Ronald George Zeise

GEDCOM Note

Alameda Times (Jul/15/2004) Obit:
Ronald G. Zeise October 10, 1941 ~ August 7, 2003 Passed away peacefully at home with his wife, Ginger, and his son, Brett, by his side. Ron had been fighting a courageous battle against a brain tumor for the past 15 months. He faced this challenge in the same fashion he faced other challenges in his life, with determination and resolve. He kept his sense of humor and remained upbeat throughout. Beloved son, husband, father, brother and friend. He is survived and will be greatly missed by his wife, Ginger Zeise; his mother, Millie Zeise; his son, Brett Zeise; two daughters, Anita Murikami and her husband, Brian, and Gerri Lynn Brehm and her husband, Richard; and his two stepsons, Dave and J.D. Smith; his sisters, Linda Arneson, Jeanne Ewy and her husband, John, Carol Jarrick and her partner, Pat Duval, June Braith and her husband, Tim; two brothers, Larry Zeise and his wife, Sabrina, and Mike Zeise and his wife, Deb; his mother-in-law Frances McAvoy, sisters-in-law, Sharon Mosley, Patty Schroyer and Linda Pardini, three brothers-in-law, Norm Pardini, Brad Schroyer and Billy McAvoy; and his grandchildren, Kyle Murikami, Mattie Brehm, Emily Brehm and Jayla Rose Smith; nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and many, many friends.

Ron started in the fire service in Pacific Grove, California in 1963. He then went on to become the Fire Chief of Mid Carmel Valley Fire Protection District in 1977 to 1982. He took a brief leave from the fire service in 1982 to go back to college and get his degree. He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco. In 1984 he was hired as the Fire Chief at Salinas Rural Fire District. In 1991, he went to Ross Valley Fire Service in San Anselmo as the Fire Chief and retired from that department in 1999. He attended the Maritime Institute in January of 2000. He completed the required course and obtained his Captain's license. He then became a sailing instructor at Tradewinds Sailing Center.

Ron and Ginger sailed their boat "Chief Priority" to Mexico in October 2001 but had to cut their trip short due to his illness. When word got out about his illness he was flooded with letters, phone calls, and visits from the many people whose lives he touched. Ron was a role model, mentor and friend to many.

He spent 36 years in the fire service and during that time, he gave many young firefighters something to aspire to. He taught people how to use their opportunities to do and be what they dreamed. Ron will be great missed by those whose lives he touched and were better for it. He was a wonderfully upbeat man with a kind and generous heart. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, August 18, 10:00 a.m. at San Domenico School, 1500 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo. Call 415-258-4686 for more information. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice of your choice. Monte's Chapel of the Hills Family Owned and Operated San Anselmo, CA ~ 415-453-8440

He lived in Richmond from 1997 until his death.

GEDCOM Note

Ron’s parents separated when he was quite young and Mille returned to Minnisota from Los Angeles. She then married Harold Zeise, who then treated him as a son and Ron assumed his step-father’s surname. He continued to use it for the rest of his life.