Obituaries
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Longtime Alameda resident, and beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and friend, Rudolf “Rudy” Falkner died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Friday, December 26. He was 75.
Rudy is survived by his wife Maria and their three children, Susan Snyder (Dave), Elizabeth Crocker (Ken) and Greg Falkner (Kriste), their six grandchildren: Rachel and Grace Falkner, Matt and Jessica Snyder, and Samantha and Alexandra Crocker; and, his brother Fred (Teri) and niece Mary Falkner of New York.
Rudy was born in Slovenia and came to the United States with his parents, Fritz and Josefine Falkner, and brother in 1950. He married Maria in New York in 1962 and moved to Alameda in 1965. Rudy worked for Xerox for 25 years until 1990 when he took over his son's business, Fix It Falkner. Greg had started the business while in college and Rudy continued it for 15 more years.
Rudy and Maria caught the travel bug and enjoyed nine cruises, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, followed by a safari, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and a hike down the Grand Canyon. They celebrated their 25th anniversary with family friends Kathleen and Larry Branchaud in Australia and New Zealand, drove across the U.S.A. twice and Canada once, met Lonesome George in the Galapagos Islands, and rode bikes and backpacked in Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.
Following his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, his most recent travels were limited to where he was the happiest—watching his grandkids on stage, on the playing field or in a marching band. Rudy's family and friends were always most important, including his weekly Panera coffee group, lunches with his daughters, and his mornings at the Alameda Elks gym with his son. Rudy was so proud of his children, his roses and grapes!
Memorial services will take place Friday, January 9, 2015 at 5 p.m. at the Alameda Elks Lodge #1015, 2255 Santa Clara Ave.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to any of Rudy’s favorite causes: Alameda Elks Charity Fund, Girls Inc. of the Island City, Wounded Warriors and St. Jude's Research Hospital.
Thomas Maurice Burke was born in San Francisco on Dec. 30, 1946. He died unexpectedly at his home in Alameda on Nov. 21, 2014 at the age of 67.
He was the loving son of the late James and Teresa Burke. Tom was raised in the Sunset District in San Francisco and graduated from Lincoln High School. He then went on to City College and completed his degree in horticulture.
It was there that Tom met his lifelong partner of 47 years, Ron Morgan. Together, they restored a handsome Queen Anne Victorian house. As a duo, they enjoyed frequenting estate sales and the Alameda Point flea market in the never-ending search for "treasures". Tom worked as a gardener for 35 years for the City of San Francisco. The gorgeous garden of their Alameda home is a living legacy to Tom's green thumb and talents.
Tom is survived by his four sisters Nanci Sebastiani (Jim), Teresa Walsh (Kevin), Patti Burke, Debra Gutierrez (Rich) He was preceded in death by his brother Jim Burke (Barbara) in 2006. He leaves a loving extended family of five nieces and seven nephews and 17 grand nieces and nephews. He will truly be missed by all who loved him.
A private family celebration of Thomas' life will be held on Dec. 30.
During the holidays your family misses you both with all of our hearts. Peace is knowing that your love for each other was so strong during your lifetime that you have found each other again in heaven. Not a day goes by that we do not miss you. It is a gift to have loved you both. You taught us what love is. Love is kind, unpretentious and forgiving, you were all of these things and more.
