Raani Talistu's Obituary
Raani Talistu, 59, passed on July 14th from a very aggressive, fast moving cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife Vicki Talistu, his sisters Eleen Hartley and Tina Basler, his brother Randi Talistu and best friend/brother Jim Thompson and Dionne. With him in spirit were his brother Shaani and all his many family members who love him so much, as well as the many friends who love him.
Raani was born to Olaf Talistu and Ruth Margaret (Peggy) Talistu on November 19, 1961. He spent his first years in San Bruno, California then very early in his life, the family moved to Redwood City, California. Raani was a true Redwood City native, going to Henry Ford Elementary, Kennedy Junior High School, and graduating from Woodside High School in 1980. He had his Confirmation in 8th grade at Messiah Lutheran Church in Redwood City.
Raani met his lifelong friends in the neighborhood. Raani had many early adventures with his neighborhood friends riding his stingray bike all over the streets of Redwood City and then through the creeks once they became paved, popping wheelies, setting up ramps and jumping bikes up and off them. He and his friends rode up Woodside Road to the ocean throughout the summer, he even rode to the San Jose Flea Market on his bike. Raani soon graduated to minibikes, motorcycles, then cars, then muscle cars. Always mechanically inclined, Raani worked pit crew for friends who raced.
Following his love for all things automotive and mechanical, one of his first jobs in high school was working at Malibu Grand Prix on go carts. Right out of high school, he became a double disk grinder at Peterson Precision in Redwood City who manufactured high precision metal parts. He moved to Reliance Metal Center, Fremont where he worked as a machinist. He ended his career working 19 years at Gillig, Livermore as a machinist in their production department.
Raani married Vicki Lee Martens on June 13, 1999. Raani was the happiest we have ever known him after meeting and marrying Vicki. The love they have for each other can be seen in any picture of them together, in all the laughter and smiles they shared with each other, in the way Raani tucked Vicki by his side whenever they were close. Vicki’s brought into our family daughter 10-year-old daughter Danielle Lee Rivers.
Raani’s best days were spent on rides to the beach with his wife Vicki and their 9-year-old granddaughter Addie, hitting the car shows with his girls, going to concerts with Vicki, trips to Vegas or Hawaii with his family to celebrate his birthday, on his Harley riding alone or with friends, tinkering in his garage on cars, or boats or bikes. He loved boat camp trips on the Delta with friends and family, going to family reunions in Washington to visit with his aunts, uncles and cousins. Raani didn’t miss family events because family was important to him. There was no place he enjoyed more than to be together with his family and friends, cracking jokes and laughing.
Raani was always busy yet always ready to stop and talk and listen or to help someone who needed it. Raani was a generous hearted man who never talked of duty, but always did the hard work of doing his best, giving the most he could to any relationship or situation.
Raani’s love for animals has to be mentioned. Raani has always had a few cats. He took care of his own and took care of the ones that no one claimed. At one-point Raani was feeding about 30 feral cats who lived on the property surrounding his company. When he went on vacation, he provided food to a coworker and left them in charge of the feedings. When Raani and Vicki moved up into the hills of
Union City, Raani and Vicki worked for years to keep the feral cats in their neighborhood fed and to get them neutered.
Raani was predeceased by his parents Olaf and Peggy Talistu and sister-in-law Sue Burton Talistu. He is survived by wife Vicki Talistu; Danielle Lee Rivers, Addie Lee Rivers, Shaani Talistu, Randi Talistu, Eleen Talistu Hartley, Tina Talistu Basler and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins and great-cousins. He is also survived by many friends who loved him throughout his life, as he loved them.
Raani’s Memorial Service will be held outdoors in the picnic area at the Redwood City Elks Lodge, 938 Wilmington Way, Emerald Hills, CA 94062 starting at 1pm on August 14, 2021. The family asks that everyone in attendance (adults and children) wear masks because also coming will be medically vulnerable family and friends. Those not arriving with masks will be provided one. We look forward to sharing elbow bumps and lots of Raani stories with you.
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