PEGGY ANN RYAN BROOKS-DEMENT
1931 – 2016
Peggy was born to Martha Magdalene and Thomas “Earl” Ryan in Sioux Falls, SD on March 27, 1931. She would spend her early years moving with her mother and siblings almost yearly crisscrossing the U.S. as her mother dedicated their lives to social services for the Volunteers of America. She would graduate from Santa Cruz High School in 1949 and quickly move to Jacksonville, FL.
Peggy’s adult life revolved around the two loves of her life. At 19 she met and married Jack C. Brooks and immediately relocated to Lynwood, CA. In 1951 Peggy gave birth to her only child, Sandra. While in Lynwood she worked for Travelers and later for Farmers Insurance. In 1964 the small family relocated to Acampo, CA. Here they would turn a 15 year hobby into a very successful business. They established Kas’lbrook Kennels where they bred and professionally trained hunting dogs, traveling and campaigning their clients dogs 9 months of the year. Their success drew such notable clients as actor/singer Bing Crosby, Wayne Newton and professional athlete Darryl Imhoff of the 76ers. Peggy made her home a safe and comfortable place for the stars to come and spend time incognito which they appreciated immensely! In her home they were just ordinary people.
In her 20’s Peggy was told by a fortune teller that later in life she would marry a tall, dark haired man with 3 sons and she did. She married Carl E. Dement in 1979. She helped him run his nursery in Stockton till his retirement and they would travel the U.S. and fall in love with Brookings, OR where they moved to a home overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Her life was vastly different from the kennel life with Jack. She and Carl would travel extensively and she now had time for girlfriends, card games, shopping trips, throwing parties, QVC, and of course playing the slots at her favorite casinos. Her family and friends sustained her life bringing her much happiness.
After the death of Carl in 2013, she left Oregon and returned to Lodi where she lived her final three years with her daughter, surrounded by her grand and great grandchildren. Peggy only asked God for one thing and that was to die peacefully in her sleep and not in pain. He granted her only wish and she passed at home on Dec 23, 2016. She was 85.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, her sister Dorothy Plumhoff (MN) and brother Robert Belsham (FL), step father Oliver Stickland (Lodi), and son in law, Robert Fischer.
She is survived by her daugher, Sandra Fischer, 3 stepsons, Ryan (Lilette) Dement, Rod and Randy Dement, 4 grandchildren, Boyd (Gretchen) Lachance, Jocelyn (John) Boyle, Alec Fischer, and Natasha Dement , 5 great grandchildren, John Robert and Addison Boyle. Carson, Nolan and Kellan Lachance, and her beloved dog, “Amy”.
Funeral service will be private. Donations may be made in her name to Hospice of San Joaquin or The Alzheimers Foundation.
Please sign the guest book at www.lodinews.com/guestbook.