Obituaries

IN MEMORY

BRUCE HAFENFELD

CCA PRESIDENT 2007-2008

Bruce Allen Hafenfeld was born June 12, 1947, in Orange to Bernard Norman Hafenfeld and Barbara Jane Crosier. He went to be in the arms of the Lord January 19, 2021 with his family by his side after losing a valiant fight against Leukemia. He attended St. Joachim Catholic School, Costa Mesa High School, Orange Coast Junior College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1968.

Immediately after graduation from Cal Poly Bruce enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, attended Navy Flight School in Pensacola Fla., graduating and earning his wings as a Naval Flight Officer-Bombardier-Navigator in Attack Aircraft (A4 and A6 Intruder) and later transferred to the El Toro Marine Corp Air Station where he was part of the Marine Attack Squadron 242. He remained in inactive reserves until he retired as a Captain in July 1982.

Bruce met Sylvia Joughin through a college friend and they were married in 1974 at the Joughin Ranch. Bruce’s career included working for N3 Cattle Company, Beechinor Cattle Feeding and Joughin Ranch. Bruce had put together a handful of cows while still serving in the USMC and he and Sylvia were gifted 25 bred heifers as a wedding gift. They purchased the old Alexander Ranch in 1979 and Hafenfeld Ranch was born. Later Bruce and Sylvia purchased most of the Joughin herd of cows, calves and bulls as well as the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) permits, adding to their allotments already in place and the multi-generational ranching tradition continues to this day.

Bruce remained active in running the ranch with his family until his illness. He kept busy serving his community and trade organizations through South Fork Union School District, South Fork Mosquito District, Kern Valley Resource Conservation District, Kern County Cattlemen’s Association, California Cattlemen’s Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, California Rangeland Conservation Coalition, BLM Grazing Advisory Board, Kern County Water Agency, 4-H beef and swine leader and served our troops New York Steaks out of country with Cooks from the Valley. Bruce believed that no one makes it through this life without a hand up and help from others and was always very willing to give back. His hobbies included flying, team roping, fly fishing, playing with grandkids and his dog Sadie. Bruce enjoyed flying his Cessna 182 into the Idaho backcountry, checking and spotting cattle from the air for the cowboys on the ground, being a volunteer with The Young Eagles organization that introduced young people to general aviation, attending and volunteering at Junior Rodeos and meeting up for Rancheros Vistadores and Los Flojos rides.

Bruce was preceded in death by his father Bernard Hafenfeld and mother Barbara Cardwell. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sylvia Joughin Hafenfeld of Weldon, daughter Jessica Hafenfeld Stewart and husband Murt Stewart of Weatherford Texas, son Eric Hafenfeld and wife Jamie Cornwell Hafenfeld, Weldon, five grandchildren, (Cora and Murt Stewart, and Gus, Charlotte and Ward Hafenfeld), his brother Rick Hafenfeld and wife Patty Bates, Sheridan, Mont.; Cousin Stan Hafenfeld and wife Jan, Albuquerque N.M.; Mel Hafenfeld, Glendale; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers please make your tax-deductible donations to: California Rangeland Conservation Coalition, 12233 N. Flynn Rd, Livermore, CA 94550; or: Kern River Rodeo Association, P.O. Box 1296, Weldon, CA 93283.

IN MEMORY

COL. JOE GATES

Joseph Ernest Gates, a Livestock Auction with his grandfather. This led him to lifelong Solano County resident, Auction School in Billings, Mont. where he began to develop passed away on Feb. 5, at the age that iconic rhythmic chant that so many know him for. The of 63. Joe was a cattle rancher, very night he returned from auction school, he proposed to auctioneer and owner of Gates Vanean, whom he had known since kindergarten and had Ranch Meat & Cattle Company, recently reconnected with at their 10 year class reunion. but most importantly to him, he Since then, Joe and Vanean have conducted thousands was an incredibly dedicated family of auctions together, mostly for local schools, churches, man. nonprofit organizations and many Junior Livestock Auctions The son of a school teacher/ up and down California, including the Dixon May Fair and nurse, Patricia Jo Zerr and meat the Solano County Fair Jr. Livestock Auctions which were cutter Tom Gates, Joe was raised close to his heart. in Rio Vista where he resided for Joe was well known for his quick wit and genuine most of his life. And while Rio Vista held a special place in Joe’s heart, his favorite place was the family owned ranch outside of Vacaville where he spent much of his life and where he and his wife, Vanean, moved permanently in 2017. After graduating from Rio Vista High School, Joe attended Sonoma State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Joe worked briefly for a CPA firm in the Bay Area before realizing his heart belonged on the ranch. He and his dad owned and operated Gates Ranch Meat and Cattle Company, a custom butcher shop, where he spent the next 40 years. Joe learned the art of meat cutting from his dad and they worked across the table from one another until Tom’s passing in 2010. At that time Joe’s nephew, Richard, joined connection with the crowd. He was passionate about the many causes he helped raise money for. Joe relentlessly joked to his auctioneer friends that he is the only “two-time state champion auctioneer,” winning his first California State Championship in 1998 and then again in 2000. He also was a finalist in the 1999 International Auctioneer Championship contest. Joe felt it was important to be involved in community and church. He served for 12 years on the River Delta Unified School District Board of Trustees, was an elder at Union Baptist Church in Rio Vista and most recently served on the board of the Rural North Vacaville Water District. Joe was a true believer of Jesus Christ and shared his the operation and has learned the skill from his uncle. Joe’s faith with everyone by the way he lived. He was a youth sister, Tomi Jo, works in the shop as their meat wrapper, group leader and Sunday School teacher. Joe was committed making this a true family business. They will continue the to attending a weekly men’s bible study for over 20 years and tradition of Gates Ranch Meat Company. he recently began leading a young men’s bible study focusing

Joe was a true cattleman. He raised beef for the on building a Godly marriage. Joe’s hope would be for butcher shop, bought and sold cattle as a representative of everyone to know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Cattleman’s Livestock Market in Galt and was a member and Joe and Vanean were married for almost 34 years. officer of the Napa-Solano Cattleman’s Association. He His favorite thing to tell men was to “put your wife on especially enjoyed helping young FFA and 4-H members a pedestal.” Joe did just that. They raised two wonderful purchase and raise their beef projects for the local fairs children, Scott Brown (Elyse) and Jody Wemple (Ryan). He where he would then auction them to the highest bidders. was Pop Pop to his two grandchildren, Levi Wemple and

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