Michael Dean Obetz

Michael Dean Obetz
March 18, 1949
August 24, 2019
 
 
Michael Dean Obetz, 70, long time resident of Ramona, passed away on August 24, 2019.  He was born in Paris, Illinois and grew up in Lomita, California.
 
Michael worked for Pacific Bell and Southwestern Bell for 31 years. While working for Pacific Bell a co-worker set up an introduction with one of the  repair service operators, his future wife Candace Winstead, whom he married in 1976.  They moved to Ramona in 1979 where they had two children, Ian and Sean, and raised their family. After retiring he returned to college to fulfill his lifelong dream and received a bachelor's degree in Human Development in 2007 graduating cum laude from California State University San Marcos.
 
In retirement he spent his time giving back to his family, friends, and community. He was President of Ramona Emergency Action League, a volunteer at the Burn Institute, a Fernbrook volunteer firefighter, a Ramona reserve fire fighter, a director of teen leadership summer camps teaching sailing, white-water rafting, high-ropes training as well as a volunteer at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo.
 
Michael was fascinated with a multitude of interests and had a mechanical gift. He was a pilot before graduating high school, an amateur electrician, plumber, welder, HAM radio operator, mechanic, and musician. Later in life he became a sailboat captain, train brakeman, and member of NARCOA, where he took his 2-person rail car around the country riding little-used railroads in beautiful places.
 
Michael was loving and loved. He was kind and gentle, and always in service to others. He will always be remembered for his generosity, compassion, ambition, and his spirit of living life without fear. He died suddenly but lived a happy fulfilling life.
 
Michael is survived by his beloved Candace and their two sons Ian of Julian and Sean of Escondido and his mother Pat of Vista. He also leaves behind his three grandchildren Ethan, Emma, and Evan, three nephews, John, Timothy, and Zachary, sister-in-law Carol, his mother-in-law Kathryn and many friends. He was predeceased by his brother Dennis.
 
Services will be held for Michael on Wednesday, September 4th at 11:30am at the Bonham Bros & Stewart Mortuary Chapel in Ramona.  Immediately following the service he will be laid to rest at Nuevo Memory Gardens in Ramona.

Bonham Bros. & Stewart Mortuary and Cremation Service is assisting the family.
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Michael Dean Obetz, please visit our floral store.