Obituaries for March 11, 2005

John William Jensen

Dec. 3, 1972 – March 6, 2005

John William Jensen, son of Gerald and Susanne Jensen of Tuolumne, died Sunday in an avalanche near Aspen, Colo., while he was participating in a course on avalanche education as part of search and rescue training. He was 32.

He was born in Medford, Ore. He was named after his grandfather, John Henry Jensen, a longtime Gustine resident.

He grew up in the alpine wilderness of northeastern California where his parents and the Boy Scouts of America cultivated his passion for the outdoors, his family added.

His family said he enjoyed hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, hunting and rock climbing. He received his first pair of skis at age 5 and went on to become an expert cross-country, telemark and downhill skier, and snowboarder. He also took up ice climbing and whitewater kayaking.

He became an Eagle Scout at age 14 and went on to be an Explorer Scout. He enjoyed scouting adventures including 50-mile backpacking trips, a 100-mile canoe trip, the National Jamboree, counseling at Boy Scout camps, and working at Philmont Scout Ranch, his family added. He volunteered in search and rescue groups and ski patrols.

Mr. Jensen moved with his family to Pleasant Hill where he attended College Park High School. He graduated in the class of 1991. While there, he began attending Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church and committed his life to Jesus Christ, his family added.

His love of God led him on numerous adventures including short-term mission trips to Montana, Mexico, Ecuador, Bolivia and Russia, his family said.

He attended Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, and he worked as an intern at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He graduated in 1995 with a double major in laser optical engineering and manufacturing engineering. He began working for KLA in San Jose. His work installing and upgrading laser-optical wafer inspection stations for the semi-conductor industry took him to Texas, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Italy, Spain, Taiwan and Japan.

His passion to share the love of Jesus led him to work full-time with Campus Crusade for Christ International in 1997. He helped organize and deliver 27,000 teddy bears to orphans in Russia. He also went to Belarus, Siberia and Indonesia. He worked with college students in Mexico City before returning to the United States to work with the Josh McDowell youth ministry.

In 2001, he began graduate studies at the University of Texas in Austin. He graduated in 2003 with a master's degree in mechanical engineering and moved to Los Alamos, N.M., to work at Los Alamos National Labs. He worked on a handheld sampler to enable emergency workers to test for chemical contamination.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother and sister-in-law in of San Diego; and a niece in San Diego.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Sierra Bible Church in Sonora.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Campus Crusade for Christ, John Jensen Memorial, P.O. Box 628222, Orlando, FL 32862.

Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Maryjane

Abell-Medlin

June 2, 1924 – March 8, 2005

Longtime Calaveras County resident Maryjane Abell-Medlin died Tuesday at her Murphys home. She was 80.

She was born in Moline, Ill., and had lived in Murphys and Arnold for the past 26 years. She was a medical secretary before her retirement. She worked at Agnew State Hospital in Milpitas, Santa Clara County, for 10 years. She served as a pharmacist mate third class in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

She was a member and former choir member at Our Lady of the Sierra Catholic Church in Arnold. She was a former member of the Meadowmont Womens Golf Club and former volunteer tutor at Hazel Fischer Elementary School in Arnold.

Her family said she loved to travel and was the mother of seven stepchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Melford Medlin of Murphys; sons and daughter-in-law, Michael and Sue Abell of Milford, Mass., and Mickey Juarez of Queens Creek, Ariz.; a daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Wayne Bauers of Bellevue, Wash.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A graveside service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Murphys.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Visiting Nurse Association, Hospice of the Sierra, P.O. Box 4805, Sonora, CA 95370.

Angels Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.

Richard

Alton Penrose

Dec. 25, 1916 – March 5, 2005

Mariposa resident Richard A. Penrose, brother of Allen Penrose of Sonora, died Saturday at a Mariposa hospital. He was 88.

He was born in Shawmut to Earl and Verna Penrose. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

His family said he en-joyed horseback riding and packing and he was a genuine cowboy. He was a wonderful father, grandfather and brother who also enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, gardening and going to the fair, but his true passion was his family, his family added.

In addition to his brother, Mr. Penrose is survived by his sons, Rodney Warren Penrose of Altaville and Richard Mark Penrose of Escalon; daughters, Teresa Kiesow of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Martha Penrose Lyons of Golden Valley, Ariz., Janice Stephens of Sonora and Janie Penrose Warren of Sacramento; other brothers, Wayne Penrose of Turlock and Robert Penrose of Jamestown; sisters, Dolores Puppe of Groveland and Juanita Penrose Black of Sonora; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Shirley; brothers, Spencer, Rodney and Sidney Penrose; and a sister, Olive Penrose.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the John C. Fremont Ewing Wing Memorial Garden, P.O. Box 216, Mariposa, CA 95338.

Services were to be held today.

Mariposa Funeral Home in Mariposa is handling arrangements.