Obituaries

RALPH NELSON April 23, 1925 – Nov. 10, 2020

Dr. Ralph Nelson, age 95, passed away in Albuquerque, NM on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, while surrounded by his family.

Ralph was born on April 23, 1925 in Moline, Illinois. After graduating from Rock Island High School in 1943, he was drafted into the US Army and was later assigned to the 106th Infantry Division. On December 16, 1944, while fighting in the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest, Belgium, he was taken prisoner by German forces and transported to a POW camp, Bad Orb, outside Frankfurt, Germany.

After his liberation by Allied Forces in April Read More

REBECCA HOLMES ROGERS March 8, 1950 – Oct. 23, 2020

Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 another bright star was added to the skies. Our dear Rebecca Holmes Rogers, born March 8, 1950 in Wood River, IL to Gene and Shirley Holmes, passed on due to complications of leukemia.

Rebecca also known as Reba, Rita, Becca, Beebs and Reba du Twain, was truly a free spirit, marching to the beat of her own drum.

Beki saw beauty in the wonder-filled earth around her. From the smallest seashell to the most majestic Redwood-she was truly a lover and protector of Mother Nature’s greatest gifts to all of us.

Although spending most of Read More

CURTIS MONTGOMERY KLATT March 6, 1959 – Oct. 16, 2020

Monty Klatt, age 61 passed away in a tragic vehicle/pedestrian accident on October 16, 2020.

He was born on March 6, 1959 in Española, NM. Monty grew up in Los Alamos and graduated from Los Alamos High School.

He enjoyed playing baseball and football, he wrestled and skied, both snow and water skiing.

He loved animals, as a boy on family vacations he had chipmunks eating out of his hand. Monty loved his family, he was a fun loving uncle who delighted in his nieces and nephews. He was a true friend and through the years cared for those in need. His big bear Read More

SIEGFRIED GERSTL Aug. 5, 1939 – Oct. 17, 2020

Siegfried Gerstl, husband of 50 years, father, father-in-law, Opa, fraternity brother, and friend, died peacefully on Oct. 17, 2020, from pulmonary fibrosis in Biberach, Germany. He was 81.

Sig was born Aug. 5, 1939, in Germany near Stuttgart as the youngest of four brothers. His Bavarian/Swabian roots gave him a healthy self-confidence and a spirit of adventure, as well as diligence, thriftiness and a strong sense of family.

After graduating from business high school in Esslingen and Technical University in Stuttgart, he received his doctorate Read More

NEAL DYE Nov. 5, 2020

Neal Dye (76) was called to heaven on November 5, 2020.

Neal was born in Trinidad, Colorado, but grew up in Española, New Mexico. Neal met his wife Janis in 1963 and they were married in 1964 and celebrated 55 years of marriage.

They spent most of their years in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where they raised their two children: son David and daughter Deborah. On Neal’s retirement in 2001, they moved to La Veta, Colorado, where Neal had spent many summers as a child visiting his relatives.

Neal had a wonderful sense of humor and was so proud of himself when he could play a prank on one of his Read More

TIMOTHY W. GARBETT April 28, 1965 – Nov. 3, 2020

Timothy W. Garbett went to be with his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, on November 3, 2020 after a long struggle with Multiple Sclerosis. 

Tim was born April 28, 1965 in Fremont, California to George and Alice Garbett.

Tim is survived by his beloved wife, Kathy; daughter, Ksenia of Los Alamos; mother, Alice Garbett of Denver; brothers, Stephen of Colorado, and Dan of Philadelphia, and sister, Shari of Miami.

Tim served 4 years in the US Navy, serving in the western Pacific. Following discharge from the Navy, he attended Metro State University in Denver Read More

PAUL L. CHURCH Nov. 5, 2020

Our fiercely independent brother has died. Paul L. Church was born in October of 1957 in Los Alamos. 

His father, James S. Church, was a chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project, and his mother, Esther W. Church, was a biologist who taught at the high school. 

Paul graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1975. He attended the University of New Mexico and

Northern Arizona University before making his way to the pristine wilderness of Alaska, where he lived for several decades, fostering his rebellious spirit and relishing the mountains and nature – if not always the Read More

JOE TAPIA July 27, 1922 – Nov. 1, 2020

Joe Tapia, 98, beloved Father, was called to his eternal resting place on November 1, 2020.

He entered this world on July 27, 1922 in Chamita, NM, born to Luciano and Genoveva Tapia.

He was met in Heaven by his wife Margaret Tapia.

He is survived by his only daughter Lucille Wietzema and her husband Jake, by his eldest son David Tapia, by his youngest son Jonathan Tapia, and by his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Joe served in the Army from February 1942 to February 1946.

Joe was interred with his wife, Margaret, at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, but due to Read More

MICHAEL R. MCCLANNAHAN Nov. 7, 2020

Michael R. McClannahan peacefully died surrounded by his family on Nov. 7, 2020. He was 82. He had been in failing health over the past several months. In the end his strong heart finally gave out but not without a fight.

Although christened Michael at birth, he was Mike to everyone. Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1938, Mike spent the first years of his life with a lung ailment that made breathing difficult. In a flatbed Ford converted into a camp trailer, Mike’s parents hit the road searching for a climate that would help the small boy heal. They ended up in Eunice, NM, Read More

DONNA HERBST Nov. 4, 2020

Donna Herbst (née Kalb) died peacefully in her Santa Fe home after a short battle with cancer Nov. 4 at the age of 84.

Donna is survived by her husband (Richard Herbst) of 63 years, her sister Terry, her children Pam (John), Beth (Michael), Catherine (Todd), Terresa, and Rita (Otto), grandchildren Mattea, Max, Patrick, Christopher, Marcel, Anatole, Xavier and Josephine, and seven nieces and nephews.

Donna was born in Illinois to Joseph and Lee Kalb. She went to Trinity High School in River Forest and attended the University of Illinois in Champaign where she met her husband. Read More