James George Gambonini

James (Jim) George Gambonini passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at the age of 87 after a short illness.

He was born to Raymond and Clorinda (Zala) Gambonini in the old Petaluma General Hospital on June 16, 1937. He is survived by his loving wife, Elsie, of 66 years, his daughters, Donna (Rick) Krinard, Darlene (John) McGinnis and son, Gary (Pamela) Gambonini, of Petaluma.

Jim had four grandchildren, Michelle (Desmond) Owens, Jeff (Esther) Rodrigues, Jared (Courtney) Gambonini and Nickolas (Tina) Gambonini and four great grandchildren, Jaelen, Dominiq, Stella and Cassidy.

Jim was brother to the late Dick Gambonini and Joyce Morgariedge and survived by Tom Gambonini and Susan Westlake. Being a fourth generation Petaluman, he is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He attended Bliss and St. Vincent elementary schools and Petaluma High School, graduating class of 1955. He furthered his education at UC Davis majoring in Animal Husbandry, graduating in 1959.

Jim married his high school sweetheart, Elsie Schollmann, in 1958. They started their family and lived a full life on their ranch. They loved having all their family living close by, enabling them to celebrate all the holidays and the family birthdays together. They also enjoyed traveling to visit relatives in Germany and taking cruises with family and friends.

Jim managed both the Old Adobe and the Gambonini Dairy Ranches with his father and brother, Dick. In 1978, Jim and Elsie purchased the Gambonini Ranch and later formed a partnership with their son, Gary. In 2007, they sold the dairy cattle and transitioned into raising Angus beef cattle.

Jim enjoyed sports….any kind of sport would do. He especially adored coaching Gary in Little League and Michelle in Softball, and you could always find him in the bleachers at Jeff, Jared and Nick’s sporting games.

Jim was a member of The Sons of Italy, Swiss Club, Sparrow Hunting Club, Elks Lodge 901, Native Sons, Outdoorsmen, and past member of The Flying “O” Hunting Club.

Jim was famous for his “Papa’s Sausage” that he made only with his closest friends and family, using the coveted “family secret recipe”. His deer jerky was off the hook too, inspiring all of his grandsons to try to match it. He also shared a talent of wine making with his longtime friend, Bob Bertolucci. He dabbled in making cheese and olives too.

Being an avid sportsman, he really enjoyed deer, duck, and pheasant hunting, as well as fishing, abalone diving and crabbing.

In 2016 he started his most recent career as “Geppetto”, working side by side with his daughter Darlene and son-in-law, John, at Buzz Off Honey, their honeybee hive equipment business. In his tenure, he built over 16,000 individual beehive frames, over 4,000 follower boards and was an essential part of the operation.

He was a devout Catholic and was proud to have never missed a Sunday service in his 66 years of marriage. In his last few weeks, he had to resort to watching mass on television. His last request was to turn on the T.V. at 4:00 a.m. and put on a recorded mass. He knew and was ready to go home.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at Parent Sorensen Mortuary & Crematory, 850 Keokuk St., Petaluma, at 5:00 p.m. with the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. His Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, September 12, 2024, at St. James Catholic Church, 125 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma at 11:00 a.m.

Family prefers donation be made to St. James Catholic Church in his name.