overland Park, Kan.; a brother, Bernard Bishop of Walton, N.Y.; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorials may be sent to the Center for Basic Cancer Research, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan.
Donald D. Gregory
Donald David Gregory died March 28, 2001. Born Nov. 30, 1914 to the late Oscar Lee and Rachel Sofrina Gregory, he was 86.
He was a resident of Yolo County for 20 years. He was a coal miner for 30 years working as a drag line operator in Indiana and Wyoming. He retired in 1980. He was a member of the Brazil, Indiana Masonic Lodge and the Woodland First Baptist Church. After his retirement, he liked to travel. He enjoyed his family and loved to hunt and fish.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Gregory of Woodland; daughter, Yvonne Hartzell and husband Gene of Pollock Pines and son, D. David Gregory and wife Daralee of Ft. Wayne, Ind. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
The funeral service is scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. at McNary's Chapel, 458 College St., Woodland. Interment will be at the Sikeston Memorial Park in Miss. The family requests memorials be made to Yolo Hospice, P.O. Box 1014, Davis, CA 95617 or the Woodland First Baptist Church, 1616 West St., Woodland. McNary's Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Edward M. Macias
Edward Michael Macias died March 28, 2001. Born Oct. 13, 1930 to the late Auralio and Ramira Macias, he was 70.
He was a life-long resident of Yolo County. He was employed by U.C. Davis as Senior Agriculture Technician. He retired after 18 years of service in 1986. He was a member of the Comite de Benefincencia and he loved gardening.
He is survived by his wife, Ophelia Macias of Woodland; children, Ray Medrano of Sacramento; Hector Medrano of Roseville; Anna Holguin of Utah; Mario Macias of Antelope and Elizabeth Bohl of Woodland. He is also survived by his sister, Chona Cardenas of Woodland; brothers, Robert and Joe Macias of Woodland and 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
The funeral Mass is scheduled for today. Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery. McNary's Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Kenneth M. Stein
Kenneth Michael Stein died in West Sacramento on March 28, 2001. He was 52.
He was a native of Long Beach and a graduate of Davis High School in 1966. He was a resident of Davis and West Sacramento for 20 years.
He is survived by his parents, Raymond and Mary Stein of El Macero; sisters, Virginia Simi of Sparks, Nev.; Karen Stein of Bountiful, Utah; Christina Dal Porto of Davis; Cynthia Stein-Dailey of Pinedale, Wyo.; and brother, Stephen Stein of Davis.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Raymond Wesley Stein.
Friends are invited to attend a funeral Mass on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church, 200 West 14th St., Davis. Recitation of the Rosary will be he held today at 7 p.m. at Davis Funeral Chapel, 116 D St., Davis. Burial will follow at the Davis Cemetery.
Ernst J. Siegenthaler
Ernst J. Siegenthaler died March 22, 2001, at Sutter Davis Hospital. Born June 1, 1922, in Zurich, Switzerland, he was 78.
He was raised in Switzerland where he attended and graduated from the National Technical Institute in Zurich. While living in Switzerland, he also apprenticed as a cheese maker. He moved to Illinois in 1951, where he marriage Johanna Huber in 1952.
After completing a master's degree at Iowa State University, he moved to San Francisco. In 1954 he joined the Food and Agricultural Organization, a branch of the United Nations. For the next six years, with family in tow, he worked in the dairy industry, setting up dairies on three continents, specifically in the developing countries of Nepal, Guatemala and Jordan.
In 1960 he returned to Switzerland where he worked and did research at the Agricultural Research Institute in Bern. During this time he earned his Ph.D. in the field of microbiology and dairy science. In 1966 he and his family moved to Ithaca, N.Y., where he joined the staff at Cornell University and did his post-doctorate research.
In 1967 he accepted a faculty position at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he taught graduate-level classes in bacteriology and human nutrition at the school of public health. In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, he provided consulting services to developing countries across the world.
Before he retired in 1985 he spent two years as an adjunct professor at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. In 1985 he and his wife purchased a home in Davis, where they spent their retirement years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Johanna K. Siegenthaler, in February 1996, and his sister, Elsie Fosco, in December 1990.
He is survived by his son, Peter E. Siegenthaler of Santa Rosa; his daughter-in-law, Cornelia Siegenthaler-Leber; his grandchildren, Michael P. Siegenthaler of Santa Rosa and Christa M. Siegenthaler of Santa Rosa; a brother, Walter Siegenthaler of Mannedor, Switzerland; and two sisters, Trudi Siegenthaler of Zurich, Switzerland, and Annemarie Siegenthaler of Weinfelden, Switzerland.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial mass Wednesday at 2 p.m. at St. James Catholic Church, 200 W. 14th St. Private Interment is planned. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Funeral Chapel.
Florence I. Palmer
Florence Irene Palmer died March 18, 2001, at Kaiser Hospital in Sacramento. Born on July 28, 1924, in Little Rock, Ark., to Neoma (Nickels) and George Clayton, she was 76.
Palmer was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Auburn.
Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Palmer, of Davis; daughter Terry Berry, of Benicia; grandchildren Craig Pannell of Davis, Kimberly Taugher of Benicia, Shannon Berry of Burbank and step-grandson Paul Kelley of Seoul, Korea.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Juanita Schulenberger; brother; George Clayton; daughters Linda Lee Dow and Carol Ann Cutting; as well as grandson Brian Berry.
Private services are to be scheduled at a later date by the family. Donations in Palmer's name may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Kraft Bros. Funeral Directors is assisting the family with arrangements. Inquiries may be made by calling 662-4658 or by contacting www.legacy.com.
George H. Dahnke
Dr. George Herbert Dahnke, 68, died March 22, 2001, at Woodland Memorial Hospital.
Dahnke was born on the family farm in Stratton, Neb., on July 11, 1932. He attended a one-room country school and graduated valedictorian from Stratton High School at 15. He met his wife, Carol, at the University of Colorado, Boulder, from which he graduated in 1953.
Dahnke then completed medical school in 1957 at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. He took his internship and residency at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He was flight surgeon at Malden Air Force Base in Missouri and an obsterician/gynecologist at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Dahnke and his wife were marriage on June 20, 1953, and enjoyed 47 years together.
The Dahnkes moved to Woodland in 1966, where he enjoyed a brief but successful practice with the Woodland Clinic Medical Group. He retired in 1971 after a serious illness.
Sports cars, word puzzles, playing guitar, singing, traveling and participating in his children's activities were among Dahnke's hobbies. He was well known for his exceptional martini-making.
Dahnke is survived by his wife, Carol; daughters Deborah Conrad and her husband Dr. William Conrad of Davis, Karen Hannum and her husband Mark Hannum of Woodland, and Mary Healey and her husband Dr. Christopher Healey of Castle Rock, Colo.; son, Dr. David Dahnke, and his wife, Kathleen of Red Bluff; brothers Roy S. Dahnke of Warrenton, Va., and John E. Dahnke of Sun City; and half-sister, Betty Watts, of Riverside.
He is also survived by his grandchildren Tacy of Boston; Jarrett, Andrew, Julieanne and David of Davis; and Olin and Kathryn of Woodland; and Jennifer and Alexandra of Red Bluff; and Emily, Evan and Laura of Castle Rock, Colo.
Dahnke was preceded in death by his brother Jack W. Dahnke.
A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church of Woodland, 212 Second St.. Memorial contributions may be directed to the church or to St. John's Retirement Village Building Fund.
Nicholas D. Belenis
Nicholas "Nick" Dimitri Belenis died peacefully in his sleep on March 17, 2002, at his home in Woodland. Born in Woodland on July 5, 1934, he was 67.
He lived almost all of his life in Davis and graduated from Davis High School in 1954, where he played basketball.
Belenis worked in the family business, starting out at Phil's Grill and later working at Mr. B's for more than 40 years.
He was an active participant for a number of years in the city of Davis' Alternative Recreation program. He enjoyed weekly bowling outings along with the various activities the organization provided. He was fond of the bike lanes Davis offered, as bicycling was his only mode of transportation.
He loved attending Blue Devil and Aggie sporting events.
Belenis was a member of The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Sacramento.
He is survived by five sisters, Peggy Swisher of Davis, Bessie Koniaris of Novato, Callie Anagnos of Lodi, Helen Gaines of Stockton, and Evelyn Jouganatos of Sacramento. He was preceded in death by his brother, George Belenis of Davis. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Davis Community Church, 412 C St. A short graveside service will immediately follow at the Davis Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the suggests donations in his memory to two things that gave him so much joy -- the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh and UC Davis athletics. Donations to either the band or his brother's scholarship fund (George Belenis) can be sent to the UCD Athletic Development Office, c/o Mike Angius, 116 A St., Davis, CA 95616.
Marjorie I. Moran
A memorial Mass for Marjorie I. Moran is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. at St. James Catholic Church, 200 W. 14th St. She died March 26, 2001, after a 17-year battle with cancer. She was 79.
Remembrances may be made in her name to the Davis Senior Center, 646 A St., Davis, CA 95616. Arrangements are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Chapel.
