Thursday, 28 March 2024

Obits

Tom Powers. Courtesy photo.

Thomas Wayne Powers
Jan. 29, 1962 — Oct. 31, 2023

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Thomas W. Powers passed away on Oct. 31, 2023.

Although he was diagnosed with an advanced rare cancer called GIST in 2015, Tom's positivity and determination to live a full life gave us these past eight wonderful years with him.

Throughout his battles with cancer, Tom worked hard, played hard, and never stopped giving back to his community, all the while caring for friends and family, near and far.

Tom was born to Larry and Audrey Powers in Chicago Heights, Illinois in January of 1962, but he spent the majority of his formative years in California.

He was 16 years old when the family moved to Lakeport, California, and put down roots. He graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1980 and went on to receive an electrical engineering degree from the University of the Pacific in Stockton California.

It was during an internship at Underwriters Laboratories in Santa Clara that Tom met his future wife, Lilia. They were married in 1987 and forged an enduring 36-year partnership, growing together and nurturing a loving family

Tom was deeply involved in the Lake County community. He began working for the family business, Lake County Electric Supply in 1994 and became the owner in 1998.

Alongside owning a small business, he served on the Lake County Unified School District (LUSD) School Board for 14 years.

He was an enthusiastic participant and patron of the Westshore Youth Sports League where he coached soccer, baseball, football and basketball during his children's tenure and beyond.

As his children grew, Tom's involvement in youth sports extended to the Clear Lake High School sports programs, particularly wrestling.

Throughout his life he grew more and more invested in his community. He was a member of Lakeport Rotary and supported both the Hospice Services of Lake County and Lake County 4-H Junior Livestock Auction. It has always been Tom's nature to look for ways to volunteer his time and resources to the people and community around him.

Tom had a wide array of hobbies and interests. He was an avid and accomplished golfer earning a spot in the pro am tournament. He was a motorcycle enthusiast, a loyal 49ers fan, a water ski racing champion and a rock climber. He loved the outdoors, and snow sports in particular. On the homefront he was a walnut farmer, cherishing the opportunity to work with his father in the family orchard.

So many people loved Tom and the amazing things they've had to say have been truly overwhelming. He was an inspiration, bringing light and positivity to everything he touched, and warming those around him with his ever-present smile. Tom's loyalty and honesty struck everyone he met. His determination and his positivity allowed him to accomplish anything he set his mind to, and inspired those around him to believe they could do the same. For all of his many joys, the one he cherished most was becoming a grandfather. His grandchildren were the light of his life.

Thomas is predeceased by his sister, Terri; brother, Timothy; and father, Larry.

He is survived by his wife, Lilia; son, Nathan; daughter, Sierra (Nolan) Williams; grandson, Julian Gitlevich; granddaughter, Ava Williams; mother, Audrey Powers; sisters, Tammy (Stephen) Carter and Trudy Powers (Kurt) Hoffman; nieces and nephews, Kimberly Carter (Geneson) Agbayani, Stephen (Heather) Carter Jr., Powers Chandler, Jahleel Agbayani, Mason Carter, Audrey Agbayani and Kaylee Carter.

We have been so moved by the response of those who knew him. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Tom’s name to the Hospice Services of Lake County or the GIST Cancer Research Fund.

We love and miss you, Tom. Your light will always shine bright and you will be in our hearts forever.

A celebration of life will be held at Ceago Vinegarden 5115 East Highway 20 in Nice on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m.

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

Marilyn Buckner. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Marilyn Louise Buckner passed away peacefully on Oct. 22, 2023, at the age of 92, surrounded by her three sons.

Lynn was precise and true in all that she did. Her accounts balanced to the penny and her seams were straight to the last stitch. Not ruled by the court of public opinion, and ever resistant to the confinements of housewife culture, she was a true pioneer for a woman born in 1931.

Lynn was born on June 14, 1931, raised in Painesville, Ohio. Her family immigrated from Finland and she took great pride in her Finnish heritage.

Lynn moved to California, attending college and serving as a majorette in the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band.

While attending Fresno State, she met Marshall Buckner (Doc) and they married in 1951. Lynn and Marshall settled in Lake County in 1968 after living in Southern California and Redding.

Lynn was deeply spiritual and embraced meditation and yoga long before it was mainstream. She found a spiritual home in Eckankar and built beautiful friendships through her Eck worship.

She was a founding member of the Clearlake Clikkers clogging group and came alive when dancing. In her later years, her hearing suffered but she still danced in perfect timing because she could, "feel the music.”

The greatest love of Lynn's life was her family. Any rough edges melted away when surrounded by family at the dinner table or playing with her great grandchildren.

Lynn is survived by her three sons, Dan, Les (Heidi), David (Linda); granddaughters, Ashley Pasion (Glenn), Jamie Buckner-Bridges (Jake), Nicole Chen, Christie Moore (Jake); five great grandchildren and sister, Pat Thomas (Jim).

Lynn's love, strength, and bold authenticity were deep and rare gifts that will be dearly missed. There will be no public service and at Lynn's request, her ashes will be spread over the Pacific Ocean.

Please share your memories by signing the guest book here.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at www.jdrf.org.

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

Matthew Bergeron. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — It is with heavy hearts that it’s announced that Matthew Robert Bergeron passed away on Aug. 21, 2023.

Born on Nov. 19, 1978, Matthew was the youngest child of Paul and Rosa Bergeron and brother to his siblings Lynn Jordan (David) and Paul Bergeron Jr. (Leslie).

He was the father of Jason Bergeron and uncle to Clayton Jordan.

Matthew had many aunts, uncles, cousins, adopted siblings and also many close friends he loved.

We will miss him dearly and remember him for his humor, and the love he gave to his family and friends.

Carol Ann Germenis. Courtesy photo.

Carol Ann Germenis
1938 – 2023

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Carol was born at Saint Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco on May 22, 1938. She passed away 85 years later in the excellent care of Sutter Health Hospital in Lakeport at 4:20 p.m. Sept. 7, 2023.

She attended grammar and middle school in the Excelsior District of San Francisco. She attended her first year of high school at Lowell College Prep, and later transferred to Balboa High School where she graduated six months earlier than her classmates due to her summer school credits.

At the age of 17, in February 1956, she married her loving husband, Peter, at the Greek Orthodox Church in San Francisco. They purchased their first home in South San Francisco. In 1957, her first son, Mark, was born, followed by Jeffrey in 1962 and David in 1963.

After the boys were grown, Carol went to work at Macy’s Serramonte in Daly City for 17 years as the manager of the Lancôme Cosmetics Department. She also spent four years as a member of the San Mateo County Mental Health Board and spent many days volunteering for the Blood Centers of the Pacific.

She also demonstrated food products on the weekends at various area supermarkets. Carol attended San Francisco State University where she graduated with a degree in the Greek Language and Studies.

In 1971 the family purchased a small cabin in the Gordon Springs subdivision in Cobb. Over a period of time, the cabin was remodeled to become a family residence. The family retired to Cobb in 2003.

Carol was a founding member of Safe House of Lake County which helped homeless teens find personal help and homes to live in.

She volunteered at Hospice of Lake County for many years in Middletown and Lakeport, repairing jewelry and having a weekly sale to help raise needed funds.

Carol was predeceased by her mother, Florence; her father, Alphonse; her brothers, Paul and David; and her sister-in-law, Jerry.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Peter, as well as her sons, Mark, Jeffrey, and David, and their wives, Diane, Elizabeth, and Debbie.

Carol is also survived by her five grandchildren, Jeffrey II, Brian, Julie, Jeremy and Joyce, and four great-grandchildren, Kayden, Marvelo, Marquez and Mateo, and two nieces, Michelle Walsh and Nicole Ziegler.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, aunt, cousin, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a loving friend to many people while always taking care of her family.

Services to be determined.

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

Janice Cook. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Janice Marie Cook, née Clark, was born March 13, 1953, in Oakland, California, to George and Lenore Clark, the eldest of three children.

The family moved to Northridge, California, when Jan was 5 years old, and she recalled summer holidays in Tahoe with great fondness.

While earning an associate degree in fashion merchandising at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, Jan learned skills that would stand her in good stead throughout her lifetime.

From designing quilt patterns and jewelry to library displays, she exhibited great talent in color, form, pattern and texture. Several of Jan’s quilt patterns were published in Quilter’s Newsletter magazine, and she was very proud that one of those patterns was used in Quilt Trails in Canada.

Jan inherited her passion for family genealogy from her mother. Together they established the Lake County Genealogical Society in 1977.

Interest in historical and genealogical research led her to publish her writings on several aspects of Lake County history, including Lake County’s involvement in the Women’s Suffrage movement, water rights history, Lake County’s World War II dead and the 1918 influenza epidemic.

She was a history correspondent for Lake County News and followed in her mother’s footsteps as editor of the Lake County Historical Society’s Pomo Bulletin.

Jan is perhaps best remembered for her decades of service with the Lake County Library. As she told it, the greatest birthday present she ever received was her interview with the library on her birthday in 1989.

She loved that no two days presented the same questions, and relished practicing her skills to assist patrons with their own research.

Jan was proud of her contribution to the automation of the library system, and pleased to manage the inter-library loan and Zip Books programs.

Having suffered the devastating loss of her husband in December of 2020, Jan soon received the news that she had cancer. The illness forced her to retire from her career long before she was ready to say goodbye.

Jan passed away at her home in Lakeport, California, on Oct. 8, 2023, following a lengthy struggle with cancer.

She is survived by her daughter, Eleanor Cook of Lakeport; stepson, Darby Cook and his wife, Jennifer Cook; grandchildren, Emily, Jaren and Edwin, of Spring City, Pennsylvania; sister, Elaine Bishop and her husband Roswell “Trett” Bishop, and their son Russell Bishop.

She is predeceased by her parents, George and Lenore Clark; brother, Alan Clark; various aunts and uncles; and by her beloved husband, Terry “Lee” Cook.

A celebration of life will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary in Lakeport on Nov. 21 at 1 p.m.

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

Kenny Lakatos. Courtesy photo.

Kenneth Allen Lakatos (“Kenny”)
Jan. 9, 1963 to Oct. 19, 2023

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — With heavy hearts, the loved ones of Kenny Lakatos are announcing that Kenny died unexpectedly while hospitalized on Thursday, Oct. 19, due to lung and heart complications. He was 60 years old.

Kenny was born in Garden Grove, California, and spent his younger years growing up in Orange County. He attended and graduated from Santiago High School.

Later, he moved to Northern California and resided in Santa Rosa, Petaluma and surrounding towns over the years.

Kenny had now been a resident of Lake County for several years.

He was a kind, generous, caring person, a wonderful father and wonderful spouse.

Kenny was a very talented cabinet maker, and was an amazing antique furniture restorer.

He had one biological son and three stepsons he raised like his own.

Kenny will be deeply missed.

Kenny was predeceased by his parents, Arnold Robert Lakatos, and Donna Marie (Kender) Lakatos.

He is survived by his partner of many years, Michelle Fischer; his son, Nicholas Lakatos; his stepsons, Timothy McCarty, Adrien Fischer and Nicholas Fischer; his brother, Steve Lakatos and his sister-in-law Alissa Lakatos; brother, David Lakatos and sister-in-law, Gina Lakatos; his grandsons, Noah and Liam McCarty; his ex-wife and son’s mother, Cathi Larson, and brother-in-law Robert Larson; his father-in-law, Mitchell Scott; sister-in-law, Michelle Faustino; brothers-in-law, Steven Scott and Jon Segars; and many nieces and nephews.

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Lakeport Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt
1Apr
04.01.2024
Easter Monday
1Apr
10Apr
15Apr
04.15.2024
Tax Day

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