James Gatke's Obituary
JAMES F. GATKE July 3, 1962 – January 23, 2019 James F. Gatke passed away on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, surrounded by his loved ones. He was the youngest of five children born to Dennis Michael Sr. (deceased) and Janis Lou Gatke of Angola, Indiana. They lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana for many years before moving to Barton Lake where they would spend their summers swimming and winters ice skating, ice fishing and playing ice hockey. After enlisting in the United States Marine Corps he travelled to different countries. When he was assigned to Quantico, Virginia he met and married the love of his life, Charlene Anne Shauf. After their enlistments they moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where James Michael was born. They moved to Oakland, California in 1986. Nineteen months later Dennis Charles was born. Jim was a son-in-law to James (deceased) and Eleonore Shauf but loved as if he was their own. He was a big brother to Charlene’s siblings, Hazel, JP (deceased) and Brein. He was a wonderful uncle to Lezah (Philip), Jamie (Kevin), Paul, Robby and Breanna. Jim was a very strong role model in their lives. Although he didn’t get to see his nieces and nephews from “back home” often, he loved spending time with Lisa (Tyson), Nikki, Melissa (Josh), Ashley (Hank), Kerri (Corey), Sarah (Joseph), Brekke, Alisha, Joshua, Johnathan and Jeremy, when he could. He was well liked by his co-workers at the Oakland Unified School District where he worked as a School Security Officer. He was respected and admired by students and staff because he cared about their safety and well-being. In his later years he worked as a Senior Animal Technician at the University of California at Berkeley. He enjoyed caring for the different animals and excelled at designing and fabricating safety features for the animal enclosures ensuring the safety of the animals. His designs were patented in partnership with UC Berkeley. Jim is survived by his wife, Charlene, sons, James Michael (Nashwa) and Dennis Charles (Amy). He will be missed especially by his granddaughter Sayida, the apple of his eye. He also leaves behind his mother-in-law, Eleonore, mother, Janis Lou, brothers Mike (Kris) and Mark (Lisette), sisters Micki and Susan, sisters-in-law Hazel and Brein, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends. A Celebration of Life will be held later this spring. Jim’s family wishes to extend their heart-felt thanks to Dr. Gary Cecchi, Robin Fernandes, FNP-C and the staff at the Comprehensive Cancer Center in Berkeley for their dedicated and professional care. We are also grateful for the respectful and compassionate care Jim received from the staff at Alta Bates Hospital (Ashby Campus). He loved you all and always said you were angels!
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