John Alfred Jorgensen Sr.

john jorgensen sr.

June 18, 1944 ~ August 31, 2020


Resided in: Fremont, California

John Alfred Jorgensen Sr., 76, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2020, surrounded by his loving wife and family. John was born to John Jorgensen and Dorothy Jouanneau on June 18, 1944, in California. He was one of eleven children. John moved around many times as a child but found his true home in Fremont with his wife of 59 years, Irene Ricetti. John worked as a machinist for 47 years. He was a family man who enjoyed golfing with his friends, fixing up or staying at the family cabin and being at home with his wife and their teacup Yorkshire terrier, Tiffany. John leaves behind his loving wife Irene; their three children, Laura (Ariel), Natalie (Mark), and John Jr. (Desiree); grandchildren Jason (Erika), Justin, Ariel, Trenton (Erin), Cameron (Liz), Morgan, Treven, Teagan, Michael, Darla, Rheanne, and Natalia; and great-grandchildren Levi, Adelaide, Marlie, Mason, Monique, and Meriya; and his siblings Richard, Donna, Gloria, and Chris. Services will be private.

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Guestbook

  1. Grandpa,
    I will always miss you and your infectiously positive nature. You started every morning with a smile and a cup of coffee. The world seems a little less bright without you, but because of you, we have an incredibly large family full of love to remember you.

  2. CandleGrandpa definitely set the standard for what a great man should be. He was kind, loving, and strong. I hope we all make him proud as he watches over us. We love him so much and is already greatly missed.

  3. CandleWe send our condolences to the Jorgenson family. We have to say that we were shocked to learn that John got sick and passed away a few days after we knew he was sick.
    My husband, Bill, loved golfing weekly with their group of fun-loving golf buddies. They always had coffee and lunch after golfing, and Bill said their group’s laughter and funny stories filled the whole place.
    John was quite a character, always so fun with an infectious laugh that everyone joined in on. He enjoyed a little vino, going to restaurants, and visiting the casinos in Jackson with Irene.
    John was definitely a family man that enjoyed his whole family, especially being together at their cabin in Jackson. We were invited, but unfortunately; we never made it up there.
    Irene and John visited us several times when we camped in our RV, and they later bought an RV. We were both so busy with our families that we camped together one time.
    John was a lot like my hubby, Bill. They enjoyed talking about building things, repairing their homes, and helping others.

    John’s obituary was written with a lot of love, and we enjoyed seeing his family photos posted within the obituary.

    ‘Rest in Paradise John’ We know you are already golfing in Heaven with Tom, another golf buddy that passed away this March. Heaven will never be the same, because when we hear thunder, we will know they are both laughing and golfing through the clouds above ⛅️🏌🏽🏌🏼‍♀️☀️

    Irene:
    “We are so sorry for your loss, Irene. We know you and John always had a loving, strong marriage of 59 years. May wonderful, heartwarming memories, and the laughter of your family get-togethers help soften the loss of John.”🌹♥️

    John’s children and grandkids:
    “This is such a huge loss for all of you, stay strong for your mom, Irene. May our Heavenly Father watch over all of you.”♥️🙏🏼

    Much love,
    Bill and Loretta Sylvia
    Fremont, CA

  4. John Jorgensen!!! The myth the legend and the hero. He was the best man I have ever know. Treated everyone with love and respect. Would go out of his way to help anyone in need . Taught me more then anyone in my life ! Anyone that knew him is a better person with the advice and support that he gave to everyone..You can see it in his whole family from son to daughters, grandchildren and anyone else he touched. . You will be missed and loved forever!!!!thank you for everything you have done for me and everyone else.

  5. We will miss seeing John walk past our house, stopping to talk, laugh and tell a story. Always upbeat, friendly and willing to help. A good friend, family man and a REALLY nice guy.
    It was an honor to know John. He is greatly missed!
    Irene and family, we are thinking of you.

  6. CandleThe best man I ever met. He was always loving and caring. I never seen him mad. Alway had a smile that would warm a room. I love you Uncle John.❤

  7. We are so honored to be part of your extended family and to have known John Sr. for almost 25 years. He was a man who loved his family and was there for them at a moment’s notice. Several times when Desiree and John-john traveled, I stayed with the kids. On one occasion, the dishwasher backed up. I called John Sr. – he came over immediately and got it fixed. On another occasion our grandson came by the house during a time when he could not live there. John Sr. met him there and had a heart to heart with him. John Sr. talked straight with people. He had a very strong sense of values. We have had the privilege of spending Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas Eve with members of the Jorgensen family and more recently camping at the Coloma Resort. We so appreciated having quality time with John and Irene at Coloma this year.

  8. I am honored to be able to say that John Jorgensen was one of the best men I have ever known. First and foremost, he was completely devoted to family, which I saw expressed through acceptance, tolerance, kindness, generosity and integrity. Those qualities extended beyond his family, it was how he lived his life and related to others. In addition, he had a light hearted way of being and a great sense of humor, which made him a fun guy to hang out with. Through the marriage of our daughter to John Jr, I have the privilege of knowing and becoming friends with a man who was an inspiration for how to live one’s life.

  9. CandleMy warmest wishes and countless hugs to Irene and all of the Jorgensen family! It has been a rare treasure to get to know Uncle John over these recent years. Every time you spoke to him felt special and we all walked away learning a most valuable life lesson from him…how to treat everyone like they were the “only one”, if you talked to him for just a moment or for hours!
    The memories that we created with him during family gatherings, birthday celebrations, trips and cabin visits always will be fondly remembered with Uncle John, at the very center.
    Wishing you all love and peace in the weeks and months to come!

    • CandleMy love to the entire Jorgensen Family. In all the time I have spent with the Jorgensen family over the years, I could see he was a loving family man. He loved his family and his grandkids/great grandkids. Prayers of comfort and peace to the Jorgensens as they deal with the loss of such a great man.

  10. Our sincere condolences to Irene and the entire family. He was always so nice to us. Gonna miss him at the parties eating those lumpia’s.

  11. CandleI first met John in 1973 when I went to work at Kaiser Aerotech in San Leandro when I was 21 and he was 29.
    The number one greatest comandment we are given is to” walk in love”. The way John lived, walked ,Talked and breathed exemplified that. You can feel it now in the gathering of everyone sharing in the loss of a true friend , Husband , Father , Grandfather, Great grandfather , Brother , Uncle .
    I knew him for so long, our lives criss crossed so many times that I could go on and on with so many stories.
    I am so very happy that my wife Heather and I were able to celebrate Johns 75th Birthday at John Jr’s home in livermore with Irene and family last year.
    As is with everyone. I will miss him very much. He was a connection to my present and past that I will miss very much.
    Until we meet again
    Mark Simone

  12. For those who could not attend the services, I wanted to post my speech that i wrote for my grandfather

    “Goodmorning.

    That was something grandpa always said to me. He asked why I never said ‘goodmorning’ to him and it was usually because I was too busy trying to multitask in the mornings or because I am not normally one to speak in the mornings. In hindsight, I should’ve sucked it up and told him goodmorning.

    My grandfather never had a bad day and I think it was because all he needed was his family and he always had family. Up until the end, he kept strong as if he wasn’t in pain. I know we all know the story of the day I walked into the ER because I was working and I saw him there, I knew it was him because of his eyebrows. The last time he and I had a two way conversation, it was maybe a week or two before he passed. We talked about his pain and that he knew he was very sick, but the best part of the conversation was him saying he knew grandma loved him and that is something I’ve constantly told her since he passed, that he knew she loved him. I took care of him when I could in the weeks before he passed, hoping it showed my love for him through my actions. I will miss him dearly, as I find myself wanting to ask where he is, thinking I’ll see him walking into the kitchen to get his whichever cup of coffee he’s had that day or to ask me what I’m making and if it was for him, I can hear his laugh, him calling for grandma from whichever room in the house he’s in, or even his computer chair squeaking as if he’s in it. I have found this time to be quite hard for me, but I can do my best to take my own advice, which I’ll give to you all. When someone is gone and you wonder how you’ll live without them, take those qualities that you found admirable, and apply them to your own life. Here’s to never having a bad day, always having comfortable shoes, and learning to master the power of negotiation”.

  13. CandleThis world is not as bright without you Uncle John.. although it’s been some time since we’ve been together, I just always felt you’d be around forever. As a little girl I looked forward to Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day because going to Uncle John’s and Auntie Irenes was the best day of the year. You were the jolliest and funnest uncle a little girl could have asked for and I will always cherish that.

  14. CandleWe are so sad to hear about John. We were wondering where he and Irene were for the last months every time we went to our cabin in the mountains. We were neighbors there and what laughs and stories we shared! John was a good man. Always there when we needed advice about the area, a good laugh, etc. Seems he knew everyone there and was always smiling! We’re sure you miss him very much. We know we will miss his big smile and all of his stories.
    May he rest in peace.

    how he spoke about all of his children and grandchildren.


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