William "Bill” Kranz

FUNERAL HOME

Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary and Crematory

1625 North High Street

Lakeport, California

William Kranz Obituary

William "Bill" Kranz

There was a worn-down broken old house in downtown Lakeport, just a few blocks from the
office where Bill would work as a small town lawyer for the next 46 years. From the moment he saw that old house, he loved it and figured it would be a good place to build a life.
He was a young boy living in Cody, Wyoming, when he decided to be a lawyer. There were a few stops along the way to that small-town house and lawyer's office. After Cody, he went to high school in Ontario, Oregon, where he first met Colleen. After high school, he went to college at Gonzaga in Spokane, Washington. That's where he met Mary. Because law school at Hastings took him to San Francisco, a whole new world opened to this small town boy. Hippies, dope, the Summer of Love, concerts in Golden Gate Park...he took it all in. Bill and Mary explored restaurants and theaters, beaches and movie houses, and walked the hills of San Francisco. At the height of the Vietnam draft, Bill struck a deal with Uncle Sam. Four years as an Army JAG lawyer in exchange for getting to finish law school in those uncertain years. Here was a long-haired law student on his way to the Army marching in peace rallies.
Mary and Bill married and headed across the country to the first of several exotic destinations chosen by the US Army–Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Among the books he took were Hoyle's Book of Rules and The Bartender's Guide. His daughter Jenny was born in Pennsylvania. But card games and cocktails in rural Pennsylvania didn't last long. Phu Bai, South Vietnam was calling for a JAG lawyer. Always a movie lover, Bill was the movie projectionist for Camp Eagle. Each night a movie and then, goodnight, Vietnam. Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California finished out Bill's Army days, and that's where his daughter Kirsten was born.
One day he loaded up the family in a little blue Fiat and moved to Lakeport, to that old house and small office and built a life. The law practice grew, the friends grew, the house grew, and a basketball court was added. Over 25 years of Sunday morning old guys' games there was a revolving roster of probably 50 players. Bill found time for so many things. Board games and card games, snow skiing, water skiing, tennis, biking, golfing. The county fair, mowing the lawn, local theater, sourdough pancakes and concerts in the park. Bill was always open to any and everything. Except Scrabble, he didn't like Scrabble.
But into every life some rain does fall. Bill and Mary divorced, but later at the 40th reunion of their Ontario High School class, Colleen again entered Bill's life. They married, traveled to faraway places and golfed together, and they kept working on that old house for almost twenty years. Bill's friends became Colleens's friends, and Colleen's friends became Bill's friends, and Colleen and Mary became friends too.
Bill died on October 4th, 2020, in the house he loved. The people who had lived in it with him were there. He was okay with leaving life. He had lived his life with enthusiasm and gusto. If life wasn't a cabaret, it was at least a barbecue and some backyard croquet. Oh, and a Hole in One. Just the finishing touch.
To cement the memory of Bill, here's his last joke. A Hospice worker asked him how his days were. He said, "Well mornings are bad. I wake up everyday and we still have the same president."
Happy Trails, sweet prince, and enjoy the ride to Hushaby Mountain.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary 707-263-0357 or 994-5611 or chapelofthelakes.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Lake County Record-Bee from Oct. 10 to Oct. 16, 2020.

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Michael Herzog

Planted Trees

Mike Herzog

October 17, 2020

Bill was the first friend I made in college. We met when we were both 18, and he was "stationed" in my parents' home in Spokane. Gonzaga had built a bunch of new dorms, but they were not ready to be inhabited, so GU asked members of the community to put up students for, I think, six weeks. So Bill and I were roommates in my home and began a life-long friendship. The thing I learned very quickly about Bill was that he was very observant -- he did not miss much. What I learned over time it that as guarded as he might seem to be about his real self, once he trusted you, that was permanent. Bill challenged me to be more open as he opened up to me, and our friendship solidified. In the meantime, Mary (then Brunner) became a mentor to my future wife, Jean,. and they developed an important friendship, as well. I will always treasure the opportunity to have been the best man at Bill and Mary's wedding. Although we visited each other over the years, it was not nearly as often as we should have. But we got to know Jenny and Kirsten when they were still little, and our two families had some good moments together. Bill died as he lived -- honestly, directly, with real humility, and without flinching. The last time I saw him was when he and Colleen made the trip to Spokane to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary with us. Over this last year he and I had some wonderful phone conversations, as he had read my novel and had lots of questions and observations to make about it. Our last conversation, a few days before he died, was a good one, and it is how I will remember him. He died too soon, but it was a pleasure and a gift to be his friend for the last nearly sixty years. Rest In peace, my friend.

Myron Holdenried

October 15, 2020

I was the rep from District 5 and worked with Bill when he was the counsel advising LAFCO. Local agency formation commission. We were just learning our way and had several interesting controversaries including the dissolution of the City of Clear Lake (didn't happen) and reforming the assessment districts of Hidden Valley (also didn't happen.) Bill was very cool under fire and a great counsel. This was in the 1980s.

He also handled my sister's estate of which I was the trustee. Also, my mother's estate. I enjoyed working with him and he always had excellent advice. I am glad to have known and worked with him. Please accept my condolences. Myron

Kathy Peters

October 12, 2020

The photo chosen for Bill’s obituary is a great one. I worked for the law firm Bill helped establish with Phil Crawford and Tibor Major. I worked primarily for Tibor but got to know Bill well during those years. I can still see him walking to & from his home which was just up the street from the office. He was a great lawyer and seemed to enjoy practicing in the small town of Lakeport, raising his family here, and enjoying the slow pace that Lake County has to offer. I am very sorry to hear of his passing and extend my condolences to his family.

Angela Rajagopalan

Planted Trees

Ronnie Bogner

October 10, 2020

Bill was a customer of mine and my wife and I were customers of his. He was a great, soft spoken, guy, and whoever wrote his great obituary certainly did him justice.

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