Lake County News,California

Obits

: Editor; Posted On Sunday, 04 February 2018 01:17; 04 February 2018

Ben Schreckengost

Ben Henry Schreckengost
May 26, 1950 - Jan. 5, 2018

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Widower of Nancy Benze, Ben is survived by sister-in-laws, Janet (Greg) and Mary Ann (James) and nephews, Christian and Tommy.

Visitation: Thursday, Feb. 8, at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary in Lakeport from 2 to 4 pm.

Graveside service: Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport on Friday, Feb. 9, at 11 a.m.

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

: Editor; Posted On Saturday, 03 February 2018 00:12; 03 February 2018

Sammy Wright

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Sammy Dale Wright was born on Feb. 4, 1939, in Wellington, Kansas. He passed away on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, at his home in Kelseyville, surrounded by his loving family.

At the age of 2, Sam moved with his family to Vallejo, Calif., where his parents worked at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

He attended elementary, junior high, high school and junior college in Vallejo, all while playing sports, water skiing and goofing around with childhood friends.

Sam joined the United States Army in 1957 and served in the Army Reserve until 1964.

Following his service, he attended Chico State College, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education with a minor in business.

While attending Chico State, he met his wife of 53 years, Connie Thomas of Kelseyville. They were married in 1964 at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church and the next year Sam was hired to teach physical education and coach varsity baseball at Madera High School in Madera.

In 1970 he and Connie moved to Kelseyville, where Sam was hired to teach business classes at Kelseyville High School. There, he would serve as basketball and baseball coach, athletic director and dean of students. He also started and taught a photography class.

Sam finished his career in education teaching math and computers at Gard Street School and then Mountain Vista Middle School in Kelseyville before retiring from education in 1999.

In his spare time Sam engaged in many hobbies. He enjoyed photography, woodworking, camping, hunting, fishing and trap shooting.

Sam also worked each summer in the Lake County pear industry. He helped on his father-in-law’s ranch, served as the field man at Mt. Konocti Growers and constructed some of the first ladders at Stokes Ladders.

When not rooting on his beloved San Francisco Giants and 49ers, Sam would be found spending time with his greatest love – his family.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Olive Wright; father, Dale Wright; brother, Garland Wright; and sister-in-law, Julie Wright.

He is survived by his wife, Connie Wright; his son, Michael Wright and wife Summer Wright; his daughter, Jaime White and husband Sean White; and his grandchildren, Marin Wright, J.T. Wright, Chris White, Paige White and Elsie White; and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly.

There will be a celebration of Sam’s life on Friday, Feb. 9, at 11 a.m. at the Kelseyville Cemetery with a reception following at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church Friendship Hall.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Services of Lake County, https://www.lakecountyhospice.org/donate/.

: Editor; Posted On Friday, 02 February 2018 23:37; 02 February 2018

James Campbell

James Michael Campbell
April 19, 1948 - Jan. 30, 2018

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – James Michael Campbell passed in his home on Jan. 30, 2018.

James was a proud veteran, mason and retired from PG&E after 25 years.

He is survived by his wife, Sonja; daughter, Ilona (Charles) Wise and loving family.

A very special thank you to Cynthia and Milo Hoovler.

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

: Editor; Posted On Saturday, 03 February 2018 00:31; 03 February 2018

Carl Stein

Carl Victor Stein, 79, passed away surrounded by family on Jan. 13, 2018.

He was born on Feb. 9, 1938, and raised in San Jose, Calif.

Carl joined the Santa Clara Sheriff’s Department in 1959. After 10 years, he relocated to Lake County, Calif., and joined the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. Carl worked as a patrol deputy for four years and then a detective for 24 years.

He retired in 1998, after 38 years in law enforcement.

Carl returned to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department in 1999 as a part-time detective for two more years of service.

In February of 2001 he joined the Lake County District Attorney’s Office as a criminal investigator, working elder abuse crimes for two years.

In April 2003, Carl joined the Clearlake Police Department as a detective. He retired for the second time in 2014 after a total of 55 years of service.

Over these years, Carl received numerous commendations and awards. In 2016, he was honored by the California State Legislature for his remarkable 55 year law enforcement career. He also earned the respect of generations of fellow officers as a mentor, colleague and friend.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Gloria; his nine children, David Stein and his wife, Mary; Ronald Stein and (in loving memory) his wife, Terri; Catherine Stein and her husband, Anthony Romo; Tabatha Gerber and her husband, Barry; Keith Stein; Benjamin Barnell; Diane Stein; Shirley Stein and her partner, Ashton; Jennifer Stein and her husband, Chuck; 19 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his four siblings, Shirley Stein; Daniel Stein and his wife, Judy; Alex Stein and his wife, Vicki; and Art Stein and his wife, Donna.

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So he put His arms around you and whispered, “Come to me.” A golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.

A celebration of life for Carl will take place at the First Baptist Church, 14550 Pearl Ave., in Clearlake at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9.

Services entrusted to Jones and Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel FD800 Lower Lake.

Please join us in remembering Carl by visiting his memorial at www.Jonesandlewis.com and share a loving memory of his life.

: Editor; Posted On Saturday, 03 February 2018 00:10; 03 February 2018

Ruth A. Manuel

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Ruth A. Manuel, or "Cuckle," was born on June 19, 1936, to Clara Gomez and Harrison Holmes.

She passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018.

Ruth was born and raised in Lake County most of her life but lived in Sacaton, Ariz., for 20 years until returning to Lake County in 1995.

It was an honor to learn so much of our history and traditions from such an amazing Elder who was a member of Big Valley Rancheria. To know her is to love her and she will forever be missed.

Ruth is survived by her children, David Mitchell Jr. (Kim), Marlene Jack, Karen Toledo, John Mitchell, Joyce Pedro, Glenda Manuel (Cassie) and Charlene Narcia (Nick); four generations of grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at her home, 2920 Red Feather Lane in Lakeport, from Thursday, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m. until Sunday, Feb. 4.

A graveside service will be at St. Mary's Cemetery on Monday, Feb. 5, at 1 p.m.

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

: Editor; Posted On Monday, 29 January 2018 00:49; 29 January 2018

William Koehler

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – William Lawrence Koehler, born June 8, 1948, died on December 11, 2017 in Mérida, Mexico. Bill lived in Kelseyville, Calif., with his wife, Caryn, but was vacationing and studying in Mexico at the time of his death.

He had always had an interest in languages, having learned some French, Spanish, German and Finnish as a child, and had long wanted to spend time in Mexico refreshing and improving his skill in Spanish.

Bill worked for many years managing water districts in Lake and Mendocino counties, including Konocti County Water in Clear Lake and California Water in Lucerne. The last years of his life were at Redwood Valley County Water District, and in working to consolidate water systems in the Ukiah area.

As manager of Redwood County Water District, Bill worked with the managers of Millview Water District, Calpella County Water District and Willow Water District toward consolidating the agencies under the Upper Russian River Water Agency, a Joint Power Authority. This was part of an ongoing merger to secure better water supply and distribution for their growing residential and agricultural communities. As this process evolved, Bill's duties expanded to include management of Millview and the JPA.

Granville Poole, the President of Redwood Valley Water Board of Directors wrote, in remembering Bill's contributions to local water management:

"When Bill took over as general manager of Redwood Valley County Water District, the district was up to its neck in problems, including a very tenuous water supply and major legal and financial problems. The relationships among the local water agencies were largely adversarial, desperately in need of voices of reason and wisdom. Bill's was such a voice.

“Bill's intelligence and wisdom, as well as his competence as a water professional, played a major role in bringing the numerous water agencies in inland Mendocino County together toward consolidation into one larger, stronger, regional agency. Much remains to be done toward achieving our regional goals but no one has done more to get us where we are today, close enough to see the prize ahead. Just a few years ago, few could have imagined it but Bill did.
Another huge accomplishment of Bill's was an additional, much larger, intertie that has allowed Redwood to get nearly all its drinking water from the Masonite Well No. 6, largely mothballing our treatment plant. The State of California helped to fund the intertie project, due to the recent drought."

Recently, he and his crew were escorted into the Redwood Valley fire zone daily, working in the hot zone to keep the water flowing to fire fighters. He spoke of his pride for his crew and the Redwood Valley community at large in the face of such devastating loss.

His greatest concern, in departing for his long-scheduled vacation, was for the major infrastructure rebuilding the district would need in the fire's aftermath. It was only at the urging of his family that he took the time for himself to rest and recuperate.

Bill also lent his talent as a manager and mediator working with the Lake County Court System as a court mediator and then President of Lake County Mediation Services in Lakeport for many years.

Bill had a passion for the history of water use, conflict and conservation, and the larger environmental issues it encompasses. He earned a degree in environmental science and a graduate degree in conflict resolution.

He was a man of many interests, an amateur wildflower photographer, lover of pizza, craft IPA beer and local wines. He built the home he shared with his wife. His grandson remembers him most for his love of silliness.

Bill is survived by his wife, Caryn; daughter, Heather Koehler and her husband Evan Carlson of Kelseyville; his son, Armas Koehler and his husband Alan Spooner of Philadelphia; and his grandchildren, Cameila Egas and Eli Carlson of Kelseyville.

Family gathered to celebrate his life and memories at a planned vacation in the Yucatan, Mexico, where he died.

We are touched by the many kind words and remembrances that have been shared. Instead of a public memorial, we ask that you toast his memory with a cold pale ale or a slice.

Obits

Ben Schreckengost

Sammy Wright

James Campbell

Carl Stein

Ruth A. Manuel

William Koehler

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