Walter Paul Bemis Sr.

Walter Paul Bemis was born July 10, 1930 in Siegel, IL.  His family moved to California in 1942.  After graduating from high school he began working as a firefighter for the Dept. of Forestry.   During that time he met the love of his life, Rosemary.  They were married in 1950 and he was immediately drafted to serve in the Korean War.  Walt earned a purple heart for his service in the Army.  He returned home to his wife and baby daughter, Paula.  He attended Shasta College and later, UC Berkeley where he received his BS degree in Forestry in 1957.  While in college he and Rosemary had another daughter, Lesli, and a son, Paul.  The family moved to Sacramento where he began a career with the California Division of Forestry.  He retired from there after 15 years and began working in real estate handling large properties.  One prospective property led him to have four adventurous trips to the Amazon jungle in Brazil.  Following this, Walt began working with a landscape architectural firm, SWA, as a principal and project manager, from 1973 to 1991.  He ended his working career as a consultant in 2008.  He enjoyed many leisure activities including spending time with family, traveling, golfing, fishing, skiing, gardening, baseball (especially the Giants).  Walt passed into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 11, 2014, surrounded by his beloved family.  He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Rosemary, his daughters, Paula, Lesli and her husband, Wayne, son Walter Paul, Jr. and his wife, Robin, his grandsons, Samuel and Isaac, and numerous cousins in various parts of the U.S.  Memorial services are being held at the Open Door Christian Church, 16 Fifth St., in Petaluma on Saturday, April 19, at 10:30 a.m.  Donations in Walt’s memory can be made to Boy’s Town Nebraska. Family assisted by Parent-Sorensen Mortuary & Crematory, 763-4131.