This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: LOEWEN, BARNES, SMASAL, JONES, MOUSER Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ZW.2ADI/2187 Message Board Post: George Robert Loewen George Robert Loewen died unexpectedly of hypertension - heart disease as the coroner reported Saturday, July 13 in his home in Patterson, Stanislaus County, at age 42. Born April 3, 1960, a Woodland native and a graduate of Woodland High School. Mr. Loewen worked for Patterson Irrigator as a reporter since January of 2001. He received his journalism degree in 1984 from California State University, Fresno, after attending Santa Rosa Junior College and Yuba College. He graduated in 1979 from Woodland High School where he was voted the most loyal player on the 1978 varsity football team. He continued to return to Woodland one weekend a month as a docent in the Heidrick Ag History Center and Hays Antique Truck Museum. Before joining the staff of the Stanislaus County newspaper, he reported for the Davis Enterprise, Daily Democrat, the Dixon Tribune, and other publications. According to his family members, "other reporters on the Irrigator staff remember him for his sense of humor and his positive attitude. 'I really enjoyed working with George. He had a great sense of humor, and he was a very good writer,' recalls reporter Maddy Houk. Mike Bush remembers that he always had good things to say about everyone and had a very positive attitude." Mr. Loewen is survived by his father, Walter R. Loewen of Woodland; brothers, Thomas K. Loewen and his wife Catherine of Woodland, and Gerald D. Loewen and his wife Kate of Louisville, Ky.; sister-in-law, Carol M. Loewen of Sacramento; nieces, Heather Barnes of Davis, Samantha Loewen of Louisville, Melisa Smasal of Paradise, Marsha Jones of Sacramento and Stephanie Mouser of Woodland; and nephews, Brian Loewen of Gilroy, and Nicholas Loewen of Louisville. He was preceded in death by his mother, Sally M. Loewen; and brothers, Daniel R. Loewen and Frederick R. Loewen. A memorial service is scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 20, in St. John's United Church of Christ, 432 Cleveland St., where Loewen was baptized and confirmed. The Rev. Derril Peabody will officiate. The family requests memorials be directed to the charity of the donor's choice. The Neptune Society of Sacramento is assisting the family with arrangements. (Obituary from the "The Daily Democrat," Friday, July 19, 2002, (Woodland, Yolo County, California). Submitted with the permission of the "The Daily Democrat," 711 Main St., Woodland, CA 95695. Please note: I am not related to the family listed above, and I do not have any further information on this family.)