Weather
The Pine Tree, News for Calaveras County and Beyond Weather
Amador Angels Camp Arnold Bear Valley Copperopolis Murphys San Andreas Valley Springs Moke Hill/West Point Tuolumne
News
Business Directory
Weather & Roads
Sports
Real Estate
Search
Weekly & Grocery Ads
Entertainment
Life & Style
Government
Law Enforcement
Business
Wine News
Health & Fitness
Home & Garden
Food & Dining
Religion & Faith
Frogtown USA
Calendar
Polls
Columns
Free Classifieds
Letters to the Editor
Obituaries
About Us


Log In
Username

Password

Remember Me



Posted by: thepinetree on 01/22/2016 08:25 AM Updated by: thepinetree on 01/22/2016 08:25 AM
Expires: 01/01/2021 12:00 AM
:

Vietnam Veteran, Calaveras Sheriff's Deputy, Fish & Game Warden John Michael Stark 1943 - 2016

San Andreas, CA...John Michael Stark passed away Sunday, January 17 at St Joseph's Hospital in Stockton, from complications of emphysema, with his family at his bedside. He was 72. John was born on October 18, 1943 in San Francisco. He spent his elementary school years in San Francisco and moved to Cupertino for his high school years. While at Cupertino High School he met Sophia (Sue) Paizis. They were married soon after high school in 1965.

Stark



John was in the K9 Unit of the Air Police in the US Air Force. His last year of service was spent in Vietnam. On his return to civilian life he and Sue began their family and he enrolled at San Jose State University. John graduated from college with a teaching credential. Before he could get a teaching job John was offered a position at the Humboldt County Sheriffs Department as a Correctional Officer. ln the year he was at Humboldt County he put himself through the Police Academy during the day and worked at the jail at night for several months.

ln 1977, upon graduation from the academy, he took a job at the Calaveras County Sheriffs Department as a Patrol Deputy. He soon had a K9 partner named Fred. "Stark and Bark" were well known in the county. ln 1983 John left the Sheriff's Department to work for the California Department of Fish and Game as a warden. He retired from Fish and Game in 2003. From 1991 until his wife retired in 2A10, during his days off from the State, John would work extra hire for the Calaveras County Sheriffs Department.

John loved the outdoors and spent much of his time traveling to different parts of the world. He was an active member of the Calaveras Caravaners and enjoyed traveling with Sue and his dog to their outings. He was a charter member of the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association and attended most of the yearly reunions at March Air Field in Riverside, CA.

John liked to work with his hands on metal and wood, and enjoyed photography.
He took many honors for his pictures.

John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sue, and his two sons Michael Stark of
San Andreas and Gregory and Jana Stark of Valley Springs, his grandchildren
Callie and Evan Stark, and his sisters Linda Stark and Scarlett Johnson both of
Napa, CA.

Their will be a public viewing Monday, January 25, from 5 PM to 7 PM at the San
Andreas Memorial Chapel, 254W. St. Charles St., San Andreas, CA. The
funeral will be Tuesday, January 26, at 11 AM at the St. Basil Greek Orthodox
Church, 920 W. March Lane, Stockton, CA. lnterment will be at Sunset View
Cemetery, 10200 Highway 88, Jackson, CA. Memorial contributions would be
appreciated to the American Lung Association.


Comments - Make a comment
The comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for its content. We value free speech but remember this is a public forum and we hope that people would use common sense and decency. If you see an offensive comment please email us at news@thepinetree.net

What's Related
These might interest you as well
Local News

phpws Business Directory

Photo Albums

Calendar

Web Pages


Mark Twain Medical Center
Meadowmont Pharmacy
Angels & San Andreas Memorial Chapels
Bear Valley Real Estate
Gerard Insurance
Bank of Stockton
Fox Security
Bistro Espresso
Chatom Winery
Middleton's Furniture
Bear Valley Mountain Resort
Cave, Mine & Zip Lines
High Country Spa & Stove
Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway
Sierra Logging Museum Calaveras Mentoriing
Jenny's Kitchen

Copyright © The Pine Tree 2005-2023