James C. Althoff
ATHERTON, Calif./BANGOR — James C. Althoff, 86, of Atherton and formerly of Bangor died Friday, May 22, 2009, in Atherton after battling Alzheimer’s. He was predeceased in 2004 by his loving wife, Agnes. For the past five years, he received loving care from the staff at Silverado Senior Living Belmont Hills. For that, we will be eternally grateful.
He was born in Lansing, Iowa, on Dec. 8, 1922. He joined WWII as a pilot in the Army Air Corps in 1944, flying 57 combat missions out of Northern Italy in B24s. He met and married Agnes in Milwaukee after the war and moved to California to join fellow pilot Ernie Van Aspern in business. Together, they built Ernie’s Liquors to a chain of 90 plus stores.
Called back to service for the Korean War, Jim served as a pilot instructor in B17, B24, B25, T28 and T33s. After Korea, he stayed in active reserve and flew fighter jets out of Hamilton Field. He resigned his commission in 1957 and devoted full time to family and business. He was awarded command pilot status.
In addition to Ernie’s Liquors, he was an owner or partner in various businesses, restaurants and bars, apartments and motels on the Peninsula. He co-founded — and ran from his home — the 781st BS Association (WWII B24s); was instrumental in establishing Jackson Rancheria Casino; and helped Indian tribes nationally. He served terms as president of the National Liquor Stores Association and California Retail Liquor Association and was on various other association boards of directors.
He was inducted into Sky Ranch Foundation Hall of Fame in 1995, a charitable foundation providing funding for Sky Ranch for Boys in South Dakota to help troubled teens. An avid duck hunter, boating enthusiast and flier, he built several ultra-lights. He enjoyed his family, gardening, waterskiing, scuba diving, fishing and traveling. It seems there was anything he could not do. He remained active in business until Alzheimer’s slowly took his ability to actively participate
He is survived by three brothers, Donald (Jean) Althoff of Walnut Grove, Calif., Leo (Betty) Althoff of La Crosse and Henry (Jackie) Althoff of West Salem; three sisters, Anna Mae (George) Hammes of Platteville, Wis., Rosella (Gerald) Kammel of La Crosse and Madonna (Arnold) Hundt of Bangor; two children, Patricia and Michael; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Agnes, he was preceded in death by a brother, George (Delores) Althoff of Bangor; and a sister, Mary (Wilbert) Hammes of La Crosse.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Our loss is the Lord’s gain.
A funeral Mass was held Thursday, May 28, at Church of the Nativity, Menlo Park, Calif., with burial following at Holy Cross Cemetery, Menlo Park. Crippen & Flynn Woodside Chapel, Red-wood City, Calif., assisted the family. www.crippenflynn.com.
Contributions to a charity may be made in Jim’s name to Sky Ranch Foundation, P.O. Box 8420, Fredricksburg, VA 22404, or the Alzheimer’s Association, Northern California, 1060 La Avenida, Mountain View, CA 94043.
Vivian E. Easterday
WEST SALEM — Vivian E. Easterday, 73, of West Salem died Thursday, May 28, 2009, in her home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, West Salem. Burial will be in Neshonoc Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Jostad-Jandt Funeral Home, Youlon Street, West Salem, and from 10 a.m. until the time of services Monday at the church. Memorials may be given to the nursery at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, West Salem. A complete obituary will be published Sunday.
