Life Tributes for the week of 7/25/18
Eric Carl Adamson
Chester native, Eric Carl Adamson, passed from this life suddenly Sunday morning, July 15, 2018, at his residence in Chester following a courageous battle with cancer. His loving wife was at his side.
Born March 28, 1959, in Chester to the longtime high school principal, Darold Adamson and his wife, Peggy, Eric was raised and educated in Chester where he graduated from Chester High School as a member of the Class of 1978. “QB,” as he was nicknamed, was honored as the MVP of their football, basketball and baseball programs. He went on to further his education at Chico State graduating with an AA Degree as an x-ray technician.
Following his graduation he went to work at Enloe Hospital’s cardiologist group before moving to San Jose where he was a manager for Hewlett-Packard’s shipping and receiving department. Eric returned home to Chester in 1999 and entered the real estate field working as an agent for Kehr Obrien Coldwell Banker Real Estate.
A longtime member of the Plumas County Board of Realtors and the NRA, Eric was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing with his dog Layla at his side, as well as the challenge of a good game of golf. He also found enjoyment hunting for agates on the coast, working in his garden and playing his guitar.
In his untimely passing, Eric leaves his loving wife, Rebecca “Becky” Adamson, of Chester; mother, Peggy Adamson; stepmother, Judy Adamson, of Chico; and sister, Jodi Mansell, of Clear Lake; nephews, David and Tanner; and will be forever remembered by his extended family, the Wanns and Whites.
A celebration of Eric’s life is planned for 12 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Chester Park. An opportunity to express condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com. The family asks that any remembrances in Eric’s memory be made to the Darold Adamson Scholarship Fund at the Chester High School c/o Fehrman Mortuary, P.O. Box 803, Greenville, CA 95947.
Allan Fuches
Allan Fuches, 93, passed away while under the compassionate care of the staff at Hospice of North Idaho’s Schneidmiller House. He slipped away in his sleep in the early morning hours of July 14, 2018. His death was the result of severe spinal complications.
Allan was born Nov. 6, 1924, to Frank and Lillian Fuches in St. Paul, Minnesota. Even with the austere times brought on by the Great Depression, Allan loved talking nostalgically about life as a kid in St. Paul. Among his memories was growing up with his older brother Larry and younger brother Jerry.
In 1942, after graduating from high school in St. Paul, Allan moved to Southern California where he secured his first meaningful job. He hired on as an apprentice carpenter in the building of Kaiser Steel in Fontana. While still age 18, his good paying job of six months came to an abrupt end. In April 1943, at the height of WWII, Allan was drafted. He was inducted into the Navy and served in the Pacific on the attack cargo ship USS Warrick. His ship carried 24 landing crafts that were deployed in numerous Japanese-held island assaults, including Iwo Jima and the liberation of the Philippines.
In April of 1946, after several years of combat duty, Allan was discharged without a scratch. Soon thereafter he joined up with another tough and hardworking outfit, his family. He entered the building trade with his dad, Frank, brother, Larry, and uncle, Andy Tykamp. It was also during this time that he met and married Sally Fuches. On July 1, 1947, they became a family with the birth of their daughter, Sherry.
In the ensuing years Allan gained invaluable building experience and eventually became recognized as a respected and highly sought after general contractor. However, accomplishing this came at a price … years of hard work.
In the early 1950s he moved his family to Alaska where, for five years, he endured the elements while working on government housing builds. Then on returning to Southern California, Allan went to work in his Uncle Tykamp’s construction business. He began as a salaried worker, then partner, and eventually took ownership of the business, Montclair Construction.
In 1986, after surviving 30 years in Southern California’s volatile building industry, Allan made a risky business decision. He moved with his second wife, Iris Fuches, to Lake Almanor in northern California. At age 61 Allan struggled mightily before reestablishing himself as a builder within the Lake Almanor Country Club community. Upon retirement at age 80, it was estimated that Allan and his foreman, stepson Mike DeMoulin, had built 30 prestigious homes and two senior centers in the region.
In December 2017, his health in decline, Allan moved to Coeur d’ Alene to be near his daughter Sherry Beno and son-in-law Ken Beno. He died a short eight months later.
Throughout his long life Allan accomplished something many hope to achieve … becoming a better person with the passage of time. Resultantly, Allan’s regrets were few. He was among the few who unequivocally loved what he did for a living. But uppermost, he was among the many who loved his family.
The loss of his wife Iris was hard on him. However, that missing was offset by the affection he had for his two stepsons, Steve and Mike DeMoulin. His love of family was enriched even more by his daughter Sherry and granddaughters Heather Painter and Erin Beno.
Allan was preceded in death by his brother, Larry Fuches, parents and wife, Iris.
He is survived by his brother, Jerry Fuches and wife, Sally; daughter, Sherry Beno and husband, Ken; granddaughters, Heather Painter and Erin Beno; and great-grandchildren, Olivia Miller, Brooke Painter and Jake Painter. Equally included are stepsons, Steve and Mike DeMoulin.
The family of Allan Frank Fuches asks that any memorial contributions be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83815. A private family celebration of life gathering will be held at a time and place yet to be determined. Internment is planned for the Washington State Veteran’s Cemetery in Medical Lake, Washington.
Please visit Allan’s online memorial at yatesfuneralhomes.com.
Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.
Geraldine Johnson
Geraldine Johnson passed away July 10, 2018, at her home in Greenville, surrounded by her loved ones.
Gerry, as she was known by her friends, was born Jan. 26, 1933, in Battle Mountain, Nevada, to the late Mortin Walter Isaac and Sarah Lurleen Isaac Cutler. She moved to Greenville, in 1947 where she attended Greenville High School. She married Emil Taddei in 1949 and to this union three children were born. In 1970 she married Frank Johnson and to this union a daughter was born.
After the death of Frank in 1972, Gerry needed to support her family. She worked for the United States Department of Forestry as a log scaler for many years and at the lumber mill in Quincy. Later, she became a mail carrier for the United States Postal service and loved delivering the mail to the many friends she made along the way.
Gerry enjoyed outdoor sports, card games, and was an avid bowler. Many a night, friends and family could be found gathered around her table for a friendly game. A lover of all animals, Gerry supported many organizations in an effort to ensure they were well taken care of.
Gerry joins her husband Frank, her three sisters and a great-grandson in passing.
She is survived by her sons, James Taddei (Joanne), Steve Taddei (Kristy); daughters, Christina Hays (David), Susan Brown (Cobey); her niece, Robin Castro (Gene); her nephew, Jan Ervin; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
In keeping with her wishes, a celebration of life will be held Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. at La Sierra Lanes in Quincy. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Judy Ann Whitlow
Judy Ann Whitlow, 71, of Chester, passed away on July 14, 2018, in Chico.
Judy was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to Helen Walton (who later married Slim Gensterblum) on Feb. 27, 1947. Judy grew up in Burbank, where she went to high school at John Burroughs High School. She was a first-degree black belt in jiu-jitsu. Judy married David Whitlow on July 11, 1983, in Lake Almanor and moved to Chester with her family in 1990.
After many years working as a CNA at Seneca Hospital, Judy earned her LVN from Lassen College in 2005 and was a proud nurse.
In the summer of 2015, Judy was diagnosed with cancer. After a six-month long battle, she beat cancer and was in remission. Due to her strong will to live, she was with us for three more years.
Judy enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, gardening, movies, ocean fishing and beating her son at dominos.
Judy was preceded in death by her mother and father, Helen and Slim Gensterblum and her brother, George Ryder.
Judy is survived by her husband, David Whitlow; her sons, Edward, Kevin and Darrin Whitlow; her sister, Charleene Shanze; and her grandchildren, Jordynn, Joliet, and William Whitlow.
A celebration of life will be held on Aug. 4, at Chester Wellness Center, 372 Main Street in Chester, CA.
Mary Pat Wiley
Mary Pat Wiley passed in peace on July 20, 2018, at the age 83 in Loyalton.
Pat Wiley was the daughter of John Huffman and Allene Inez White, niece of Espie Alexander White, loving wife of Tom Wiley, mother of John Striegel, Kathy Pence, Mary Striegel, Patricia Pascoe and Bill Striegel, sister to Dixon Stewart, and step-mom to Tom’s three boys, Tim, Steve and Scott. She is also survived by three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Pat was born June 3, 1935, in Oakland, graduated from Chico High School and attended classes at Chico State University. In 1955 she married William Striegel and began her travels to Arkansas, Utah, New York and California, where she then settled and raised her family in Campbell.
Many of Pat’s artistic attributes included organizing fashion shows, den mother, camp fire leader and anything related to arts and crafts.
In 1972 she married her husband Tom Wiley for nearly 50 joyful years.
Pat’s hobbies were sewing for her community, knitting, quilting and volunteering at voting polls. Numerous quilts, wedding dresses, school play costumes and clothing alterations came from her nimble hands. She enjoyed traveling annually via cruise ship with her family and friends. Pat was a true caretaker of those she loved, and those who needed her help in the neighborhood.
Her final resting place will be at the Huffman family plot, Cypress Lawn in Colma. Memorial service will be announced at a later date. Condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 587, Loyalton, CA 96118.