Pete Peters
June 22, 1944 to August 1, 1965

Second president of the ROAMIN’ ANGELS 1962-63,Pete’s life was too short, only 21 years. But boy, did he have a flair for it! He grew up in a small town in the bay area called San Geronimo. He got his first ticket from the CHP when he was 12 years old! This was a result of him running a go-cart on the local roads. With the approval of his father, the judge “threw the book” at him. Trying to make an impression, no doubt, to prevent any further crazy acts like this. Well, it didn’t work. Pete was one of the original members of the Roamin Angels and it's second president.

"Fast" Eddie Mateo
April 26,1936 to Dec. 14, 2002

Eddie was generous to his friends almost to a fault. He was the type of person that always reached for the dinner check. If you were in his neighborhood he would insist that you come to his house. Nothing was too good for his friends, and he had many.He is survived by his wife, Caroline.

Arlie Hansen
1916 - 2001

Arlie Hanson was an icon in the community with a heart as big as he was. He was a long time member of the Roamin’ Angels and drove a ‘53 blue and white Buick. He will be missed for his dry humor and wonderful generosity. His daughter and son-in-law Sue and Larry. [TOP]

Mike Zankich
Jan. 24,1950 to Feb. 24, 2003

Mike and his wife, Lynn, were longtime members of the Roamin Angels Car Club of Grass Valley, and as members they enjoyed many cross country rod runs and car shows with their fellow hot rodding buddies. Mike had just completed a three year elected board position with the club where he had made many positive contributions including spearheading the ZZ4 Raffle and Scholarship Fund and steering the club toward the Roamin Angels Annual Car Show.

Mike loved building and driving classic cars and spending time with his wife and his buddies at club functions. He would instigate mischief and was often times prone to quick highway blasts in his 1957 Chevy Pro-street Panel Delivery on their many long distance road trips. He was a straight shooter, a leader, a jokester, and a great friend...he will be missed.<[TOP]

Elaine Stephenson
May 16, 1923 to October 31, 2003

Elaine was born in Oakland, California to James and Gertrude White. She has lived in Grass Valley for the last 19 years with her husband of 56 years, Don.

Elaine was a member of the Soroptimist International of Nevada City, the Newcomers Club of Grass Valley, Sierra Nevada Hospital Auxiliary, The Order of the Eastern Star and a member of Sierra Presbyterian Church.

Don Stephenson
October 7, 1925 to March 28, 2004

Don Stephenson passed away on Sunday, March 28, in Grass Valley. He was 78. He was born Oct. 7, 1925, in Klamath Falls, Oregon,. He married Elaine White on July 18, 1947 in Oakland. He was a member of the Grass Valley Elks, Shriners, Masons, and the Roamin Angels Car Club. He enjoyed racing, restoration of old cars, playing pool, and spending time with his family.

Mary Lou Summers
February 18, 1940 to December 26, 2003

Mary Lou was born in Prescott, Maine. She grew up in Old Orchard Beach Main and graduated from Old Orchard High School where she was voted Best Dressed in her class.

She met her husband, Bobby on a blind date. They married on February 28, 1959. They had two daughters, Sharon and Pamela.They moved to Grass Valley in 1966. Mary worked in banking and worked as a finance manager until her retirement.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She loved spending time with her family and taking trips in their 1958 Ford Fairlane. [TOP]

Jan Mulder
June 2, 1945-October 27, 2005

Jan was born in Schenectady, N.Y. but she was raised and educated in San Jose, where she attended Del Mar High School. In the 70’s, she went to work in the Real Estate financial industry and worked for mortgage insurance and title companies. She also worked for All State and McGovern Insurance where she earned best of sales awards.

Jan married Chris Mulder in 1983. They split time living in Los Gatos and Truckee, until moving to Nevada City in 1997. She enjoyed her grandchildren, her dogs, her home and gardening. She was past president and treasurer of Soroptimist International of Nevada County and a member of the Roamin Angels.

Henry Aguirre
August 5, 1942-August 10, 2006

Henry Aguirre's laugher and smile will live in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. He was born August 5, 1942, and lived his life with humor and dignity until his demise on August 10, 2006.

Henry was born in San Francisco and lived on the peninsula until moving to Nevada City, California in 2001. He graduated from Stanford University with an engineering degree. He served as a mentor at Nevada Union High School in Grass Valley, California.

In the printing industry for more than 40 years in the Bay Area, he was considered an expert in digital imaging and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe speaking on the subject.

His hobbies included reading, live steam locomotives, street rods, fly fishing, ocean paddling and foster parenting orphaned animals. He had a passion for teaching and mentoring young people in the printing industry.

He was a member of the Golden Gate Live Steams, Sacramento Valley Live Steamers, Roamin Angels and Jokers Car Clubs, Nevada City Elks, Keauhou Canoe Club & Mofo's, both of Kona, ECV, Devil Mountain Brigade, a volunteer foster parent at San Mateo and Kona Humane Societies. He was also a member in good standing with the "Four Coconuts of Kona." He is survived by his wife, Sandra. [TOP]

James ‘Jim’ Dent
October 12, 1956-June 13, 2007

The lifelong resident of the Sacramento area and middle child of five, Mr. Dent was born Oct. 12, 1956, in Roseville, and graduated from Bella Vista High School. Coming from an extremely close family, Mr. Dent's favorite pastime at family gatherings was being the family's practical joker. Jim provided endless hours of entertainment with his tall tales from his "many lives lived before." He would often begin his stories by saying "when I was a submarine captain" or "when I worked on the U boat during World War II." He also played many tricks on his young great-niece.

A man of his hands, Mr. Dent spent most of his working life in construction and recently started his own company, Northern Sierra Homes, which built homes in the eastern Sacramento area. A carpenter, he had a love for woodworking, constructing many priceless wood boxes and clocks throughout his lifetime.

Jim had an immense passion for cars. Before his death, he was busy constructing a garage to house his two Mustangs, his 1940 Ford and 1957 Thunderbird. His membership in the Northern California Cruisers and Roamin Angels Car Clubs brought him many years of joy.

Although cars won much of Jim’s affection, his devotion was first and foremost to the people around him. Giving all of himself whenever anyone needed anything, Jim affected the many lives of his family and friends. Jim spent most of his working life in construction, and recently started his own company Northern Sierra Homes building homes in the Eastern Sacramento area. Jim is survived by his wife, Lydia Mayberry; son, James Jr., and a large family who will miss him very much.

Will Shaw
March 11, 1936-Dec. 7, 2008

There is no single word that can describe Will Shaw. However there are a few words that will always remind me of Will. The first is 'gentleman.' When he greeted you, he was polite, yet warm. He made you feel welcome, whatever the occasion. I never heard him raise his voice or rant and rave. If I ever saw him upset about a club matter, he would become serious and intense, but always in a controlled and modulated voice. It was not that he did not have strong opinions, but he always expressed them in a gentlemanly way. That was just how Will was.

That brings up another word to describe Will: dedicated. Two things he did feel strongly about were our toy drive and helping with the food distribution. That is where I first got to know Will. For many years, he worked tirelessly on these programs. Even after his heart problems would have stopped a lesser man, he continued to work at them. But that was Will. He gave his whole heart, not matter what, to the things he believed in.

Which brings me to the last word I will use here to describe Will: worker. I know it may seem very similar to dedicated, but they are not synonymous. There are people who talk a goodgame, who are willing to campaign for a worthy cause, but are strangely absent when the grunt labor is to be done. Will not only did the planning and organizing, but the physical labor as well. If getting out there and doing the job, even if it puts your own health in jeopardy, is a fault, then Will had that fault. I remember, after he had developed serious heart problems, seeing him grabbing heavy loads of Christmas toys to take to the cars of the people coming to pick them up when he should have been sitting and watching. I would take a bag of toys from him only to have Will grab a bag to two to take to the next personÕs car. Will just could not sit there and watch others work.

So I will close by using those words to describe the Will I knew, a dedicated, hard-working gentleman. We will all miss Will Shaw, but he went over and above to make this world a better place during his time here on earth. - Ron Cherry

Will was active in the Roamin Angels Car Club and the local Salvation Army of Grass Valley. Will spent countless hours every holiday season collecting toys, assembling bicycles and distributing food for many families in Nevada County.

He spent leisure time working in his shop restoring and making furniture and creating beautiful wood crafts. He and his shop friends were the “Woodpeckers of Penn Valley.”

Will is survived by a thriving and devoted immediate family, including his wife of 49 years, Irene. As a testament to his kindness of spirit and generosity, Will also has an extended family of countless friends and loved ones whom he treated as if they were his own. He was dearly loved in turn.

“Call us when you get home. You know the drill.”

Len Koch
- January 21, 2009

I was deeply saddened by the passing of my friend Len Koch on January 21, 2009. He was given six to twelve months to live on a recent visit to the doctor's office. Len was experieincing heart and lung problems.

Len had worked in construction most of his life and became an excellent tradesman in the field. We both spent many years working and supporting each other, as good friends and family men.

Len has several children who have been a blessing to him and his wife, Rose.

We were both single for a period of time and enjoyed cooking and going up to the National Hotel in Nevada City on Friday nights. We would go to listen to the music of our friend, "Rocky" Jenkins. We also took a trip to Oahu, Hawaii.

About 10 years ago, I can remember someone asking Len how many years he had been married. His reply was that including all four women, forty four years. I will never forget his dry sense of humor. Most people did not understand him, but he was a wonderful human being and a good friend. I loved him like a brother.

I will truly miss him and that humor. Always a friend, Dennis Bailey

Roy McDowell
Dec. 18, 1930 - May 3, 2009

Roy E. McDowell passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Grass Valley on May 3. He was 78.

He and his wife Clare were married on July 14, 1972, in Richmond. He retired from the Contra Costa County Sanitary District in Martinez.

He was a member of Madison Lodge #23 in Grass Valley, Madison Lodge in Richmond, Eastern Star, Mt. Range Lodge #18 Camptonville, Eastern Star #40, Aurora Chapter in Grass Valley, E.D.G.E. and Tractor Assoc., Roamin Angels Car Club and the Nevada County Gem and Mineral Society. His hobbies were old engines and tractors, rocks and gems and classic cars.

He loved talking with everyone and was so proud of his family.

Rich Schilling
June 1942-June 2009

Rich had always had the car bug and when he found a 63 T-bird at a great price he grabbed it. Much to his dismay, he found that there was a reason for the low price and he really didn't have time or money for a full blown restoration. He wasn't about to give up though. He just changed plans and the T-bird became a bit-at-a-time project. It also gave him the excuse to join the Roamin Angels Car Club. When Lou Kosher decided that he wanted to sell his 55 Chevy, Sandi shoved Rich real hard, and Rich bought it. Rich's health prevented him from doing all the work on the TriFive that he wanted to do. Now, with Rich's passing, Sandi is determined to finish the Chevy and drive it.

Rich is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sandi; daughter Celeste; and two sons, Matt and Mike; and grandchildren, Morgan, Jonathan, Courtney, Megan, Jeremy, Cameron and E.J. The web site caringbridge.org/visit/richschilling is a wonderful source for Sandi's messages during Rich's illness and the hundreds of tributes and good wishes from all of Rich's many friends. This kind and gentle man will be missed by many, but his spirit will live on in our hearts.
Read complete tribute from his friend, George P. (downloads the PDF- Rich Schilling.pdf)

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