Hazel Elaine Achelpohl Mar 5, 1916-Dec 27, 2009, 93, of Santa Rosa, CA departed this life and went to her Father's House Sunday, Dec 27, 2009. Hazel, daughter of Sam and Dixie (Gass) Robertson was born March 5, 1916 in Macomb, MO, over the family grocery store .The family resettled in Tulare County, CA and the Prairie Center School District. Hazel graduated from Delano High School in 1933. Hazel married John Milton Achelpohl in 1934. They had four children; Dorothy Shelby (Jim) Crownover, of San Jose, CA, Norma Morrell, of Santa Rosa, CA, Carole Sheffield of Las Vegas, NV and John Alan (Ria) Achelpohl of Minot, ND. Hazel had many children to love. Grandmother of 11; great-grandmother of 12 and great-great grand-mother of 8. Hazel went to work for Sears & Roebuck about the time she and John M. Achelpohl divorced. Hazel had a varied and successful 31 year career with Sears. Hazel was exceptionally productive in teaching employees to transition to computers in most catalog centers throughout the Pacific Northwest. Hazel retired from Sears Dec 31, 1975. Hazel's involvement in her church(es) was non-stop. Sunday school superintendent, church secretary, choir, young adult teacher, children of all ages on to leading bible senior adult studies as late as 2005. Only as health dictated, did she cut back. Hazel traveled every chance she had. Holy Land in 1960, Germany in 1962 and 1972. Two trips to the East Coast and many, many shorter trips. Hazel visited Kauai 8 times before moving there in 1984, where she remained until 1996 when she returned to San Jose. Shortly after her 90th Birthday Party (and what a party it was) Hazel's health dictated moving to assisted living in Sonoma County, where she lived under loving care until ---Not "the end" but a "New Beginning." Hazel was preceded in death by her mother and father, all her siblings and three grandchildren. Please join us in Spirit and a prayer as we place Mom's earthly ashes in Oakhill Cemetery, San Jose along side her mother and father. We will have a graveside gathering at 1:00pm, January 12, 2010.

Published in San Jose Mercury News on January 10, 2010.