Luis “Lou” J. Escajeda
Luis “Lou” J. Escajeda, beloved husband of Carole Escajeda, passed away on Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Goodyear, Ariz., at the age of 81. He was an original member of the Sandbaggers and 26-year PebbleCreek resident who loved being part of the PebbleCreek community. He is predeceased by his brothers Ruben Jr. and John, and survived by his sister, Rosemary.
Lou was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1940, the son of Ruben and Leonor Escajeda. He loved his family and friends, and was always known to be an outgoing group member. He joined the Air Force in 1958 and loved military service from the start. While stationed in Gander, Newfoundland, he met his first wife, Margaret, with whom he had three children: Annette, age 59; Yvonne, age 57; and Karina, age 46. He graduated from Florida State in 1969 with a B.S. in Meteorology, and completed Officer Training School in Illinois in 1970. Of all his posts, he most loved his time in Germany at Ansbach AFB with the Weather Squadron. His favorite activities were sightseeing with his family and collecting beer steins from biergartens. After his divorce, he retired from the Air Force as a Captain in 1981. His last assignment was at Onizuka AFB in Sunnyvale, Calif. Among his many commendations, he received a small arms expert marksmanship ribbon. As much as he loved the military, retirement allowed him to grow a beard—one that he had for the rest of his life.
After active duty, Lou joined General Electric as a computer programmer. There he met his wife Carole through lunchtime runs together while she trained for the San Francisco Bay to Breakers 10K. This led to nine Bay to Breakers runs together and over 40 years of togetherness. Lou loved sports and activities, going out often with Carole and many friends to GE group events. He loved to cheer on the SF Giants and Oakland A’s after tailgating. Lou was also a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan, and loved his household rivalry with Carole’s beloved Philadelphia Eagles. Before full retirement, he missed the ‘weatherman life,’ and was a meteorologist for the U.S. Weather Service at the San Francisco airport (SFO). He enjoyed work with purpose and with a sense of exactitude.
After moving to PebbleCreek in 1996, Lou became a founding member of the Sandbaggers. He regularly volunteered with the Red Cross in their records department at Luke AFB. He contributed to many charities and philanthropic initiatives, as evidenced by the many requests for donations that arrive on a daily basis. In later years, Lou was often found laughing along with Big Bang Theory and Friends. Lou is survived by three children: Annette Koziol of Brunswick, Maine; Yvonne Fox of San Jose, Calif.; and Karina Escajeda of Kents Hill, Maine; plus two stepchildren: Beverly White of Eagleville, Penn.; and Christopher Walker, of El Dorado Hills, Calif.; in addition to 10 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth “Betty” Fetzer
Elizabeth “Betty” Fetzer, 94 of Spearfish, S.D., passed away on March 9, 2022, at Spearfish Canyon Healthcare.
Betty lived a very full 94 years of life. The most treasured things in her life were her family, friends, and the game of golf. She played her last game of golf at the age of 90!
She is survived by her sons Ed and Leslie Sewell, Scott Sewell; granddaughter Ann Sewell; and brother Bob Sinclair and his family.
A Celebration of Life will take place in the spring. A memorial has been established.
Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com or sent to 601 Meier Ave., Spearfish, SD 57783.
Richard “Dick” E. Jacka
After being surrounded by family who shared their love with him, our husband, father, and grandfather peacefully passed away on March 9, 2022. Dick was born on Sept. 15, 1932, in San Jose, Calif., to Ellard and Eugenia Jacka and later moved to Crockett, Calif. After graduating high school, Dick joined the Navy and served for two years. He continued his education at Sacramento State College, graduating in 1958 with a degree in Political Science. He initially worked for the state of California as a Property Disposal Officer before transferring to the General Services Administration as an Area Utilization Officer, retiring in 1993.
He married his wife, Georgia Feiling, in 1957 and together they raised two children, Pamela and Bradley. Dick enjoyed traveling and listening to all kinds of music. He was an avid golfer. He was famous for scoring two holes-in-one in a three-day period at the Championship Course at Incline Village, Nev. Dick will be remembered as always having a smile on his face and reminding all that “every day is a beautiful day.” He never met a stranger—only someone he saw as a new friend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ellard and Eugenia Jacka, and his grandson, Tyler Walsh. He leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Georgia Jacka; daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Kevin Walsh; son and daughter-in-law, Brad and Karen Jacka; and three grandchildren, Coreen Walsh Grey and husband Nigel Grey, Emily Jacka, and Collin Jacka.
The family is grateful for the care Dick received from his caregivers, Debbie Sparks and Sandy Parker, as well as the staff at Rock Creek Memory Care Facility.
A celebration of life will be held this summer at the Jacka home at Lake Tahoe.
Barbara Johnson
Barbara Johnson passed away on Feb. 15, 2022, at Hospice of the Valley in Surprise.
Barbara was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and grew up on Long Island in Malverne, N.Y. She met her first husband, James Crozier, in 1951 on a blind date in NYC and married in 1952. They lived briefly in Germany, where Jim was stationed in the U.S. Army, then in Oklahoma, before settling in North Carolina where her two children, Susan and Ralph, were born. In 1960, the family settled in Fort Wayne, Ind. The marriage ended in divorce in 1967. Barbara married a second time and divorced, continuing to live in Fort Wayne until 2008. She moved to Reston, Va., to live near her daughter, son, and grandsons, and in 2013, moved to PebbleCreek to live near her daughter.
Barbara was initially reluctant at first to move to “lizardville,” recalling times in Oklahoma where she was stung by a scorpion, but to her delight, she found a loving circle of friends from Sit & Stitch who greatly enriched her life.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan and her husband Bill, and by her son, Ralph and his wife Lori, and their two sons, Stephen and Michael.
Barbara loved being a mom and grandma. She made sure her kids and grandsons knew how much she loved and believed in them. She loved dressing well, accessorizing, and talking to people. She was one-of-a-kind and will be missed.
No ceremony is planned.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014, www.hov.org/donate.
Ron Netzer
Ron Netzer, 79, of Goodyear, Ariz., died Feb. 25, 2022. He was born Dec. 17, 1942, in Chicago, Ill., to Otto Netzer and Christine Rolence. He was preceded in death by his wife Julieta Netzer and his son Ronaldo Netzer.
As a young man, Ron was a dedicated machinist with the University of Chicago and enjoyed his time in the Navy and reserves. While in the reserves he worked on the submarines at Pearl Harbor. He also loved to travel with his wife of 51 years. Together, they started a family and eventually became grandparents to six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was a fun, creative, and loving father and grandfather. He loved playing games, telling stories, and camping. During his retirement, Ron took up wood carving and became quite talented at it. One of his carvings has been memorialized at the Creative Arts Center in the community where he lived.
He always looked on the bright side.
Ron is survived by daughter Rachiela Stanley, son-in-law John Stanley III, and his daughter-in-law Luzviminda Netzer. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Cashmier (Lucas) Broten; Jeremy (Lesley) Netzer; Jacquelyne (Sergio) Garcia; Julieanne (Jesse) Alejandro; Pearson Stanley IV and Paige Stanley; and his nine great-grandchildren, Dean and Violet Broten, Layla and Will Netzer, Markel and Amaia Garcia; and Jackson, Jillian, and Johnny Alejandro.
A visitation will be held at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 13 at Thompson Funeral Chapel. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 14 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, with burial following at 12:30 p.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.
Richard “Dick” Whittier
Richard “Dick” Whittier, 84, left this world on Feb. 21, 2022. He peacefully passed away surrounded by his family.
Dick was born on Aug. 19, 1937, in Berkeley, Calif. After graduating high school in 1955, he attended college in Oakland and Sacramento, Calif. He then began a career in the floor covering business, where he met and married the love of his life, Bonnie. He was a co-owner of Conklin Bros. Floor Covering in San Leandro, Calif., when he retired at the end of 1993 and moved to PebbleCreek in Goodyear, Ariz., in 1994.
Prior to retirement, Dick and Bonnie resided in Pleasanton, Calif., for 25 years and during that time, Dick coached Little League Baseball for several years where he inspired teamwork, good sportsmanship, respect, and the value of hard work. Dick also enjoyed playing golf with his wife and many friends. He and Bonnie were proud members of Castlewood Country Club in Pleasanton where he reveled in early Saturday morning golf with his buddies. During summer afternoons, Dick could be found at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in his box seats at live horse racing season, with or without friends or family as he enjoyed his own company as well.
Most recently, in retirement, he volunteered at the Goodyear Ballpark as an usher during spring training for 10 years, and was hoping to get the chance to be back at it this year. He was a Cincinnati Reds fan for his entire adult life and was frequently seen in his red “Cinci” baseball cap. He was a man of honor and integrity who will be missed immensely … a gentle giant with a great sense of humor who loved to make people laugh, especially his wife, Bonnie, who was always amused by his comedy.
Dick was predeceased by his father, Roy, and his beloved mother, Letitia “Pat” Whittier, and his closest buddies, Gary “Max” Hazelhofer and Larry Little. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and three children, Lora Whittier-Wallace, Robert (Tiffany), and Vicki Martinez (Mark). He was also the proud Papa of seven grandchildren and Great Papa of five great grandchildren.
A private celebration of Dick’s life will be held at a later date. Remembrances may be made in the form desired by friends/family.
In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.
—Abraham Lincoln