FONSECA, Pat (Paka)

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Saturday, September 25, 2010 Pat (Paka) Fonseca July 21, 1933 – Sept. 18, 2010 Pat, known as the “Happy Hawaiian” musician, passed away in Phoenix on Sept. 18, 2010. A resident of Lake Havasu City for 18 years, Pat lost his struggle with heart disease and cancer. Pat was born in Honolulu. At age 8, the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was in a tree picking mangoes for his grandparents. He often reminisced about growing up in Hawaii where his grandfather taught him to fish, “throw net,” family huki-lau, and luaus. At a young age, he learned to play ukulele and accompany the hula troops. He was a self-taught piano man and later organ and keyboards. A big boy, at age 14 he bluffed his way into the National Guard. At age 19, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He was a proud American, serving 25 years, which included time in Vietnam. During his military career, he was a football coach for the Barstow Marines and entertained at various service clubs. After retiring from the Marine Corps, he was a full-time musician in Southern California from Del Mar to Escondido and also Las Vegas with the Arthur Lyman Band. He was known locally for his famous “Sunday Tea-Dances” at the Elks Lodge. He was a proud father to eight children, six of whom reside in California; David Fonseca, Mark Fonseca, Daniel and wife Brenda Fonseca, Chris Fonseca, Susan Lawson, April Fonseca, Melody Fonseca of St. Louis, and Grant Baetz from Des Moines, Iowa. He was a proud grandfather to 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sister, Yvonne Reynolds of Clackamas, Ore. In 1985, Pat married his sweetheart, Marlene, which included another son, Don Collins and wife Cheri of Phoenix, three more grandchildren and later a great-granddaughter. Pat and Marlene had just celebrated 25 years of a joy-filled marriage that included boating, fishing, traveling, entertaining, and precious time with their families and many trips to Hawaii. “Paka” will be sorely missed by his loving wife. Marlene would like to reach out in gratitude to their many friends and families who supported them during the hard times and together created wonderful memories. Pat is preceded in death by his mother, Amelia Fonseca. His cremated remains will be placed at the Punch Bowl National Cemetery at a later date. A memorial service with military honors will be held at 3 p.m. Oct. 23 at Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. An aloha celebration of Pat’s life will follow at the Lake Havasu Elks Lodge. Please come in your aloha attire. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to go in Pat’s name to the Lake Havasu High School Music Program, 2200 Havasupai Blvd., Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403. Please note on your checks “in memory of Pat Fonseca.” Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.