OBITUARIES

Jonathan Michael Andrus

Sept. 30, 1983 — Sept. 19, 2020

Jonathan Michael Andrus, beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend to everyone, was born on Sept. 30, 1983, and transitioned to heaven to be with His Lord and Savior, Jesus on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. He was 37 years old.

Jonathan was born in Memphis, Tennessee, where his parents were the Youth Pastors at First Assembly of God, Elvis Presly's home church. The Andrus family lived in Memphis for the first year and a half of Jonathan's life. His family then moved to Redondo Beach, California, where Jonathan grew up in Calvary Church of the Coastlands, as his father served as youth and associate pastor. The family lived in Southern California until Jonathan was 9 years old. In 1993, the Andrus family were called to Sonora, where Jonathan's dad today still serves as senior pastor of Christian Heights Church. In the spring of 2001, Jonathan graduated Summerville High School in Tuolumne, left home that fall, and attended college at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa.

After graduation with a bachelor's degree in business administration, he moved with his former spouse, Yana, to Frisco, Texas, for a job opportunity where he lived for five years. Lana, Jonathan's oldest daughter, was born there in Texas where Jonathan worked for Countrywide Mortgage and served as a worship leader at Hope Chapel in Frisco. Wanting to be nearer to family, he transferred back to Northern California in 2010, where son Isaiah, now 7 years old, was born.

In 2016, Jonathan met Sarah Toews, in City Fellowship Church of Jackson, where he served as worship leader. Sarah and Jonathan were married on Jan. 13, 2018, blended their families, moved to Pine Grove, and Jonathan became a loving dad to Mackenzi and Leah as well as Lana and Isaiah. Most recently he worked at Pennymac in Sacramento, as operations manager, and attended New Life Church in Sutter Creek.

Jonathan loved Jesus, his family, his church, and his many friends. He also loved music, fellowship, riding motorcycles, working hard, working on his new home, being goofy and telling everyone that, “Jesus is coming soon.”

People knew him as someone who was genuine … strove for excellence, did whatever he did to the best of his ability. Jonathan had a magnetic personality, promoted unity in relationships and couldn't fake it. He talked to everyone about the Lord, and never met a stranger.

Richard `Pops' Benicki

Jan. 12, 1948 — Sept. 18, 2020

Born Jan. 12, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois, to Stephen and Ann Benicki. Rich passed away at the age of 72, on Sept. 18, 2020, at Adventist Health of Sonora.

Rich grew up in Los Angeles, California, and relocated to Jamestown, in 1977 where he remained the rest of his life. He married his wife, Rickey, in 1966. Rich loved to have a good time making jokes, spending time with his wife, sons and granddaughters, fishing, four- wheeling and playing darts.

Preceded in death by his mother, Ann Benicki, in 1979; his father, Stephen Benicki, in 1993; his wife, Rickey Jo Benicki, in 2009; and his son, Richard Benicki II, in 2015. He is survived by his son and daughter in-law, Raymond and Shanon Benicki; his granddaughter and her husband, Ashley and Ryan Padilla; his granddaughter Brittney Benicki; and five great-grandchildren, Isaiah Eckles, Elijah Padilla, Cora Martin, Jeremiah Padilla and Rebekah Padilla.

A celebration of life will be held at noon Saturday, Oct. 3 on Chicken Ranch Road in Jamestown. Please follow the signs. Please contact Ashley Padilla, 768-8343, or Raymond Benicki for more information.

Notices

KELLEY — Former Tuolumne County resident Teresa Kelley, 69, died Monday, Sept. 28, in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Alexander Gray Funeral Home in Wilson, Oklahoma, handled cremation arrangements.

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