News

Craig Nash (97) a Madera resident since 1941 passed away on Sunday, February 10, 2019. Craig was born in Desha Arkansas to George Nash and Mamie Brock Nash. He settled in Madera and later served in World War II in the U.S. Army in the Asiatic –Pacific Theater where he was a recipient of the Purple Heart and one bronze star.

Following his military service he returned to Madera where he had various jobs eventually retiring from the Madera Irrigation District where he was employed for 17 years. Craig loved to Dance, he enjoyed the penny machine at Table Mountain Casino and his daily shopping trips with his wife Rose.

MADERA - Hermine Reiring, a 58-year resident of Madera, passed away quietly at 104 years old on January 28, 2019. Born Hermine Carolyn Sporcich on August 4, 1914 in Chicago to Mirko and Katherine Sporcich, recent immigrants from Croatia. Hermine was raised in Hammond, Indiana, outside of Chicago. Growing up in an immigrant community, Hermine began her schooling without being able to speak or understand English, but language came quickly to a 5-year-old.

Hermine graduated from Hammond High School in 1931. She attended business school and then a “wanderlust” took over. She traveled around the country by herself by train visiting and staying with relatives along the way. Her wanderlust eventually brought her to Southern California where she met her future husband, Leonard Reiring. Apparently, it was not “love at first sight” because soon after that, with war breaking out, Hermine chose to serve her country and enlisted in the Navy as a WAVE.

BANKS, OR – The former managing partner of the Triple-A franchise Fresno Grizzlies died Thu Thursday after crashing his car into an embankment in rural Washington County.

According to Oregon State Police, Brian Glover (52) died at the scene of the accident on  U.S. Freeway 26 around 2pm Thursday on the west side of the Dennis L. Edwards Tunnel northwest of Banks, Oregon..

MADERA - Former Madera Police Chief Gordon E. Skeels was born December 9, 1935 to Clarence Err and Ruth Alice (VinGee) Skeels in Palmyra, New York. He entered into eternity on January 23, 2019 after a lengthy illness. Gordon attended and graduated from school in Palmyra, New York at the Palmyra-Marcedon Central School.

In 1953 he joined the New York National Guard and belonged to the 105th Brigade Headquarters Company and was there for two years. During that same year he married Sharon Allen and they had two children, Pamella Jean and Sherili. They moved to Fresno where they later divorced in 1962. Gordon then married Carole June (Dotson) on August 14, 1964 in Madera and they were married for 48 years.

NORTH FORK - Eldren Lee Sherman “Sarge” passed away at his home in North Fork, CA, on Monday January 14, 2019 at the age of 96. He was born January 31, 1922, the son of Lee Brown Sherman and Mae Elizabeth Polkenhorn. Eldren was a lifelong resident of North Fork. He was a veteran of WWII, recipient of the Purple Heart from wounds he received while serving his country in the U.S. Army during the Battle of the Bulge. He was married to Francys Emily Sherman who preceded him in death in 2002.

Eldren is retired after 35 years as a crane and loader operator in the logging industry with American Forest Products. He was an avid outdoorsman enjoying his time hunting, fishing and gardening. In years past he helped in building the Isabel dam and was a master stone mason whom many chose to use for his artistic fireplace designs.

John Louis Stockli (82) passed away on January 12, 2019 in Madera, Calif., surrounded by his children. John was born to Louis and Mary (Herman) Stockli in Fresno on December 5, 1936. His parents’ strong work ethic was instilled in him from an early age where he would milk cows and do other farm jobs. 

John graduated from Madera High School with the Class of 1954.  Following high school, he served in the United States Army from 1955-1962 with an honorable discharge. John met and married Carol Ann Bandoni in 1959. They were blessed with two sets of twins – Christopher and Christine (1960); and Kurt and Karla (1963).