Category: memoriam

Sep 23, 1955 – Apr 02, 2020

   Sherie Lynn Knudsen, 64 passed away peacefully in the arms of her husband on Apr 2, 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer.
   Sherie was born on September 23, 1955 in Grand Rapids Michigan and later moved to Napa California as an adolescent. Sherie attended Vintage High School and Napa Valley College.  Sherie retired from a successful 20 year career with AAA emergency road service.  Sherie later drove a para transit bus for Vine Go in Napa.
   Sherie is survived by her husband of 25 years, 2 children of her own, 4 children through marriage, 14 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and 1 brother.
   Besides spending time with her family and friends Sherie enjoyed traveling, going to the ocean, listening to music, singing, quilting, and caring for her dogs.
   Sherie touched many hearts and lives with her unparalleled generosity, kindness, honesty, sense of humor, and love.
   Sherie will always be remembered as being a mother to everyone, for having the biggest heart, the brightest smile, a warriors spirit and that she was fiercely loyal.
   “I am grateful every day for who God is in my life, I am grateful for the people he has put in my life for me to love.  I am truly blessed.  When my body is gone please remember my heart.”

Mar 15, 1955 – Jan 13, 1995

   Diane Susan Forsey passed away Friday, January 13, 1995, at a local hospital following a long illness. She was 39.
   Diane was born in Milwaukie, Wisconsin.  She worked as a Data Entry Operator at Sutter Solano Medical Center for eight years.  She enjoyed being a mother and a wife and going to Disneyland.
   Diane is survived by her husband John and their son Jeremy and daughter Danielle of American Canyon; her father and mother Otto and Marion Draeger and sister Denise also of American Canyon.  Diane is also survived by her brother Richard Draeger, his wife Melinda, and their daughters Kaylin and Cassidy all of El Dorado Hills; another sister Linda Messer, her husband Mike, and their children Stephanie, Phillip, Helena and Michael of Vacaville; her grandmother Lena Clark of Napa, and her mother-in-law Eileen Forsey of Napa.
   Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 18, 1995 at Napa Valley Memorial Park Chapel, with Pastor Marshall P. Stevens of Calvary Baptist Church of American Canyon officiating.
   Diane wanted to encourage everyone to be tested for the bone marrow donor list.  Contributions may be made to the Leukemia Society of America.

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Aug 02, 1955 – Nov 03, 1992

   Robin Lucille Clark Bruce, 37, died here unexpectedly Nov. 3 at her home in Camino, California.
   Born in Vallejo on Aug. 2, 1955, to Ward and Dorothy Clark, Mrs. Bruce graduated from Vintage High School.
   For the last six months, she was employed as a graphics artist at Printing Press in Placerville.  She had also worked for many years for the California State Department of Corrections and was responsible for the installation of the coffee roasting plant at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione.
   Mrs. Bruce is survived by her husband, James of Camino; two daughters, Amy Santiago and Meghan Takahashi, both of Camino; two stepchildren; her parents, Ward and Dorothy Clark of Napa; a sister, Dena McGraw of Napa; her grandmother, Arlene Clark of Couer d’ Alene, Idaho; and a niece.  Two children predeceased her.
   No services were held.  Interment was at Tulocay Cemetery.  Arrangements were under the direction of Chapel of the Pines Funeral Home in Placerville.

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Jul 08, 1955 – Oct 15, 1998

   Gwen DeLonzor, a native of Napa, passed away Oct. 15.
   A beautiful Norse princess born July 8, 1955 in San Francisco.  Gwen spent her childhood in Napa.  She lived most of her life in Northern California and in Colorado.
   She is survived by her loving family, which includes her father, Robert V. DeLonzor of Napa; her mother, Louise Lidicker of Berkeley; her sister, Diane DeLonzor Dan of San Francisco; and her brothers, Gerry DeLonzor of Folsom and Russ DeLonzor of San Ramon.
   The family would like to share Gwen’s memory with the many hearts she touched and a celebration of her life on Sunday at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon between the hours of 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.
   She “took her fill of music, joy of thought and seeing came and stayed and went and never ceased to smile” (R.L.S.).  She graced our valley with her prescence.  Love is eternal – “Forever and a day …”

DATES

June 13, 1955 – Apr 30, 1977

   James Henry Craig, 21, of 2186 D Parrish Drive, died early Saturday morning as the result of a fire at his home.
   Mr. Craig was born in Greensburg, Pa., on June 13, 1955.  He came to Napa when he was six months old and attended Snow and Salvador elementary schools, Redwood Junior High School and Napa High School.  He graduated from Vintage High School in 1973.
   He was married to the former Connie Juanita Dipp in Reno, Nev.
   He worked in landscaping first with the state division of highways in Vallejo and later for the City of Napa street maintenance department.
   Survivors include his wife, Connie of Napa; his parents, J. Henry and Koleen T. Craig of Napa; two brothers Peter and Ben Craig, both of Napa; three sisters, Amy, Kayte and Kelly Craig, all of Napa.  A great-grandmother, Mrs. Delcia Suttle of Napa and two grandmothers, Mrs. Kathryn Tice of Sacramento and Mrs. Merle Craig of Pennsylvania also survive.
   Friends are invited to attend funeral services at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Treadway & Wigger Funeral Chapel with the Pastor A. Geoffrey Ratcliffe of the Napa Seventh-day Adventist Church officiating.
   Interment will follow at Tulocay Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Phillip Rusin, Don MacVitie, Earl Grzelek, Ron “Skipper” Swim, Charles Crandall and Dick Mendez, acting.

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Robert Scott Wright
Jul 20, 1955 – Mar 7, 2002

CLACKAMAS, Oregon

Scott Wright, 46, of Sandy, Oregon, died unexpectedly at Kaiser Hospital March 7.  He was born in Vallejo to Roy R. and Barbara H. Wright.  He was twin to Jon Wright.
When his children were in high school, Scott enjoyed fund raising for their various international trips.  Since 1998 Scott has owned and operated Servicemaster of Gresham with his wife, Carol, who survives him.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his parents, Roy and Barbara Wright of Gresham, Orel, two sisters, Diane Wright of Vancouver, Wash., and Judy Good of Gresham; two brothers, Fred Wright of Gresham and Jon Wright of Concepcion, Chile.  Also surviving him are his four children, stepson Joshua James of Vancouver, Wash., Will Wright of Vancouver, Wash., Cherilyn Wright of Portland, Orel, and Krystal Perry of Sacramento.  Scott had six grandchildren, several great nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.
The funeral was held March 16, 2002 in the gymnasium of Hollydale Elementary School in Gresham.  Interment was at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Gresham.

Aug 28, 1955 – Oct 13, 2021

Susan Amelia Brown Kiken of Montecito, California passed away at the age of 66 on Wednesday, 13 October 2021.

Susan was born to Gilbert Gordon Brown Jr and Donna Jean Kirkpatrick Brown on Sunday, 28 August 1995 in Napa, California.

She is survived by her husband Robert Steven Kiken of Montecito, California; and her sister Helen Andrea Brown Wolfe of Montecito, California.

Sue created sparkle in the lives she touched. Deeply Loved and Missed by All.

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Susan’s Facebook page

Dec 21, 1954 – Aug 13, 1996

Gregory E. Bingham, 41, born, reared and educated in Napa, passed away Aug. 13 at University Hospital South while awaiting a liver transplant.
   The Napa High graduate and Napa Community College attendee was a real estate salesman and also a tour guide for Napa County wineries.  In 1993, he moved to Oregon.
   A very gentle and sweet man, Greg had a great love for music, drag racing, fishing with his middle daughter and his motorcycle.  He was a member of the Cascade Blues Association and, enjoying everything around him, he had a real zest for life!
   Greg is survived by his daughters, Kelly M. and Lisa K. Bingham of Portland, and Jennifer A. Bingham of Napa; parents, James and Billie Bingham of Napa, fiancée, Jackie M. Blodgett of Oregon City, Ore., sister, Linda L. Stevens of Concord; brothers, Donald J., Barry Al, and Kevin D., Bingham, all of Napa; and several nieces and nephews.
   A rosary and vigil service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Richard Pierce Funeral Service, 1660 Silverado Trail, with the Rev. Father Robert Castro officiating.  Private inurnment will be at St. Helena Cemetery.  No visitation is planned at the mortuary.
   Greg’s memory would be enhanced by others becoming involved in the organ donor program.
   In keeping with Greg’s concern for the homeless, memorial contributions may be made to The Table, in care of First Presbyterian Church, 1333 Third St., Napa, 94558, in lieu of flowers.

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Aug 29, 1955 (Napa) – Feb 25, 2016 (American Canyon)

Virginia Jena Koroknay died in her home on February 25, 2016 in American Canyon, CA following a short and hard fought battle with lung cancer. She was 60.

Jena was born on August 29, 1955 in Napa to her parents, Caesar and Hazel Bertagna. She was the youngest of four children. She attended Shearer Elementary, Ridgeview Junior High and Napa High School, class of 1973.  Shortly after she married her high school sweetheart William (Billy) Casey until his untimely death in 1976.  Shortly after she met and married her second husband, Patrick Koroknay with whom she had two children, Rocky and Kristina. She and Patrick lived in Vallejo until his passing in 1988.

For the past 19 years, one could find Jena hard at work as a checker at Lucky Stores.  She was a very hard worker, spending over 15 years working night crew.  Usually the smallest one on the crew, she worked circles around those half her age and twice her size.  She may have been small, but she had a lot of spirit and strength to match.  During her days off, Jena enjoyed spending time with her grandkids.  When her schedule permitted, she was attending their sports events and school functions.

Jena was also a lover of animals.  She always had at least one pet.  When she was battling the cancer, her cat Sally would not leave her side.

Jena is survived by her son Rocky, daughter and son-in-law Kristina and Chris Dalton, grandchildren Sarina, Lilah, Shaylee, Blake and Tyler.  She is also survived by her brother CJ Bertagna.  sisters-in-law Jean Chassereau, Karen Koroknay and Kerry Bertagna, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her mother and father, husbands, as well as her half brother and sister Jay Guidotti and Charlene Gustis, brother in law Leo, nephews Mark and John, and niece Michelle.

A celebration of life was held for her on March 4th, 2016 in the Tulocay Chapel.

Tulocay Memorial/Guest Book

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Aug 15, 1955 – Jan 20, 1979

A memorial service was held January 26, 1979 at Skyview Memorial Chapel in Vallejo, California, for Pamela King John, 23, a former Napa resident.
    Mrs. John’s body was discovered Saturday in the Napa River.
    Born in San Francisco, she came to Napa as a youngster and attended schools here, graduating from Napa High.  She later attended Napa College.
    Mrs. John lived in Vallejo the past five years.
    Survivors include her husband, Vernon B. John of Napa, a sister, Patricia Gondola of Napa, brothers Vincent King of Vacaville and Tim and Kevin King of Vallejo, her father, William R. King of Napa, and mother, Fern King of Vallejo.

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