Richard Hanley Katerndahl

Richard Hanley ("Dick") Katerndahl 92, of Kentfield, California Passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on March 26, 2014. He was born in DuBois, Idaho, on November 18, 1921, the son of a lawyer and state legislator and a miner's daughter. When the depression shuttered the legislature and bankrupted his father's major clients, the family moved to California. Dick graduated from Beverly Hills High School and entered UCLA. His education was interrupted by World War II in which he served in the Pacific theater. He fought through New Guinea and the Philippines and was among the first occupation troops in Hiroshima (where he helped rebuild a Jesuit church and met the future head of the order, Pedro Arrupe). Among his citations, he was awarded a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and the Combat Infantry Badge. When he was discharged from the service after the war, he returned and graduated from UCLA. While there, he met his future wife, Estela, a student from Mexico City attending Mount St. Mary's College. Their courtship lasted seven years, by which time both had graduated and Estela had returned to Mexico. They were married in 1954 at the Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe in a double wedding ceremony with Estela's sister Luz Maria ("Lucha"). Both grooms were American advertising executives. Before they were married, Estela told Dick she wanted to have seven children. He always insisted he thought she was kidding. Ten years later, they were living in Detroit with their seven children. In 1965, Dick had a chance to return to his agency's San Francisco office, where he had served a previous posting, and the family moved to San Rafael and remained there ever since. In the ensuing years Dick often explained that "you don't leave San Francisco twice." Dick worked for over 30 years at the same advertising agency, Campbell-Ewald, mainly concerned with the Chevrolet account. After his retirement, he joined Estela and her sister at their Spanish-language ad agency, Spanish Creative Services, along with brother-in-law Jack Miller. Dick was a member of St. Raphael's parish and a fourth degree Knight of Columbus. Into his 90s, he still participated in the annual West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco as well as numerous other pro-life activities. He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Queen's Club (comprised of veterans of the British and American armed forces), and was a former president if the 41st Infantry Division Association. In addition to his service in the US Army, he served in the California State Military Reserve, ending up as a lieutenant colonel. He was a loyal Republican (a lonely road in Marin County). He loved reading, especially about history, and more especially about military history, and he advised his children and grandchildren that their lives would be better if they always had a book with them to pass the time. Dick is survived by his seven children: Richard (Penelope), Lucette Besson (Herb), Kevin (Carmen), John, Francine Herzer (Karl), Carl (Sheila), and Paul (Rebecca). Also by 14 grandchildren: Brooks, Lindsey, and Nicholas Besson, Elizabeth Tipton (Seth), Kevin (Elyse), Karla Larsen (Dave), Christopher, Karl and Ryan Herzer, Carl, Chloe, Michael and James, and Katie. Great-granddaughter Jordan Tipton also survives him, as does a second great-grandchild eagerly expected in May. The revered matriarch who survives to shepherd his other survivors, as she faithfully attended him before and during his illness, is Lucha Miller, along with her son, John Paul. A rosary will be held at Keaton's Mortuary on Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock, and the funeral will be at St. Raphael's church on Wednesday morning at 10:30 AM. To leave an online condolence to the family, please visit the Keaton's website at keatonfunerals.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/marinij/obituary.aspx?n=richard-hanley-katerndahl-dick&pid=170414194&fhid=3069#sthash.bmqvo0hP.dpuf