Shirley Mae Wheeler was born in Long Pine, Nebraska on November 22, 1929 to James L. and Alice E. (Abrams) Wheeler.

At age 4 they moved to a farm in Rock county.  She attended Glenwood school for grades 1 thru 5.  The family moved back to Long Pine in 1940 after a fire destroyed their home.  There she attended school until she graduated as salutatorian in 1947.

She moved to Denver, Colorado in 1948 and found employment at the U. S. National bank.  In 1950 to 1952 she was employed by First National Bank in Lincoln, Nebraska.

She became pen pals with Lloyd A Strack, a sailor stationed in Guam; and when he returned on leave, they were married in Lakewood, Colorado.  To this union were born 4 children. The family eventually expanded to contain 11  grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

The family moved to Stockton, California in 1958. During her life there she worked for Union Safe Bank for two years and then was employed for 28 years at St. Joseph’s Hospital, retiring in 1994.During this time she attended night classes at San Joaquin Delta College earning a degree in Anthropology and graduating with honors.

She and her daughter Lia formed a company where for ten years they crafted various items for the International Order of the Rainbow Girls organization.  Since then she has been engaged in making little quilts for the children at Shriners Hospital in Sacramento, Calilfornia, eventually reaching the total of 500.  She also became a Field Investigator for the MUFON organization.

She was a member of The Order of the Eastern Star, Lodi Chapter #150 where she presided as Worthy Matron twice and served as the star points Esther, Martha and Electa, and as Associate Conductress.

During her retirement she also found time to pursue her passion for writing, eventually completing five novels and a biography of her beloved brother-in-law, Clement Ashbaugh.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Willard and James, Sister Carmen, Kathleen, Barbara, and Annette.  She is survived by brothers David and Larry Wheeler and Sister Alice Furgurson; her children, Lloyd Anthony (Laura) Strack, Lia (Will) McVicker, Celeste (Mark) McCaslin and Sean Strack; her grandchildren and great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Donahue Funeral Home on January 3, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be following the conclusion of the service at Lodi Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made In her memory to one of the following charities of her heart: St. Jude, Shriners  Hospital, Wounded Warrior Project or American Cancer Society.

Berta Mapp de Alvarez  Obituary

Berta Mapp de Alvarez passed away Monday, December 11, 2017 after a short, but valiant battle with cancer. Berta was born in Panama City, Republic of Panama on August 5, 1949 to Gabriel Mapp and Angela Tejada. She was the second oldest of four children. Berta met her husband, Angel Alvarez Pagan at a bowling alley in Panama City, Republic of Panama, they were married on January 6, 1978. After living in Panama, Kansas, and Germany Berta and Angel made their home in Stockton, California.

Berta loved spending time with children and young adults. She worked in Lincoln Unified School District for over 20 years. Berta also dedicated many years, and miles, to Lodi Chapter, Order of DeMolay, a youth leadership organization for young men where she had been an adult advisor since 1998.

She was preceded in death by her father, Gabriel Mapp. She is survived by her husband, Angel Alvarez Pagan, sons Angel (Daniel Ewald) Alvarez-Mapp and Josue Alvarez Mapp, mother Angela Tejada, sisters Minerva (Clarance) Lettsome, Norma Stewart, brother Mario Mapp, as well as several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2017, at 2 p.m. at Donahue Funeral Home, 123 N. School Street, Lodi, California.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society at 207 E. Alpine Avenue, Stockton, California, 95204.

LaVerne Faul entered her eternal home on December 6, 2017 at the age of 86. LaVerne was born on a farm in Chaseley, North Dakota on May 16, 1931 to Reinhold and Helen Kroll. She was the eighth child out of 10 children (6 girls and 4 boys). LaVerne met her husband Clinton Faul at age 15 and they were married three years later on October 29, 1949 in Devils Lake, North Dakota. They made their home in Lodi, California in 1965. LaVerne worked as a nurse’s aide and waitress before her marriage and later worked at Delta Sportswear in Lodi as a garment inspector.
LaVerne loved to sing and was a member of the choir at First Baptist Church in Lodi, California. LaVerne devoted her life to her family and was proud of the fact she was able to spend so much time taking care of her grandchildren. She and Clinton loved to take motorcycle trips across the country. She was also able to take a trip to the Holy Land.
LaVerne was preceded in death by her parents, Reinhold and Helen Kroll, sisters Erma Stalinger, Nora Yohner, Elsie Andreola, Arlene Welch, and brothers Walter, Edwin and Elmer Kroll. She is survived by her husband Clinton Faul, son Ronald Faul (Suzanne), daughter Vicki Angeli (Raymond), sister Cecilia Hursman, and brother Raymon Kroll, as well as 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, 7 nephews and 9 nieces.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 15, 2017, at 11 am in the chapel of First Baptist Church, 267 N. Mills, Lodi, CA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Assn Stockton WTEA, 2290 N. 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95131 or First Baptist Church Building Fund, 267 N. Mills, Lodi, CA 95242.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Donahue Funeral Home, 123 N. School St., Lodi, CA and a viewing will be on Thursday, December 14, 2017, 10 am to 7 pm.