Obituaries for the week of January 7, 2016
Mary Ann Fortkamp Estes
God called home one of his singing angels on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Mary Ann Fortkamp Estes entered the kingdom of heaven surrounded by her family, at home, while listening to some of her favorite songs.
Mary Ann Fortkamp was born Sept. 30, 1943, in Wauneta, Nebraska, the fifth of six children to Frederick Fortkamp and Merle De Hart. As a child, Mary helped her family on their farm and found her love of music. Her alto voice was loved by all and earned her a place on a television talent show in Kearney, Nebraska. She was part of the Nebraska State Select Choir for several years. Her gift and love of singing were best enjoyed when she was praising God and comforting all the children whose lives she touched.
In Feb. 1963, Mary left the family farm for California. It was there she met her husband, Roger Estes. The next chapter of her life began on July 9, 1967, watching the Giants play the Dodgers (the Giants won 1-0). A creative first date led to what would be a 46-year marriage on Sept. 6, 1969, at the country church in her hometown.
On her birthday in 1972, she received a most special gift—her daughter, Julie was born. Two years later she and Roger welcomed a son, Scott. In 1979, their family was complete when David was born.
Also in 1979 the family moved from Santa Rosa to Quincy, where Mary became “Mom” to so many more children. God granted Mary certain gifts that allowed her to touch the lives of so many families in Quincy. Her daycare was less of a business and more of a way to provide love, compassion, and caring to all those who needed it.
She can easily be remembered by her banana bread, specially made birthday cakes, and giving the best hugs anyone has ever had. She was recognized for her dedication to the community in 2012, receiving an award from Soroptimist International of Quincy for “Women Supporting Women” for the quality childcare services she provided. Mary lived her life with unwavering faith, love and joy. She adored her family and friends and made sure they felt her love every single day.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Merle Fortkamp. She is survived by her loving husband, Roger; children, Julie and Jess Murphy, Scott and Amber Estes, and David and Jessica Estes; grandchildren, Andrew, Sara, Abel, Kody, Payne, Dalton, and Devin; siblings, Marlin Fortkamp, Floyd Fortkamp, Gary Fortkamp, Vaunda Hyde, and Nita Frost; and many, many nieces and nephews.
Jesus put a song in her heart, and we’ll hear her sing it forever.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 11 a.m. at the Christian Life Fellowship. A potluck reception will follow.
Condolences can be sent to the Mary Estes family, 969 Edgewood Drive, Quincy, CA 95971.
Michael Richard
Melms-LeBroók
Beloved son of Linda Melms, Michael Richard Melms- LeBroók passed peacefully at his home in Quincy early on Dec. 5, 2015. At this time we do not know the cause. Michael had been in pain for years and had 14 surgeries to relieve it. He was born Nov. 9, 1967.
Michael was a kind loving person, he would help friend or stranger when needed (he had a weekly lunch with a homeless man in Reno when he had physical therapy. Sometimes it was the man’s only meal that week). He loved his family and was a very devoted son.
Michael loved the outdoors, camping, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, was a member of Claremont Riding and Roping Club.
Michael’s favorite place to visit was Hawaii; he loved the warmth, sun and water. Unfortunately he was unable to do much of the things he loved in recent years because of the nerve damage and pain he suffered.
Michael had many accomplishments, including singing with the Quincy Choir and he performed with his late father at the Reno Philharmonic. He was also in many plays such as The Music Man, Brigadoon, The Wizard of Oz and Oklahoma.
Michael had done many things and touched many people throughout his working career. He had worked several jobs before deciding to go into the medical field. While working full time, Michael went through the schooling and training to become an EMT. Michael began his career in medicine working for Plumas District Hospital. Michael worked in many departments, not just emergency. In 1998 he was instrumental in starting the successful Telemedicine program that allowed patients to see a specialist without having to travel out of town. Michael was always the first to volunteer when there was help needed for any projects or patients.
Michael was preceded in death by his father Robert Melms and left behind his mother Linda Melms, two brothers Bill and John as well as his daughter Arél Montgomery- LeBroók and grandson Jeremie LeBroók.
Michael’s kindness and loving way’s will be missed and his wonderful smile will always be remembered.
We will have a memorial sometime this spring. Please email Tamara McGinley to give her your address or email if you wish to be notified: [email protected]
In lieu of flowers, there is a fund set up for donations if you wish to help with Michael’s final expenses. Donations can be sent to Fehrman’s Mortuary, P.O. Box 53, Quincy, CA 95971, in the name of Michael Melms- LeBroók, or you can go to gofundme.com/agga8xgk to donate securely on line.
Ronald “Ron” Dale Roderick
Ronald “Ron” Dale Roderick passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 3, 2015.
Ronald was born to Anthony and Virginia Roderick in Niles, California, on July 6, 1942, and grew up in a large and loving Portuguese family surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. He attended Logan High School in Union City, California.
He is survived by his sister, Cynthia Sanderson.
Ron joined the Navy in 1960, serving two years on the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga. He began his civilian career as a butcher in 1963 at his father’s grocery store (Top 10 Markets) in Hayward. That same year, Ron married Lois Delbo and had two children, Kenneth Roderick and Karen Wilfley (Stephen). In 1969, he moved to Paradise to work at Wentz Market which was later bought by Holiday Market. In 1977, Ron was promoted to Meat Manager, a position he held through his transfer to Chester in 1993 until his retirement in 2004.
Ron and Ellice met at a coffee shop in Paradise where she was a waitress. Two years later, in 1986, Ron married Ellice becoming “Dad” to her daughters Monique and Celeste Guthrie. His family eventually grew to include six grandchildren: Tayler, Bailey, and Abbey Roderick; Spencer and Julian Hart; and Olivia Atkins; as well as two great-grandchildren born this year: Emily and Kenny.
Ron and Ellice enjoyed bicycling, adventure vacations, family BBQs, get-togethers with the “Martin Ranch 8” for Monday Night Football, and trips to Drakesbad. They attended Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church. Ron loved the 49ers and San Francisco Giants, and enjoyed poker games with the boys. Ron’s oft-heard suggestion to his many friends was “let’s go get a cup.”
An avid hunter, Ron’s hunting years took him to many parts of North America in pursuit of game animals including his beloved wild sheep. He was a member of the Lake Almanor Fishing Association, and he competed several times in the annual “Fish For A Wish” event at Big Cove. His silver and black Design Concepts fishing boat is almost legendary on Lake Almanor.
A prayer service followed by a Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Jan. 16, at 10:30 a.m., at Chester Memorial Hall, 500 Stone Ave. and Gay Street in Chester.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Lake Almanor Fishing Association at P.O. Box 1938, Chester, California, 96020.
Marilyn and Martin Torchio
“This world is not conclusion, A sequel stands beyond, Invisible, as music, But positive as sound.” Emily Dickinson
Marilyn Adams Torchio passed from this life on Nov. 19, 2015, followed by her adoring husband, Martin F. Torchio on Dec. 14, 2015. Marilyn, born on Oct. 24, 1932, had just celebrated her 83rd birthday with family and friends. Marty, born Feb. 18, 1928, was 87 years young. Throughout their marriage, Marilyn referred to Marty as her knight in shining armor and Marty always called her his darling beautiful bride. They would have celebrated 61 years of their beautifully written love story on Nov. 27, 2015.
Marilyn was born to Frances and William Adams and raised in Oakland. She was a very loving feisty spirit and proud to come from hardy Irish-English-Scotch stock. Marty, christened Mario by his Italian immigrant parents, Jennie and Frank Torchio, was born in Chicago, Illinois. When a young boy, Marty migrated to San Jose with his family. They settled in San Jose for its Mediterranean climate, fertile land and abundant opportunities. Marty was a very proud first-generation Sicilian-American with adventurous roots and was always saying humorous phrases in Italian. Together, Marilyn and Marty created the true feeling and meaning of la familia with their family.
They met on a rather unique double blind-date while both were attending San Jose State. Marilyn took one look at Marty and insisted the other couple trade so she could be Marty’s date. Thus began their enduring love story of soul mates found.
Before college Marty served in the Army as a boat mechanic in Japan. The GI Bill helped fund his college education along with hard work in the Del Monte Cannery and fixing and selling cars. During college Marilyn, known for her culinary talents, cooked for a boarding house full of young college men and taught ballroom dance at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. She enjoyed all kinds of music, especially jazz and was a great fan of Wynton Marsalis.
Marilyn and Marty were married Nov. 27, 1954, and began their family with the birth of their daughter, Lisa in 1955, followed by their son, Mark, in 1958.
Devoted to raising their children, Marilyn stayed home until they were old enough for her to take up a career. She dreamed of being a journalist, having been the editor of her high school paper, but was lead to selling real estate. She spent many energized and successful years as a real estate agent in the Bay Area.
Marilyn was an artist at heart moving between mediums as she followed her varied interests. Her favorites were quilting and Tole painting. Marilyn was an avid bargain basement shopper and delighted in finding a deal. Her family benefited with her generous showering of gifts, especially on birthdays and holidays.
Marilyn loved the holidays and always made every celebration special with unique decorations and delicious foods, She came from a long-line of great cooks. She took her cooking to a supreme level and passed that legacy on to her children and grandchildren, especially her son, Mark and grandson, Paul. Although none, as yet, have surpassed her talent of making a perfect pie crust.
Marty was the first in his family to graduate college, fulfilling the dream of his immigrant parents’ desire for higher education and greater opportunities for their children. He went on to earn a teaching certificate and sent over 30 years teaching Industrial Arts for Sequoia Unified School District, mostly at San Carlos High School. He specialized in metal shop, welding, drafting and ceramics. Marty was known as Mr. T to his students and was a much-beloved teacher. He appreciated that many of his students kept in touch with him long into his retirement.
Marty was an ace mechanic, especially with autos, and he dedicated much of his extra time fixing up cars to resell for extra cash. There wasn’t much he couldn’t fix and his great-grandson, Sean Michael, dubbed him the family “Solutionator.” Marty shared with Marilyn the thrill of landing a bargain and was a yard sale aficionado, collecting a lifetime of treasures.
Besides his wife and his family, his next great love was the outdoors. He spent many, many happy adventures camping, hunting, fishing and abalone picking. He was a member of Wilderness Unlimited where he was a patrolman and volunteered with special club events. He took great pleasure in sharing his enthusiasm for the outdoors with his family and friends. He told and retold one of his fondest stores in every detail of taking his grandson Eric out hunting and guiding him to bagging his first buck.
Because his teaching schedule allowed, they took their children on many road trips. They were known by neighbors as the Travelin’ Ts.
In 1965, Marilyn and Marty bought property in Grass Valley and since then have split their time between their homes in Fremont and Grass Valley. When their children were young the family spent weekends and summers in Grass Valley. They all loved the rural small town atmosphere in Nevada County and instilled in their kids the desire to get out of the Big City. Their daughter, Lisa, did just that, settling in Quincy and, over the past 36 years, Marilyn and Marty shared many happy holidays and outdoor adventures in Plumas County with their daughter Lisa and her family.
Marilyn will be remembered as an avid reader with a sharp intellect, an exceptionally caring sensitive person, an excellent listener, offering good guidance and advice when asked and always and forever deeply loving her family and friends.
Marty will be remembered for taking very seriously his role as the Head of the Family, along with his “kid at heart” attitude, delighting in sharing fun-loving activities with his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. He especially loved shooting off fireworks, snowball fights and telling stories around a blazing campfire.
In passing, they leave Marilyn’s brother Bill Adams and his wife Joan, of Manteca; their daughter Lisa Torchio Oviatt and her husband Ed, of Quincy; and their son Mark Torchio, of San Jose. They were the proud grandparents to Jessica Oviatt Jones and her husband Sean, of Minden, Nevada; Eric Oviatt and his fiancée Sarah, of Quincy; Paul Oviatt, of Arcata; Nicholas Torchio, of Chico; and Dominic Torchio, of San Jose. They were adoring great-grandparents to Sean Michael Jones II and his wife Desiree, both active duty Marines; Caitlin Jones, of San Francisco; and Sofia and Charlotte Jones, both of Minden, Nevada.
Marilyn leaves behind her very best buddy, Liz Sullivan, of Livermore. Both Liz and her husband Jim Steinle were the couple’s closest friends. They also leave numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Marty is preceded in death by his siblings Grace Magliocco, Ann Dresser and Phil Torchio.
A double Celebration of Life memorial service will be held on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m. at the Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland,
Interment will follow on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016 at 11 a.m.
An opportunity to express condolences to the family is available online at: oaklandchapelofthechimes.com
In honor of their late goddaughter, Kate Steinle, memorial contributions can be made in Marilyn and Marty’s memory to the Kate Steinle Memorial Scholarship Fund, Challenged Athletes Foundation, 9591 Waples St. Sand Diego, CA 92123 or online at challengedathletes.org.
Marilyn and Marty’s family and friends trust they have reached the ultimate bargain basement sale and happy hunting grounds in the sky. Both will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered. Their enduring love for each other will always be an inspiration and their legacy of love will live on in their family and friends’ hearts forever and always. We are all confidant that Marilyn and Marty are happily reunited on their Moon River journey together.
Arrivederci Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa.