Nicholas “Nich” A. Ermak
Nich Ermak, a longtime resident of Danville, died in a rock climbing accident at Mt. Diablo State Park on June 8.
He was born November 26, 1983. He was a 2002 graduate of San Ramon Valley High School and currently a senior at the University of California, Santa Cruz, majoring in history. He was very involved in martial arts training in both the Bujinkan School of Ninjutsu and the Enbukan School of Battojutsu (a Japanese combat sword art). While on a recent trip to Japan, he performed before the Grand Master and earned his Shodan (black belt), a significant achievement.
He is survived by his mother Tricia Leonard (who is vice principal at Harvest Park Middle School) and step-father Fred of Pleasanton; father Don Ermak and step-mother Lois of Danville; brother Mike of Redmond, Wash.; sister Lisa Barbera of Littleton, Colo.; step-sisters Laura Johnson of San Francisco and Stacy Berkley of Pleasanton; and step-brother Chris Poulos of Forest Grove, Ore.
Services were held June 14 at Wilson and Kratzer Chapel of San Ramon in Danville.
Edna E. Miner
Edna Miner died in Danville at the age of 93.
She was born in Butte Valley Township, N.D., and was the last survivor of nine children born to Norwegian immigrants. She graduated from the Fabiola School of Nursing in Oakland in 1932 and worked in the profession for most of the following 40 years. In the mid 1960s, she fought tirelessly to improve working conditions for nurses. She owned and operated a yardage store in Castro Valley for two years. She played the organ in her church. She was a member of The Elm Club of Oakland, Sons of Norway, Eastern Star, Republican Women’s Club, and Rolling Hills Community Church in Danville. After retirement, she built a ranch house in Tracy and spent the next 18 years raising cattle, horses and chickens. Besides construction work, she was a talented seamstress, excellent Scrabble player, and she enjoyed deep sea fishing.
She is survived by three daughters, Marty Daniels and her husband Steve of Pleasanton, Holly Gillingham and her husband Chuck of Campbell, Patty Parks-Telek and her husband Frank of Danville; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Her husband Hollis and first-born daughter Mary Susan preceded her in death.
Services were held at Rolling Hills Community Church in Danville. Memorial donations may be made to the National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410.
Robert Lawrence Ferguson
Robert Ferguson died June 4 at the age of 81.
He was born September 4, 1924, in Berkeley. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943-1945 as a B-24 bomber pilot. He graduated from Berkeley High School and attended Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind. He was affiliated with the California State Sheriffs’ Association A.C.R.E. and was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and Trinity Lutheran Church in Pleasanton. He retired after 30 years of service as a Deputy Sheriff with Alameda County. He was an avid 49er fan, enjoyed model railroading, fishing and home repairs.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Wanda Eloise of Pleasanton; sons Steven Alan Ferguson and his wife Sandra of Albany, Calif., and David Robert Ferguson and his wife Delice of San Ramon; daughters Nancy Ann Higgins and her husband James of Ceres, Calif., Sally Jean Powels of Summerland Key, Fla., and Susan Jane Hogan and her husband Richard of Livermore; sister Helen Ormsby of Murphys, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, four sisters and son-in-law David Powels.
A memorial service was held at Trinity Lutheran Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 1225 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton 94566.
