Pat "Paka" Fonseca

Pat "Paka" Fonseca 07/21/1933 ~ 09/18/2010 ESCONDIDO -- Pat, known as the "Happy Hawaiian" musician passed away in Phoenix, Arizona on September 18, 2010. A resident of Lake Havasu for 18 years, Pat lost his struggle with heart disease and cancer. Pat was born in Honolulu, HI. At age 8, the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was in a tree picking mangoes for his grandparents. He often reminisced about growing up in Hawaii where his grandfather taught him to fish, "throw net", family huki-lau, and luau's. At a young age he learned to play ukulele and accompany the hula troops. He was a self-taught piano man and later organ and keyboards. A big boy, at age 14, he bluffed his way into the National Guard. At age 19, he joined the United States Marine Corp. He was a proud American, serving 25 years which included time in Vietnam. During his military caree, he was a football coach for the Barstow Marines and entertained at various service clubs. After retiring from the Marine Corps, he was a full-time musician in Southern California from Del Mar to Escondido and also Las Vegas with the Arthur Lyman Band. He was known locally for his famous "Sunday Tea-Dances" at the Elks Lodge. He was a proud father to eight children, six of whom reside in California, David Fonseca, Mark Fonseca, Daniel and wife Brenda Fonseca, Chris Fonseca, Susan Lawson, April Fonseca, Melody Fonseca of St. Louis, Mo., and Grant Baetz from Des Moines, Iowa. He was a proud grandfather to 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sister, Yvonne Reynolds of Clackamas, Ore. Pat is preceded in death by his mother, Amelia Fonseca. In 1985, Pat married his sweetheart, Marlene, which included another son, Don Collins and wife Cheri of Phoenix, Ariz., three more grandchildren and later a great- granddaughter. Pat and Marlene had just celebrated 25 years of a joy-filled marriage which included boating, fishing, traveling, entertaining and precious time with their families and many trips to Hawaii. "Paka" will be sorely missed by his loving wife. Marlene would like to reach out in gratitude to their many friends and families who supported them during the hard times and together created wonderful memories. His cremated remains will be placed at the Punch Bowl National Cemetery at a later date. A memorial service with Military Honors will be held at Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home on October 23rd at 3 p.m. An Aloha Celebration of Pat's life will follow at the Lake Havasu Elks Lodge. Please come in your Aloha attire. In lieu of flowers, donations are reqested to go in Pat's name to the Lake Havasu High School Music Department, 2200 Havasupai Blvd., Lake Havasu City, Ariz. 86403. Be sure to include "In Memory of Pat Fonseca" on your check. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com