Obituaries - 4/10/2007
Tapolchanji,John
Golden, Mary
Feeney, Barbara
Guffin, Ronald
Hvoslef, Ragnar
Jensen, Eleanor
Loop, David
Nilson, Leona
Ross, Mark

By: North County Times and The Californian | Monday, April 9, 2007 7:21 PM PDT ∞

John Tapolchanji, 80

MURRIETA ---- John Tapolchanji, 80, died Friday, April 6, 2007.

Born Oct. 24, 1926, in Yugoslavia, he lived in Murrieta for seven years. He was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church of Nazarene.

Mr Tapolchanji is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ethel Tapolchanji of Murrieta; brothers Louie Tapolchanji of Oregon, and Eli Tapolchanji of Ohio; and sister, Aose Biro of Murrieta.

A funeral service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Eternal Hills Mortuary Chapel in Oceanside. Burial will follow at Eternal Hills Memorial Park.

Eternal Hills Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Mary Golden, 90

LAKE SAN MARCOS -- Mary Ellen Golden, 90, died Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at her home.

Born Jan. 6, 1917, in the Bronx, N.Y., she lived in Lake San Marcos for 16 years. She was a homemaker for 65 years. She was a member of St. Mark's Catholic Church.

Mrs. Golden was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, John "Jack" J. Golden, in 2006; son John J. Golden Jr. in 1983; and grandson Jason in 1996. She is survived by her son, Matthew Golden of Santa Monica; daughter Patricia Thirsk of Hermosa Beach; and one grandson.

A memorial will be held at a later date at St. Mark's Catholic Church. Private inurnment at Mission San Luis Rey is planned.

The family suggests donations to St. Mark's Catholic Church, 1147 Discovery St., San Marcos, CA 92078, or Vitas Hospice, 9655 Granite Ridge, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92123.

Allen Bros. Mortuary, San Marcos Chapel, is handling arrangements.

Leona Nilson, 69

SAN DIEGO -- Leona Jean Nilson, 69, died of pneumonia Monday, April 2, 2007, at Sharp Hospital in San Diego.

Born Jan. 8, 1938, in Minneapolis, she lived in San Diego for 65 years. She was a retired licensed vocational nurse. She was a member of the Estrella Chapter #412, Order of the Eastern Star, and Torrey Pines Christian Church in La Jolla.

Mrs. Nilson was preceded in death by her mother, Myrtice Whitney. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Tommy Nilson of San Diego; son and daughter-in-law Paul and Loriegh Nilson of Ramona; daughter Heidi Hensley of San Diego; brother and sister-in-law Louis and Sky Whitney of Egremont, Fla.; sister and brother-in-law Jane and Jim Guthrie of Ramona; and four grandchildren.

A private cremation is planned.

The family suggests donations to a Masonic charity.

Accu-Care Cremation Center is handling arrangements.

Eleanor Jensen, 82

ESCONDIDO - Eleanor "Ellie" Jensen, 82, died Tuesday, April 3, 2007.

Born March 9, 1925, she was a lifelong resident of Escondido. She retired from California First Bank in Escondido. She enjoyed traveling, tennis and golf.

Mrs. Jensen was preceded in death by her parents, William FF and Emma Hoffmann. She is survived by her husband, John Jensen of Escondido; sons and daughters-in-law Rod and Linda Pratte and Doug Pratte, all of Escondido, and Wes and Lisa Pratte of San Marcos; sisters Martha Thompson of Escondido and Sally Heman of San Marcos; five stepchildren; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 20, at Community Lutheran Church, Lake Wohlford Road, 3575 E. Valley Parkway in Escondido.

The family suggests donations to Sharp Hospice Care, P.O. Box 158, La Mesa, CA 91944-9942.

Ronald Guffin, 75

CARLSBAD -- Ronald M. Guffin, 75, died Friday, April 6, 2007.

Born April 23, 1931, in San Francisco, he lived in Carlsbad for six years. He retired in 1991 from Hewlitt-Packard. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps at Camp Gordon, Ga. He was a member of the Saratoga Country Club for 27 years, La Costa Resort for three years, San Dieguito Tennis for two years, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the Masters from UC Berkeley.

Mr. Guffin was preceded in death by his father, Virgil Guffin, in 1980; and mother Kellie Guffin in 1984.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Lodice-Pat Guffin of Carlsbad; daughters and son-in-law Roberta Guffin of Carlsbad and Jennifer and Jeffrey McArthur of San Diego; son Gary Guffin of San Jose; and sister and brother-in-law Janis and Richard Fiske of Grants Pass, Ore.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, at Eternal Hills Mortuary, 1999 El Camino Real in Oceanside.

Eternal Hills Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Barbara Feeney, 71

SAN MARCOS -- Barbara A. Feeney, 71, died Thursday, April 5, 2007, at her home.

Born Dec. 12, 1935, in Dorchester, Mass., she lived in San Marcos for five years. She graduated from Mount St. Joseph's Academy in Brighton, Mass. She was a choir member of St. Mark's Catholic Church and was a poll server.

Mrs. Feeney is survived by her husband of 48 years, William J. Feeney of San Marcos; son and daughter-in-law Thomas and Kelly Feeney of Castle Rock, Colo.; daughters and sons-in-law Lynne Sullivan of Holliston, Mass., Karen and Robert Ritz of Encinitas, and Kerry and Jeffrey Bowden of Carlsbad; and seven grandchildren.

A Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 12, at St. Mark's Catholic Church in San Marcos. Interment will follow.

The family suggests donations in memory of Barbara Feeney to the Kiwanis Foundation Cross Fund, c/o John Andrew, 1282 San Pablo

Drive, San Marcos, CA 92078.

Ragnar Hvoslef, 89

ESCONDIDO - Ragnar Riddervold Hvoslef, 89, died Saturday, March 31, 2007.

Born May 19, 1917, in Oslo, Norway, he lived in North County for 36 years. He was the owner and operator of Gresvig-Canada. After escaping German-occupied Norway to Scotland he served in the British Royal Air Force as a navigator during World War II.

Mr. Hvoslef was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline Keir Hvoslef, in January 2007.

He is survived by his daughter, Nina Hyde-Hvoslef of Boulder, Colo.; stepdaughter Theresa Berube of Santa Cruz; son Erik Hvoslef of Salida, Colo.; and stepsons Gerald Keir and Michael Keir, both of Seattle.

The family will scatter his cremains in the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, April 25.

California Funeral Alternatives is handling arrangements.

Mark Ross, 52

CLEVELAND - Mark Ross, 52, died of lung cancer Wednesday, March 28, 2007.

He was born in Long Beach and lived in Huntington Beach until his sophomore year in high school when he moved to Fallbrook. He graduated from Fallbrook Union High School in 1972. He graduated from Johnson Wales in Providence, R.I., in 1987, with an executive chef degree.

Mr. Ross is survived by his father, Vince Ross of Fallbrook; wife Carla Ross of Cleveland; mother Linette Perkins of Huntington Beach; brother Mike Perkins; sister Tracy Prentice; stepbrothers Phillip Harper of Carson City, Nev., and Clint Harper of Temecula; and stepsister

Trisha DaRos of Australia.

A memorial service and reception is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at Palomares Park, 1815 Stage Coach Lane in Fallbrook. For information call Vince Ross at (760) 728-8749.

David Loop, 78

OCEANSIDE - David M. Loop, 78, died of congestive heart failure Saturday, April 7, 2007.

Born Jan. 19, 1929, in Pitcairn, Pa., he lived in Oceanside since 2000. He retired as a project engineer at Aerospace Corp. He served in the U.S. Navy. He received a bachelor's degree in 1952 and master's degree in electrical engineering in 1953 from Carnegie Mellon University. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Mr. Loop is survived by his wife, Marian Loop; stepchildren Jim, Michael, Carla, Rebecca, Christine, Gene and Cynthia; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be held today at 3 p.m. at North Coast Church in Vista.

Eleanor 'Ellie' Jensen

Eleanor Jensen, 82, died Tuesday April 3, 2007. Born Eleanor LR Hoffmann March 9, 1925, Ellie was a lifelong resident of Escondido and was raised in the historical Hoffmann house, now located in Grape Day Park. She was the daughter of Reverend William FF and Emma Hoffmann. Reverend Hoffmann was the first pastor of Grace Lutheran Church of Escondido.

Ellie is survived by her husband, John Jensen, sons and daughters-in-law, Rod and Linda Pratte of Escondido, Doug Pratte of Escondido and Wes and Lisa Pratte of San Marcos, sisters Martha Thompson of Escondido and Sally Heman of San Marcos, five stepchildren, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Ellie was a longtime employee and retiree of CA 1st Bank now Union Bank of Escondido. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, John, and playing tennis and golf in her later years. Her greatest joy was the love of her family and she will be greatly missed.

There will be a private gravesite interment followed immediately by a public Memorial Service at 11 a.m. Friday, April 20, at Community Lutheran Church, Lake Wohlford Road at 3575 E. Valley Parkway in Escondido. Donations may be made to Sharp Hospice Care, P.O. Box 158, La Mesa, CA 91944-9942.

David M. Loop

David M. Loop passed away April 7, 2007, due to congestive heart failure. He was surrounded in the last days of his life by his loving family and many friends. He was born in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania, on January 19, 1929, where he attended school, graduating with honors. After a tour in the Navy, he attended Carnegie Mellon University. He completed a bachelor of science in 1952 and a master of science in electrical engineering in 1953. He was a member of the honor society Phi Kappa Phi. He started his career at North American Aviation (now part of the Boeing Company), and finished at Aerospace Corporation, working as project engineer on strategic classified Air Force defense satellites.

In 1981, he married Marian Flowers and became a loving stepfather to Jim, Michael,

Carla, Rebecca, Christine, Gene and Cynthia. The family has grown to embrace 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who love, honor and respect this man of integrity and character. He retired in 1996, but continued to work as a consultant until his death. He and his wife, Marian, moved to Oceanside in 2000, to enjoy their retirement years, where they attended North Coast Church.

Throughout his life, Dave remained loyal to his beloved Carnegie Mellon University, earning much recognition and awards for his work with the Los Angeles Alumni (Clan). He returned every year for Homecoming, and established a scholarship for talented underprivileged electrical engineering students. He was especially proud of his Scottish heritage and traveled twice to Scotland to trace his ancestry and enjoy the country of his "roots." He was an avid reader and story teller, who loved music, nature and especially, his cat, Dusty. Dave was a quiet man of character, a model of living life with integrity and deep Christian faith, respected by all who knew him.

Services will be held at North Coast Church in Vista, California, today, April 10, at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Heart Association.