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- 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.
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- 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
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Surrounded by her family, Rose went home to be with Jesus and reunite with her loving husband, Lenard, on March 20, 2024, at the age of 87.
Rose was born on June 19, 1936, in Broken Bow, Nebraska. She was the oldest of seven girls, born to Mae and Von Paxton.
Growing up she helped her dad on the family ranch raising angus beef cattle. She and her sister rode a pony to attend a one room school house a few miles away during her elementary years. She moved into the town of Tryon to attend high school, living in town during the weekdays and going home to the ranch on weekends.
When she was 16 years old she was set up on a blind date with her future husband, Lenard. Prior to their date, Rose decided she wanted to know what her blind date looked like before she went out with him so she set off to see him play in the town basketball game.
Lenard just happened to be driving down the road as she made her way to the game so he stopped and offered her a ride. They drove to the basketball game together and he asked her to hold his watch while he played basketball. He never did ask for his watch back and that very watch was on her wrist on their wedding day.
Rose and Lenard were married on May 26, 1954. After their wedding, Rose took a teaching position in a one room school house located in Ringgold, Nebraska. They had their first son, Russ, in Nebraska and moved to California in 1958 so Lenard could help his uncle build a home in Ukiah.
They eventually moved to Lakeport and it was there they had their other four sons; Marnin, Joel, Zachary and Jeremy. When Jeremy began school, Rose got a job in the Lakeport Unified School District as a paraeducator where she continued to work until 1983, when the family moved to Hidden Valley Lake. Soon after this move she began working as a paraeducator for the Middletown Unified School District.
Besides working in the schools, Rose would often be seen keeping scorebooks at her sons’ sporting activities, as well as driving kids to games. In later years she could be seen in the stands supporting her sons as they coached various teams, as well as cheering on her grandchildren in whatever activity or sport they were involved in.
Rose was a woman of deep faith. Her service in the churches she belonged to was very important to her. She played the piano in various churches and was also an active board member throughout the years.
Her family was the center of her life. She had a deep love and devotion to her husband. Her love for her sons was unconditional and her pride in each of them was unwavering.
Rose is survived by her sons, Russ Pyzer (Glenda), Marnin Pyzer (Jennifer), Joel Pyzer (Davina), Zachary Pyzer (LeAnne) and Jeremy Pyzer (Shanna); sisters, Judy Cox, Georgetta Paxton, Polly Siegel and Pat Nicholson; sister in-law, Lila Stoddard; 20 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Lenard Pyzer; her parents, Von and Mae Paxton; sisters, Bess Aupperle, June Farmer; and grandson, Ryan Depp.
Rose will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Her legacy will live on with all who loved and knew her. We are all blessed to have had her in our lives to love, and we are deeply blessed to have been loved by her.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, April 13, at 1 p.m. at the Hidden Valley Community Church, 18160 Spruce Road Extension, Middletown.