MEMBERS THAT TRANSFERRED TO POST EVERLASTING
Anderson, Jerome "Jerry" Army
Badgley, John US Coast Guard
Beckman, John Navy
Bowbeer, Wayne Air Force
Charleton, Craig
Coleman, Aubrey
Crumly, Charles Army
Davisson, Dean Navy
Draper, John Army
Evans, Michael F Army Air Force
Favio, Willaim Army
Kolstoe, “Bud” Oliver Air Force
Lange, Art
Mescon, Alan Army
Payne, Ward Army
Price, William
Marr, Warren F Marine
Novak, Richard Army
Rainey, Joe Marine
Roman, Genevieve Navy
Rose, Harald Army
Sehi, Clara
Shaffer, James Army
Shamaly, Maurice Army
Simley, Robert Air Force
Sinclair, John Air Force
Slusiewicz, Richard Army
Wolf, William Army
JOHN FRANKEL OBITUARY
February 24, 1937 - April 8, 2023 Lieutenant Commander John A Frankel, US Navy Retired, 86 of Laguna Woods, California, passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at Saddleback Memorial Hospital, after being surrounded by his family. He was born on February 24, 1937, in Beverly Hills, California to Philip and Jacqueline (Lippman) and was the oldest of two children. John was always proud to be a 6th generation Californian. John graduated from North Hollywood High School and then attended his beloved UC Berkeley, graduating in 1960 with a degree in civil engineering. He was commissioned in the United States Navy and served in the Civil Engineer Corps for 20 years, including a tour in Vietnam with the Seabees. While in Vietnam he received numerous medals including the Air Force Commendation Medal. He retired from active duty in 1980 and began working as a project manager first with the County of Orange and then with the Austin Company. After John retired from the Austin Company, he began to volunteer his services as a Facilities Engineer at J Serra High School and a project manager at Crean Lutheran High School, building the new school campuses. Additionally, he was appointed to the Architectural Review Committee of the Orange County Transit Authority. His final job in retirement was serving as a Director to the Laguna Woods Third Mutual Board. John was an avid outdoorsman and spent his early years fishing, hiking, camping and golfing. Catching trout on the Sespe was a favorite pastime. He shared his love of the outdoors with his wife and their three children. RV camping and YMCA family camps were regular family vacations. John was passionate about his involvement with the YMCA and credited them with his introduction to Christianity. He was active in the YMCA for more than 50 years. He continued his volunteerism with his involvement in Rotary International for 49 years, Shriners International, American Legion, and he was active in the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Laguna Woods. In his retirement years John traveled with his wife, Dotty (Evans) and enjoyed many cruises and Tauck Tours. John and Dotty took many special cruises with their children and grandchildren. He continued his love for the Dodgers and never missed watching his CAL Bears play a football game. John was a strong Christian from an early age and lived his life by the motto, "I am third." Christ first, others second and I am third. John was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Jean (Frankel) Shanman. John is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dotty (Evans) of Quakertown, PA, his daughter Susan Guthrie (Will) of Columbia, SC, his son James Frankel of Capitol Heights, MD, his son David Frankel (Ashley) of Castle Rock, CO, and his grandchildren, Emily Guthrie and Billy Guthrie. Services will be held at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 24231 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, California 92637, on Friday, May 19 at 10:00 am with reception to follow in the church social hall. A private burial will be at Riverside National Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lutheran Church of the Cross or Rotary International. Arrangements by O'Connor Mortuary
JAMES JUHAN OBITUARY
James L. Juhan, Chaplain (Lt. Col.), United States Army (Retired) May 5, 1939 - February 1, 2023 Jim Juhan died peacefully at home on February 1, 2023, after a long illness. Born in Decatur, GA, on May 5, 1939, he graduated from Murphy High School in Atlanta in 1957. He lettered in four sports and attended Auburn University from 1957-1959 on a baseball scholarship. In his teens, he volunteered as a youth pastor at his local church. He enlisted in the Army in 1959 and served at Fort Lewis, WA, where he met his first wife, Geraldine Crawford. He attended Officer Candidate School and became an infantry officer and company commander at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. Jim and Gerry had three children, Jonathan, Christina, and Kathryn. They divorced in the '70s. After his first tour in the Army, Jim transferred to the Army Reserve and returned to Auburn University, graduating in 1963. While attending Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX (1963-1966), he served as pastor of the Burneyville Baptist Church in Oklahoma. Jim returned to active duty as an Army Chaplain in 1966. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg (1966-67), Vietnam (1st Infantry Division and 1st Engineer Battalion near Saigon, 1967-68), Ft. Carson, CO (1968-69), Vietnam again (1st Signal Brigade, Long Binh 1969-70), and Bamberg, Germany (1st Armor 1971-74). He worked at the Chaplain School in New York City (1974-78), designing training programs for chaplain assistants and supervising non-resident instruction, simultaneously earning a masters' in Sociology from Long Island University. At the same time, he was the pastor of the Lennox Road Baptist Church in Brooklyn. The Army then sent him to California to earn a third masters degree, in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. There he met his second wife, Delores Pearson. From 1979 to 1984, he was stationed at Ft. Eustis, VA, where he established the Army's first Family Life Center and with Delores, wrote the Army's White Paper on the Family, spearheading the Army's policy efforts to address family issues that were impacting soldier morale and retention. He retired in 1984, after 25 years of service, and after Delores' sudden death in an auto accident. He moved his family, including Delores' two children, to San Francisco. Leaving church life for a time, he worked at Bank of America headquarters, designing training programs for bank officers, and he directed the Samaritan Pastoral Counseling Center in Walnut Creek. Under contract with the Army, he assembled the first Pastoral Counseling manual for chaplains. He married Cynthia Conners in 1986, beginning 37 years of a truly exceptional marriage. He served as interim pastor at Old First Presbyterian Church in San Francisco (1988), First Presbyterian Church of Las Vegas (2001-2003), and Englewood Presbyterian Church in New Jersey (2003-2004). He worked for the US government as a counselor in New Orleans after Hurricane Katana in 2004 and 2005. After Jim and Cynthia moved to Laguna Woods in 2006, Jim was the chaplain for American Legion Post 257, the President of the California Club and the Kiwanis club, and a Director for Third Mutual HOA and the Golden Rain Foundation. He continued to perform weddings and memorial services. Jim is survived by his wife Cynthia, his three children, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He will be missed for his irrepressible sense of humor, his cheerful and friendly personality, and his caring and generous spirit. A memorial service will be held at Geneva Presbyterian Church on April 15, 2023, at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Geneva Presbyterian Church, the Foundation of Laguna Woods Village, or the Alzheimer's Association.
WARREN MARR 11 Feb 1941- 12 Sep 2022
Warren Francis Marr, of Laguna Woods, CA passed away on September 12,
surrounded by his loving family. Born on February 11, 1941, he was the eldest of the
ten children born to Margaret and J. Harry Marr. Warren grew up in Hingham, MA,
graduated from Archbishop Williams High School and was a graduate of the University
of Notre Dame, ‘62. During the VietNam war he proudly served his country as an officer
in the U.S. Marine Corps. Warren married his very special California girl, Bivian A.
Dodd in 1967 and settled in Long Beach, CA where they raised their two sons. He had
an exciting and successful career in sales and marketing, primarily in the sporting
goods industry, traveling extensively across the U.S., Europe and Asia. He will always
be loved and greatly missed by his wife of 55 years, Bivian, his sons Timothy and
Matthew (wife Naoko) and his precious granddaughter, Sara. That little one was the
light of his life and brought him so much joy. He is also survived by his sisters,
Maureen Carven (Joseph), Constance, Irene and brothers Michael, Matthew (Sally),
Jay, Mark. He was predeceased by his parents, and brothers, Peter and Paul. His kind,
loyal and generous spirit will always be remembered and treasured by his many
nieces, nephews, and by all that knew him. His love of family, country, friends, the U.S.
Marine Corps, the University of Notre Dame, and all Boston sports teams knew no
bounds. A celebration of his life is planned for a future date.
Richard Slusiewicz
Born in Warsaw Poland on February 28, 1931. The youngest of four children. When the Nazi’s invaded Poland in September of 1939 Richard’s life would forever change. Losing his older brother and both parents in the infamous “Concentration Camps,” Richard was an orphan by the age of 13, left to be raised by his older sister of five years – Alina.
Good fortune was realized in the fact that Richard, his mother and his sisters were in Bergen Belsen (the same concentration camp that the famed Anne Frank was executed) at the end of WWII. This compound was fortunately freed by Allied forces instead of Russian troops. This marked the beginning of his long journey to America to what Richard would often refer to as the land of freedom and opportunity! The country where anyone with or (like Richard) without an education could advance and create a life for he and his family! The country that he would use for his advantage for the rest of his life.
Richard would often say that he landed in NY with the clothes on his back. a suitcase smaller than the size of an average “carry on” bag these days, zero comprehension of the English language and $10 in his pocket. With the wonderful life he built with real estate and other investments – he liked to say – “The rest is profit.”
However there were a few more false starts to his new life’s adventure. Being here less than 5 months – something known as the Korean conflict came along and since this was a United Nations skirmish – the US Army drafted him and off he went – to Korea for another round of war – as if he hadn’t had enough already!
People talk about discrimination as if it’s an excuse as to why one doesn’t have success – well Richard’s strong accent and lack of the English language – made him an outcast in the military. He got the many of the dangerous assignments. He would say his officers would place him in an outpost and he would ask – where are the Koreans – and they would point out in front of him – there, there and there! So then Richard would ask – where are our troops. And the Captain would turn around and say back there – there and there! So Richard was a sniper but sniping from his outpost caused a lot of local mortar shelling to hit all around him – which is why the VA took care of him later in life because he became hard of hearing!
But coming home – as you all know – Richard after a couple of delays – was granted his US Citizenship by none other than Grand Rapids Congressman Gerald R. Ford who would later go on to become the 38th President of the US. So a poor young man from Poland got to mix it up with future Presidents. Only in America does that happen!
Things got a little easier for Richard as enemy troops stopped shooting at him and shelling near him. This allowed him to start his life in his early 20’s in peace.
He had learned a couple of trades while he worked in Germany – that of being a machinist as well as a tool and die maker. Those skills served him well! He took jobs in manufacturing in Michigan – known today as the “Rust Belt” but in the 50’s – 60’s and 70’s it was hardly rusty – Michigan in those years was the heart of the US Automobile industry. “What a great country” – he would often say. After many jobs eventually came some stability when he went to work for General Motors! His wife Lettie got him that job. But that job was interrupted frequently and often he took “under the table jobs” for cash while he was laid off or the union was on strike. Those relationships he made with his previous employers in the 1950’s paid off because he was such a good worker. His motto which he had as a sign above his home workbench said: “Early to bed and early to rise – makes Johnny healthy wealthy and wise.” Only it wasn’t Johnny – it was Richard and his family that started to prosper because of his hard work and dedication!
After a 30 year GM career Richard was able to retire with a great pension and health benefits!
But he didn’t accomplish this all alone. In the mid 1950’s, Richard with the money he made in the military bought himself a new car. He had a buddy whose family knew another Polish family in Wisconsin – so my dad volunteered to drive his buddy and his family to a farm in Hollandale Wisconsin. When he got there he met his future wife Lettie – and we like to say he swept her off her feet with his great dancing ability. Rich and Lettie were really good dancers! So he kind of stole her from his buddy but his buddy and his eventual wife and Lettie all remained friends to the very end! But singing and dancing was something both Rich and Lettie liked to do! They entered competitions and won in big cities like Chicago! That was one of the original attractions here in Laguna Woods Village – the Friday night dances!
Richard and Lettie were not people who worked and then just relaxed at home after. They had ambition to gain a better life, and America provided that opportunity! They were renting from Richards older sister. It was one side of a duplex but they wanted their own place! So they bought a home in a little neighborhood at the edge of town next to a huge park – Richmond Park – and proceeded to raise their family – they had two children – older brother Gene and the younger Jerry! What a great choice to be by the park with all its activities. That move was genius for a young family!
But it didn’t stop there – Richard had a coworker who inherited a 6 unit apartment building in a bad part of town, located across the street from a freeway. The coworker didn’t want the apartment, so Richard offered to buy the apartment building on a land contract! Meaning no money down! So another of Richards’s famous sayings now was born into our family! The term was OPM – Other People’s Money! Did he ever inspire with that one! Jerry’s entire financial planning career is built on OPM – Richard’s nephews both attribute their ability to retire successful and early to Rich – from applying the concepts of OPM – Other People’s Money to achieving their goals. Richard for many – many years – never sold any real estate! He just bought and then rented them out! Houses he moved from – didn’t sell them. He turned them into rental units – sometimes dividing them into two units! His wife’s parent’s house – Richard bought it – even though it was across industrial building and railroad tracks! You could say with 100% accuracy that Richard was a slumlord! With coined property names like “El Dumpo” and other properties being located across from freeways and railroad tracks – these weren’t prime California real estate. He used to carry a pistol and a witness – his wife or sons– to collect the rent! But guess what? Over time and hard work – he upgraded to much nicer properties which provided a lifetime of retirement income and allowed Rich and Lettie the ability to move to Laguna Woods Village and be “snow birds” for several years before deciding that California is the place they’d rather be – so they loaded up the truck and they moved to… here!
Faith was also paramount to Richard! Born and Baptized Catholic – he continued with his faith for a lifetime of service to God. He was confirmed while serving his country in Korea and raised his two boys in the Catholic Faith ensuring that they both went to Catholic school for Elementary and High School!
On the Korea topic again – Richard liked to say “there aren’t any atheists in a foxhole especially when someone is shooting at you!” He had a special Rosary that he said was what got him through the Korean conflict. That Rosary was in his hands when he was cremated. The only artifact we sent with him.
Richard served as an usher later in life in Belmont Michigan at Assumption Parish and was the President of the Ushers Club for a while. He also went on a Catholic men’s retreat in his day. He was a proud member of the American Legion for 30 years, both in Grand Rapids and in Laguna Woods.
It was a tough life for him, with the wars he had to go through, at the beginning. There was dedicated focus around work, faith and family in the middle years. But it wasn’t all work and no play. He took up camping as a family. First in tents – then a small trailer and eventually he bought a cottage on Camp Lake that provided many years of fun – with boating, waterskiing, motorcycles and hunting all right there just a few miles from his family home!
Richard’s later years were a blessing of peace and happiness. His children and grandchildren who he loved greatly – all live nearby. He loved the weather here in California. He loved living in Laguna Woods and watching other people mow his grass! Add in the fact that he did not have to shovel snow! Or dress in anything more than a sweatshirt or a jacket – This was the life!
But like all good things – they all eventually must come to an end. Richard died on October 26th, 2019 from lung cancer. There was a couple of months to say goodbye. But it’s not how he died that we will remember but how he lived! He was a happy man with unending faith in God and in the future. He looked for the good in all people and all situations. He quick to forgiveness and looked for reasons to get along with everyone. Richard was a hero figure and his life should act as an inspiration for everyone – especially to those who knew him!
Anderson, Jerome (Jerry)
Jerry Anderson, 89, was born April 18, 1929, and passed away in his sleep on August 29, 2018.
JAMES LUNDY SHAFFER
June 18,1926 - March 1,2018
Big Man on the Road. Commander in chief. Beloved father. Published author. These are just some of the many titles acquired over the years by Jim Shaffer. A longtime Laguna Woods resident and World War II veteran, he died at the age of 91 on March 1, 2018.
Born James Lundy Shaffer in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1926, he served as a US Army staff sergeant (1st Cavalry Division) in charge of a radio operator school outside Tokyo. He attended Indiana State College (1946-47) and graduated from Indiana University in 1949 with a B.A. in zoology. A traveling salesman for many years in the Midwest, he eventually settled in Miami and became a regional manager at Ashland Oil and Chemical Company. After retiring, he worked as a substitute teacher in South Florida and Orange County schools.
In 1989, Jim published “Peterbilt to Laredo,” a novel about a desperate driver and a mysterious truck. In addition to writing fiction, memoirs, newspaper and magazine articles, and essays about modern life, he loved taking photographs, collecting offbeat decorative items, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Since moving to Laguna Woods in 1998, Jim served as commander in chief of American Legion Post 257; president of the Saddleback Kiwanis; and a board member of the Community Civic Association. In 2000, he founded the popular social club TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday), a weekly event featuring live music and dancing still going strong at Clubhouse 2. Jim’s community activism, which also included flipping pancakes for Kiwanis fundraisers and collecting donations for the school at Camp Pendleton, earned him the title Honoree of the Month from the Laguna Woods Historical Society in 2009.
Known and loved for his quirky sense of humor as well as his compassion and civic-minded spirit, Jim liked to send cards and letters with funny lines and poems. The words that will be inscribed on his grave capture a sense of that humor: “See You Later.”
Survivors include his daughters Diana and Gina; son-in-law Julian Spencer; ex-wife Teresa Muñoz Shaffer (a Havana native who inspired Jim’s fondness for Cuban culture); nephews Brent and Scott Shapiro; and girlfriend Judy Di Lallo.
CHUCK CRUMLEY
Past Post Commander has transferred to Post Everlasting, a Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday 27 January 2017 at 10:00, Clubhouse 5. Chuck was an active member of the Clow Alley and members are asked to wear silly hats in lieu of normal clown suits. Chuck donated his body directly to UC Irvine for research.
Obituary for Russell D. Chase
Russ was born in Alberta Canada to Hely and Audrey Chase. He was raised in St. Joseph, Michigan. Russ served bravely in World War II and when returned home, married the love of his life, Shirley Evans, in 1945. Working as a Service manage for IBM he raised his family of five in Illinois. Russ and Shirley retired in Laguna Hills, CA. Russ was active in his 447th Bomb group, American Legion, and Laguna Woods security. Service to our Lord was a great priority to Russ, who taught classes, ushered, and worked as a mentor for Saddleback Church. He loved photography, spending time with friends and family, bible study, and traveling. He will be remembered for his optimistic personality, incredible dance skills, and coined phrase “Somewhere between outstanding and excellent”.
His visitation will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2017 5-9 pm, and the memorial service will be held on Friday April 7, 2017 at 10:00 am, both at McCormick and Sons Mortuary in Laguna Hills, to be followed at 2:00 pm by the military graveside service at the Riverside National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to Simaritan's Purse, Salvation Army, or a charity of choice.
JOHN BADGLEY
DEAN DAVISSON
Knott's Berry Farm's first Director of Public Relations, Dean Davisson, died peacefully at his home in Laguna Woods on October 26, 2014. He was 92 years old.
Dean was synonymous with Knott's Berry Farm during his eighteen years there. Dean was recently honored at Knott's where he autographed books about the park and later appeared for a panel discussion about the "good old days" at the Farm.
Dean, the youngest of three boys, was born April 25, 1922 in Eads, Colorado. Dean joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served in both World War II and the Korean War. He was released from active duty in 1948 as a Lieutenant Commander.
After the war, Dean settled in Southern California where he earned his Bachelors Degree from Pepperdine University. He married Beverly Asire in 1948. They had three children: Gary, born 1950, and identical twin girls, Diann and Darla 1953. Gary and Darla have both predeceased their father. Diann lives in Huntington Beach with her wife of 38 years, Terry Eselun.
Dean met Walter Knott, the founder of Knott's Berry Farm, while working for the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Long Beach Board of Realtors. Walter's son, Russell Knott, hired Dean on the spot when he saw his resume. Knott's thrived under Dean's leadership.
In 1976 Dean left Knott's Berry Farm to fulfill a lifelong dream of running for the California State 69th Assembly District. He came in a respectable third out of a field of eight hopefuls.
Out of a job, Dean opened his own Public Relations firm with an office in Fullerton. The business flourished as Dean lent his expertise to various trade organizations. Dean retired in 1996 and was named Executive Director Emeritus of the National Institute of Pension Administrators Educational Foundation.
Dean was a dedicated volunteer. His positive energy and zest for life, combined with his extensive knowledge, was a boon to many groups. Dean has received many awards for his community service. The American Cancer Society, the Lincoln Club, the Tustin Rotary International, the National Alliance of Businessmen to name a few. One of his most favorite assignments, however, was his time serving as a teacher's helper for eleven years for the first grade class at San Joaquin Elementary School in Laguna Hills.
Dean divorced his first wife, Beverly, in 1983 and soon after he married Shirley Talpas who died in 2000. He married Georgette Hirschberg on November 1, 2002. Dean is survived by his beloved wife Georgette; his daughter, Diann; his daughter-in-law, Terry Eselun; his grandson, Rusty Espinoza and his wife, Tamrah; along with four great grandchildren.
Dean has had many careers and countless adventures, but he will be remembered in our hearts as the most loving, most generous, and sweetest man we've ever known.
A memorial service and lunch will be held on November 13, 2014, Thursday at 11:30 am in Laguna Woods, Clubhouse #1. The American Legion will do a special flag presentation.
DAN WILFONG
PHOTOS FROM WARD PAYNES MEMORIAL (click here)