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Obituaries

Leon Henry 'Papa' Gartung

Alamo resident Leon Henry "Papa" Gartung, 67, passed away suddenly Feb. 9.

He was born June 2, 1939, in Strathmore, Calif. One of eight siblings, he grew up in Porterville, where he played high school and college football. He graduated with honors from Cal Poly Pomona, did post graduate work at Purdue University and received his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from San Jose State University.

He worked for Lawrence Livermore Lab and EG&G, before launching his real estate career in the early 1970s. During the next 30 years, he owned several real estate and mortgage companies, mentored real estate agents, and helped clients develop real estate portfolios.

He loved skiing, traveling, reading and learning, and most of all his family, who called him "Papa."

He is survived by his wife and best friend Jennifer; daughter and son-in-law Debbie and Dave Black of Sacramento; son and daughter-in-law Dan and Kris Gartung of Hillsborough; stepdaughter and son-in-law Elka and John Suer of Walnut Creek; and stepdaughter and son-in-law Jayme and John Daley of Martinez; nine grandchildren; brother Clyde Gartung and sister Kathleen Banister of New Bransfels, Texas; sister and brother-in-law Stella Steinmetz and Lee Launstein of Bakersfield; sister and brother-in-law, Anna and Doug Cook of Novato; sister-in-law Shirley Gartung of Strathmore; and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by siblings Evelyn, Nancy and Mark Gartung.

Memorial services were held Feb. 16 at Round Hill Country Club, Alamo. Due to the value he placed on education, donations can be made in his honor to the Leon Gartung Scholarship Fund, 116 Sedgefield Court, San Ramon, 94583.

Michael Edward Meehan

Diablo resident Michael Edward Meehan, 48, passed away Sunday, Feb. 11, at one of his favorite places, Pebble Beach, while attending the AT&T Golf Tournament.

He was born Feb. 2, 1959, in New York City, and moved to Walnut Creek in 1971. He graduated from Northgate High School in 1977 and St. Mary's College in 1981. He is remembered as a beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend.

He was preceded in death by his father, Edward J. Meehan. He is survived by his wife Terri Meehan; daughter Elizabeth Meehan; mother Patricia Meehan; siblings Pam Sponseller (Gary), Maureen Whitaker (Richard), Meg Hoppe (Doug), and Matthew Meehan (Denise); and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

A Mass celebrating his life was held Feb. 15 at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Danville. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.