Obits
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Dec. 27, 1942 to Nov. 25, 2024
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Robert died suddenly, leaving many parts of the Lucerne community.
He was a wonderful example of how a retired person can care for a community.
He created the Lucerne Community Garden, with the help of FLOW (Friends of Locally Owned Water), building long high garden boxes, hauling dirt and chicken manure, pumping water from the lake into the holding tank, so that gardeners could water their flowers and vegetables.
Robert loved nature and took beautiful enlarged photos of Lake County's wild birds. In partnership with the Audubon Society, to prevent injury to birds and fishes, he created tubes for collecting used fishing line and hung them at boat launches around the lake, emptied them regularly and sent them to be recycled.
At the monthly Fiddler's Jam at the Ely Stage Stop, Robert would dress up in overalls and a straw hat to drive the hay ride for the kids.
For several years, Rob pumped water from the lake and hauled it to the Lucerne Senior Center to water the memorial rose garden. Always one to offer help, he picked up food in Lucerne and delivered it to several needy people. He finished a neighbor's poorly-constructed ramp and added non-skid strips.
Robert was also a musician with a beautiful singing voice. He played guitars with friends every week for years.
He was a very special person and has left large holes in many hearts and lives. His beloved dog Teva is now living with his good friends Willie dog and Karen.
Robert flew free. He left behind his daughters Cheryl Closser and Kathy Patton-Black; grandchildren Kristina Closser, Adam Black, Zachery Closser, Ian Closser; and great-granddaughter Clementine Quincy Closser.
He was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Evelyn Patton and his granddaughter Bethany Closser.
All are welcome to attend a celebration of his life on Saturday, March 29, at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, 3985 Country Club Drive at noon. There will be food, and people may bring a dish to share.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Vicente Zeta Colacion of Lakeport, California, passed away on Jan. 31, 2025. He was 32.
He is the beloved son of Daphne and Lawrence Colacion, loving brother of Paloma and Maya Colacion, adored uncle of Myla Colacion, doting partner to Jenny Hole and her daughter Stella, and devoted co-owner of his trusted feline-companion Jody Foster. He also leaves his grandmother, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends.
Vicente led the life of a true artist. Funny, fun-loving and silly at times, he understood the complexities of life and took both the highs and lows in stride. A true friend to all, Vicente was an equal-opportunity lover, eschewing societal norms to befriend, listen to, and love those who are often overlooked.
Affectionately referred to as a stray cat, he managed to find and create family wherever his travels took him.
Vicente was an extremely principled person with a strong sense of justice, and throughout his life his family was often approached by many expressing their admiration for the exceptional caring and generous human being he was.
Born June 12, 1992 in San Francisco, California, Vicente spent the first years of his life attending San Francisco State University’s Early Childhood Program where his parents attended college.
At 2 years old, he was reading (memorizing) his favorite books in the student union to the amazement of other students. He continued his love for reading throughout his life, constantly collecting and sharing his books with friends.
He lived in Long Beach, California, in his early years, the Santa Cruz Mountains where he welcomed his sisters Paloma (in 1997) and Maya (in 2001), and Antioch during elementary school.
In 2005, he and his family moved to Cobb Mountain, California, where he often played with his little sisters in the pine and manzanita surrounding his family’s property, loved taking the family dogs for hikes in Boggs Forest, spent many a morning turned afternoon chatting with friends and neighbors at the local coffee shop, and built community at the Middletown Arts Center while taking writing workshops and performing at their open mics.
During his younger years he participated in swim team, indoor and outdoor soccer teams, hockey, baseball, basketball, track, cross country, chess clubs, and played the violin. He was a prolific creator with a vivid imagination and often enjoyed setting up elaborate Star Wars scenes with the death star ship and figurines and building intricate legos structures in his youth.
He attended Middletown Middle School, Sonoma Academy and graduated from Pathways Charter School with a high school diploma in 2010. In 2006, he volunteered in the clean up efforts for Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans with a team of students from Sonoma Academy.
After high school, he attended Mendocino College for creative writing and studied journalism at Humboldt State University. He participated in the university’s radio station, published articles in the school’s bilingual newspaper El Lenador, and tutored countless students in English and writing.
In 2022, he lived in Austin, Texas where he made a home with a large circle of friends, enjoyed the music scene, and was awe-struck by the barbecue and the Texas-sized portions. He enjoyed traveling, cooking and feeding others, slam dancing at punk shows, writing poetry and short stories, and sharing his writings during open mics. He began writing poetry at around 12 years old, participated in poetry slams and open mics in countless venues, had his poetry published and was a member of the Lake County Poet Laureate.
In 2024, he moved back to Lake County to reunite with the love of his life and rejoin the community that he spent many years building. He was a top salesman at US Cellular in Lakeport, where he treated his customers as he did all his friends — like family.
Vicente was an expert at creating and maintaining relationships, and never let distance or time get in the way of checking up on family, friends, and even acquaintances. At times childlike himself, he was beloved by children and loved his godchildren, niece, and partner’s child, Stella, as his own. He will be deeply missed by many.
A celebration of Vicente’s life will be held at the Middletown Art Center on Sunday, April 27, from 2 to 8 p.m. Activities will include live music, a DJ, arts and crafts projects, and a reading of his work by the Lake County Poet Laureates. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Pamela Jean Joseph, aged 74, passed away peacefully on Feb. 15, 2025, at her home in Clearlake.
Born on Nov. 26, 1951, in Marin County, California, Pamela lived a long life surrounded by friends and family, filled with moments of love and laughter.
Pamela enjoyed reading, sewing, knitting, baking and camping. Some of the best memories with Pamela were from the summer-long camping trips where the whole family would gather together. Her feisty personality and outspoken nature will always be remembered.
Pamela is survived by her brothers, Tom, Donald and John Wunder; her son, Guy Minyard; her daughter, Alice Hudson; her granddaughter, Nicole Edwards; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Pamela was a private person, and to honor her wishes, the family will not be holding a memorial service.
Instead, we leave you with a quote that perfectly captures what family and friends already know about this amazing woman: “Yes, I’m stubborn, strong-willed, outspoken, and can be a pain in the ass, but I have a heart of GOLD!” — unknown.
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