George John Mifsud

August 10, 1943 - July 22, 2024

George John Mifsud, 80, of Linden, CA, passed away on July 22, 2024. Born on August 10, 1943, in San Francisco, he was the beloved son of Maltese immigrant parents Angelo Mifsud and Mary Calleja Mifsud.

George's life was marked by his devotion to his family, his faith, and his community. He served in the US Army and was deployed to Vietnam in 1967. On May 31,1969, George married Joan Elizabeth Mansell. They eventually had a son and a daughter and built a loving family over the next 55 years. 

George was an entrepreneur who owned and operated George Mifsud Trucking for over 20 years, a business he built from the ground up and loved seeing grow over time. He was a devoted member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and a longstanding member of the Linden Lions Club, where he cherished both the philanthropic work they did and the many friendships he formed over the years.

George's greatest joy in life was his four grandchildren, whom he adored and considered his “greatest achievement”.  He also found immense pleasure in meticulous gardening, reading and took pride in his many woodworking projects along with other endeavors that involved building and creating.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Mifsud, their children, Christian and ShaNee Mifsud of Stockton, CA, and Ginelle Mifsud Daugherty of Fresno, CA, and his four grandchildren, Anastasia Mifsud, Rocco Mifsud, Hudson Daugherty, and Finn Daugherty. He is also survived by his five older sisters, Jenny Flood, Nan Mifsud, Lucy Romer, Rita Sinclair, and Maryann Mifsud, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

George was preceded in death by his parents Angelo and Mary Mifsud and two brothers Joseph and Edward Mifsud.

SERVICE

A rosary and funeral mass will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Linden on August 12, 2024, at 10:30 am.  Following the service, a reception will be held at the Linden Lions Banquet Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to Hospice of San Joaquin.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Mifsud family.

Mark Lucas

July 1, 1952 - July 20, 2024

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mark Lucas, age 72, on July 20th, 2024. Born on July 1, 1952, in Tracy, CA, Mark lived a rich and fulfilling life in Stockton, raising his family and leaving a lasting impact on everyone he met.

Mark attended Lincoln High School and later studied at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He had an illustrious career in operations and management, dedicating 40 years to his work worldwide. His professional accomplishments were matched by his remarkable personal traits.

Mark was a husband, father, grandfather and friend with a captivating personality. Funny, charismatic, intelligent, and handy, he was the epitome of wit and humor. Known for his hilarious dad jokes, Mark always had a knack for making everyone around him laugh.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 46 years, Nancy Lucas; his daughter, Jennifer Boras; son-in-law, Michael; and two cherished granddaughters, Teagan and Riley. Mark was an avid San Francisco Giants fan, enjoyed playing bocce ball, and loved cracking a good joke. Mark’s whole life was dedicated to his family, and he always showed up for those he loved, bringing joy and humor into every moment.

Mark Lucas will be forever remembered for his ability to bring joy, his unwavering commitment to loved ones, and his infectious sense of humor. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

SERVICE

Friends and family are invited to Memorial Services on August 8th, 2024 at 10 a.m. at the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home, 14165 Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

The family kindly requests flowers be sent to the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home.

Please leave your condolences below.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Lucas family.

Diana Fay Quenzer

August 11, 1941 - June 19, 2022

Diana Fay Quenzer passed away Sunday, June 19th, 2022 in San Ramon, California with her family by her side.

Diana was born on August 11, 1941 in French Camp, California to Herbert and Hulda Quenzer. She grew up in Stockton and on a dairy farm in Galt. In 1959 Diana and her family moved to Sunnyvale, where Diana graduated from Sunnyvale High School in 1959. In 1986 Diana settled in the San Ramon Valley, where she lived for over thirty years. Diana spent the last ten years with the love of her life, Robert Young in El Cerrito, California.

Diana was a trailblazer for women of her era, with a vibrant career in the aerospace industry.  After working for Teledyne Ryan in San Diego for 5 years, she dedicated 34 years of her life at Lockheed Martin. There, she earned many awards working on countless projects as a technician, including the Milstar and the Hubble Space Telescope, the ABL Space Station, the Gravity Probe B gyroscope, and Star Wars Laser Program. Her proudest achievement was her work on the NASA Viking Project, which was the first U.S. mission to land a spacecraft on Mars to take photographs, collect data, and look for possible signs of life. We are thankful for her service in advancing the boundaries of science and the defense of our country.

Diana was also very gifted when it came to creating beautiful spaces. Whether it be gorgeous gardens and lush landscapes where her love of plants and flowers were showcased, or creating masterpieces with wood or macrame, her meticulous eye for detail dazzled us all.

Diana loved her children and grandchildren most of all.  She was a hardworking, devoted mother who did so much for her children. Diana was admired for having a bold and brave personality, and she never shielded away from speaking her mind. She was loved by so many for her humor, kindness, love of the Lord, and her beautiful smile.

Her life will forever be cherished in the lives of her children: Lisa (Josh) Herrero of Livermore,CA; Timothy (Jessica) Louie of Martinez,GA; and Cheryl Louie of San Ramon, CA; her step-daughters Susan Schaaphok of Keno, OR and Teresa Carrol of Anacortes,WA; and her grandchildren Hannah, Olivia, Tommy, Ronin, Kelly, and Kate.

Diana was proceeded in death by her mother and father, Herbert and Hulda Quenzer, her bothers, Henry and Timothy, and her beloved sister, Elaine.

Diana will be laid to rest on Friday, July 8th at Cherokee Memorial Cemetery.

VISITATION
A visitation will be held from 9:00am - 12:00pm noon on Friday, July 8th 2022 at the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

SERVICE
A service will be held at 12:00pm noon on Friday, July 8th 2022 at the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

RECEPTION

Lunch to follow at 2pm.

Please leave your condolences below.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Quenzer family.

Francisca R. Gomez

Francisca R Gómez was born March 21, 1929 in San Bernandino County, CA and passed away at her home in Stockton, CA surrounded by family on March 2, 2022, just weeks shy of her 93rd birthday. She will be laid to rest alongside her husband and hunny Antonio Lopez Gomez. 

She will be remembered by her 5 children, 12 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Her dedication to her family and loved ones will always be cherished by those who knew her, and her generosity never forgotten. Her kindness was always shown through her warm smile and warm plates of food, especially her tacos and tamales, a staple of her kitchen and home. 

To our mom, grandma, granny and beloved Francisca, you will forever be cherished and missed. Until we meet again.. with love and remeberance, your family. 

Boyd Barth

April 5, 1924 - April 3, 2019

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Barth family.

SERVICES:

A committal service for Boyd will follow the service on Saturday, May 4, 2019 in the Court of Valor Garden at Cherokee Memorial Park, Harney Lane & Highway 99, Lodi, CA 95240.

Please leave your condolences below.

Joyce Lemon

Joyce Johnson was born on August 18^th, 1930 in Twin Falls, Idaho to Efton R. Johnson and Mabel Walcott. She had an older sister, Lora.  Her parents’ marriage dissolved around that time. Around 1935, the extended family moved to Stockton, California.  Joyce’s maternal grandmother Wilhelmina “Minnie” Kaslander Walcott had a sister living nearby, and there was a large Dutch community in the area. Both the Kaslander  and the Walcott families were descended from Dutch immigrants, and they made an effort to keep their culture alive. The Dutch language was still being spoken by the older members of the family when Joyce was a girl. They attended the Dutch Reform Church in Ripon.  If you were Dutch, that’s where you went to church!

Mabel wound up getting a job in Sacramento, and left Joyce and Lora in the care of her parents, Herman and Minnie Walcott, in Stockton.  Just before Joyce turned 7, her grandfather died.  In 1943, after Lora married, Joyce, her grandmother and her unmarried aunt Jeanette Walcott, “Aunt Jean”, moved into a converted garage behind the house of Joyce’s uncle Bert Walcott.

One very bright spot in this story was her sister Lora buying her a used piano when she was 12, and Joyce started taking lessons.  It turned out that Joyce had a gift.  By the time she was 15, she was church organist at the Stockton Alliance Church, which she had started attending as a young teenager when invited by a friend.  It was also at this church where she met her future husband, Bob Lemon.

She didn’t like him at first.  But after dating a few of the other boys from church, she decided to give him a chance. Bob and Joyce were engaged in April and married October 10^th, 1948. Her Uncle Bert Walcott walked her down the aisle, and his daughters Wilma and Jeanne Walcott were her attendants. The marriage would last for 68 years, until Bob’s death in 2016.

Two children were born from this happy marriage; Patrice (Patti) and Denise.  The family lived in Stockton until 1965, when Bob’s work situation changed and they moved to Union City, and then Fremont.  They attended Fremont Neighborhood Church, later renamed Cedar Blvd. Neighborhood Church in Newark, where Joyce continued to serve as church organist, and worked part time in the church office.

When Bob retired in 1988, they moved back to Stockton, where after attending a few other churches, they became members of Stockton Covenant Church.  Joyce was always a very active member of the churches she attended, and she held a deep faith.

Bob and Joyce enjoyed trailer camping, and made many trips over the years.  They went to Lassen National Park, the Seattle World’s Fair, annual church family camps and many family holiday weekend trips, among other outings.  Also Joyce absolutely loved Hawaii, and they made a few trips there over the years.  When Bob passed, and the house had to be cleared out, one of her disappointments was that her “Hawaiian Dresses” had been given away.  She loved those dresses.

Joyce was an excellent cook, and was particularly known for her baking, and especially her pies.  She would often bake two or three kinds for family gatherings, and the family joke is that anytime she asked her nephew Dennis what kind of pie he wanted, the answer was always “Yes”.  She loved to feed people, and in generous portions.  Her motto was, “The only way to make sure that you have enough food is to make sure that you have TOO MUCH food.”  Heaven forbid that someone might want thirds and there wasn’t any left.

By the fall of 2015, Joyce had to be moved into a nursing facility.  Bob faithfully visited her twice a day, every day, and her daughters and other family members visited as often as they could.  Bob passed away on Christmas Eve in 2016, and the following year was very difficult for her.   After a bout of pneumonia in December 2017, she never fully recovered and she passed away on January 14^th, 2018.

We remember her love of family, her faith and devotion, her love of playing the piano and the organ, her love of cooking and of feeding the people she loved.  Playing music and cooking great food were expressions of who she was.  Family, faith, good food, music and love were very important components of her life, and what she will be remembered for.

Joyce is survived by daughters Patrice “Patti” Lemon (Eric Mitchell) and Denise (Terry) Hershberger, granddaughter Jennifer (Ryan) Hodge, grandsons Aaron (Jacqueline) Hawkins and Matthew (Amber) Hawkins, great grandsons Asa and Max Hawkins, and sister Lora Gadow and half-sister Robyn Carlson.

SERVICES

Graveside service will be held on Friday, January 26th at 2pm at Cherokee Memorial Park.

All are invited to a Celebration of Life on Saturday, January 27^th at 2 pm at Stockton Covenant Church.

Maria Cruz

August 12, 1942 - January 2, 2018 Maria Clara (Clarita) A. Cruz, 75, joined our Lord Jesus Christ on January 2, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Stockton, CA.  She was the wife of Vicente E. Cruz.  They shared 43 years of marriage together.

Clarita was born in Malate, Manila, Philippines. She was the daughter of Honorio and Severina Acogido. She was an active member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church.  She enjoyed travel, dancing and attending her grandchildren’s sports and performing arts activities.  She adored all her grandchildren and was always available whenever they needed her help.  She will be remembered for her very giving, generous and nurturing personality.

She is survived by her husband, Vicente E Cruz, Children Diana L Hinton, Maria Christina Cruz Plantilla (Albert), Lorelei Cruz Gee and Vreeland Cruz (Jennifer) and her grandchildren Kayla Gee, Isabel Gee, Isaiah Gee, Victoria Plantilla, Alexandria Plantilla and Tobias Vicente Cruz.

VISITATION

Visitations for Maria Cruz is scheduled for

Tuesday, January 9, 2018 from 10:00am to 8:00pm in the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, 14165 Beckman Road, Lodi, CA.

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 from 10:00am to 8:00pm in the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, 14165 Beckman Road, Lodi, CA.

VIGIL

Vigil to be held Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 6:00pm in the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, 14165 Beckman Road, Lodi, CA.

SERVICES

Funeral service to take place Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 10:00am at St. Lukes Cahotlic Church, 3847 N Sutter St, Stockton, CA.

Inez Owens

Inez Owen 1915 - 2017 A service will be held on Friday, March 31, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. in the Evergreen Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, Harney Lane & Highway 99, Lodi, California 95240.

Lois Cope

Lois Cope 1935 - 2017 A graveside service will be held on Friday, March 31, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the Garden of Memories at Cherokee Memorial Park, Harney Lane & Highway 99, Lodi, California 95240.

M. Lucille Plumb

M. Lucille Plumb 1919- 2017  

A  service will be held on Monday, April 3, 2017 in the Evergreen Chapel at 10:00 a.m. in the Cherokee Memorial Park, Harney Lane & Highway 99, Lodi, California 95240.

Steven Williams

Steven Williams A graveside service will be held on Friday, March 10, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in the Garden of the Gospels at Cherokee Memorial Park, Harney Lane & Highway 99, Lodi, California 95240.

Mary Ristich

Mary Ristich A graveside service will be held on Monday, March 13, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. in the Twin Oaks Garden at Cherokee Memorial Park, Harney Lane & Highway 99, Lodi, California 95240.

Rosie Lee

Rosie Lee A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in the Garden of Inspiration at Cherokee Memorial Park, Harney Lane & Highway 99, Lodi, California 95240.

Tim Ergonis

Tim Ergonis A  graveside service will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in the Garden of Angels at Cherokee Memorial Park, Harney Lane & Highway 99, Lodi, California 95240.

Gladys Danelenko

Gladys Danelenko  1923 - 2017 A graveside service on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. will be held in the Garden of Serenity at Cherokee Memorial Park, Highway 99 & Harney Lane, Lodi, California 95240.

Virginia Maxine Allen

Virginia Maxine Allen 1923 - 2017 A graveside service will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in the Garden of the Gospels at Cherokee Memorial Park, Highway 99 & Harney Lane, Lodi, California 95240.

Keith Stevens

Keith Stevens A graveside service on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. will be held in the Garden of Trees at Cherokee Memorial Park, Harney Lane & Highway 99, Lodi, California 95240.

Gabriel Ayala

Gabriel Ayala  1949 - 2017 A  graveside service will be held on Friday, March 3, 2017  at 10:30 a.m. in the Garden of Freedom at Cherokee Memorial Park, Harney Lane & Highway 99, Lodi, California 95240.

Marion Weis

Marion Weis A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 2017 in the Garden of Remembrance at Cherokee Memorial Park, Highway 99 & Harney Lane, Lodi, Ca

Marion Hood

Marion Hood A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m.  Friday, February 24, 2017 in the Garden of Trees at Cherokee Memorial Park, Highway 99 & Harney Lane, Lodi, California 95240.