CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Victor L. Linderman, a native of Wichita, Kansas, died at his home in Clearlake Oaks on Monday, December 22, 2014, at the age of 67.

He had been a resident of Clearlake Oaks for the last 35 years.

Victor loved his Chevy trucks, his dog Angel and country music, especially Hank Williams Jr. He had worked for PG&E as a mechanic for many years and also had been in the construction business for several years.

Victor is survived by his wife of eight years, Nancy Linderman; sister-in-law, Jackie Melin; and brother-in-law, Rick Melin.

He was preceded in death by his step-daughter, Christina Rae Ross.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, beginning at 2 p.m. at Nylander Park in Clearlake Oaks located behind Red and White Market.

Arrangements under the care of Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel in Lower Lake.

Please share your memories of Victor by signing his online guest book at www.jonesandlewis.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Friar Leo Marie Joseph O.S.F. (Leo Joseph Brown) was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 21, 1947, the second son of Joseph Francis Brown and Marie Agnes Theisen.

He grew up in Floral Park, NY, on the edge of New York City. After high school he worked in the city for the church supply firm J. M. Hall and then C.M. Almy as an ecclesiastical designer.

Following the death of his mother in December 1970, he entered a Mariavite Old Catholic Franciscan religious order in New York City and received the Franciscan habit on December 3, 1972, and was henceforth known by his name in religion, Leo Marie Joseph.

After studying for the priesthood within the facilities of the order in New York and Montreal, Canada, Fr. Leo was ordained priest in Montreal by The Most Reverend Thomas J. Fehervary, the Mariavite Old Catholic bishop of Budapest, living in exile in Montreal.

While continuing his design work, Fr. Leo served as a priest at The Church of the Beloved Disciple, the parish of the order in New York City, and was very active in the beginning gay and lesbian rights movement.

In 1979 he relocated to San Francisco and after several months on a teaching project in Nigeria, Fr. Leo began working with elderly shut-ins under the auspices of a Syro-Chaldean monastic community. At this time he studied the theological and liturgical traditions of that branch of Christianity.

As the AIDS epidemic emerged in the early 1980s he began ministering to the dying and their families in San Francisco.

In 1985 Fr. Leo arranged the purchase of property in Kelseyville that would become Little Portion Hermitage. At the end of 1989 he and two lay brothers were able to relocate to the property, where Fr. Leo designed and built the Oratory of Saint Georges on the property.

Fr. Leo made his first formal contact with St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lakeport, Calif., in June 1990. This led to his being received into The Episcopal Church, as a life professed religious in 1995 and then as a priest in 1997, by The Rt. Rev. Jerry A. Lamb, bishop of the Diocese of Northern California.

From then on he served with the regional missioner, The Rev. Harry Allagree, as associate priest at St. John’s and at Holy Trinity, Ukiah.

In January 2004 Fr. Leo was asked to be interim pastor of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Fort Bragg where he oversaw the construction of a new educational building and the renovation of the parish hall and kitchen.

From Fort Bragg he was called to serve as interim pastor of Christ Church, Eureka, and the Mission of Saints Martha and Mary, Trinidad, in February, 2006. There he oversaw the renovation of the children's chapel and guided the complete rebuilding of the church interior in preparation for the installation of a new pipe organ, designing many of the details himself.

Fr. Leo returned to his beloved Hermitage in September 2008 and resumed serving St. John's until he was officially appointed as priest in charge in November 2009 by The Rt. Rev. Barry Beisner, bishop of the Diocese of Northern California.

A year later he was unfortunately diagnosed with neuro-endocrine cancer, but continued to minister at his beloved St. John’s until his retirement on Oct. 26, 2014.

Fr. Leo died at the Hermitage on Jan. 23, 2015.

Fr. Leo nurtured his love of art, architecture, history and good food by his extensive travels in Europe where he sustained many close friendships.

He maintained close ties with the Old Catholic Church in the Netherlands and made two pilgrimages to Assisi, the city of St. Francis, and to Plock, Poland, the location of the original Mariavite monastery.

In his last months Fr. Leo was lovingly cared for by the team of Hospice of Lake County and many dear friends, especially his assistant, Roland Simpson and Mischa Workman.

He is survived by his two brothers, Paul Valentine Brown of Brooklyn, New York, and James Michael Brown of Hartford, Conn.

A memorial service to be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at St. John's Episcopal Church, 1190 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.

A reception will follow in the Parish Hall and Committal of the Ashes afterwards at Little Portion Hermitage, 9233 Highway 175, Kelseyville, CA 95451.

It is requested that donations in Fr. Leo’s memory be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lakeport Calif.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Our beautiful mom, Betty Jean Steeber, left this world Jan. 13, 2015.

Betty was born to Leo and Florence McClure in Lima, Ohio, on June 16, 1923. Her family moved to Hollywood, Calif., when she was 5 years old, where she grew up and met James Steeber at Fairfax High School.

After World War II they raised their family in the San Fernando Valley. They started vacationing in Lake County in 1951 and then relocated to Lake County in 1978.

Betty was an artist on a sewing machine, loved to square dance, sing and play bingo. She enjoyed the humor in life and people. She was splendid in the telling of the many stories of her life.

Betty had a very generous heart and nature. She is much loved by her entire family and will be greatly missed.

Betty is survived by daughters, Gloria (John) Quillan and Kathleen (Keith) Buter; sister, Jacqueline (Jerry) Rudnick; daughter-in-law, Ruth Steeber; cousin, Janet Cannicot; seven grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband and high school sweetheart, James W. Steeber; son, Gary Steeber; grandson, Michael Schaffter; and great-grandson, Kayden Fish.

A memorial service will be at Chapel of the Lakes, 1625 N. High St., Lakeport at 1 p.m. Feb. 21.

The family prefers donations to Hospice of Lake County in Betty's memory.

For further information call Chapel of the Lakes at 263-0357 or 994-5611 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – William Martin Jr. passed away peacefully on January 27, 2015.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ernestine; and his siblings, Paul Martin and Virgie Wooten.

A memorial service will be held a the Lakeport Seventh Day Adventist Church at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31.

Cremation Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Crematory.

For further information contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – George John Thompson, born on Flag Day June 14, 1930, in White Plains, NY, entered into rest in Clearlake on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, at the age of 84.

George was a 1st Vice Commander of Konocti Post 437 The American Legion, Past Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2337, 40 & 8 Voiture 912 of Lake County and belonged to an Air Force Retiree group.

George served his country and retired from the United States Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant being awarded the National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Air Force Longevity Service Award with four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, SO GB-260, Desert Air Force, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, SMAMA,  Air Force Good Conduct Medal and the Air Force Medals.

He was very active in the veteran service organizations and involved with the Lake County Vet Connect along with being a teacher at the library’s Literacy Program.

George is survived by his nephews, Harold Schaefer of Brewster, New York, and Frank Fernandez of New Fairfield, Conn.; a niece, Judy Lyons of Brookfield, Conn.; along with many friends in Lake County.

Friends are invited to attend funeral services on Wednesday, Jan. 28, beginning at noon at Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel in Lower Lake.

Interment will follow at the Lower Lake Cemetery under the auspices of the US Air Force and the Lake County Funeral Honors Team.

Please share your memories of George by signing his online guestbook at www.jonesandlewis.com and www.legacy.com .

Arrangements under the care of Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Joseph D. Bronson III passed peacefully from this life on Jan. 8, 2015, after a gradual decline in health.

Joseph was born in San Francisco to Vasteen Dow and Joseph Bronson Jr., but has resided in Clearlake for numerous years, where he lived the remainder of his life.

Joseph served in the U.S. Army and the Fayetteville Police Department located in North Carolina, in which he retired from both. Joe loved to fish, sing, write poems, cook and have a great time with friends.

Big Joe was known as “The Angel of Facebook” for his constant encouraging words, birthday wishes and his overall friendliness.

Joseph is survived by one child, Joseph D. Bronson IV; daughter-in-law, Dayza C. Bronson; his previous and only wife, Denise J. Bronson; two grandchildren, Jakhi D. Williams and Destiny E. Bronson; Godbrothers, Robert Lane and Joseph Lane Jr.; special friends, Ron and Toni Steward; six loving Godchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by both his parents and a beloved Godfather Joseph Lane.

Rest in peace “Big Joe at the Lake,” you will be greatly missed by all.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at noon on Thursday, Jan. 22, at Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel in Lower Lake.

Military Honors will be rendered by the US Army and Lake County Funeral Honors Team.

Private inurnment will be at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon at a later date.

Please share your loving memories of “Big Joe” by signing his online guestbook at www.jonesandlewis.com and www.legacy.com .