Bruce H. Fornell

Bruce H. Fornell
December 31, 1938 - January 20, 2026

OBITUARY

Bruce Harold Fornell was born the last day of the year of 1938 in rural northwest Wisconsin. His dad, Harold, was a farmer at the time and his mom, Martha, was a school teacher. In 1941 the family of three took a trip to Northern California to the Eureka area, staying with Bruce’s Aunt Priscilla with the thought of moving there when the attack on Pearl Harbor changed the course of history. The family quickly returned to Wisconsin to resume farming in support of the war effort.

In 1943 a sister, April, joined the family. Almena, Wisconsin was home to the now family of four until 1947 when the family again moved to California, this time to Stockton where Bruce continued to reside for most of his life except for a four year stint in the navy. Mom Martha’s three sisters and their families lived nearby in Stockton and Galt, and Bruce was the oldest of a tight knit pack of eight cousins who would spend weekends and holidays together with endless fun adventures.

He attended Lodi High School and Delta Community college before joining the navy where he was an electronics technician. Following his navy years he returned to Stockton and graduated with a business degree from the University of the Pacific (although then it was the College of the Pacific), and went on to have a long and successful career in Real Estate. He also did volunteer work and served on various boards over the years in the Stockton community. Throughout his life he had an interest in motorcycles and physical fitness, spending many hours in the gym. And he liked cats.

A favorite vacation spot for him and his wife Jean was to go often to Capitola on the coast. Jean passed away in 2017. Jean was born December 18, 1941 and grew up in the Stockton/Linden area loving horses and music. She was an excellent office manager for a group of medical doctors in Stockton, working long hours while enjoying her job. Jean loved shopping, giving gifts to friends and family, and buying clothes and shoes for herself. She was beautiful and always looked like a million bucks.

Bruce and Jean both had a kind side and were generous with time and money throughout their lives to help those in need, not only for charitable organizations, but also for individuals, especially in the homeless community.

Bruce has always marched to a slightly different tune than most, so he was unique and a bit of a character. He had a mind of his own and liked to live on the edge. Determination was his strong suit. He liked to be in charge, was fiercely independent, and felt he could accomplish anything he set his mind to do.

He could not win his battle with pancreatic cancer, however, and the last few months of his life were tough on him. Pancreatic cancer is what took Jean’s life as well. The beautiful Cherokee Park in Lodi California will be their final resting place together as Jean’s ashes will be buried with Bruce.

SERVICE

 A graveside service will be held at 1:00pm on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 1:00pm at Cherokee Memorial Park, located off Highway 99 at Harney Lane, Lodi CA, 95240.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Fornell family.

Please leave your condolences below.

Benjamin Dais

July 17, 1930 - January 18, 2026

Ben Dais passed away peacefully on January 18, 2026, at the age of 95. Ben was born in 1930 in Eureka, South Dakota, to Jacob and Rosina Dais. He was the youngest of seven children. They were descendants of Germans from Russia, specifically the group that moved from the Odessa region to South Dakota, and then to Lodi.

When Ben was a young child, the family moved to Acampo, California, where Ben spent his childhood and teen years helping tend to the farm and its surrounding vineyards. Ben graduated from Lodi High School in 1948. In 1950, he married Delora and shortly thereafter they moved to Los Angeles where they spent several years before returning to Lodi.

Ben worked as an apprentice carpenter and eventually earned his own contractor license. His crew most often consisted of his brother Esra and nephews Bob, Ken, and Bill. During the next 40 years, this crew constructed many private homes, apartment complexes, and medical and commercial buildings. Ben also served as the general contractor for the building of the Church of God (7 th Day) in Lodi. Ben attended this church throughout his life, serving as board member, Bible teacher, and singing in various musical groups. Faith was an integral part of the Ben Dais household. This was reflected in his generosity, his loyalty to his family and church, and his hospitality. His daughters and granddaughter will remember him, with gratitude, as someone who worked tirelessly to provide for and protect his family, as well as making sure that we spent time with each other and with friends enjoying life.

While Ben was a hard worker, he enjoyed time in the outdoors with family and friends, taking trips to the ocean, waterskiing and swimming. He also enjoyed reading historical books and tending his cactus garden.

Ben was preceded in death by his wife, Delora, by his parents, Jacob and Rosina Dais, and by his siblings Mary Haegar, Reuben Dais, Ida Ogren, Gideon Dais, Emil Dais, and Esra Dais. He is survived by his daughters Pam Self (Neal), Sharon Griffin (Jerry) and his granddaughter Jillian Self-Cabral (Andrew).

SERVICE
A memorial service will be held Sunday, February 15 at 2:00 pm at the Church of God (7 th Day) on Tienda Drive in Lodi.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Dais family.

Please leave your condolences below.

Shirley A. Guinn

Shirley Ann Guinn

January 14, 1939 - January 17, 2026

OBITUARY

Shirley Ann Guinn (Tommila) passed away on January 17th 2026, at the age of 87 in Stockton, CA. She left this world surrounded by her loving family.

She will be welcomed into Heaven by her husband Blake, and her grandson Mac.

Born January 14th, 1939 in Tripoli Wisconsin, Shirley was the eldest of her siblings: Richard, Frank (deceased), John (deceased), Lucille, Robert, and Joe. Shirley was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her children, Butch (Linda) Guinn, Cherrill Jones and Teresa Rossi.

She leaves grandchildren: Lindsay (Bill) Metzinger, Michella Rossi, Blake (Tanya) Guinn, John Rossi, and Lisa Rogers. Great-grandchildren: Nathan Rossi, Caroline and Benjamin Guinn, and Layne August Russell

Shirley was a devoted homemaker who dutifully supported her lifelong husband, Blake. Together, they shared a lifetime of love, laughter, and adventure, traveling the western United States in their motorhome.

In quiet moments, Shirley could often be found with a book in hand or seated at her kitchen window, observing the goings on of the neighborhood.

As a grandmother, she was endlessly generous. She sewed handmade Halloween costumes, drove to four different fast food drive-throughs because a car full of grandchildren couldn’t agree on just one. If she picked you up sick from school, you would receive a detailed education in her strategy for The Price is Right. A visit to Grandma and Papa’s house always promised good times and full bellies.

Above all else, Shirley will be remembered for her remarkable strength and her unwavering ability to smile through life’s many challenges.

SERVICE

 A graveside service will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at Cherokee Memorial Park, located off Highway 99 at Harney Lane, Lodi CA, 95240.


Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Guinn family.

Please leave your condolences below.

 

Angel Sierra Aguilera

August 6, 1956 - January 17, 2026

VISITATION
 A visitation will be held from 4:00pm - 8:00pm on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 at the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

SERVICE
 A service will be held at 10:00am on Thursday, January 29th, 2026 at the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

Please leave your condolences below.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Sierra Aguilera family.

Paul Narcisse Sr.

January 22, 1944 - January 15, 2026

VISITATION
 A visitation will be held from 10:00am - 11:00am on Friday, January 23rd, 2026 at the Quail Lakes Baptist Church, located at 1904 Quail Lakes Dr, Stockton, CA 95207.

SERVICE
 A service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, January 23rd, 2026 at the Quail Lakes Baptist Church, located at 1904 Quail Lakes Dr, Stockton, CA 95207. The final committal will follow immediately at Cherokee Memorial Park, located off Highway 99 at Harney Lane, Lodi CA, 95240.

Please leave your condolences below.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Narcisse family.

Sua Vo

Sua Vo

December 30, 1959 - January 12, 2026

VISITATION

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 12:00pm-6:00pm at Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

SERVICE
 Service will be held on Friday, January 30, 2026 at 10:00am at Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.


Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Vo family.

Please leave your condolences below.

 

Esperanza Luna

Esperanza Luna Sanchez “Dona Lancha”
August 1, 1933 - January 12, 2026

Esperanza is survived by her children, Jose Luis, Alberto, Javier, Carmen, Rafael, Ruben, Marisela, and Norma Giron Luna. She is preceded in death by her parents, Patricio Luna and Juana Sanchez; her husband Luis Giron Tapia; child Jesus Giron; grandchild Jesus Giron Martinez; and Carmen Guerrero.

SERVICE
Service will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 1:00pm at Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Luna family.

Please leave your condolences below.

Elizabeth Leddy

Elizabeth Anne Leddy

May 28, 1942 - January 7, 2026

VISITATION

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 from 5:00pm-7:00pm in Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

SERVICE

Graveside service will be held Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 11:00am at Galt Cemetary located 1104 Dorothy Ln, Galt, CA, 95632

Reception to follow in J Charles Irwin Reception Center at 12:30pm, at Cherokee Memorial Park, located off Highway 99 at Harney Lane, Lodi CA, 95240.


Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Leddy family.

Please leave your condolences below.

 

Cherokee Memorial Park is a 501(c)13 non-profit company, owned and operated exclusively for the benefit of the community, serving Lodi, Stockton, Galt, Manteca and the San Joaquin Valley since 1940.

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