Lake County News,California

Obits

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Saturday, 02 January 2021 01:56; 02 January 2021

Dennis Leroy Shoffeitt

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Our Hero, our father, passed away suddenly on Dec. 20, 2020, at his home in Lower Lake.

Dennis was born May 23, 1935, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

He served in the U.S. Navy and while on leave he married and had four children, Keith, Renee, Bill and Michael.

He married our stepmother, Lilian Allen, in the early 1980s and was married 30-plus years.

Dennis loved traveling, fishing, Nascar races and loved his family.

He is survived by children, Keith Shoffeitt, Renee’ Shoffeitt and Bill Shoffeitt; stepdaughters, Cindy Allen and Karen Allen; sisters, Sandy Shoffeitt and Janet Browning; grandchildren, Desiree Neese, Kendra Medina and Kelsie Shoffeitt; and great-grandchildren, Jaydyn, Ezaue, Aloya and Kaliah.

He was predeceased by son, Michael Shoffeitt; sister, Bobbi Imler; and granddaughter, Amber Shoffeitt.

He will truly be missed.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Friday, 01 January 2021 00:54; 01 January 2021

Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Tribal Elder Marshall McKay

BROOKS, Calif. – With deep sadness, the Tribal Council of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation announced the death of Marshall McKay following his battle with COVID-19.

Speaking as one, the Yocha Dehe Tribal Council issued the following statement: “We know our pain is shared by so many families facing the devastating effects of this pandemic. We know also the pain of Marshall’s loss is shared by the many who loved him and learned from him. We will miss his strength and wisdom. He was a resolute protector of Native American heritage here, within our own homeland, but also throughout California and Indian Country.”

For 31 years, from 1984 to 2015, Marshall McKay served as a member of the Yocha Dehe Tribal Council, elected to lead the Tribe as its chairman for nearly a decade of that time.

He continued to serve on many of the Tribe’s governmental bodies, including the board of directors for Cache Creek Casino Resort.

McKay’s leadership was marked by a stalwart dedication to the preservation and promotion of Native American arts and culture, the affirmation of sovereign tribal governance, and the international effort to protect the rights of all indigenous people.

He was instrumental in helping Yocha Dehe achieve economic independence, he helped the Tribe grow and diversify its agricultural operations, and he helped to greatly expand the Tribe’s land holdings within Yocha Dehe’s ancestral territory.

The son of the renowned healer and basket weaver Mabel McKay, Marshall McKay possessed a deep passion and appreciation for Native art as a means for Native people to tell their stories and preserve their histories.

McKay was a founding member of the Native Arts & Cultures Foundation, and he was appointed to the board for Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. He also was the first Native American to be appointed chairman of the board for the Autry National Center (which includes the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, the Museum of the American West, and the Institute for the Study of the American West).

McKay was a fierce advocate for the environment and tribal land rights, and a champion for sustainable living and land-use practices.

He was dedicated to protecting tribal sovereignty and the rights of Native tribes and peoples, serving on the Board of the Native American Rights Fund.

He was a founding commissioner of the California Native American Heritage Commission, whose charge is to protect Native American cultural resources, including places of religious and social significance to Native peoples, such as tribal cemeteries on private and public lands.

McKay was the first of his tribe to attend college – Sonoma State University.

He spent 15 years repairing and maintaining nuclear submarines for the Department of Defense, ultimately supervising those work crews.

Born in Colusa near his tribal home within Yolo County’s Capay Valley, McKay was deeply devoted to his family and tribal community.

The Tribe is profoundly grateful for the care McKay received from frontline healthcare workers in Los Angeles where his illness developed, an area particularly hard-hit by the pandemic.

Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation is an independent, self-governed nation that supports its people and the Capay Valley community by strengthening its culture, stewarding its land and creating economic independence for future generations.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Tuesday, 29 December 2020 23:19; 29 December 2020

John Lincoln

John Lincoln, long-time resident of Kelseyville, California, passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve in Valencia, California, six years to the day after his wife of 65 years, Gena, passed. He was one month short of his 96th birthday.

Born John Clement Lincoln on Feb. 6, 1925, in Tempe, Arizona, he was raised along with six brothers and sisters in the town of Safford, Arizona.

On his 18th birthday, he traveled to Phoenix and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After completing flight training, John was assigned to the 19th Troop Carrier Squadron where he flew C46 and C47 transport airplanes throughout the South Pacific theater in World War II.

Eventually, he flew supplies and personnel into Tokyo, Japan, two weeks after the surrender in support of American occupation efforts.

After being discharged, John moved to Pasadena, California, where he met Gena Mae Brotherton.

After a 10-day courtship, they were married in Las Vegas on Nov. 11, 1949, and settled in the Los Angeles area.

He worked for the Pasadena Water Department and attended night school where he studied freight traffic management. One of his instructors saw promise in him and referred him to a company named Products Research Corp.

While there he sensed an opportunity for a career change and accepted a traffic management position with Los Angeles Wholesale Institute and California Shipper’s Association, two membership associations that consolidated freight shipments for its member companies. There he rose quickly to the position of CEO.

During his tenure he merged the two freight shipping organizations into LAWI/CSA Consolidators Inc., moved the general offices to Glendale, California, and grew the combined company into one of the largest non-profit shipping companies in the country, employing over 400 people and operating multiple shipping facilities in many western and eastern states.

He served several terms as the president of the National Freight Traffic Association and testified before Congress on matters relevant to rail and truck shipping over the years.

Upon retirement, he and Gena eventually settled in Kelseyville. He went on to work for many years for the county of Lake as its first safety officer, developing safety protocols for the county’s many departments. Over time his efforts resulted in a significant reduction in workers compensation claim costs for the county.

Over their lifetime together, he and Gena owned and flew many airplanes, took up sailing and then motor homing.

John is survived by his three sons: Tom (Ruth) of Lakeport; Braden (Regina) of Valencia; and Todd (Linda) of Reno, Nevada. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

There are no services scheduled. The family asks that any donations in his name be made to a veteran’s organization of choice.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Friday, 01 January 2021 00:58; 01 January 2021

Peggy Kirkpatrick

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Peggy Kirkpatrick passed peacefully in her home on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, surrounded by loved ones. She was 96 years old.

She was born June 1, 1924, in South Sioux City, Dakota County, Nebraska. Peggy was the oldest daughter of Arlene and Chet Antrim.

The Antrim family relocated to Lake County, California, where Chet became the Lake County sheriff.

Peggy graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1942, and married her high school sweetheart, Albert Myers that same night. Together they had Thomas Jerrald. Then Albert died while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Later, She married Bill Kirkpatrick on Nov. 24, 1946. Together they had Robin. They were married 52 years, when Bill passed in 1998. He called her precious, and that’s exactly what their relationship was!

She and Bill were avid golfers, entertainers and enjoyed traveling with their golfing family. Bill was a pilot, and together they flew their Cessna on many adventures, often coupling these with a shared passion for golf.

Peggy was part of a birthday club that was started in 1955 and still continues today, leaving two beloved friends, Janice Stokes and Carolyn Rhoner. She also gathered with her CLHS classmates for a yearly dinner.

Peggy and family started the Antrim Family Reunion that took place every year at the Skylark Shores Resort. Peg was very active up into her 90s, she even attended Curves in Kelseyville up until their closing a couple years ago.

Peggy was an inspiration, she touched the lives of many people. She was young at heart and lived a beautiful life.

Peggy was the matriarch of her family, making five generations.

She loved her family so much. She is survived by son, Tom (Sharon) Kirkpatrick; daughter, Robin (Tom) Howard; grandchildren, Wendy (Brad), Blair, Laurie, Suzanne, Carolyn, Tyler (Shelly), Kirk (Nikki) and Toby (Evann); great-grandchildren, Chelsea (Jeromy), Emma, Cord, T.J., Wesley, Keegan, Kenzie, Remi and Wyatt; great-great-grandchildren, Blake, Scarlet and Ryder; and many more beloved nieces and nephews.

Celebration of life to be announced at a later date.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Tuesday, 29 December 2020 23:24; 29 December 2020

Clifford Ruzicka

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Clifford Donald Ruzicka was born on Jan. 20, 1936, in the small farming community of Pischelville, Nebraska to Henry and Marion (Hrbek) Ruzicka.

He passed away in the early morning hours of Dec. 17, 2020, after a life full of hard work, outdoor adventures, and time with his family, friends and engineering team members.

Cliff was the youngest of four children. He attended school in a one-room country schoolhouse near their farm, often the teacher’s only student.

His parents sent him to town to board so that he could attend Verdigre High School, where he was a key athlete on championship basketball and six-man football teams. One woman who knew Cliff as a young man wistfully recalled, “One night I watched him score five touchdowns.”

After graduation, Cliff entered the Army. After completing boot camp, he was sent to Ft. Gordon in Georgia to train for the United States Army Signal Corps.

Due to his ability to speak and understand the Czech language, he was hand-picked for the 7144th Signal Technical Intel Team stationed in Salzburg, Austria performing intelligence duties during the Cold War in 1954-1955.

He wore civilian clothes and blended with civilians in bars, restaurants and community events to determine Soviet troop movement while traveling around Europe in a “Volkswagen Bug.”

Upon his honorable discharge, Cliff immediately applied to college and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1961 with a degree in civil engineering. He married Marie Hospodka, and by the time he graduated from college, they had three small children at home, Joy, Jon and Jim.

Cliff worked as a civil engineer for the city of Lincoln, before being recruited by the California Department of Water Resources to design infrastructure for the Oroville Dam and bridges for the California Aqueduct Project. The family relocated to Sacramento when their fourth child, Jill, was born.

Always the entrepreneur, Cliff wanted to open his own civil engineering business. He moved his family to Lake County, where the rolling hills and distinct four seasons reminded him of his home in Nebraska.

He initially worked with Raymond Murphy Associates, a San Francisco engineering firm, designing Clear Lake Riviera, and later with Lange Brothers Construction. After starting his own company, Ruzicka Engineering, he continued to share office space with Lange Brothers.

After a divorce in the early 1970s, Clifford met Nancy Randall through mutual friends, the Hinmans, Bruns and Bullards. They were married in 1974.

On New Year’s Eve in 1976 Cliff and Nancy became parents of twins, Mark and Marla.

Cliff and Nancy were passionate about economic development and worked tirelessly to promote Lake County, encouraging investment for quality development. They worked with residential developers to create quality housing ― Riviera Heights, Riviera West, Del Lago and Westlake Marina Resort Homes ― as well as improvements at Konocti Harbor Inn, The Geysers, Homestake Mine, Work Right Shower Doors, Vittel of France, Blue Shield Insurance, shopping centers, mobile home parks, wineries and vineyard development.

He designed campgrounds, marinas, launch ramps and infrastructure for our cities, Lake and Mendocino Counties, state and federal projects, and housing and casinos for tribal governments. Recently he has been referred to as “The Cannabis Development Guru of Lake County,” encouraging legal, quality development for local job creation.

Cliff gave back constantly to his community. He sponsored Little League teams, could be counted on to sponsor and participate in community events, donate free engineering/surveying services for local improvement projects, always churches, and even mentored people through their sobriety.

Cliff is preceded in death by his two daughters, Marla and Joy Ruzicka; his parents and siblings Glen, Marcella, and Violet.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Randall Ruzicka; children, Mark, Jon, Jim and Jill Ruzicka; and grandchildren, Allegria, Avalon, Nancy and Brayden Ruzicka, and Oliver and Philip Leighton.

His Nebraska nieces and nephews, Cindy Binger (Jerold), Bonnie Riley (Calvin), Cathy White (Duane), Jackie Lechtenberg (James), Jeri Ruzicka, Steven Ruzicka (Bonnie), and Dale Kovanda (Lisa), all meant the world to him. Also his favorite hunting and fishing companions Mike Raynor of Dakota City, Nebraska, Dennis Brand of Ketchikan, Alaska, Wilford Low of San Francisco, and his dog, Piper.

Celebrations of his life will be held, future dates to be announced, in Lakeport, California, Verdigre, Nebraska, and Ketchikan, Alaska at Cliff’s favorite fishing spot, “The Roaring Hole.”

Memorial donations to the Marla Ruzicka Memorial Futsal Soccer Field planned for Lakeport’s Westside Park, the Verdigre Community Foundation or Hospice of Lake County would be appreciated by Cliff’s family.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Monday, 28 December 2020 00:06; 28 December 2020

Margaret ‘Maggie’ Fulton

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Margaret (Maggie) Fulton was born to John and Helga Hedlund (originally from Sweden) on Jan. 27, 1935, in Los Angeles, California.

She lived in the Los Angeles area for 44 years.

She went to be with the Lord on Dec. 7, 2020.

In 1948 she, along with her mother, father and brother, Arnold traveled across the ocean by ship to Sweden to visit and meet her family she had never known. It was the trip of a lifetime.

In 1967 she married the love of her life, Karl E. Fulton, originally from Nebraska.

She was employed in a wide range of positions. One of the most educational and rewarding was her employment with Hear Center in Pasadena, California. She worked with hearing impaired babies and children and observed the remarkable and exciting technological advances accomplished to help and enable children and adults to hear and talk.

During that time, she was involved in an International Conference of Hearing with Speech specialists and experts from around the world. The Hilton Hotel in Pasadena hosted the event, and it was one of the highlights of her life.

In 1979 Karl and Maggie moved to Lakeport, California, and started a different life as retirees.

In 1986 Karl preceded her in death and she returned to work.

The Lake County Health Department was her final employer, where she worked for over eight years helping children with disabling illnesses and physical disabilities, coordinating with their parents, doctors, hospitals, nurses, and therapists.

This position was the most gratifying and heartwarming and was the grand finale of her work life as she witnessed so many miraculous cures and results.

Maggie retired in 1996 from the county of Lake. Her time and ministry since then have been a concentration of presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to searching and lost souls.

She enjoyed her church (Community Baptist Church in Nice) and their activities and attending Christian conferences. She could be a leader as well as a follower. She loved the Lord, her family, friends and deep relationships, her country, and her kitty, Heidi. She also enjoyed writing, music, art, reading, the ocean, and traveling.

Maggie is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Arnold and Janet Hedlund; her niece, Karla and her son, Steven; her nephew Keith and his wife, Jessica, and her children, Jeremy and Ruby. Also surviving are a stepdaughter, Beverly Fulton, and two step-granddaughters, Manda, and Teri.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your favorite charities.

Obits

Dennis Leroy Shoffeitt

Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Tribal Elder Marshall McKay

John Lincoln

Peggy Kirkpatrick

Clifford Ruzicka

Margaret ‘Maggie’ Fulton

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