General News

Carol Anne Nilsen died December 28, 2014, from a sudden illness in her seasonal home in Upper Ajijic. Nilsen was born on July 16, 1941, in Seattle, Washington, and lived her entire life there. She was a talented violinist and fiddler. She and her husband, Sven, started an informal group in Ajijic that played old time fiddle and bluegrass music. Nilsen loved to travel, and after retirement she and Sven used Ajijic as a stepping off place to visit Peru, many archaeological ruins in Mexico and just this year, Ecuador, where her son Steven accompanied them.

Lloyd Johnson, 77, a winter resident of Ajijic since 2005, died Thursday, January 1. 

Dennis N. Hamper

Dennis N. Hamper passed away November 4 at the age of 72.

Hamper was born July 21, 1942 in Yakima, Washington. The family moved to Seattle when Hamper was in his early teens.  He played baseball at Queen Anne High School, graduating in 1960.  After trying out for the San Francisco Giants and not making the cut, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. While stationed in Germany he met and married Lilo. After finishing with the military, they moved back to Seattle to raise their three daughters.

Hamper worked for Kraft Foods for many years. He started the Commissary Cash & Carry that grew to four stores in the Puget Sound area. After selling the business to United Grocers, Hamper opened the Crystal Gallery, and then the Wildwire Glass Blowing studio.

In 2011, Hamper and his wife moved to Lakeside, where he became a member of American Legion Post Seven.

Hamper had a larger than life personality, was a lot of fun to be around, and made friends wherever he went. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family who loved and respected him.

Hamper is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lilo: daughters Jeanette Wilkins (Brad), Teresa Brockway, Carmen Meyers (Rich); and grandchildren Meghan and Rebecca Wilkins, and Holli and Madison Meyers.

Ronald William Pounds

Dr. Alejandro Cerda Valle, who is best known at lakeside to his patients and customers at the Farmacias Express in Riberas del Pilar and San Antonio, died on January 15. 

Cerda Valle was born June 17, 1932, and was a loving husband, the father of eight children and 11 grandchildren. 

Julia Boogaard

Former lakeside resident Julia Boogaard died Saturday, November 22.

Marilyn C. Bowra

Marilyn C. Bowra died at her home in Chula Vista Friday, December 19, from an aggressive cancer following several months of medical conditions. She was 84.

Albert Edward Eversfield

Lake Chapala south shore resident Albert Edward Eversfield died unexpectedly on November 2 at the age of 62.