Ragnar Obrestad

Ragnar Obrestad of Colusa was born at home in Obrestad, Norway on February 2, 1916, the youngest of five siblings and passed away peacefully in Vacaville, California and went to be with his Lord on November 7, 2010. Ragnar grew up on the family farm, attended schools and early on dreamed of going to sea. With the coming of World War II in September, 1939, this dream became reality. He loved to tell of his sailing experiences and happenings of those ten years, sailing all over the world. Ragnar had a beautiful tenor voice and this was discovered on a voyage. At one time he studied voice at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. He met his first wife, Kristine, a surgical nurse at a Oslo hospital in August, 1948 and they were married a short time later. For their honeymoon, he brought her to America and they began their wonderful life, traveling across country settling in El Cerrito, CA and there raising their four children. He started and began a successful business in landscaping. Kristine died July 31, 1994. A very lonesome time followed and Ragnar began spending weekends with one of his children. On one visit to Colusa with daughter, Connie, they visited the First Presbyterian Church and there met Mary Pescatore, and they were married six months later and began their wonderful fourteen years together. Ragnar loved his native land of Norway, he was proud and loved becoming a U. S. citizen and he loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with whom he is now at home and at rest forever. He will surely be missed by his loving family survivors: Wife, Mary of Colusa, son Reynold (Linda) of Green Valley, daughter, Greta Hammond (Ben) of Visalia, daughter, Connie Wilcox of Fresno, daughter, Ruth Probasco (Dave) of Carmichael. Grandchildren: Ryan (Kira) and Rachel Obrestad, Kristin (Dan) VanderEnde, Connie (Taylor) Armerding, Clark (Melissa) Hammond, Victor (Sarah) Wilcox, Dan (/Charlene), Carrie and Andy Probasco. Great-grandchildren: Riley Obrestad, Ethan and Asa VanderEnde, Margot, Ryken and Hudson Armerding, Corban Hammond, Michael and Mia Wilcox and Emma Probasco. Step children: Jim (Rita) Pescatore and Steven (Kelly) Pescatore. Step grandchildren: Christi, Tony, Jenny, Adrian and Allyson Pescatore. Numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins in Norway. Private graveside services will be held in El Cerrito, CA on Monday, November 15, 2010. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Foundation for End of Life Care, 3841 No. Freeway Blvd., Suite 210, Sacramento, CA 95834 or First Presbyterian Church of Colusa, P. O. Box 623, Colusa, CA 95932. Send Condolences to www.appealdemocrat.com