Page 2 March 16, 2017 EL SEGUNDO HERALD Community Briefs Burkley Brandlin Swatik & Keesey LLP Douglass AT T O R N E Y S AT L AW Lifetime El Segundo Residents Living Trusts/Wills, Probate, Employment Law, Personal Injury Trust and Estates Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litigation 310-540-6000 *AV Rated (Highest) Martindale - Hubbell / **Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization MORTUARY “Our Family Serving Yours Since 1954” B U R I A L - C R E M AT I O N - W O R L DW I D E T R A N S F E R P E T M E M O R I A L P RO D U C T S 500 EAST IMPERIAL AVENUE EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA 90245 Te l e p h o n e ( 3 1 0 ) 6 4 0 - 9 3 2 5 • F a x ( 3 1 0 ) 6 4 0 - 0 7 7 8 • F D 6 5 8 Obituaries Shirley Merrill Himmler - Koppelman, 94 Shirley Merrill Himmler-Koppelman, passed away February 25, 2017 at her home in El Segundo, California. She was 94 years old. Shirley was born November 2, 1922 in Grand Rapids Michigan to Carl William Himmler and Winifred Loretta Jane Merrill-Himmler. Many of her early years were spent in the care of her grandparents, Frank Aaron and Mary Merrill of Grand Rapids; and her aunt and uncle Josephine and Sylvester Granger of Grand Ledge Michigan. She attended high school at Marywood Academy in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and graduated in 1940. She earned her Registered Nurse Diploma in 1943 at Mercy Central School of Nursing. She served in the United States Army Nurse Corps from 1944 to 1947, and rose to the rank of First Lieutenant. Following her honorable discharge from the Army, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Nursing in 1951 at Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. She was a devoted mother, who enjoyed traveling, and was an active member of St. Anthony’s Church for over 50 years. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Winifred Merrill and Carl Himmler; and her half – sister, Marilyn Himmler- Rogers. She is survived by her children Marie (James) Kitchen of Bend Oregon, Paul (Susan) Koppelman of El Segundo, Annie Ellison of Redmond Oregon, John (Ema) Koppelman of Del Aire, California, and Carl Koppelman of El Segundo, her grandchildren Steven Koppelman, Jackson Koppelman, Hailey Koppelman, Nicole Cicciarelli, Jonathan Kitchen, and Matthew Kitchen; great grandchildren Katelyn, Aaliyah, Alexandra, and Annabelle; and her cousins George W. Granger of Bakersfield and Sylvester “Bob” Granger of Georgetown, Texas. Visitation will be held at Douglass Mortuary in El Segundo on Friday, March 17, 2017 from 4:00 – 8:00 PM. Funeral service will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church on March 18, 2017 at 9:30 AM. Interment will follow at the Mausoleum at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. • ESPD Updating Bicycle Registration The El Segundo Police Department is currently updating its Bicycle Registration database. During this process, it will be necessary for citizens to receive a new registration serial number sticker. This service will be free of charge. To re-register your bicycle(s), please contact Laurie Risk at your earliest convenience by either calling (310) 524-2274 or emailing lrisk@elsegundo.org. Failure to re-register your bicycle(s) will make it difficult to return your property in the unfortunate event it is stolen. If you no longer own the bicycle(s) registered, please let the Police Department know. ESCEI: El Segundo’s Night for Fourth and Fifth Graders Fourth and fifth grade students interested in playing awesome video games at school or learning more about El Segundo High School’s STEM programs are welcome to attend ESCEI: El Segundo’s Night on March 23 from 5:30-8:30 Richard Keith Van Vranken was born June 25, 1926 in Winfield, Iowa, the son of Nellie and Garrett Van Vranken. Richard (Dick) grew up in Winfield, Iowa, and his first job was pumping gas for his father’s gas station. Dick joined the Air Force cadet program and was called to duty with the U.S. Army Force in 1944. He was in the U.S. Army Air Force (1944-1946) and spent one year in the Philippine Islands as a Sergeant. Dick resumed his studies at Iowa Wesleyan College where he met his future wife, Mary Louise, while on a double date with different people. They fell in love and were married December 1947. While he completed his studies they lived in a trailer at a student Veterans housing project. After Dick graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Physics, he began teaching science in the public schools of Iowa. Money was scarce but they were happy and that was all that mattered. In November 1950 they had their first child, a son, Richard Bruce Van Vranken. A daughter, Patricia Louise, expanded their family in 1952. One day he saw a small ad in a science magazine for qualified applicants to move to California to begin development in a new field of “computers” at Douglas Aircraft. Mary Louise and he jumped at the chance to move to California and begin a new adventure. They moved to El Segundo in 1957 and lived at Indiana Court Apartments for one year before purchasing their permanent home. In 1962, Dick joined Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo as a computer systems programmer, and held a series of management positions over his 28-year career with the company. He retired with the title of Principal Director of Computer Systems and Operations in 1990. During the early 1970s he served on the El Segundo General Plan Advisory Committee until his appointment to the City Planning Commission in 1972. In April 1974, with both his children married and more available time to devote to public service, he ran for City Council. He served on the Council from 1974 to 1982, serving as Mayor pro tempore from 1976 to 1980, and Mayor from 1980 to 1982. In 1979, Dick joined Rotary Club where he was proud to be the longest-standing member (37 years). He enjoyed the lunches and networking with the young professionals, and serving as a mentor to many Rotarians. Dick remained active in the community as a member of the United Methodist Church of El Segundo, El Segundo Rotary Club, El Segundo Chamber of Commerce, El Segundo Golf Club, El Segundo Herald, and a strong supporter of C.A.S.E. and the El Segundo Education Foundation. Dick and Mary were blessed with four granddaughters, Shawna, Jennifer, Sara and Emily and one grandson Richard who preceded him in death in 1984. They made a point to travel to Lake Tahoe once a year to watch Shawna and Jennifer’s dance recitals, a tradition continued until the girls went to college. They enjoyed spending time with Sara and Emily at their Villa and the golf course at Lawrence Welk, and taking them to musicals at the Performing Arts Center. Each year, Dick brought the family together for a collective Thanksgiving feast, an annual tradition. In June 1991 his wife Mary Louise passed away. While he was devastated by the loss of his wife, Dick was very fortunate to meet Bebe Buchen at the United Methodist Church in 1994. They began a 23-year loving relationship where they were able to travel all over the world. In addition to travel, Dick and Bebe enjoyed attending musical concerts and theatre productions, supporting community events, “Friday Night” dinners with the “gang”, golf trips with friends, and sharing their lives with each of their families. Dick joined Bebe in her travels back east to visit her son Chris (Gina) and daughter Gretchen (Kathy), and was a loving grandfather to Bebe’s grandchildren Louie, Katie, Natalie, Sarah, and Grace. During the last few years while battling health issues he was able to lean on his many friends in the community. He really enjoyed the “Sports” viewing parties Chris Powell and Tom Forsythe organized at his home, all the assistance with rides to appointments and treatments, special treats, calls and visits to the house….that is the definition of the community of El Segundo. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the community of El Segundo for all they did and all their continued support. Dick passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, surrounded by his son Bruce, Patty Lou (as he called her) on Facetime, and many of his Rotary buddies. He is survived by his son Richard Bruce (Gail) Van Vranken, daughter Patricia Scott, granddaughters Sara (Jason) Van Vranken Knoll, Emily (Kevin) Varee, Jennifer Fox, and Shawna (Julie) Scott, and his long-time companion Bebe Buchen. Dick was preceded in death by his wife Mary Louise Van Vranken, his grandson Richard Garret Van Vranken, his father Garrett Van Vranken, his mother Nellie Bernice Van Vranken, and his sister Barbara Coleman. The burial will take place on March 25, 2017 at 10:30 AM at the Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 S. Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, all are invited. A Memorial service will be held at the United Methodist Church in El Segundo on March 25, 2017 at 1:00 PM, followed by a “Celebration of Life”. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to any of the following: United Methodist Church, 540 Main St., El Segundo, ESEF Scholarship Fund, 641 Sheldon St., El Segundo, Paul Harris Rotary Foundation, PO Box 85, El Segundo, CA. • Richard Keith Van Vranken See Community Briefs, page 16
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