Hidenori Asano

January 19, 1921 - August 9, 2018

 

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Asano family.

Hidenori "Henry" Asano of French Camp died peacefully at home on August 9, 2018. Henry was born January 19, 1921 on McDonald Island just west of Stockton. He lived there until moving to Japan to go to school, but came back to Stockton with his brother, and graduated from Stockton High School. Soon after graduation he was sent to Manzanar and Tule Lake internment camps, where he married Fumiko Watanabe. They were married for 68 years. Upon returning to French Camp they successfully operated a farm for over 60 years.

He was a kind hard-working family man, who enjoyed carpentry, Japanese music, and making home movies. He was very skillful with his hands which was especially evident when working with wood and in his beautiful handwriting in both English and Japanese. In his later years he maintained a large vegetable garden and orchard which provided delicious fruits and vegetables for all his relatives and friends. He was very deeply involved in the International Farmers' Training program, and kept in contact with the former trainees in both Japan and
Brazil.

He was preceded in death by his parents Kenichiro and Tama Asano, his wife Fumiko, and his siblings Yoshinori, Hideko, Satoko Hasegawa, and Emiko Uno, and his in-laws Kiyoshi and Chii Watanabe, Seiichi Jim (Sueko) Watanabe, Susan Ruterink and Saburo Asahina. He is survived by his children Mineko Walterhouse (Douglas) of Cordova, TN, Toshio (Susan White) of Sunnyvale, and HR Asano of Vallejo; his grandchildren Lysa Walterhouse, Sarah Asano, and Kyle Asano. He is also survived by his much-loved in-laws Carrie Hill (Frank) of Walnut Creek, Mary Asahina of Livermore, Cornelis Ruterink of Lafayette, and Takashi Watanabe (Sachiko) of Los Altos. He was a fond uncle to Steven (Marisa) Watanabe, Chris (Kristy) Watanabe, Kristin Watanabe, Cathryn Watanabe, Carol Hasegawa (Stan), Linda Hill (Douglas Lange), Michael Asahina and Karen Lee (Albert), as well as the next generation and many relatives inJapan.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, Sept 1, 2018 from 10 am to 3 pm at the Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home, 831 Industrial Way, Lodi. Memorial service on Sept. 2nd at 2 pm at the Stockton Buddhist Temple, 2820 Shimizu Drive. Committal at Park View Cemetery.

 

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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Asano family.

 

Donald Latimer

February 16, 1935 - August 9, 2018

 

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Latimer family.

On Thursday, August 9, Donald Robert Latimer, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away at age 83.

Don was born on February 16, 1935 in San Francisco, CA to Rev. Donald and Louise (Coats) Latimer who preceded him in death. He graduated from Stockton High School and the University of the Pacific. After working for the YMCA for a few years Don went on to serve San Joaquin County as a Social Worker in many capacities, retiring after 34 years, in 2004. On June 28, 1958, he married Carol Sue Meinig at the East Side Presbyterian Church in Stockton.  On June 30th of this year, family and friends celebrated with Don & Carol their 60th Anniversary. He will be missed by his wife, his two children, his 4 grandchildren, and his great-granddaughter Maggie who brought a big smile to her “Gramps” face every time she came to see him.

Don had a passion for collecting things, from stamps and coins to candy wrappers and matchbook covers. He took great pride in his collections, and joy in sharing them with others. He also loved genealogy as family was very important to him all the days of his life. He was an avid sports fan, especially of his beloved Giants and Lincoln Trojans. He also loved music primarily church hymns and folk music. He was known for his kind and compassionate spirit.

He is survived by his wife Carol, his two children, Lynne (Richert) and Don (Amy), his sisters Mary (Don) Lee and Lola (Jerry) Kent, 4 grandchildren, Kyle, Brent (Precious), Mitchell and Hannah Kamaiopili, 1 great-grandchild (Magnolia Lynne) and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

SERVICES:

The memorial serve for Donald will be held on Sunday August 19, 2018 at 1:00pm in the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, 14165 N. Beckman Road, Lodi CA, 95240.

 

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Stanley Smith, Jr.

July 9, 1942 - August 6, 2018

 

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Smith family.

Services
There will be a graveside service on Saturday, October 13th, 2018, at 11:00am in Cherokee Memorial Park, located off of Highway 99 at Harney Lane, 14165 N. Beckman Road, Lodi CA, 95240.

 

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Norman Stirm

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April 23, 1931 - August 5, 2018

 

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Stirm family.

 

Norman R. Stirm has gone with God to be with his beloved wife of 52 years Mavis.

He also joins his companion Hollie his beloved Cocker Spaniel. Norman is survived by his daughter Roxanna Hilliard (Raymond) of Lodi and son Paul Stirm (Kerry) of Sonora. Norman leaves behind many close friends and business associates.

Norman retired from many occupations in his lifetime to include the grocery business of 44 years where he was named Grocer of the Year a number of times, Valley Home Tech Medical for 7 years and then finally retiring from The Auto Factory after 6 years, and all within the Stockton area. Norman also served in the Army National Guard where he was recognized for 36 years of service in many key roles. Norman was placed on the retirement list in the grade of Brigadier General in 1991. Norman loved the military.Norman received the American Legion Academia Award for outstanding Student in 1949 from Concordia High School in Oakland, a Lutheran Boarding School. He later graduated from Stockton College with an AA degree. Norman was a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma, an honorary society.

Norman was taught at an early age “That it was better to give than to receive” from his late grandmother Ellen Unger. Norman gave generously to many ideals and associated personnel. There was never a soul that did not like Norman let alone love him, he was one of a kind and the world has lost a great soul.

Norman enjoyed trout fishing, camping, golfing and the occasional gambling trip to Jackson where he leaves a special family at the Rancheria. Norman lived the last 4 years as a resident at Oak Creek at O’Connor Woods where he quickly became the Councilman for his Assisted Living area and in true fashion advocated for the residents almost immediately. There was never a concern that Norman did not put his full attention into to correct immediately. The family would like to thank the staff at Oak Creek for the tremendous love and care shown to Norman especially in the last week of his life. You are true Angels and we love you all.

 

SERVICES:

Graveside services will be held Saturday August 11, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Cherokee Memorial Park, 14165 N. Beckman Road, Lodi CA, 95240.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of San Joaquin 3888 Pacific Avenue in Stockton, California 95204. Please sign the online guestbook at www.cherokeememorial.com.

 

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Steve Birtwhistle

April 2, 1938 - August 4, 2018

Steve Birtwhistle, 60 years young, passed peacefully, the afternoon of August 4. He will be remembered as a kind man, father, son and husband.
  He was born on April 2, 1958 during a rainy day in Stockton to loving parents Jack and Robie Birtwhistle. He was the youngest of the family with two older sisters, Linda (John Studarus) and Kristin (Burnett Gunter). He was known as the "little prince" of the family.
As a young man, he grew up traveling extensively as a family taking long summer road trips across the country in their Pontiac station wagon and took a six-month sabbatical in Europe. Steve's stellar performances during most "Jeopardy" TV shows was a direct result of those adventures and experiences. Those journeys gave him a vast worldwide understanding of history, geography, amazing sunsets and current events. It also created a love for the outdoors and camping. He was most proud of a multi-year hands-on experience helping to build the family's second home in Tahoe's Homewood neighborhood-a family destination for over 40 years.
  He made lifelong friends as early as Colonial Heights Elementary School. At Lincoln High School he excelled in Track and Field and Basketball and met his wife of 33 years, Kristen Spracher Birtwhistle. He continued his education at Delta College and University California at Davis where he proudly graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics.
  After college, Steve was a leader for multiple wineries in Lodi and Manteca where he served as a production manager and was a significant player in opening new wineries, bottling lines, operational systems and wine products for Delicato, Mondavi, Sutter Home, RJ Cook Winery and Kirigen Winery. He spent a year in Australia working exhausting hours during a "down under" crush. He fondly recalls it all started with grading peaches. His service in the wine industry brought with it true friends and colleagues along his 37 years in this great field. 
Steve was most proud of his title as the father of Lauren (NJ Petersen) and Connor. He was a staple at their schools, and was a carpool dad dedicated to his children's sporting and social events. He encouraged and promoted wide life experiences. He planned a father-son trip to Ireland with Connor when he was 12, a trip both would never forget, and made annual weekend visits to San Francisco with Lauren for movies, theatre and great restaurants. He never failed to encourage and support his children's adventurous spirits. Ten days after his passing, his first grandchild was born, Bennett Brooks Peterson, who will learn from the example that Steve set in experiencing life in unique and thoughtful ways.

SERVICE

There will be a memorial service on Friday, October 26, 2018 at 4:00pm at the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park located at 14165 N. Beckman Road, Lodi, CA  95240.

 

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Birtwhistle family.

 

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Robert Connelly

September 26, 1923 - August 4, 2018

 

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Connelly family.

 

Robert Stephen Connelly, 94, passed away on Saturday, August 4, 2018 in Stockton, CA.  He was born to Patrick Connelly and Margaret Markusen on September 26, 1923 in San Francisco, CA.  Robert served in the Army Air Corps WWII.  He loved to hunt, fish, and the outdoors.  His family was the most important art of his life. 

Robert is survived by children, Robert Connelly (Dee), William Connelly, Camille Gasper (Joe) and Marlene Goldsberry (Dave); grandchildren, Kimberly Hadd, Ryan Goldsberry, Lisa Gasper, Andy Gasper and Diane Gasper; also survived by numerous great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by parents Patrick Connelly and Margaret Markusen and wife Jeanette Connelly.

Private interment will be at San Joaquin National Cemetery

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Life Guard Hospice.

Elaine Bondonno

November 21, 1946 - August 3, 2018

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF ELAINE BONDONNO

Elaine Greenock McMahan Bondonno was born in New Jersey on November 21, 1946. Her father, Robert, had immigrated from Mother well, Scotland, when he was six years of age. Elaine’s mother, Virginia Weir, was born in Hudson, New Jersey. When Elaine was eight, her father, who worked for the Gardner Denver company, was assigned to Maracaibo, Venezuela. After four years, the family moved on to Santiago, Chile.  The family returned to the Gardner Denver headquarters in Illinois while Elaine was in her last year of high school. Elaine attended the University of Kansas, and four years later she graduated with honors as a “Hilltopper.”
After graduation she married Robert McMahan, and they moved to Troy, New York, where she took a job as head of the language department at the Emma Willard School for Young Women. A few years later she entered the University of Albany Law School.  Having moved to California and passing the California bar exam, she then joined the firm of Berry & Berry in Oakland, quickly becoming a partner. In the late 1970s, a significant number of asbestos injury cases were filed in the San Francisco Bay Area courts. Elaine took the lead in fashioning an expedited program to obtain medical records and evaluate individual plaintiff’s medical conditions. That program is still in existence and is still being handled by the successor firm of Berry & Berry.

By the early 1980s, Elaine and Robert McMahan divorced. For several years Elaine and Franklin Bondonno worked together as attorneys representing co-defendant companies without knowing that both were divorced.  One evening in 1983, upon leaving the San Francisco Superior Court, Franklin noticed that Elaine was sitting on the bench outside the city hall where the homeless normally camped. He walked up and asked her if she was okay, and it was clear she wasn’t. Not knowing what to do, he asked her to dinner. Thus began a romance which lasted until August 3, 2018. On Elaine’s 40th birthday, November 21, 1986, she and Franklin announced their engagement. They were married on September 11, 1987. The day after Christmas in 1990, Evan Stewart Bondonno, otherwise known as “Evan from Heaven,” arrived, and has continued to bring joy ever since.  Elaine enjoyed motherhood, organized play groups, connected with some of her best friends, and became increasingly interested in art. Over the years she developed creative art programs for both the Los Gatos and Campbell United Methodist Churches. However, the need to offer something outside the church precincts led her to start the Art and Spirit program, first at the Elmwood Correctional Facility, and later at the County Main Jail.  Over the years, the number of volunteers going into the correctional facilities grew, and most recently, on June 24th, the Los Gatos United Methodist Church hosted the opening of the present art show.

Elaine is preceded in death by her siblings, brother David, and sister Laurie.

The Art and Spirit Ministry focuses on collaborative transformational art pieces designed to connect the inmates with their better angels. A Celebration of Elaine’s Life will be held at 3pm on August 31, 2018 at the Los Gatos United Methodist Church, 111 Church St, Los Gatos, CA 95030. Elaine will be laid to rest at a private service at Cherokee Memorial Park   at Harney Lane and Hwy 99 in Lodi, CA.

 

 

 

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Danielle Shaffner

June 2, 1988 - August 2, 2018

 

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Shaffner family.

 

VISITATION:

The visitation for Danielle will be held on Monday August 13, 2018 from 10:00am to 12:00pm in the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

SERVICES:

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday August 14, 2018 at 10:00am at  Cherokee Memorial Park located at Hwy 99 and Harney Lane in Lodi, CA 95240.


 

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Cherokee Memorial Park is a 501(c)13 non-profit company, owned and operated exclusively for the benefit of the community, serving Lodi, Stockton, Galt, Manteca and the San Joaquin Valley since 1940.

CEMETERY OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sunday Closed

Mausoleums Daily
8:00 am - 4:30 pm


FUNERAL HOME OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Weekends by Appointment
*Staff available 24/7
for immediate need