James William Weckman's Obituary
James Weckman
1944-2018
Long-time Rio Linda resident James William Weckman died from complications of cancer on August 5. Born in Sacramento on April 4, 1944 to Eugene and Danella (Schaub) Weckman, Jim moved at age 5 with his family to the Rio Linda acreage on which he lived nearly all his life until entering a north area family care home last October. A graduate of Rio Linda High School, Jim later studied locksmithing and gardening and was employed for several years as a night custodian for the (then) Rio Linda school district, among other jobs. His primary vocation, however, was as a devoted and careful steward of the family property on West Second Street. He loved all animals, especially the wildlife that surrounded his home, and as a boy and young man enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing with his family in the Sierras. A born “philosopher,” in later years he loved to reminisce and talk local history with cousin Bob Bastian, and was probably one of the few folks still living who had seen a now-lost pioneer gravesite on the old “Crystal Dairy” property (now Hansen Ranch Park) nearby, where he and his friends often went exploring as kids. Although essentially a homebody, he greatly enjoyed a trip to visit family in Europe in the 1980s. A descendant of early Rio Lindans (grandparents Frank and Gertrude Weckman settled in the area in 1920) he was preceded in death by his parents and survived by a sister, Linda Weckman Merker of Bend, Oregon, nephew Blaine Merker and great-nephews Luka and Finn Merker, all of Berkeley; aunt Georgia Foote of North Sacramento, and many, many cousins with whom he enjoyed sharing family events and memories over the years. He lived, and died, courageously, and will be remembered and missed as a unique member of the community and, as he always strove to be – and he’d be honored with just these simple words – a good person. Sunset Lawn/Chapel of the Chimes is in charge of inurnment. A private family gathering may be planned for a later time.
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