Donald J. Moreda

DONALD J. MOREDA, one of the North Bay's most successful dairy farmers and an avid deer hunter, died Monday, March 7, at his 1,000-acre ranch west of Petaluma where he had been born 83 years earlier. A strong promoter of the local dairy industry, Don over the years served on the board of directors for various civic groups and dairy organizations, including the Sonoma County Fair; more than 30 years on the Laguna Joint School District board, which operates a one-room school he attended as a child; the former California Cooperative Creamery, now the Petaluma Creamery; the Dairy Farmers of America; the Sonoma County Farm Bureau; Dairyman's Milling Co.; and United Dairymen of California. He also was a founding director of the Petaluma High School Wildlife Museum. Don was born Feb. 21, 1933, at the family ranch, which his grandfather began in 1915 in Chileno Valley, and except for two years in the Army in the late 1950s he lived his entire life there. In 1949, Don was on the Petaluma dairy cattle judging team that won first place in state competition and a gold emblem at the nationals in Waterloo, Iowa. Don bought the dairy business from his father in 1960 and greatly expanded the dairy herd with the help of his wife, Linda, whom he married in 1955. Moreda Laguna Dairy regularly scored high in the Dairy Herd Improvement Association's North Bay competition that honored top milk-producing herds, winning first place for five years in a row, from 2009 to 2013. Don won numerous trapshooting contests around the state and was on the 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971 all-star teams of the Pacific International Trapshooting Association. He also belonged to the Walker Creek Gun Club, a hunting and social club that gathers every August and September during deer hunting season. From 1949 to 1962, Don often could be found at racetracks across the North Coast and Bay Area driving in hardtop car races. Don was the son of the late Antone and Rose Moreda. His brothers and sisters are Betty Gallagher (the late Ray), Antoinette Wheeler (the late Bob), Bob Moreda, Joyce Leveroni (David), Tony "Duke" Moreda (Vicki), Larry Moreda (Denise), the late Connie Bettinelli (the late Ralph) the late Eugene Moreda and the late Irene Frey. In addition to his wife, Linda, Don also is survived by their children DeeDee Moreda (Jim Fremgen), Don Moreda Jr. (Debbie), Jody Brazil (Manuel), Sharon Gowan (Don), Christine Moreda, Mike Moreda (Cori) and the late Mary Moreda; by grandchildren Jason Santos (Janey), Kathryn Santos, Matthew Santos (Jenni), Shelina Moreda, Travis Moreda (Annika), Stephanie Arend (Nick), Tony Brazil, Mandy Brazil, Manny Brazil, Jacob Gowan, Melina Gowan, Bobby Camozzi, Nathan Emmons, Moriah Emmons, Chance Emmons, Jimmy Fremgen (Lorin), Peter Fremgen and Natalie Fremgen; and by great-grandchildren Noah Santos, Sadie Santos and Shae Santos. A visitation will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, March 14, at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary in Petaluma, a vigil will be at 5 p.m. Monday, March 14, at St. Vincent Catholic Church in Petaluma with a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 15, at St. Vincent. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made at any Exchange Bank branch to the Donald J. Moreda Sr. Agricultural Memorial Fund. Visitation

Parent-Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory

Monday, March 14, 2016 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM 850 Keokuk Street Petaluma, California 94952 Directions Vigil Service

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

Monday, March 14, 2016 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM 35 Liberty Street Petaluma, CA 94952 Directions Funeral Mass

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

Tuesday, March 15, 2016 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM 35 Liberty Street Petaluma, CA 94952 Directions Graveside Service

Calvary Catholic Cemetery-Petaluma

Tuesday, March 15, 2016 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM 304 Magnolia Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 Directions