Obits
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — John Mackesy, 78, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Hidden Valley Lake, California, on March 28, 2024, of cancer.
He loved his family and friends and tried mightily to live his best life until the end.
Throughout his illness, John took daily walks. For two of those four years, John was the most frequent user of the local gym.
John was married to Elsie for almost 50 years. He was father to Kimberly and Daniel, whom he himself delivered at home in Anderson Springs, California.
Also known as Rubio, Mr. Twirls and Jackie, John was a colorful character who would often break into a spontaneous dance as a way of spreading joy, love, fun and friendship.
John was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Nellie Christina Mahoney Mackesy and Joseph Mackesy from County Cork, Ireland. He graduated from the Cambridge, Massachusetts schools St. Paul’s, Sacred Heart, and Harvard (1967), where he majored in history.
Religion and history being major aspects of his life, John believed that the greatest commandment is “Love.” He advocated for peace and diplomacy, writing detailed antiwar essays that were published in newspapers around the world.
John worked as an insurance executive after graduating from college and serving in the United States Army. During the time he lived in Lake County, California, John worked as a geothermal roustabout, a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service and a tour guide at Beringer Winery.
When not at work in the geothermal fields, John roamed the mountains with his two Irish Setters, Peanut and Saturday.
At home, his favorite pastime was reading bedtime stories to his children. Together he and Kimberly memorized long passages from “Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” John read Homer’s “The Odyssey” out loud to Daniel when Daniel was in college. His resonant voice filled the room, animating every character and instilling in his children a love of reading and literature. John’s daughter, Kimberly, grew up to become a writer.
John loved to light up the world with smiles. His mail route served some retirement homes, and when delivering the mail John would make it a point to stop and talk with the elders who would wait for him by their mailboxes. At Christmas time, he brought his family to them door-to-door singing Christmas carols.
At Beringer winery, John charmed tourists from around the world. When he was named Tour Guide of the Year four years in a row, he attributed his success to having kissed the Blarney Stone.
Always devoted to his family and community, John coached children’s sports teams for many years in soccer, T-ball, Little League and Senior League baseball, and basketball. John spent hours pitching baseballs for Danny to hit and playing catch with both kids. He founded the Middletown-Cobb Youth Basketball league in 1988 and ran it for its first two years.
John volunteered in the classrooms of both of his children, and, after they were grown, in the classrooms of his wife, Elsie. He tended to the school garden, which he had raised thousands of dollars in grant money to improve. John’s son, Daniel, grew up to become a plant biologist.
Time spent in the garden led John to appreciate the honeybees. John began photographing the bees and became an internationally recognized award winning bee photographer.
On holidays and special occasions, John was visible wearing his green Leprechaun suit and handing out gold chocolate coins. John took pride in his Irish heritage and celebrated St. Patrick’s Day enthusiastically every year. His favorite sayings included Love is Faster than LightÔ (which he invented), Double Good Luck, and Have a Hap Hap Happy Day.
Music was essential to John’s life. He listened to folk, rock and classical music, and he especially loved traditional Scottish fiddle tunes. An exuberant and appreciative concertgoer, John danced freestyle like no one was watching. At one concert, John a.k.a. Rubio/Mr. Twirls was proclaimed from the stage to be an honorary member of the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers. He sincerely believed that if all people would take the time to really listen to the music, especially music without lyrics as a language barrier, their differences and disagreements would disappear, and the world would know peace.
As an empty nester, John enjoyed swing dancing with his wife, Elsie. He boasted about their opportunities to dance with world champion Lindy Hoppers. They traveled to dance conventions before taking trips to Cape Breton Nova Scotia, Hawaii and other parts of the USA, and Ireland.
John is survived by his beloved wife, Elsie; his daughter, Kimberly Clare (husband Steve) Scheer; his son, Daniel (wife Kathleen) Mackesy; his brother, Joseph (wife Mary deceased) Mackesy; his sisters, Ellen (husband Kenneth) McLaughlin, Patricia (husband Kevin) Morse, and Joan (husband David) Harper; his nephews, Andrew, Joseph, Patrick, Albert and Peter; his nieces, Caitlin, Meaghan, Caroline and Sonia; his 20 great nieces and nephews; his cousins Joe Desmond (wife, Catherine) and Freda Desmond; his brothers-in-law, Albert (wife, Betsy) Zanger and Thomas Zanger.
His brother, James, and James’ wife, Vicki, predeceased him.
Private services are being held and planned. Those who wish to honor his memory may make donations to antiwar.com or veterans for peace.org.
Finally, his family would like to leave you with one of John’s favorite messages: “Fill your heart with love, fill your mind with light, and send out love in all directions.”
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Stephen “Steve” Fistler, a man of unwavering dedication to his family and friends, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 25, at age 74, surrounded by his family.
Steve is survived by his devoted wife of 53 years, Tresa; son, Eli (Cheryl); daughter, Sally (Brett); grandsons, Ricky (Kristien) and Hunter; granddaughter, Britney; and many other extended family members.
Steve was born to Kenneth and Madelyn Fistler and grew up in Napa, California.
He joined the fire department while still a teenager, demonstrating his early commitment to public service. Steve spent two years as a seasonal firefighter for CDF before becoming a permanent firefighter at the Napa station.
Around 1976, he moved his family to Lake County, California, and soon after, he was promoted to captain with CDF.
Steve spent most of his career at Station 31 in Middletown, California, where he was known for his leadership, mentoring many firefighters, and being a trustworthy colleague and friend.
Even after retiring in 2001, Steve’s dedication to helping others never waned, and he would often stop at the scene of accidents to assist first responders.
Steve loved his family and worked hard to provide a memorable life. Over the years, he enjoyed
taking his family on camping trips, fishing, hunting and car races.
After retirement, Steve found a love for hot rods belonging to a couple of local car clubs. With help from family and friends, he restored a Chevy SS, which won him several trophies at car shows over the years.
Please join the family on Saturday, May 18, at 11 a.m. at Station 31 CAL-Fire station 15522 Lake St. in Middletown, in celebrating the life of Steve.
Instead of flowers, please make donations to the California Waterfowl Association: https://calwaterfowl.org/donate.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Duane M. Furman
1934-2024
"Scotts Valley Cattle Rancher"
LAKEPORT, Calif. — Duane lived a full and diverse life. He grew up in Martinez, California.
As a child he dreamed of being a cowboy, even though he lived in town and not on a ranch.
He was a 1952 graduate of Alhambra High School in Martinez, where he was the captain of the football team, the Bulldogs.
He attended UC Davis to study animal husbandry and played football for the Cal Aggies. He then returned to Martinez to join his father in the steamfitter trade and was employed for close to 40 years before retiring.
He was a lifetime member of the Steam Fitters Union #342, Concord, California. He started raising cattle and ranching with his family in Contra Costa County from 1953 to 1962 on leased land.
Duane married the girl “next door,” the lovely Dorothy Hastie, on June 24, 1956. In 1962 they and their young family moved to Scotts Valley Road to a 381-acre ranch.
Duane and his father had looked at many ranches to buy in Northern California before purchasing the Scotts Valley Ranch across from the Glen Eden Trailhead. So began a 38 year venture as the Running F Ranch. He did have to continue in the union trade while ranching. The jobs might take him to the Bay Area or Central Valley and closer to home, at The Geysers.
Duane was always striving to improve the genetics of their registered black Angus. He mentored many local youth with 4-H beef projects including his own children.
Duane was deeply devoted to his Christian faith and loved to share God’s word of love and redemption through the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
He was a longtime member of the Lakeport Christian Center. He gave 45 years of service as a jail minister for the Lake County Jail and Konocti Conservation Camp.
He served on many boards and advisory committees. Duane worked for two years for the state of California as a branding inspector and was the Junior Livestock superintendent for the Lake County Fair for many years.
In 2000 the large ranch was sold. Duane and Dorothy moved a few miles away to a log home that he built on 22 acres. He continued to run a smaller herd of Angus and raised quality steers.
Their little ranch survived, unscathed, during the devastating 2018 Complex Fire with a tanker and fire crew from San Jose at the back of their house. The fire burned within yards of their home. The fire crew wanted to take 84 year old Duane back to San Jose to be on their crew!
In true cowboy form Duane was quite proud that at the age of 69 he had been able to tame and ride a mustang that was 80% wild when he purchased him in September 2002 from a Bureau of Land Management wild horse auction. His mustang, who he named Granite, came from the Granite Range in northwest Nevada.
On Duane’s passing he still had some of his Angus cows in the field. For 70 years he was the cowboy who he dreamed of as a child.
Duane loved God, was devoted to Dorothy and was proud of his family. He will be greatly missed by many.
Services are planned for Sunday, April 28, at 1 p.m. at the Lakeport Christian Center, 455 S. Forbes St., to be followed by a celebration of life gathering at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lewis Hall, 401 Martin St., Lakeport. (Duane loved home baked cookies, please bring some to share at Lewis Hall if you so desire.)
Internment is private with arrangements made by Chapel of the Lakes.
“It started in 1952 when I had a dream or desire to raise cattle and be a cowboy; The Lord let that dream come true, because He loves His children and now I’m the old cowboy.” — Duane Furman
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