Category: memoriam

Sep 29, 1955 – Nov 05, 1978

Claude D. Galopin, 23, died this week.
Born in Arlington, Massachusettes, he came to Napa 15 years ago. He was a graduate of Napa High School and Napa College and attended the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrea Clerici of Napa survive. He leaves a brother, Carl, of El Cerrito, and a grandfather, Jose Fratuoso of Napa.
A mass of Christian burial was offered Wednesday, November 8, 1978, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church under the direction of Claffey and Rota Funeral Home.
Interment was at Tulocay Cemetery.

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Dec 16, 1953 – Dec 29, 1997

Pamela Jean (Case) Simas died Monday, December 29, 1997, of complications from breast cancer. She was 44.

The loving wife of Vern Simas and mother to Brad Mills, Drew, and Rachel Simas; the loving and precious daughter of Walt and Shirley Case; loving sister to Bryan Case, all of Napa; and Steven Case and family of Vacaville.

She was born December 16, 1953, at George Air Force Base Hospital in Victorville, California. Her parents were stationed there in the Air Force. After a short period in Bermuda, she spent most of her growing years in Vallejo.

In 1968 the family moved to Napa and Pam graduated from Vintage High School in 1973. She worked at Instrumentation West in Napa for 13 years. When it closed, she went to work as assistant manager and then manager of the Faireways at Silverado Country Club. Pam, Vern and children have managed the Fairways, a condominium assocation, for five years.

She enjoyed crafts, camping, traveling, skiing and mothering lots of kids, relatives, and friends. She was the center of all family activities. No matter how sick, she made sure she went to all her children’s activities.

She is survived by her husband Vern; sons Brad and Drew; stepdaughter Rachel, all of Napa; her brothers Bryan of Napa and Steven and family of Vacaville; her grandfather Matthew Vincent and wife Hazel, and uncle Matt Vincent, all of Benecia; aunts Norma Holcomb of Golden Valley, Arizona, and Maxine Walters of Blackfoot, Idaho; uncles Bill Case of Sacramento and Carl Case of Galt; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and other relatives.

Visitation was held January 2 at the St. Apollinaris Catholic Church, with recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m. A memorial service was held January 3 at St Apollinaris. Arrangements were under the direction of Richard Pierce Funeral Service.

Dec 01, 1954 (Los Angeles) –
Sep 14, 1975 (Napa)

Brian Eugene Beardsley, 20, died Sunday at Queen of the Valley Hospital following injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

Brian was born in Los Angeles on Dec 1, 1954. He had lived throughout various areas of California because his father is employed by the telephone company and is transferred from time to time.

He graduated from Napa Senior High in 1973. Upon graduation, he entered the U.S. Army and served as a military policeman. He was discharged in January and returned to Napa. For the last several months, he has been employed by the Panoply Patrol Service and had planned to enter Napa Junior College and major in police science. He was a member of the Grapestompers Citizen Band Radio Club.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Beardsley of Napa; a sister, Nora Beardsley of Napa, and grandmothers Mrs Barbara Hallberg of Oakland and Mrs. Mary Day Beardsley of Pasadena.

Funeral services were held Sep 17, 1975 at the Chapel of Richard Pierce Funeral Service with Pastor Maynor Reed officiating. Interment was at Tulocay Cemetery.

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Dec 02, 1955 – Apr 24, 2009

 Janice Marie Crego Duncan passed away suddenly on April 24, 2009, at her home in Magalia. California. She was 53 years of age. She was born Dec. 2, 1955, in San Diego, to Ernest LaVern Crego and Rita Elaine Challoner Crego.

Jan attended El Centro Elementary School, Redwood Jr. High, and graduated from Vintage High’s first graduating class in 1973.

Jan married her second husband, the love of her life, James Duncan, on Feb. 3, 2002, in Sparks, Nev.

Jan had several jobs throughout her lifetime. She worked as a caterer and worked for about 10 years at Perry’s Deli in Middletown, where she met her husband, Jim. Most recently, she was a caregiver and just enjoyed the life of retirement and RVing with her husband.

She is predeceased by her parents, and nephew Johnny Payne. She leaves behind her husband, Jim Duncan of Magalia; her son, Eric Notson of Napa; her daughter and son-in-law, Morgan and Mike Hermann of Lake County; her half-sister, Carol Tone of Baker, Ore.; her sister, Diane “Dee Dee” Payne of Napa; and her brother, Stephen Crego and sister-in-law, Kathy Johnson Crego of Napa.

At her request, no public services were held.

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Sep 13, 1955 – Apr 25, 1980

Colleen Deborah McCluskey Bartsch, 24, died Thursday in a fire at her home at 117 Folland Lane.
Mrs. Bartsch was born September 13, 1955, in Napa. She attended Redwood Junior High School, graduated from Vintage High School, and attended Napa College. She married James Bartsch September 15, 1979 at Lake Tahoe’s South Shore. She was a former office manager for the Redwood Empire Chapter of the American Heart Association and a former payroll clerk with Stucco Stone, both in Napa.
As a lover of animals, Mrs. Bartsch was involved with several ecological and environmental causes including Greenpeace Foundation.
Survivors include her husband, Jim of American Canyon; her mother, Edith McCoy of Napa; her father, John McCluskey of Ireland; three siblings, all of Napa, Paul B. McCluskey, Eileen Eheler and Kathleen Howard; numerous aunts and uncles; three nieces and one nephew.
Private services for the family were held April 29, 1980 at Treadway & Wigger Funeral Chapel with the Reverend Barbara Thomas officiating.
Inurnment was at Tulocay Mausoleum.

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Feb 26, 1955 – Jan 31, 2010

Diane Harrington passed away Jan. 31, 2010, in Qingdao, China. She was born Feb. 26,1955, in St. Helena, to Beverly and Jackson VanPolen. She attended Pueblo Vista Elementary, Redwood Middle School, and graduated from Vintage High School in 1973.

She married Richard Gunby in 1974, and their daughter, Heather, was born in 1977.

She worked at Foster Freeze, Pacific Bell Telephone, and Beringer Vineyards where she met Richard Harrington. They were married in 1998. They both loved traveling and vacationing in Indonesia, India, Hawaii, China, New Zealand, England, Peru and Morocco. They moved to Tonga in 2004, and later to South Korea and China.

Diane is survived by her loving husband, Richard, of Qingdao, China; her daughter, Heather (Brett) Vieau; grandsons Adrian Alfaro, Daven Vieau; granddaughter Jillian Vieau of Napa; sister Linda VanPolen of Champaign, Ill.; brother Jerry (Courtenay) VanPolen of Chicago, Ill.; her parents, Bev and Jack VanPolen, of Napa; and several aunts and cousins.

Diane will be truly missed by all. At her request, there will be no service.

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Dec 29, 1955 – Mar 29, 2011

Stephen Forrest Bristow passed away on March 29, 2011, in Napa. Steve was born on Dec. 29, 1955, in Fayetteville, N.C., to Eula and Forrest Bristow. Steve moved to Napa when he was in elementary school and graduated from Vintage High School in 1972. In high school, Steve acquired the nickname “Woody.”

Steve worked briefly at Mare Island before getting interested in computers and programming. He was an expert at troubleshooting and system security. He worked for many years with his mother at Bristow Bookkeeping and Tax Services, helping with accounting and tax prep.

He was known for his kindness to everyone, especially to children and all animals. He always fed the squirrels at his office and the birds in his backyard. When he was younger, he and his brother fed many feral cats and in the last year he adopted an elderly orphaned dog.

Steve is survived by his father and stepmother, Forrest and Erhne Bristow; sister-in-law, Joyce Bristow; goddaughter, Shannon (Donald) Garcia and her children, Jesse, Trinity and Gracie; his significant other, Tammy Murray; and his many, many relatives and friends. He was preceded into rest by his mother, Eula Bristow, and his brother, Mark Bristow. He will be greatly missed. His spirit will live on in the many people he has touched.

A celebration of his life was held April 9, 2011 in the Tulocay Funeral Chapel.

Tulocay Memorial/Guest Book

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Nov 25, 1955 – Dec 08, 1971

Funeral services were held Saturday, December 11, 1971 at the Treadway and Wigger Funeral Chapel for David Austin Cown, 16, who died Wednesday.
Inurnment took place at Tulocay Mausoleum. Mrs. Florence M. Carter of the First Church of Christ Scientist officiated.

“Youth Dies in School Gym Class”: Napa Valley Register, Dec 9, 1971

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Sep 21, 1954 (Milwaukie, WI) – Dec 14, 2009 (Searcy, AR)

Roy Louis Onesti, Jr. age 55 of Searcy AR. passed away Monday, December 14, 2009. He was born in Milwaukee, WI on Sep 21, 1954 to the late Roy Louis Onesti, Sr. and Mabel Edna (Niemann) Onesti.

Roy was employed by Yarnell Ice Cream Corp. Roy was proud to be a police office for over 12 yrs in Napa, California prior to relocating in Searcy. He was a good father and a friend to all who knew him.

He is survived by his partner, Georgia Gottschall of Griffithville; his children, Darian and Shelia Onesti Also Robbie, Lacey and Michelle of Napa, California. He is also survived by many other relatives and a host of friends at Searcy Healthcare.

Memorial service will be held December 19, 2009 at Searcy McEuen Funeral Home in Searcy, Arkansas.

Oct 28, 1955 – May 23, 2001

Peter L. Malinowski, 47, a 33-year resident of Napa County, died peacefully at his Sacramento home on May 23, 2003, following a long illness. He was born October 28, 1955 in Berkeley, California.

He attended Napa schools, graduating from Vintage High School in 1973. He worked at Mare Island as a supervisor for 20 years.

Preceded in death by his father, Frank, Peter is survived by his wife, Isabel, of Sacramento; his mother, Barbara Barter, of Napa; son, Cory Malinowski and daughter, Crystal Malinowski, both of Napa; stepson Roland of Sacramento; sisters, Frances Carpenter of Napa and Mary Chilcote of Sacramento; brothers Karl and Kenneth Malinowski of Sacramento; and granddaughter, Sarina Koroknay, of Napa.

Peter was a generous man with a big heart who loved life. He was a loyal friend to many and will be missed by all whose lives he touched.

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