Search Archived Marriage Records
Robert D. Vidal
Bob died peacefully at home
on June 24, 2009, succumbing
to an illness. He was born Nov.
23, 1937. He lived in his home in
Pleasanton for 41 years.
A man of many talents, he
was a prolific artist, woodworker,
photographer, model shipbuilder
and backyard train enthusiast.
His stained glass work is greatly
admired. He was a good friend
and neighbor to many, always
helpful and sharing his talents.
Bob retired from State Farm
Insurance after 28 years in 1992.
He continued his love for travel
to the four corners of the globe
with his wife Julie.
He is survived by his best
friend and wife, Julie and stepchildren,
Elizabeth, Virginia and Robert;
sons-in-law, Shawn
and David and daughter-in-law
Kathleen. He was preceded in
death by his parents Mildred
and Frank.
Friends are invited to his Memorial
Service on July 11 at 11
a.m. at Graham-Hitch Mortuary,
4167 First St., Pleasanton.
Donations can be made to
Hope Hospice, 6500 Dublin
Blvd., Suite 100, Dublin, CA
94568.
Ivy Maud Cargill
Ivy Maud Cargill died June
22, 2009. She was born August
7, 1915.
Mass was celebrated June
30, 2009 at St. Elizabeth Seton
Catholic Church in Pleasanton.
Burial followed at St. Augustine’s
Cemetery, Pleasanton.
Arrangements by Graham-
Hitch Mortuary.
Leonard Richard Wicksten Jr
Leonard Richard Wicksten,
Jr., 74, passed away on June 26,
2009. Leonard was born in Oakland,
California on June 20, 1935,
son of Leonard and Gertrude
Wicksten. Their family moved
to Oregon in the early 1940s, and
Len graduated from Jacksonville
High in 1953.
After high school, Leonard
enlisted in the U. S. Army. He
proudly served in Special Forces
of the 11th Airborne Division as
a Master Parachutist and Ranger
from 1953 to 1958.
After a six-week romance,
Leonard married Nancy Ann
Smith on December 10, 1955
while stationed at Fort Campbell,
Kentucky, and they began
their family while stationed in
Augsburg, Germany. Leonard
and Nancy raised their family
of three daughters in Livermore,
California where Leonard joined
the Livermore Police Department
in 1966.
During his more than 30-year
career, Leonard was a tremendous
role model and mentor and
had a profound impact on a new
generation of police officers both
personally and professionally. He
always set high expectations for
both himself and his fellow officers.
Sergeant Wicksten served
fifteen years as tactical coordinator
of the SWAT team, headed
the Narcotic Task Force, and was
President of the Police Officer’s
Association. Leonard earned his
bachelor’s degree from San Francisco
State University in 1976.
Affectionately known as Wick,
Len had a dominating presence.
Those lucky enough to know
him well, however, saw beyond
his gruff exterior and glimpsed
a caring man full of teasing and
witty remarks spoken with a sly
smile. He earned respect not
from his imposing stature, but for
the values he lived by. Leonard
was a man of integrity, honor,
and honesty. His generosity left
a lasting impression on all those
whose lives crossed paths with
his own.
During his retirement years,
Len and Nancy enjoyed spending
summers on the Oregon coast in
their fifth wheeler and going on
Alaskan cruises—his final cruise
included great-granddaughter
Alexis. While taking his dog
on daily walks through his Lodi
neighborhood, he developed
strong friendships by introducing
new neighbors to old ones and
encouraging an old-fashioned
community spirit.
He was predeceased by both
parents. Survivors include his
wife Nancy; daughter Debbie
Freeman of Lodi, California and
her husband Eric, daughter Lisa
Egan of Corvallis, Oregon and
her husband Carey; daughter
Annette Fordyce of Nevada
City, California and her husband
Kerry; grandchildren Amy
Shanks, Jerry Arionus, Heather
Berry, Phillip Egan, Janine Egan,
David Egan, Shara Fordyce, and
Jason Fordyce; ten great-grandchildren;
sisters Carol Souza of
Pheonix, Oregon and Roberta
Babbit of Salem, Oregon; his
Livermore Police force family;
and his dog Sergeant McDuff.
In honor of Len’s wishes, in
lieu of flowers, contributions can
be made to the National Multiple
Sclerosis Society, Northern
California Chapter, 1700 Owens
St., Suite 190, San Francisco,
CA 94158. A celebration of his
life will be held at 11AM on
Thursday, July 2, 2009 at Callaghan
Mortuary, 3833 East Ave.,
Livermore.
