Obituaries for the week of 11/7/17
Albert Jonas
Albert Antone Jonas passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on Oct. 27, 2017. A Naval WWII veteran, Al was born in Missoula, Montana. He was one of six children born to immigrant parents from the German colonies in south Russia. A contractor and builder, Al moved his family from Livermore to Susanville in 1973 to live in an area with mountains and streams that reminded him of his hometown. Albert spent the next 30 years building homes with his son, Tony, in and around Susanville before retiring to Las Vegas and then Arizona.
At the young and determined age of 16, Al Jonas left his rural home in Missoula. He was eager to follow his two older brothers in military service and headed to San Francisco. There, Al met the love of his life, Lorraine Bornum, and they were married the following year. Albert volunteered to serve in the U.S. Merchant Marines hauling vital war cargo in the early years of WWII. Al was a seaman on the MS Cape Flattery in the summer of 1942.
Al Jonas was a Naval Seaman during the years 1943 to 1945. He sailed on the U.S.S. Aldebaran when it was chosen to be the first Fleet Provision ship to join the Navy’s supply train. In the Asiatic Pacific, the mission of the U.S.S. Aldebaran was to rendezvous and replenish the fleet at sea as well as outlying bases with vital and necessary supplies. Seaman First Class Jonas was honorably discharged in December of 1945 and returned home to his bride in San Francisco.
Al was married 75 years to wife, Lorraine. They raised four children, just losing their daughter Colleen several months ago. Albert leaves behind his wife Lorraine and daughter Christine Jonas, both of Arizona; son, Tony Jonas, of Susanville; and daughter, Carol Jones, of Florida, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Pamela Ann Blodgett
Pamela Blodgett, beloved wife and mother, passed away Oct. 24 in Reno after an extended illness.
Pamela was born in Pasadena, California June 26, 1947.
She moved to the Susanville area in March 1979.
She loved traveling, her pets and gardening her dozens of rose bushes.
Her bachelor’s degree in social welfare allowed her to take the required tests to be allowed to work as a substitute teacher. While working as a substitute teacher, she discovered she loved teaching high school students.
After her daughter entered elementary school, she went back to college while in her mid-40s and earned her teaching credential in special education.
She taught at Lassen Union High School. At the time she retired, she also served as the special education department head.
Pamela was buried Nov. 1 in the Diamond Crest Cemetery.
She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Kenneth Bunch; her daughter, Vanessa Bunch; her sister, Margaret Blodgett; and nephew, Sam Blodgett.
The family is grateful for the loving care provided to Pamela over the last year by La Ñina Whitcome.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to one of Pamela’s favorite charities, Doctors without Borders.
Steven Brian Nagel
Steven Brian Nagel passed away on Sept. 10, 2017. He was residing in Van Buren, Arkansas at the time. He was born in Susanville, California on Feb. 3, 1967 and attended Janesville and Lassen High School. He worked as a computer engineer for Hewlett-Packard and Intel for many years.
He is survived by Linda Nagel (mother), James and Gladys Nagel (father), Michael Nagel (brother) and Fred and Teresa Nagel (uncle and aunt).
Services were held in Van Buren, Arkansas in September 2017.