All Obituaries

 James “Jim” William Ruise, a lifelong native of Sonoma for 90 years, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, August 10, surrounded by his children and family. Jim will be remembered for his days as a bartender at the El Dorado Hotel and Juanita’s, as a top pitcher in Sonoma’s Men’s Fast Pitch League at Arnold Field, as a regular salami winner at the Vintage Festival, and for his feisty humor around the Plaza. Jim spent most of his working years in ...

Joseph Pokorski, 80, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2026, in Sonoma, California. He was born on May 19, 1946, in Miami, Florida. Joe proudly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served his country during the Vietnam War as a member of the 5th Marine Division Reconnaissance Company. His service was recognized with the Presidential Unit Citation and National Defense Service Medal, and he earned the Rifle Sharpshooter Badge. His patriotism remained an important part of who he ...

Steven Warren Carney, age 78, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his daughters on Sunday, August 2, 2026, after a two week stay in Crouse Irving Medical Hospital in Syracuse, NY that marked the end of his courageous and nonstop, twenty-year battle with Prostate Cancer. Born in Oneida, NY on June 26, 1948, he is predeceased by his father and mother, Edward A and Cherry L Bodley Carney Jr. and his brother, Mark E Carney. He was a graduate of Oneida High School Class of 1966 where he was a ...

Theresa Christine Kappes peacefully passed away on July 13, 2026, in Sonoma, California, after a short illness. Born on July 26, 1935, in San Francisco, California, Theresa was active in her community throughout her 90 years. Theresa was the beloved daughter of Pauline Sprague and Charles Mifsud, and she was predeceased by her devoted husband, Gerald Kappes, with whom she shared a remarkable life and her son-in-law, Robert Adams. Married on April 14, 1954, in Sonoma, the couple built a life ...

We said goodbye to our dad, Ken Conroy, who passed away peacefully in his sleep at home, surrounded by the love of his family. While our hearts are broken, we also feel an incredible amount of pride and gratitude for the life he lived and the memories he leaves with us. At 6’5”, with a booming voice and unmistakable presence, Dad was impossible to miss. But behind that presence was a man shaped by experiences most people never knew about. Born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission ...

Ken Niles, a devoted family man, passionate outdoorsman, and respected figure in commercial real estate development, passed away on July 7, 2026, surrounded by his five children at his home in Sonoma. He died at peace, looking forward to reuniting with Betsy, the love of his life who predeceased him five years earlier. Born April 25, 1937 in Santa Rosa, Ken graduated the University of Colorado, Boulder, and married Betsy in 1967. Together they raised their family in Sonoma—the ...

Randy Rogers, born in 1958 in Santa Rosa, California, passed away unexpectedly on May 24, 2026. A devoted brother, uncle, friend, and nationally ranked Masters swimmer, Randy lived a life marked by service, integrity, and quiet excellence.   A 1981 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Randy served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the Pacific and Middle East, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He played key roles in operations, logistics, and communications, and served in both ...

Katherine Geraldine Halloran passed away on June 5th, 2026. She was born August 8th, 1943, in Milford, Michigan, the only child of Gladys and Thurman Buell. She married Richard D. Halloran Jr. in 1968, and together they moved to Millington, Michigan, where they raised their three children. Kathy grew up in Milford and built her family life in Millington, where she and Richard created a home rich with tradition and hard work. The family grew the majority of their own vegetables, and Kathy ...

Richard P. Merlo 1949–2026 It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of a bright light in our lives, Richard P. Merlo, aged 76. Richard left us peacefully on June 4, 2026, with his beloved wife, Diane, and his cherished son, Richie, by his side. Born and raised in Sonoma, California, Rich was the son of John and Marie Merlo, founder of the historic El Dorado Hotel & Restaurant. Growing up on the Sonoma Plaza he had one of the coolest, most historic "front ...

Judith (Judy) Hill, 87, passed away 6/3/26.  She was preceded in death by her husband Jim Hill.     She is survived by her children Brian, Peggy and Douglas and her siblings Ellen, David and Nels.     Judy graduated from St. Xavier College in Chicago with a BS in Nursing.  She met her husband in the Air Force.   Her nursing career took her to many locations around the world including Japan and the Philippines as an Air Force Captain.  She served as ...