Obituaries
Note to our North State readers: Services for Michael Eagan, whose obituary appeared in the August version of CT News, will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 29 at the Plaza Grill in Arcata.
Yoon Jong Hahn, longtime civil engineer
Photo courtesy of Yoon Jong Hahn's family
Note: The following obituary appeared on the Tribute Archive website in early July.
Longtime Caltrans civil engineer Yoon Jong Hahn, 55, died unexpectedly on July 2 at his home in Rancho Cordova.
He was born in Incheon, South Korea, on Nov. 17, 1967, and graduated from high school in that city. He was one of the top students excelling in his academics.
He moved to the United States when he was 18 and graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a bachelor’s in civil engineering. He was employed with Caltrans for 29 years and was recognized as a distinguished civil engineer.
He was the son of Song Que Hahn and Sook Ja Bak. He married Linda Sungwon Chon on July 29, 2000. He was very proud of their son, Vince Seung Chul Hahn.
Yoon Jong Hahn was a member of the Sacramento Korean Presbyterian Church in Rancho Cordova. He enjoyed fishing, electronics and automobiles.
His co-workers described him as generous, gregarious and always very helpful to new Korean
immigrants coming here from South Korea.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Sungwon Chon; son. Vince Seung Chul Hahn; father, Song Que Hahn; mother, Sook Ja Bak; sister, Yoon Sook Hahn; step-mother, Lani Hahn; and many aunts, uncles and cousins in South Korea and the United States.
Retired right-of-way agent John E. Hermann
John E. Hermann
Photo courtesy of John's family
Note: The following obituary appeared on Sept. 10 in the online edition of the Coronado Eagle & Journal.
Retired right-of-way agent John E. Hermann, a long-time resident of this community, passed away on Sept. 10.
His introduction to Coronado occurred in 1952 when he reported for duty at the Amphibious Base here upon completing his Vanderbilt University degree with a NROTC scholarship. After serving on the USS Washburn during the Korean War, John was honorably discharged in San Diego and decided to make Coronado his home. He bought a house on E Avenue, from which he made a point of going to the beach each day.
Over the years he owned many apartment complexes in this community. As a right-of-way agent for what is now Caltrans, John rode the Coronado ferry on his motorcycle (15 cents for cycles) until the bridge was completed. The ferry and then the bridge also provided active conduits for his community involvement.
He sang in the San Diego Opera chorus for 18 years and near his retirement from the opera was named the “outstanding residential artist.” John also assumed an active board role in “Meals on Wheels” and received a special award for his service in 2011.
Two fundamental anchors in his life were BMW motorcycling and the First United Methodist Church of San Diego. John rode 1 million miles on BMW motorcycles — often in one of his favorite locations — the European Alps. His guidebook on motorcycling in the Alps is now in its fifth edition.
From his arrival in the San Diego area, John served in many lay capacities in the First United Methodist Church, where his funeral will be held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 6. His enthusiastic spirit lives on in his vast network of friends.
Clinton D. Hersey, retired heavy equipment operator
Clinton D. Hershey
Photo courtesy of Clint's family
Note: The following obituary appeared on the Record-Courier (Gardnerville, Nevada) website earlier this year.
Retired heavy equipment operator Clinton D. Hershey was born in Bakersfield on June 17, 1941, to Ethel Lorain and Richard Marion Hershey and passed peacefully in his sleep at his home in Walker on May 5.
He was 80.
Clint, the oldest of five children, grew up helping his grandparents at the Cottonwood Creek Pack Station, in Lone Pine. He graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1960 and married Effie Lou Barbour on May 4, 1964. Clint and Effie were married for 50 years before she preceded him in death in 2014. They raised their two daughters, Janice and Daneece, in Walker.
Clint worked as a heavy equipment operator for Caltrans and retired with over three decades of service to the State of California. Clint diligently served his community as a member of the Antelope Valley Lions Club for 45 years, where he was the recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award to recognize his exemplary service to his club and the community. He received a perfect attendance award every year from the Lions Club and was also the recipient of the Lion of the year.
He was a generous man to his family, friends and community, giving of his time and his talents. He loved to golf and fish, travel with his wife Effie and close friends in their RV and go on adventures around the globe, which included destinations such as Scotland, South Africa, Mexico, the Caribbean and Canada.
Clint was preceded in death by his mother Lorain, father Richard, sister Sarah in 2000, daughter Janice in 2011, wife Effie in 2014, and brother Marvin “Pete” in 2022.
Clint is survived by his daughter Daneece Fraizer (Bob); sisters Becky and Linda; his grandchildren, Amanda Woolsey-Weber, Amber Woolsey, Nathan Eppler, Ian Fraizer and Sawney Fraizer; as well as three great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and friends he considered family.
Clint was a devoted, husband, father, bother, uncle, friend and member of the community and
he will be greatly missed by many who loved him.
Richard Schumacher, retired head of District 6 Hydraulics
Richard Schumacher
Photo courtesy of Richard's family
Note: The following email was distributed Aug. 14 by the Division of Research, Innovation and System Information.
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Richard Schumacher. He was born April 4, 1935, in Hull, Iowa, and died on July 24.
Richard started his career at District 6, working in the Soils Lab in 1957. He worked in Traffic for the majority of the time following the Lab before going into private practice at Braun, Pacillas, and Wagner and then becoming the District Engineer at the Fresno Irrigation District.
Richard returned to Caltrans and was a District 6 Hydraulics Engineer and became head of District 6 Hydraulics before retiring in 1996. He was a lifetime member of American Society of Civil Engineers.
Richard is survived by wife (of 64 and a half years) Kay Schumacher, daughter Debbie Campbell, son Gerald Schumacher (who works at Headquarters), brother Norman Schumacher, sisters Edith Schumacher and Irene Hansen, and granddaughter Katie Campbell.
Duane Sharp, retired Caltrans worker
Duane Sharp
Photo courtesy of Duane's family
Note: The following obituary appeared on The Spectrum website earlier this year.
Caltrans retiree Duane Leroy Sharp, 91, passed away peacefully on May 5 in St. George, Utah.
He was born on April 30, 1931, in San Bernardino to Herbert and Helen Sharp. He married Carol Thornton in Colton on May 6, 1955.
He worked for Caltrans for 28 years before retiring in 1994 and moving to Santa Clara, Utah.
He is survived by his wife; Carol, son; Kevin Sharp of St. George and daughter Kristy Christopherson of Southern California. He has four grandchildren: Jeremy , Jessica, Aidan and Gillian. He has three great-grandchildren: Marina, Remington and Wesson. He was preceded in death by his son, Kirk Sharp.