- Leslie Owen "Jerry" Mendel, 89 -- Jerry Mendel, 89, passed away on April 9, 2003, in his home at Yucaipa, Calif.
He had been ill during the past weeks, making emergency trips to the hospital.
On Monday he was returned to his home with nursing care around the clock until his passing on Wednesday, April 9.
Jerry was born on March 27, 1914, to Roland and Dora Jennings Mendel at home on the Mendel farm/homestead near Rome, in Douglas County.
He was nicknamed after his grandfather Jeremiah Mendel. He grew up on this farm and attended the Lone Star School located just down the hill from his home.
On Dec. 19, 1937, he married Essie Barnes of Goodhope. They made their home in what was called Pickerwood Hollow. Here their son Rolly and their daughter Nova Jean were born. In 1942 they moved to Redlands, Calif. Jerry worked as foreman in the orange groves on the A. B. Drake Orange Ranch called Smiley Heights Orange Groves. In 1963 he retired from this work. He and wife Essie moved to Yucaipa, where he worked until retirement as custodian of the school grounds.
Jerry was an active member serving as an elder in the Church of Christ. He enjoyed camping trips in the mountains and baseball games. Jerry and family, since 1942, have made a number of trips back to Missouri for visits of family and friends. The last trip was in August 1996 for family reunions.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; his son Rolly in June 2001; a granddaughter, Cindy; two brothers, Virgil Mendel and wife Claudia, and Howard Mendal and wife Sibyl; two sisters, Edith and husband Glenn, and her second husband John Smith, and Grace and husband, Vernie Ellison.
Survivors are his wife, Essie; his daughter, Nova and Don Sandusky; two grandsons, Jerry Arthur Mendel and Lonnie Thomas Mendel; four granddaughters, Vickie and Edward Petti, Sherry and Charles Ratliff, Robin and Donald Burgess, and Roberta and Paul Burgess; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
Services were held on Monday, April 14, in the Emmerson Bartlett Mortuary Chapel of Yucaipa. Burial followed in the Desert Lawn Cemetery, Calimesa, Calif."
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1914 - 2003 (89 years) 
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