Obituaries

Maurice Dominic Cappelluti (92) was born on February 23, 1930, in Madera, California, to the late Joseph and Freda Cappelluti, and passed away on December 30, 2022, at the age of 92. Maurice attended the old Lincoln Elementary School and graduated from Madera High School in 1947. He attended dry cleaning trade school on the east coast and then returned to Madera to join his father in the family business Madera Cleaners and Laundry. He was joined a few years later by his brother, Don, and the two ran the business until his retirement in 1999 when his son, Dan, took over.

Maurice met his future wife, Marie, through a friend in 1953. She lived in San Francisco, and he spent nearly every weekend visiting until he convinced her to marry him on August 7, 1955, and make their home in Madera. They had three children, Celeste, Dan, and Sharon.

Muriel “Laverne” Rowe (87), passed away peacefully on December 12, 2022. Laverne was born on September 7, 1935, in Ratliff Township, Johnson Oklahoma to Thomas G. J. Ayers and Muriel Elois Ayers. On June 15, 1952, she married the love of her life, Lawson Rowe. They had two sons, Ron and Randy. Soon after their marriage, they moved to Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington. They lived in Tacoma, Washington, and had their first son Randy. Lawson was discharged from the Army in 1955. In 1955 they moved back to Madera, California, where they lived the rest of their lives.

After returning to Madera, Laverne took the first job she could find, a waitress at Farnesi’s restaurant in Chowchilla, working the midnight to 8 am shift. While working there, she met Harold Mar, who had breakfast there three times a week. He offered her a job at the Valley Market. This enabled her to work during the day and be home in the evenings. In 1956 she had her second son Ron. The Valley Market moved west on Howard Road and became Hal’s Market. Laverne moved with it and retired as a retail clerk in 1985. She then began working as a seasonal salesperson at Cerioni’s. After a few years of seasonal work, she retired from Cerioni’s.

Jerry Dan Dollar (84) was born September 27, 1938, in Madera, California, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Dan Dollar and Lula Wisener Dollar. He took his flight to Heaven on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. He was a lifelong resident of Madera, raised on a farm in the Alpha District, living his entire life within a half-mile from where he was born. He was the oldest of 3 children.  Jerry attended the old Alpha School and graduated from Madera High in 1956.  At age 7, Jerry cut fruit for the Chiarelli’s in the shed across the road from his home.

One of his earliest memories was the day WWII ended, and everyone in the fruit house banging trays and shouting for joy. He often said he was blessed to grow up in the happiest days of the 20th century.  The day after graduation, Jerry started work on a dairy, eventually becoming head herdsman and foreman of the Spinelli Bros. Dairy. He soon met the love of his life, Judith Alcorn, on a blind date at Madera Bowl. They were married three months later, in January 1958.

Richard Kuckenbecker (82) It is with great sadness that the family of Richard Kuckenbecker announces his passing on November 27, 2022, at the age of 82. Richard was born in Sanger, CA, on May 2, 1940, to his loving parents, Ruth and Lowell Kuckenbecker. Richard moved to Madera in 1945.

Richard and his wife Lynne are the owners of Kuckenbecker Tractor Company, which has been serving the needs of Central Valley Farmers since 1945. In 1945, Richard’s father, Lowell Kuckenbecker, bought the Madera dealership and opened it as Kuckenbecker Tractor Co. At the age of 21, Richard began selling tractors in Madera while, at the time, playing baseball for Pete Biden at Fresno State. Richard ultimately took over the operation of the business and moved the Madera dealership to its current location. In 1982 Richard purchased Fresno Ford Tractor from Chuck Stephan and built a second Kuckenbecker Tractor dealership in Fresno, which still stands today.