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People we remember
Biographies are where we share about family & friends to connect with others who remember them.
Pam Marks:
Frank was an entrepreneur and businessman. He had a good start early on in his career working for General Mills.
Note from Kathy Pinna - When my father graduated from San Jose State, he was sent a few telegrams offering him a job. I don't have the telegrams but I've seen them.
In any case, I was told that he was weighing an offer from San Jose State to be a professor (in the philosophy dept?) and also from General Mills. He went to work for General Mills in their corporate office in San Francisco, as a buyer for the west coast.
Per an article in the San Francisco Examiner, Saturday, December 22, 1956:
"Here are the results of the course, which holds its last session next week:
One man, Frank E. Kroetch, an ingredient buyer for General Mills, has his reading speed up to 988 words per minute. That means he would be able to read better than two columns of this length in less than a minute.
The average reading speed of the men when they started this course was about 250 words a minute. They have boosted the average to 360 words per minute now.
Robert Conlin, the man who suggested the course and got $25 for the idea, started the sessions and then dropped out. Reason: He got promoted to general flour salesman midway through the course and had to concentrate on his new duties."
My mother, sister, and I used to take him to the train in Sunnyvale every day - we lived in Cupertino at the time and it was the fastest and easiest way for him to commute. As I recall, he worked there for a few years and I was told that he was the fastest rising executive at the time. He rose to the grain manager for the West Coast in that short time and he was told that no one had ever been promoted so quickly. They said that he would be president of General Mills within 20 years.
Well, Dad thought that 20 years was too far away so he quit! My memory of those days were the perks - we were sent "food baskets", in those days food boxes of General Mills products and we were able to purchase General Mills products through a employee catalogue. I saved up my allowance - I was about 8 and it was 10 cents a week - to buy a Tiny Tears doll. I loved it when he worked at General Mills.
He had a very sharp mind and knew how to see possibilities and opportunities in front of him. As a result, he was involved in numerous industries and owned many businesses over the years.
In 1960 he was the President of his company, Data Services Corporation.
In 1961, he and his brother Fred were supporters of a new magazine to be called "Northwest" that would use color photos to promote Washington tourism.
Frank also started a car rental service called "Letz Rent-a Car" in the early 1960's
He had a business in Idaho, owning a lodge at Coeur 'd Alene and was involved in many California businesses:
President of Golden Bear Land Company in Salinas (incorporated in Nevada)
Western Inns, Incorporated
Travel Lodge in San Jose
Several 'fast-food' restaurants
Later in life, he owned a few restaurants in Washington State.
Frank was also an author - having written a few short stories, one of which was a science fiction take on The Night Before Christmas.
(Note from Kathy: Dad always wanted to be a writer. He would write on yellow legal pads - remember, this was the 1950s and 1960s - and started books on such things as his theory about who the "real" Shakespeare was. My theory is that he just couldn't sit still long enough to write an entire book. But there were lots of starts on books. He also wanted to be a lawyer and even applied to - and was accepted by - San Francisco University Law School. We ended up moving to Seattle, however, and he never went to law school.)
Daniel Pinna:
"11/10 - 11/11/19 was a great new experience for me. I was in Bakersfield at a recording studio called River Theatre at 1213 North Chester Ave in Oildale (Bakersfield) CA working on a new company with new business partners. The River Theatre opened in September 1939 and then closed around 1964/1965. It became a recording studio for Buck Owens from 1968 until 1992 when a number of artists like Johnny Cash recorded. It then became an independent recording studio from 1992 until it closed in April 2008. Since that time a new friend of mine has utilized the location for him and his band.
It was my 1st time to Bakersfield and one of my longer drives. I've only driven once longer than that and that was the time my father and I drove from San Jose to Los Angeles over to Phoenix Arizona to visit my grandmother in Sun City."
Georgia Katsikadakos:
Christos delighted in being surrounded by his family. His love for his wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, cousins and nieces and nephews brought him tremendous joy and gave his life meaning and purpose. He taught all that despite any success or failure you may encounter, life is nothing without the love and support of family and everything must be done to preserve and protect that bond.
Curtis Beitans:
The Sun News Pictorial. Melbourne. 13th October 1938.
WALTER. - On October 5 ( suddenly ), at his
residence, " Cora Lynn," Violet Town, August,
dearly beloved husband of Margaret Anne, and
devoted father of John, Leila ( Mrs. Croxford ),
Arthur, Ida ( Mrs. Roach ), Neta ( Mrs. Ramage ),
and Eileen ( Mrs. Mahlstedt ).
Roma Gryte:
21 July 2025 - I found out through a DNA match that I am Dell's daughter. I know very little about him. He died when I was a senior in high school. I was adopted at 7 days and did not meet my biological mother until I was 24 years old. She only knew Dell's name. They met as neighbors in Merced, CA.
My half sister shared that there were 6 children. I was the second oldest and she is third. The youngest girl passed away. I believe both, she and my father, died of heart attacks. He was an accountant and musician. The musical talent seems to be shared by all the siblings.
Any information would be welcome.
Kathy Pinna:
Walter Nicholas Husung was born on February 8th, 1890 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to John Martin Husung (1861 - 1911) and Anna Mary Neutzling (1863 - 1938) and he had six siblings: Mary, William "Ted", Hortense, John "Bud", Helen and Nora.
Walter N. Husung married Bertha Mathilda Conrad (1888 - 1964) on August 3rd, 1914 and they had two sons Martin and Lucian. Walter and Bertha divorced in November of 1928.
Walter's father, John, own a hardware store. A memory about the store can be seen at My father worked there in the 1930s.
Marilyn Keough:
Quite a Character - Gramma was beautiful and kind. She spoke English quite well, but couldn’t spell (including our names:) correctly for beans. She could cook (and sew and crochet) like nobody else’s business! We all probably lost 10 pounds after she passed away… and she had quite a “leadfoot” while driving, which we always would kid her about.
She had a smile that could light up the room, and hugs that could cure just about anything.
I will love you forever, Gramma 💕
Allan Anderson:
Nephew - I Never Did Thank You Uncle Herb For Giving Me The Help You Gave Me At A Very Trying Time In My Life. You And Your Mother, My Granny Helped Me When I Needed It Most. I Am Sorry If I Let You Down. You Were A Good And Caring Man. So I Thank You Uncle Herb. Love, Your Nephew Allan
Frederick Frank:
A friendly man of many skills - Leonard was a family friend and skilled tradesman who helped out in many ways whether it was helping my aging grandfather to update our former apartment, to help my Dad and Unc when they needed a bartender in a pinch in their Bungalow Inn restaurant , or to help my Unc in remodeling his Fox Lake summer cottage into a year round home. .(which offered Leonard some weekend getaway fringe benefits ).We had several rides in his Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser. whatta cool car! I knew he lived w and was taking care of his Mom We lost touch and saddened to hear of his passing
James Henderson:
An old photograph - We are sorting family photos. One that I particularly enjoy shows my dad, Paul F. Henderson, Jr., in a suit and bow tie, sitting at a bar with another dashing young man. The back of the photo is enscribed with my dad's name, and the name Walter Nettbaum.
Based on the year, 1946, and my dad's likely age, 22-23, I did some Ancestry searching to locate Walter Nettbaums born around 1922 or 23, and perhaps in or around Chicago. I located several records, some of which seemed to indicate that Walter was wounded while on active duty in the USMC, possibly in the Pacific Theater. Among records I reviewed, a couple listed him within the long categories of Navy Department wounded in action.
My dad enlisted in January 1942 and served in the South Pacific. Maybe they were just two Reservists that bumped into each other in a bar. Or maybe they were on ship together. Or, perhaps, they served on Guadalcanal, American Samoa, or other particular zones. In any event, there is that picture, the information about Walter that I found on Ancestry, and, sadly, Walter's obituary.
Now Walter and Paul are beyond inquiry. But I still like the photograph showing two brothers in arms home again, and hopefully finding the way to make themselves whole again.
Jim
Stephen Vesseli Jr:
To my father - In Loving Memory of My Father
Father, you were taken from us far too early, leaving behind a void that can never truly be filled. I know you are watching down on me from heaven. As I could have not made it this far. Though you are no longer with us in person, your spirit remains in our hearts, guiding us through every challenge and celebrating every triumph. Your memory lives on in me, my mother, your family and all who knew you.
While our time together was far too short, the impact you made on our lives is eternal.
We honor you today, and every day, for the incredible father and friend that you were. You are deeply missed, and you will always be deeply loved.
Opal Stifflemire:
Ember LeMaire - My Grandfather loved spoiling his grandchildren buy taking us to the store for candy and Orange Crush Soda, his favorite. He was a hard worker and took care of his family the best life had to offer him. He was once frowns keeper for the Stark Family in Orange Texas. He purchased his own Shrimp Boat later where he worked Shrimping in the Gulf of Mexico for many years until his death. He was a kind hearted man who treated people with kindness and respect. I loved him dearly.
