Van Vleck, Verna (Lewis) Obituary

Van Vleck, Verna (Lewis) attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Van Vleck, Verna (lewis).

Graduation Year	Class of 1937
Date of Passing	Jun 17, 2016
About	June 17, 2016 (Age 95) Born on the family farm in Elk Grove, CA. Passed away peacefully at Sunrise Senior Assisted Living Rocklin, CA. Daughter of John Davies Lewis and Rilla Belle Baker Lewis, who's families were pioneer farmers of Elk Grove. Married 63 years to Gordon K. Van Vleck who predeceased Verna in 2005 at the age of 85. Pre-deceased by a twin brother at birth and brother Edmund Lewis (Betty) of Elk Grove aged 90 in 2015. Longevity runs in Verna's family. Her maternal grandparents were married 72 years, her mother Rilla Lewis just 10 days away from 106, Rilla's sister Cora Stelter just 15 days away 106, and Rilla's sister Elva Lewis was 99. Verna was just 19 days away from 96 years. Survived by four children: son, Lewis Van Vleck (Linda); daughters, Mary Ellen McCafferty (Gene); Susan Firchau (John); Barbara DeLaney (Robert Clouse); Eight grandchildren: Regina Ryan (Mark), Amanda Wilkinson (Adam), Bryan Riolo (Tina), Lloyd Firchau, Coree Keenan (Tim), Brooke Firchau, Todd Firchau, Andrew DeLaney (Noelle); Eight great-grand-children: Hannah & Mason Wilkinson, Will & Anna Ryan, Wyatt, Garrett, & Juliette Keenan, Sara Riolo. Age of 17, graduated Elk Grove High School Class of 1937. Age of 19, as a Music Major, graduated Sacramento City College class of 1939. Age of 21, married high school and college classmate Gordon K. Van Vleck at her familys' home garden in Elk Grove on August 31, 1941. Gordon, a 3rd generation cattle rancher, with Verna by his side, ran a successful cattle operation and were both very politically active with improving the cattle industry. The ranch was something they both loved very dearly. From 1941 to 1968 she resided at the family ranch in Sacramento County, Michigan Bar/Slough-house, CA. From 1968 to 2011 at the family ranch in Amador County, Plymouth, CA. From 2011 to 2016 at Sunrise Senior Assisted Living in Rocklin, CA. Private services held at East Lawn Memorial Park, Sacramento, CA. Contributions can be made to Amador/El Dorado/ Sacramento (AES) Cattle Women Scholarship Fund, c/o Ginger Appleton, Scholarship Committee Chairman, 27799 Dry Creek Road, Galt, CA 95632. Arrangements handled by Craig Herberger @ Woodland Funeral Chapel. Special thanks to Sunrise Senior Assisted Living Rocklin and Hospice Sutter Care at Home Health Roseville. Information from the Sacramento Bee Verna Lewis Van Vleck, member of a pioneer farming family of Elk Grove, died June 17, 2016 at the age of 95, 19 days shy of her 96th birthday. She was born July 5, 1920 on the family farm to Rilla Belle Baker Lewis and John Davies Lewis and grew up there, graduating from Elk Grove High School in 1937. Longevity runs in her family: her maternal grandparents were married 72 years, her mother died 10 days before her 106th birthday, her sister, Cora Stelter just 15 days before her 106th birthday, and her sister Elva Lewis was 99. Verna graduated as a music major at the age of 19 from Sacramento City College in 1939. At 21 she married her high school and college classmate, Gordon K. Van Vleck in her family's garden on Aug. 31, 1941. Gordon was a third generation cattle rancher and he and Verna ran a successful cattle operation which they loved dearly. They were both very politically active with improving the cattle industry. They lived on the Van Vleck family ranch in Michigan Bar/Sloughhouse from 1941 to 1968, then from 1968 to 2011 at the family ranch in Plymouth, Amador County. Gordon preceded Verna in death after 63 years of marriage in 2005 at age 85. Verna lived at Sunrise Senior Assisted Living in Rocklin from 2011 until 2016. Also preceding her in death were a twin brother at birth, and brother Edmund Lewis (Betty) of Elk Grove who died in 2015 at age 90. Verna is survived by her children, Lewis Van Vleck (Linda), Mary Ellen McCafferty (Gene), Susan Firchau (John), and Barbara DeLaney (Robert Clouse); grandchildren Regina Ryan (Mark), Amanda Wilkinson (Adam), Bryan Riolo (Tina), Lloyd Firchau, Coree Keenan (Tim), Brooke Firchau, Todd Firchau and Andrew DeLaney (Noelle); and great-grandchildren Hannah and Mason Wilkinson, Will and Anna Ryan, Wyatt, Garrett and Juliette Keenan and Sara Riolo. Private services were held at East Lawn Memorial Park, Sacramento. Remembrances may be made to Amador/El Dorado/Sacramento (AES) Cattle Women Scholarship Fund, c/o Ginger Appleton, Scholarship Committee Chairman, 27799 Dry Creek Road, Galt, CA 95632. Arrangements were by Craig Herberger at Woodland Funeral Chapel. Information from the Elk Grove Citizen