Joanne Roman died Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Joanne Victoria (Tynecki) Roman of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2009, after her courageous battle with lung cancer. She was 69 years old.

Joanne, a loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend was born in Erie, Penn., on June 29, 1939.

She moved to Sunnyvale, Calif., in 1975 where she raised her two daughters. Joanne later moved to Clearlake Oaks, where she married her best friend, Mike Roman who past away in 2003.

Joanne is survived by her mother, Bertha Tynecki; her two daughters, Cheryl Gauss Williamson (husband Daniel) and Pamela Gauss Betoni (husband James); her five grandchildren, Mark, Ashley, Gianni, Nicolo and Ariana; and her brother, Ray Tynecki.

Joanne loved spending time with her husband, family and friends. She was also an active member of her church, Queen of Peace in Clearlake, widows group and the Moose Lodge. She also enjoyed playing bingo and Bunko with her dear friends. Never did she turn away a friend in need, or not extend a helping hand to anyone who asked. Joanne was a great woman who will be truly missed by all.

A memorial service will be held at the at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, located at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 53.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Joanne’s honor to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Direct link: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Joanne.Roman.

A dedicated criminal defense lawyer, Steve compassionately advocated for his clients, gaining recognition as a fierce defender of personal liberties. He successfully defended Lake County’s first “Three Strikes” case. He was a well-known resource to other attorneys.

Steve was a gentleman, and always had a smile and good word for any friend who came his way, including those he met as strangers put parted from as friends. He loved the law, but he loved much more: he had a passion for Corvettes, guitars, billiards, poker, jokes, photography, language, the blues, laughing, his beloved dogs and cats. He also enjoyed sharing good food and a drink with friends.

Stephen did not play poker to win. He played to have his friends with him. While most would see Steve as a brilliant, intense, sometimes irascible trial lawyer, he was a man with a great sense of humor to his friends and family. He could repeat nearly verbatim any scene from any Three Stooges film, and he concocted many of the world’s worst puns.

Stephen loved his home as his retreat from the world. His home is nestled in the hills south of Lower Lake, which he shared with his partner of many years, Lois Jean, known to all as LJ.

Stephen is survived by his mother, Lucy V. Tulanian of Walnut Creek; sister, Laura Tulanian of Fresno; brother, Michael Tulanian, also of Walnut Creek; and dear friend, Mary Benson of Lower Lake.

There will be visitation at Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel, Main Street in Lower Lake, Monday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a memorial service at 12:30 p.m. at the Jones & Lewis chapel.

Stephen’s practice and clients will be served by J. David Markham at 707-263-7080.

Stephen’s family prefers that any donations be made to the Family Literacy Program, Lakeport Library 1425 N, High St., Lakeport 95453. Checks may be made to Ginny DeVries, coordinator of the program.

Condolences may be written to the family at www.jonesandlewis.com. For additional information, please contact the funeral home at 707-994-6417.

CLEARLAKE OAKS – Family and friends will gather this Sunday, April 26, to remember James Heeszel.

A memorial service will take place at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, at the junction of Highways 20 and 53, beginning at 11 a.m.

Heeszel, who died earlier this year, grew up in Clearlake Oaks, and had most recently lived and worked as a plumber in the San Jose area, where a memorial was held for him on April 18.

He is survived by his parents, Bob and Judy, and twin brother, John.

For more information on the April 26 event, contact Sue Burton, 998-3355.

James McDonald, 62, of Lucerne died May 9, 2009, in Lucerne, reportedly from complications of diabetes.

Formerly a cook at Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, and more recently at Yvonne Cox's Dignity Diner soup kitchen held weekly at Kapitan's Café in Lucerne, he was known to his many friends as Max.

Born in Germany in 1947, he served in the United States Navy and for many years worked as a professional chef.

A burial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at Upper Lake Cemetery.

Ms. Cox said his “family” at the soup kitchen held a memorial service for him Tuesday night.

“Many of his friends gave thanks then for his bringing them into the 12-step program, where they got clean and sober,” she said.

Steven Martin Gerstmann was born Feb. 28, 1960, and passed away in Lake County on Feb. 28, 2009, due to heart failure.

Steve was born in San Francisco and raised in Marin County. He graduated from Sir Francis Drake High School, and served in the Army during the Vietnam era, stationed in Germany.

A fine musician and song writer, Steve spent time in Hawaii working as a jazz and rock musician, and married his wife, Charlotte. They later moved home to the Bay Area and then up to Lake County, scene of many happy childhood summers spent with his brother and sister, many cousins, and aunts and uncles.

Later in life Steve was a big fan of karaoke, and enjoyed watching the abundant wildlife in Lake County.

Steve is survived by a brother, Tom, his wife, Diane, and their son, Jeff, all of Petaluma; his brother, Frank (Lee) of Oakland; and his sister, Ingrid, her husband John and their two daughters, Farallon and Eleanor, of Manhattan, along with many Cassidy and Oberg cousins.