"James G. Van Maren December 13, 1927 - November 12, 2012-James Guy Philip Van Maren passed away on November 12 following an extended illness. He was a fourth generation resident of Citrus Heights, the great-grandson of Dutch (Peter Van Maren), German (Constantina Hurtzig) and Irish (Cornelius O'Donahue and Mary O'Hea) immigrants who settled in the area as early as 1854. Jim was president of the 4-H Club while attending Sylvan School. While attending San Juan High School, he was a member of the Future Farmers of America. Upon graduating, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving as an electrician in the Pacific Theater during the waning days of World War II. Following the war, Van Maren majored in penology at San Jose State University with a minor in ROTC military police science, and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant. Returning home, he operated a Grade A dairy in the Fair Oaks area for several years. He moved on to be a milk production cost analyst for the state Department of Food and Agriculture, then director of research and ultimately executive for the California Milk Producers Federation. He moved to Los Angeles to head the Protected Milk Producers Association until changes in the dairy industry led to his return to Sacramento as director of agriculture for the California Chamber of Commerce. From 1969 through 1990, he headed the CalChamber Agriculture Department, leading the organization's legislative advocacy on issues ranging from farm labor relations and the development of California's landmark Agricultural Labor Relations Act to the California Land Conservation Act (Williamson Act). In a 1982 address, then-U.S. Attorney General William French Smith acknowledged Jim's research and suggestions on necessary elements of federal immigration reform legislation. Jim coordinated the Agricultural Roundtable, a weekly gathering of industry leaders representing production agriculture in California. He also coordinated the selection and presentation of the California Livestock Man of the Year Award. He served for several years as CalChamber director of consumer affairs, spearheading the development of consumer class action and fabric flammability legislation, and defending the merits of cotton before the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Over the years, Jim was involved in numerous civic activities, including the YMCA (he was twice elected president of the Metropolitan YMCA); Rotary Club; and the Presbyterian Church of Fair Oaks, where he twice chaired facility expansion programs. In "retirement," he remained active in efforts to preserve the history of Citrus Heights. He was a member and former president of the Citrus Heights Historical Society, and maintained many historical records and artifacts. His history of Citrus Heights, featuring many photos from the family collection, was published in 2011. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Elizabeth Vaughn of Sacramento, in 1948. Together, they co-founded Alphabet Ranch child care center in 1981 in Citrus Heights, and were founding members of the Icebreakers Marinership at the Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church. Shirley preceded Jim in death in January 2005 after more than 56 years of marriage. He is survived by his daughters Catherine Anderson, Constantina Todd (Tom), son James Jr (Sheryl) and 12 grand-children and 3 great-grandsons. A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 17 at 11:00am at the Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Citrus Heights Rotary."Published in Sacramento Bee on November 14, 2012