Obituaries

Bill Nahmens, a native of Portola Valley, died March 1 at the age of 80.

Mr. Nahmens, who worked for the Bear Gulch District of the California Water Service Company for 43 years, retired as general manager in 1984.

Mr. Nahmens was a true native of this area. His grandfather came to Portola Valley in 1860 to raise strawberries. His father was the first caretaker at the Bear Gulch Reservoir, before Cora Flood gave it to the University of California. Mr. Nahmens grew up in the upper Alpine area of Portola Valley, in the shadow of Coal Mine Ridge, and attended the historic (little red) schoolhouse in Portola Valley.

He served as a platoon sergeant in Company K, 311th Infantry, U.S. Army, in Europe during World War II. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in the line of duty.

In his years as manager of the Bear Gulch District, Mr. Nahmens and his wife, Elsie, lived on the Bear Gulch Reservoir's 100-acre property in Atherton. Bear Gulch Canyon Watershed, which covers more than 1,200 acres from Woodside Road to Skyline Boulevard, flows down the hills into a 28-acre lake on the Atherton property. The district provides water for parts of Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside and Portola Valley.

Mr. Nahmens loved the outdoors and spent much of his time at the family ranch near Laytonville in Mendocino County. His son, Jim Nahmens, recalls his father's favorite hobbies were hunting, fishing, story-telling, gardening, and cutting firewood by hand. "Even in his later years he could hike, hunt, and chop wood better than young men. He will be remembered as the world's best deer hunter," he says.

"He was the kindest gentleman I ever knew," says Chief Mike Fuge of the Woodside Fire Protection District, who had known Mr. Nahmens for 36 years." Mr. Fuge said he and his children enjoyed hearing Mr. Nahmens' stories about growing up in Portola Valley when it was real country. "I used to go hunting with him up at the ranch, and it was hard to keep up with him," he added.

Mr. Nahmens is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elsie; a sister, Gertrude of Grass Valley; three sons, Bill of Portola Valley, Bob and Jim of Redwood City, and their wives; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Bill is caretaker at the Pony Tracks Ranch for Jacques Littlefield. (At one time his father worked at the Pony Tracks as a ranch hand, and that is where he met his wife, Elsie, who was working for the Rolph family.) Bob is a battalion chief at Woodside Fire Department, and Jim is a wildlife photographer, specializing in whales, dolpins and marine mammals.

There will be an informal memorial gathering from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 11, at the Mounted Patrol Grounds, 521 Kings Mountain Road, Woodside. Contact the Woodside fire district, 851-1594, for further information.

The family prefers memorial donations to the Mule Deer Foundation, 1005 Terminal Way, Suite 170, Reno, Nevada, 89502, or to a favorite charity.

Rosalie Sawyer Menlo Park Realtor

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 13, at St. Denis Catholic Church, 2250 Avy Ave., Menlo Park, for Rosalie B. Sawyer, who died in Redwood City on February 21. She was 80.

Mrs. Sawyer was an administrative assistant and licensed Realtor for 28 years at Menlo Management Company in Menlo Park. A longtime Menlo Park resident, she was a charter member of the Children's Health Council in Palo Alto, and worked actively on Summer Symphony, the council's annual fund-raiser.

She was also secretary to Monsignor Edwin Kennedy for many years when he served as pastor of St. Raymond's Catholic Church, Menlo Park.

Mrs. Sawyer is survived by daughters Janet Welch of Oakland and Jinx Wattles of Clearwater, Florida; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard G. (Gib) Sawyer, and daughter, Martha Woodd.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Children's Health Council, 700 Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303.

Joseph Gibb Native of England

A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 8, at Church of the Nativity, Menlo Park, for Joseph Gibb, who died March 1 in Redwood City. He was 74. Mr. Gibb, a native of Liverpool, England, came to the United States in 1956 with his wife, Margaret, to work in the engineering department of Lytton Industries, San Carlos. He was then employed in the engineering department of Watkins-Johnson Company for 35 years, retiring 10 years ago. Mr. Gibb had lived in Menlo Park for 45 years.

An avid golfer, Mr. Gibb took part in many company golf tournaments when he worked for Watkins-Johnson. He was also a handyman who enjoyed working around his house and helping neighbors with projects.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Gibb; son Peter and his wife, Elizabeth, of San Carlos; one grandson; and a brother, John Gibb, and sister, Ann Smith, both of England.

A vigil and rosary are scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, at Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the Nativity School Endowment Fund, 1250 Laurel St., Menlo Park, 94025.