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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Paul John Kolb was born on Nov. 30, 1948, in Melrose Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.
He grew up in Mayfield, Illinois, but spent most of his adulthood in Northern California, working primarily in the field of engineering in the Bay Area.
He served his country as a helicopter pilot doing three tours in Vietnam.
He served his community by working with the NAACP and for the advancement of Native American rights.
Paul was an environmentalist who enjoyed hiking, travel and finding artifacts, which he did before and during his 22 years in Lake County, California.
His friends were many and diverse and Paul was as true a friend as one could hope for.
Later in life he spent his time conserving his property in rural Upper Lake, California.
He died unexpectedly and suddenly while working on his water treatment system on Nov 20, 2023, at the age of 75.
Services will be for family at his gravesite near his mother in Illinois.
Paul will be greatly missed.
In lieu of a funeral, please donate to the local charities for environmental, Native Americans or the NAACP of Lake County.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — We are heartbroken to inform our family and friends about the loss of our beloved wife and mother, Jeannie Ernst.
Jeannie, and her husband, Michael Ernst, celebrated their 63rd anniversary this year and have lived in Lake County since 1970.
Jeannie was a happy, loving mother that centered on the needs of children as her life’s work. She enjoyed being outside and being surrounded by her family was her joy.
She obtained a degree, later in life, and she loved working with people. When she lived in San Francisco as a young mother and wife, she was like a second mom to many children living in public housing, taking them to church, field trips to parks and museums and baking cookies.
She enjoyed cooking and baking, freezing and canning. She was a superb seamstress and made dresses.
When she moved to Lake County, she volunteered at Big Valley Head Start for preschool age children. She worked for North Coast Opportunities and traveled around Northern California and to the State Capitol advocating for children (even with her own diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.)
Jeannie outlived her illnesses. She had the diagnosis at 30, but always felt it wouldn’t get the best of her.
Jeannie had a great passion for health and gardening. In her 40s and 50s she was outdoors. She loved gardening and landscaping. Planting flowers around the county at local businesses.
Into her late 70s and 80s, she was loving being a great-grandmother and grandma. To her great grandchildren she was “Grammy Jeannie.” Even with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, she was able to remember everyone.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Ernst; daughters, Julie and Peggy; and son, Michael; four grandchildren, Janelle, Jonathan, Xavier and Sarah; and five great-grandchildren.
Her kind, caring, loving energy will be missed by so many. Rest in Peace, beloved.
An open service will be held at St. Peter’s in Kelseyville on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at noon. All are welcome and a celebration of life will be late summer and will be announced.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Thelma passed peacefully at home in Lincoln, California, on Feb. 25, 2023.
Thelma is survived by daughter, Marsha Dixon-McGill of Lincoln, California; stepdaughters, Linnette Ramsey Collingsworth of Spanish Fork, Utah, and Shelley Ownsbey of Ukiah, California; and nine step-grandchildren.
Thelma is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Inesse Ramsey Duarte of Santa Rosa, California, Ruth Sharp of Fair Oaks, California, and Eudora Rutledge Sweeney of Angel’s Camp, California; and numerous nephews and nieces.
She was predeceased by husband, Robert Neal Ramsey, of Clearlake Oaks, California, brother Marshall Malcom Wallace of Carmichael, California, and stepson Edmond Neal Ramsey of Santa Rosa, California.
Thelma graduated from Santa Rosa High School in Santa Rosa, California, in 1943 at age 16. She moved to San Francisco volunteering as a Red Cross Gray Lady at the Oakland Naval Hospital and joined the Red Cross Motor Corps, Mare Island. Her daughter still cringes at the thought of her young mother driving a stick-shift bus on the hills of San Francisco.
Thelma soon returned home to attend Santa Rosa Junior College, graduating in 1946. She went to work as a bookkeeper for Albers Feed Mill then went on to work for the county of Sonoma in Santa Rosa for over 20 years. She was a 1980 graduate with a degree in political science from Sonoma State University.
In the late 1970s, Thelma met her third husband, Robert Neal Ramsey. They married in 1981 in Santa Rosa after Thelma’s retirement from the county of Sonoma and lived in Ft. Bragg, California.
She loved being on the coast, learned how to grow tomatoes in the ever-present summer fog, became active in the American Association of University Women, volunteered at the Artists Co-op of Mendocino, and served on the board of the California Lung Association Redwood Empire.
After Bob’s retirement, they built a home in Clearlake Oaks, California, on the water for easy access to boating. Thelma organized a crochet prayer shawl group for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lakeport.
The Ramseys were also never far from a camper, fifth-wheel or motorhome, traveling on road trips across the states and in 1989, started what would be an annual pilgrimage for 16 summers to Alaska.
During their six-month journeys north, Bob kept busy fishing for reds and halibut, and Thelma caught up with family and friends, crocheted, did crosswords, and was always there for daily fish cleaning and canning.
Beta Sigma Phi honored her in 2014 as a 60-year member by including her in their Diamond Circle Ritual.
Following the passing of husband, Bob, Thelma moved to Lincoln, California, in 2015.
At her request, there will be no services. Her ashes are to be interred with husband Bob at Santa Rosa Memorial Park, Santa Rosa, California.