Obits
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Randolph ‘Randy’ Ishihara
Feb. 17, 1950 – July 4, 2025
Randy Ishihara was born on Feb. 17, 1950, at Santa Monica Hospital and grew up in Santa Monica, California. He was the second of three children born to George and Chizuko Ishihara, with an older sister, Monica, and a younger brother, Jon.
Randy graduated from Santa Monica High School, or SAMO, in 1968, where he was an active member of the football and swim teams. He went on to attend Santa Monica City College before transferring to Humboldt State University, where he majored in physical education and earned his California Teaching Credential.
At the time, California had a surplus of teachers, but there was a high demand for educators in Australia. Recruiters from Australia traveled to universities across the U.S. and Canada seeking teachers for two-year, tax-free contracts.
Randy accepted the opportunity and, during his final quarter at Humboldt, met Denise. Though he had completed his courses by the winter quarter, he remained at Humboldt as the unofficial "social director" before departing for Geelong, Victoria, in August. Denise joined him the following June.
They settled in the seaside town of Torquay, where Randy taught physical education at Geelong Technical School (Junior High). Alongside a community of American and Canadian expats, Randy and Denise built lifelong friendships, known for hosting some of the best parties, as recalled by one friend.
Every school break was filled with camping, fishing and traveling across Australia — except in 1973, when the couple returned to the U.S. to get married. They then returned to Australia, where they lived for 15 years and welcomed three sons: Rob, Rich and Scott.
With a desire to travel and Denise’s dream of owning a home, the couple decided to build their own house using adobe bricks and recycled materials. They completed the garage before Randy changed careers, leaving teaching to open a restaurant, The Flying Tomato Brothers.
Eventually, wanting their sons to experience American schools and football, they returned to California in 1989. With Rich and Rob in third and fourth grade, respectively, and Scott just two and a half years old, the family moved in with Denise’s parents in Altadena, California, for six months.
Randy took substitute teaching jobs while applying for a full-time teaching job anywhere near a lake or river — his preferred locations due to his love of fishing. He eventually accepted a position at Oak Hill Middle School in Clearlake and became a football coach at Lower Lake High School.
They moved to Kelseyville, where they reconnected with friends from Australia, Larry and Bev Bresso.
The stresses of their final years in Australia led to Randy and Denise’s divorce in 1996. Randy continued teaching and coaching, and helped establish the Kelseyville Chiefs in 1994, a youth football program for students in grades third through eighth.
Many of Randy’s past students and athletes share fond memories of Randy singing and playing his guitar at the end of class or on bus rides home from football or basketball games he coached in.
Randy later married Carol Kirk, who had three adult children — Anna, Matt and Becky — and a younger son, Billy. Randy became affectionately known as "Grampy" to Carol’s grandchildren.
Randy continued to be deeply involved in family, fishing and friendships — his greatest passions. Up until his passing he enjoyed annual fishing trips to Baja Mexico, Alaska, and Washington state with his friends. Randy maintained close friendships with his friends from Humboldt State, organizing an annual reunion campout that is now on its 35th year.
Randy was preceded in death by his parents, George and Chizuko Ishihara, and his stepmother, Seiko Ishihara.
He is survived by his sister, Monica, and his brother, Jon; his former wives, Denise Peterson and Carol Kirk; his sons, Rob Ishihara and his wife, Jennifer, of Penngrove, Rich Ishihara and his wife, Kristen, of Longview, Texas, and Scott Ishihara and his wife, Lauri, of Dallas, Texas; his stepchildren, Anna Oas and her husband, Jeff, Matthew Coulter and his wife, Sandy, Becky Simpson and her husband, Bob, and Billy Simpson; his grandchildren, Lucas, Briana, Ava and Dominic Ishihara; and his "Grampy" grandchildren, Jacqui, Audrey, Annabelle, Conner, Carson, Brady, Genna and Gabriel.
A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at 4001 Roblar Road in Petaluma.
Randy’s legacy lives on through his deep love for his family, his joy in building connections, and his enduring passion for adventure and the outdoors.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — Thomas Pardee Renfro was born in Kelseyville, California on May 30, 1938, to Glen and Janet Renfro.
Tom passed on June 28, 2025, at his home in Kelseyville. Tom is now reunited with the love of his life, Mary, and also with his mom, dad and brother, Jim.
As a child Tom spent carefree days hiking Mount Konocti, and fishing in Clear Lake and the local creeks and streams.
Tom lived for a short while in Tule Lake during World War II, but returned to Lake County when the war ended. He attended school in Lakeport from kindergarten to senior year. While riding the bus to school in second grade he met his future wife, Mary Dimauro.
His love for hunting and fishing started in his youth and grew stronger the rest of his life.
Tom’s first job at the age of 13 was driving tractor for Frank Dimauro. At 16 he was driving trucks to Oakland for Frank hauling safflower.
Tom was a standout athlete at Clear Lake High School, after their undefeated 1956 football league championship he was one of four players from Lake County to be on the team that played in the Redwood Shrine All-Star Game. This gave the Lake County boys and South one more big win over North.
Tom enlisted in the Army Reserves while still in high school, and shortly after graduation headed to Fort Ord for training, followed by eight more years at Camp Roberts.
Tom earned a gunsmith technology degree at Oregon Tech in 1961. He had started hunting with his dad before he could even hold a gun, so this was a field of study he enjoyed. Tom worked for Pacific Gas and Electric for 34 years but used his gunsmith skills his entire life.
Tom married the love of his life, Mary Dimauro, in 1958. They had four children: Tamara Ann, Jamie Elizabeth, Tonette Teresa, and Thomas Glen.
Tom and his family moved to the family ranch in Kelseyville in 1970 where he built his home on the land that had been in his family for generations. Tom enjoyed raising cattle and planted very productive pear, peach and apple orchards on this property. He had a ranch filled with horses, goats, turkeys, chickens, dogs, cats, some critters and fowl we will not mention.
Tom was a California Farm Bureau member for many years and a 4-H member and leader. He spent many weekends hauling horses to high school rodeos for his daughters. He enjoyed shooting at the Rod and Gun Club with his son.
He added the Renfro Animal Inn dog kennel in the mid 1980s and later added a merlot vineyard to the ranch. The kennel was very successful but closed when Mary passed in 2015. The vineyard is beautiful and productive to this day.
Tom and Mary enjoyed many trips together. However their hearts were happiest with their family at their beautiful home they proudly built together from the ground up.
Tom enjoyed countless hunting trips to Idaho with his family, a tradition that lives on today. Tom loved taking his children and grandchildren hunting and fishing. Tom was a true outdoorsman and could spend hours reminiscing with friends and family of past hunting and fishing trips.
Tom is survived by his four children, Tammy Renfro-Myers, Jamie Patten, Toni Brown and Thomas Renfro; nine grandchildren, Kyle Sills, Michael Thomas Brown, Kirk Sills, Joe Myers, Kelsey Robinson, Allyson Luis, Mary Frantz, Madison Renfro and Meghan Renfro; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Tom was a wonderful son, brother, husband, dad, uncle, grandpa, great-grandpa and friend. His passing is the end of a phenomenal era. Tom will be remembered, celebrated and missed by many.
The family will have a private gathering.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Joan Dee Hutchinson, a longtime resident of Lower Lake, passed away Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Meadowood Nursing Center, in Clearlake.
Joan was born in Bremerton, Washington on Aug. 21, 1931, where her father was stationed in the US Navy.
During World War II, Joan, her mother and three sisters lived in a variety of places.
Joan married Karl Hutchinson Jr. on Nov. 17, 1950, and they resided for many years in Lakewood, California.
In 1969, Joan and Karl, and their two sons moved to Lake County, where she worked for Parker Plastics as a purchasing agent for 23 years.
Joan is survived by her sons, Karl Hutchinson III of Pollock Pines and his wife, Laura, and Kraig Hutchinson of Lower Lake; sister, Dorothy Maloney of Rosarita Beach, Mexico; grandchildren, Stephanie Hutchinson Carpenter and her husband, Travis, of Newcastle and Kasey Hutchinson Brickley and her husband, Jim, of Rocklin; and great-grandson, Rayce Carpenter, who gave her so much happiness.
She also leaves behind her loving nieces and nephews and their families, Patrick Maloney, Rick Maloney, Steve Barreto, Mike Barreto and Karen Ogle.
Joan was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Karl Hutchinson Jr.; her sisters, Nancy Gose and Mary Reilly of Gold Beach, Oregon; and her parents, Harold and Rachel Gose.
At Joan’s request there will be no services.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary 707-263-0357 or 994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
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