Obits

Joyce McKnight. Courtesy photo.

Joyce McKnight
March 13, 1943 – Nov. 18, 2020

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – We lost a beloved member of our community. Joyce had her family by her side when she passed on Nov. 18, 2020. She was fighting cancer and other health problems.

Joyce loved being in her garden, fishing, cooking and spending time with her family. She always had a warm smile and will be dearly missed.

Joyce is predeceased by her husband of 38 years, Gus McKnight. She is survived by two daughters, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She is with the angels now and watching over us. I love you mom and miss you.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Todd Falconer. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Todd Falconer was born on Nov. 14, 1962, in San Francisco, California, to Alastair “Sandy” Falconer and Jane Hoberg Falconer.

He grew up on the shores of Clear Lake, where his family owned and ran Westwind Mobile Home Park in Kelseyville.

Todd passed away in the early morning hours of Jan. 2, 2021, while awaiting a heart transplant. Although a very private man, those closest to him knew how much effort he put into managing his condition and never allowing it to slow him down.

Todd loved growing up on the lake, and water skiing in the early morning hours with his brother, Ross while his beloved grandmother, Mildred Hoberg, drove the boat. He enjoyed spending summers at Mildred’s lake house with his cousins and friends swimming, skiing and sleeping on the pier.

Later in life he delighted in watching his children and their friends also enjoy the lake house; he was always happy to drive the boat for their many tubing, skiing and wakeboarding adventures. Throughout his life, his attachment to Clear Lake and Lake County never wavered.

Todd graduated from Kelseyville High School in 1980 and California State University, Chico in May of 1984. It was at Chico State that he met his wife, Jill, while interviewing her for a job. They married in December of 1984 and Todd began his career as an officer in the USAF.

While stationed in Texas and Germany Todd flew RF-4s and couldn’t get enough of it. Flying was a lifelong passion for Todd, and after the USAF he had many jobs in aviation and spent much of his free time flying as well.

For the last 10 years Todd considered himself a gentleman farmer, managing his 27-acre vineyard in Kelseyville. He approached farming with the same passion as flying and his love of his ranch was evident to all who knew him. He loved having the opportunity, as he put it, to “go to the ranch, shut the gate, and leave the world behind.” Mt. Olive will be his final resting place.

Todd is survived by his wife of 36 years, Jill, and his two children, Nick (Blythe) Falconer and Katie (Grant) Falconer, as well as his new granddaughter, Poppy, and his bonus son, Mark Dantes.

Todd will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

A celebration of Todd’s life will be held at a later date.


Frank Del Valle. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Frank Juquin Del Valle began his journey home to the Ancestors on Dec. 27, 2020.

Frank was born Feb. 15, 1958, in Colusa, California, to Joseph Del Valle and Elizabeth (Holmes) Del Valle.

Frank passed away at his home on the Big Valley Rancheria in Lakeport, where he was also an enrolled tribal member.

Frank is predeceased by his parents; brothers, Joseph and Leonard Del Valle; and sisters, Delores Rivas and Mary Billy.

He is survived by brother, Fred Del Valle; sisters, Carmen Crabtree and Patricia Del Valle; daughters, Jessica Rendon and Maria Washington; grandchildren, Andrea, Ashley, Lorena, Emily and Viviana; and great-grandchildren, Izaiah, Aubrey and Brandon; as well as many, many nieces and nephews.

Frank worked as a tribal monitor for his tribe’s environmental department. He held an oak tree walk for the youth, volunteered at the tule boat festivals and participated in meetings with the state of California on water issues and helped to influence the prioritization of tribal traditional uses of our water throughout the Central Valley Region, including Clear Lake.

Through it all, he remained true to his culture, traditions and heritage. He was an Elder and a dancer in our roundhouse and participated in many Shake Head events to entertain and educate the public about his Pomo people.

Frank was proud of his Pomo heritage and was kind to his people. Frank was always willing to converse and share with anyone in a good way. He was a man of humility and enjoyed creating beadwork, fishing and was an avid San Francisco Giants fan and collector.

Frank’s final resting place will be St. Mary's Cemetery in Lakeport.

Frank, you will be missed. Journey well and may the Ancestors welcome you Home with open arms. Oh, Oh, Oh!

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Patricia Heiartz-Martin. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Trish was born in North Bergen, New Jersey and raised in Leonia where she attended grade school and high school.

She hung out under the George Washington Bridge with her friends when she was not working at the local Acme Market as a grocery clerk.

At 18 she moved to the East Bay of California near her brothers before moving to the Borax area of Clearlake in 1986 where her parents retired. On St Patrick's day she obtained a position with Safeway in Clearlake, where she enjoyed her co-workers and patrons. She always had a smile and was accepting of all, working until she retired in August 2020.

Trish met Douglas in 1988 at a Safeway Halloween party and married him in 1991, helping him raise his five children; Gary, Jenifare’, Genessa, Erin and Jaime. They purchased a house in Lucerne where they made it their home and brought in two more children together, Robin and Emilyann.

Her hobbies were gardening, reading, sewing, painting and she loved to hike, cut firewood, camp at Richardson's Grove and Manchester Beach, and travel to see lighthouses along California and Oregon's coast, New Jersey and France. She enjoyed the Beach Boys, ELO, and bee bopping to country music. She often volunteered with her husband at music festivals and was a Temple Guardian with Burning Man with her best friend Theresa.

Trish is survived by her husband, seven children, a niece and nephew in Pennsylvania and eight grandchildren.

Trish joins her parents, Nikolaus and Katharina Heiartz; her brothers, Klaus and Rolf Heiartz and sister, Marlena Jung.

She was a light to all while here on Earth and no words can ever describe what she was to each of us.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Our Hero, our father, passed away suddenly on Dec. 20, 2020, at his home in Lower Lake.

Dennis was born May 23, 1935, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

He served in the U.S. Navy and while on leave he married and had four children, Keith, Renee, Bill and Michael.

He married our stepmother, Lilian Allen, in the early 1980s and was married 30-plus years.

Dennis loved traveling, fishing, Nascar races and loved his family.

He is survived by children, Keith Shoffeitt, Renee’ Shoffeitt and Bill Shoffeitt; stepdaughters, Cindy Allen and Karen Allen; sisters, Sandy Shoffeitt and Janet Browning; grandchildren, Desiree Neese, Kendra Medina and Kelsie Shoffeitt; and great-grandchildren, Jaydyn, Ezaue, Aloya and Kaliah.

He was predeceased by son, Michael Shoffeitt; sister, Bobbi Imler; and granddaughter, Amber Shoffeitt.

He will truly be missed.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

Peggy Kirkpatrick. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Peggy Kirkpatrick passed peacefully in her home on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, surrounded by loved ones. She was 96 years old.

She was born June 1, 1924, in South Sioux City, Dakota County, Nebraska. Peggy was the oldest daughter of Arlene and Chet Antrim.

The Antrim family relocated to Lake County, California, where Chet became the Lake County sheriff.

Peggy graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1942, and married her high school sweetheart, Albert Myers that same night. Together they had Thomas Jerrald. Then Albert died while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Later, She married Bill Kirkpatrick on Nov. 24, 1946. Together they had Robin. They were married 52 years, when Bill passed in 1998. He called her precious, and that’s exactly what their relationship was!

She and Bill were avid golfers, entertainers and enjoyed traveling with their golfing family. Bill was a pilot, and together they flew their Cessna on many adventures, often coupling these with a shared passion for golf.

Peggy was part of a birthday club that was started in 1955 and still continues today, leaving two beloved friends, Janice Stokes and Carolyn Rhoner. She also gathered with her CLHS classmates for a yearly dinner.

Peggy and family started the Antrim Family Reunion that took place every year at the Skylark Shores Resort. Peg was very active up into her 90s, she even attended Curves in Kelseyville up until their closing a couple years ago.

Peggy was an inspiration, she touched the lives of many people. She was young at heart and lived a beautiful life.

Peggy was the matriarch of her family, making five generations.

She loved her family so much. She is survived by son, Tom (Sharon) Kirkpatrick; daughter, Robin (Tom) Howard; grandchildren, Wendy (Brad), Blair, Laurie, Suzanne, Carolyn, Tyler (Shelly), Kirk (Nikki) and Toby (Evann); great-grandchildren, Chelsea (Jeromy), Emma, Cord, T.J., Wesley, Keegan, Kenzie, Remi and Wyatt; great-great-grandchildren, Blake, Scarlet and Ryder; and many more beloved nieces and nephews.

Celebration of life to be announced at a later date.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.


Peggy Kirkpatrick. Courtesy photo.

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