Obituaries

Leonard Patterson

May 6, 1925 ~ March 26, 2017 Leonard Gilbert Patterson, 91, of Stockton, passed away and went to be with His Lord on March 26, 2017. He was born on May 6, 1925, in Salem, Oregon, to Erma (Benn) and Meadrick Patterson. He graduated from Schneider Vocational High School and enlisted in the United States Navy, serving in World War II and the Korean War. After his military service, he graduated from Humphrey’s College and attended the University of California. Mr. Patterson worked for the Western Pacific Railroad and for several departments within San Joaquin County. He retired as an Administrative Assistant with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department in 1985. In his retirement, he loved to travel and spend time with his children, grandchildren, and other relatives and friends. In his more active years, he was a member of several Masonic Lodges, the Lodi High Twelve Club 152, Scottish Rite, and the San Joaquin Lions Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Hazel Patterson and Ruby Walker, brothers Donald, Edward, and William, and by his son Kim and step-son Daniel Riley, Jr. He will be missed by daughters Lin Adams of Gilbert, AZ., and Lisa (Russ) Coleman of Lodi, granddaughters April (Zack) Baltzly of Gilbert, AZ, and Erin Coleman of Sacramento, grandson Brian Coleman of Sacramento, and great-grandsons Christopher Livingston, Caleb Harper, and Brahm Baltzly of Gilbert, AZ., in addition to several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of Atria Bayside Landing Assisted Living, for the loving care and friendship they provided during his time there. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of your choice or to Vitas Hospice.

SERVICES

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 31, 2017 in the Evergreen Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, Hwy 99 at Harney Lane, Lodi, CA 95240.

Esther Daetweiler

December 31, 1920 ~ March 26, 2017 Esther K. Daetweiler, age 96, was the “matriarch” of the Knittel family.  She passed away quietly at home surrounded by family and friends on March 26, 2017. She was born December 31, 1920 in South Dakota to Olga and Christian Knittel.

Esther did over 50 years of volunteering for community service for the San Joaquin County Food Bank. She was a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church. She loved going to Jackson Rancheria, playing bingo, and being with family and friends. She also made really good potato salad and prune pies. Special thank you to Vitas of Hospice of Lathrop. Esther will be missed dearly by many.

Esther is survived by children, Carolyn Jory (Mike) and Kathy Goehring; 4 grandchildren, Donna Daetweiler, Terry Ertz, Sonny Goehring, Chester Goehring; numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; and 3 sisters, Marge Nichols, Irene Hendergart, and Darlene Hessler; and numerous nephews and nieces.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Lenard Daetweiler; parents Olga and Christian Knittel; son Donald Daetweiler; granddaughter Dana Daetweiler; and 4 siblings, Gerald Knittel, George Knittel, Betty Mettelstadt, and Freida Matties.

VISITATION

Visitation will be held Friday, March 31, 2017 from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home 831 Industrial Way, Lodi, CA 95240.

SERVICES

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Evergreen Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park Hwy 99 and Harney Lane in Lodi.

Jimmy Bell

January 28, 1969 - March 25, 2017 Jimmy Anthony Bell was born in Delano, California to Jimmy Bell Sr. and Linda K. Kelly Bell, on January 28, 1969. Jimmy was also known as Anthony to family and close friends. He attended elementary school in Pixley, CA. His family later relocated to Stockton, CA where he attended Edison High School. After graduating, he attended Sacramento State University, where he earned a Baccalaureate Degree in Political Science. He then moved to the greater Washington DC area in the mid 1990’s and earned a law degree from American University.

Jimmy passed away while doing what he loved most – practicing law. He received many accolades for his legal work form the House of Representatives, Maryland State Senate, Governor of California, and many more. Jimmy Bell owned his own law firm which produced several attorneys. In 2003 Jimmy was nominated for Judgeship on the Maryland court of special appeals. He was also a 33rd degree Prince Hall Mason, and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

He is preceded in death by his father Jimmy Bell Sr.

Left to mourn the passing of Jimmy are his son Isaiah; his daughter Skye; mother Linda K. Kelly Bell; brothers: Wesley D. Bell, Marquis Harris Jr. and many other family members.

SERVICES

A Memorial Service for Jimmy Bell is scheduled for Saturday, May 20, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Flowers at Cherokee Memorial Park, Hwy 99 and Harney Lane in Lodi, California.

Lois Blake Riley

September 7, 1927 - March 23, 2017

Lois Blake Riley, age 89 passed away peacefully on Thursday. March 23, 2017. She was born September 27, 1927, in Lindsay, Oklahoma, to the late Albert Monroe Blake and Sonie Ada Carter.  On June 30, 1943, Lois was united in marriage to the love of her life, Jessie James Riley in Del Rio, Texas.

After the war in 1946, Lois moved out west with her husband to California and settled in Stockton to raise her family. She was a very dedicated and loyal employee of Safeway Bakery for over 22 years until her retirement at 62. Nary a child left the bakery without a smile and a cookie. She was a member of Quail Lakes Baptist Church and Retail Clerks Union. She was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother.  Lois adored her family deeply and enjoyed spending time with her children over visits, dinners, holiday's and picnics. She would spend hours in the kitchen cooking from scratch to make sure everyone’s favorite dish was on the table. Be it friends or family, whomever entered her home, enjoyed lively conversation and a great meal. Lois loved to chat with loved ones about her childhood, growing up in a large family and what it was like during World War II. Oh, how her eyes would light up as she told stories of our ancestors past with such enthusiasm and detail, all you had to do was close your eyes and it was like you were there, reliving it with her all over again.

Lois was and will always be an amazing, loving, caring, and strong woman, whom bestowed integrity and values upon her family thru example. She was the glue that held her family together thru good times and bad. Always there, always vigilant. She will be missed deeply by all who knew her.

She is survived by her son James Allen Riley and wife Mary, her daughter Janet Sey. Five grandchildren, Sheri (Mario) Flores, Stockton, CA, Theresa (Andrew) Aguilar, Turlock, CA, Karen (Eric) Cortez, Turlock, CA, James Allen Riley Jr. (Sherry) Stockton, CA, Ryan (Rachelle) Sey, San Diego, CA, twelve great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren, two sisters Dorothy Petty, Fort Worth, TX, and Belle Driver, TX. She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 67 years Jessie James Riley, her granddaughter Rebecca Michelle Sey, and seven siblings.

SERVICES

Funeral services were private, Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Hospice of San Joaquin.

Merry Sasaki

December 25, 1933 - March 22, 2017

Merry Sasaki, 83, of Lodi, California, passed away on March 22, 2017. She was born Christmas Day 1933 and was a longtime resident of the Lodi area. She is survived by her daughters, Vicki Fujii and Cari Shates (Dan) and son, Alan Sasaki. She also leaves behind her loving family, including 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

An adventurous spirit, she immersed herself in many different clubs and organizations.  At present, Merry held the Treasurer position for Lodi Sister Cities Committee and was learning to play the ukulele and taking Hula lessons.

Remembering Merry, Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Friend, through all your wonderful memories.

SERVICES

A Memorial Service will be held at 2pm, Sunday, April 23, 2017, at Lodi Buddhist Church, 23 N. Stockton St, Lodi, California, 95240.

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.

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