People

July 31, 1930-March 13, 2020 GREATEST MOM IN THE WORLD. Steve, Mary and Dave lost their mom early Friday March 13, 2020. We are devastated to lose our rock, our confidante, our best friend. The world is a different place for us now. We write this obituary/tribute about our mom because it is coming from our heart. We write it unapologetic in length. We write it because we loved her so much. Her life was full of highs and unspeakable tragedies…but our mom was strong and put one foot in front of the other and went on. We understand it’s a busy world. We are grateful if you can find time in your busy schedule so that you can read about this great lady. Maybe you can read some now and come back to it or just binge read it now. We want you to know how great our mom was. How strong our mom was. Born on July 31, 1930 in Alameda, California to two 100% Czechoslovakian Catholics, Emil and Olga Kudrna. Her parents had moved to Alameda from Omaha, Nebraska so that her father could open a new JC Penney store.

Marjorie Petersen, long-time Los Altos resident passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on February 24, 2020. She was born and educated in San Francisco. A graduate of San Francisco State, she taught second grade and preschool. She was active in PTA, scouting, and was past president of the AAUW Los Altos-Mt View Chapter. She was a contributing editor to Accent Magazine and published many short stories. Marge was a world traveler, avid Bridge player with the Palo Alto Bridge Club, and participant in Women’s Health Initiative, a long-term health study. Marge supported the child-focused charities Smile Train and S.O.S. Children’s Villages. She also spent a number of years as a child advocate. A mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she cherished her family. Her sharp wit and killer smile endeared her to all she met. Survivors include son, Bob Wagner of Sonora, CA, and daughters Becky Scarl and Mary Krakow of Oregon, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

October 5, 1956 – February 13, 2020 Former Los Altos resident and later Seattle resident, David Beck, was rudely booted off this mortal coil after a sudden heart attack on the morning of February 13th at the age of 63. Dave was a devoted husband, brother, uncle and great-uncle. You might have seen him around Seattle in his cowboy hat and full beard, wearing overalls, sandals with socks, and looking like some strange form of mountain man. He aspired to be a curmudgeon in his later years, but his good nature and quick laugh wouldn’t quite let him achieve it. Born in Palo Alto, California to John Robert (Bob) and Mary Jane Beck, Dave was one of five children. Early on, the family bounced back and forth between Los Altos and Rochester, New York thanks to Bob’s job at Kodak.

Marlene J. McGowen, 86, of Los Altos passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at El Camino Hospital in Mt. View. She was born June 27, 1933 in San Jose. She was raised by Fredrick and Nona Winningar of Los Gatos. Born in San Jose, Marlene attended both Castilleja School in Palo Alto and Los Gatos High School. She married Richard “Bart” McGowen in the early 1950’s. She was a model for Polaroid and Brooks Brothers in San Francisco. She also contributed to her local community. She was active in fund raising for charities and non-profits. She enjoyed playing tennis and watching tennis in person and on television. She started a small public relations company in the early 1980’s. As a child, Marlene would visit her Aunt and Uncle on their working ranch in Montana. She would often vacation to Tahoe, Idaho, and the Monterey coast. She cherished spending time with her daughter and grandchildren in California and her son and grandchildren in Hawaii. She is survived by her son, Jeff; her daughter Kelly and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.