James Grasse, BHS 1967

James "Jim" Grasse, BHS 1967

January 4, 1949 - June 30, 2024

Lifelong Rental Industry Participant Jim Grasse Dies

July 7, 2024, Story and photo Michael Roth

Grasse was a regular participant in rental industry events, most recently as regional sales manager for Broce Brooms, and was regularly seen at the American Rental Association, California Rental Association and other shows.

Jim Grasse, a widely known figure who has worked in the rental industry in a variety of capacities, has died. According to his son, John, Grasse died from an aggressive form of dementia. He was 75 years old.

Grasse was a regular participant in rental industry events, most recently as regional sales manager for Broce Brooms, and was regularly seen at the American Rental Association, California Rental Association and other shows. Grasse’s father, Bill Grasse, was a co-founder of RER magazine and contributed a column, RenTopics, for more than 40 years, focusing on technical issues. Bill Grasse, who died in 2008, also played a major role in the expansion of Acme Rents, one of the rental industry’s earliest and fastest-growing consolidating rental companies.

Jim Grasse worked for several different rental companies and manufacturers, and played a leading role in the international growth of Caterpillar’s Cat Rental Stores in the position of Caterpillar global allied products program manager. Jim’s brother Larry, a decades-long veteran of the rental industry, was Western regional sales and new store opening manager for Volvo Rents, among other positions. His brother Ron also served in various capacities in the rental industry, including as CCE sales manager for Wagner Rents. His sister-in-law Vivian Grasse was regional safety manager for United Rentals, among other roles. Jim’s mother Ellie Grasse was also a goodwill ambassador for the rental industry.

Jim Grasse also worked as an executive with Acme Rents, Always Rentals and Volvo Rents. Grasse grew up and lived most of his life in Burbank, Calif.

 RER will share more information about Jim’s life, survivors, and funeral or celebration of life as it becomes available.

Vickie Christina Rybak, BHS 1987

Vickie Christina Rybak, BHS 1987 

1968- 2011

Vickie C. Rybak, 42, a resident of Zephyr Cove, passed away October 24, 2011. Vickie was born November 10, 1968 to George and Donna Rybak in Glendale, California. Vickie was the previous owner of Round Hill Video in Zephyr Cove and also went to school for and became a Certified Cosmetologist. Vickie was educated in hotel and restaurant management and worked for several years in supervisory positions for Woodland Hills Hilton in California. She loved the Tahoe area and always looked forward to the first snowfall, she was an excellent skier and enjoyed fishing with her father. Vickie was proud to be an American from Czech background in Prague. Vickie loved serious classic music by Dvorak’s “A New Symphony” and Smetana’s “My Country.”

Tahoe Times, October 2011

Stanley Raymond Payne, BHS 1959

Stanley Raymond Payne, BHS 1959

Published in the Fort Collins Coloradoan, Fort Collins, Colorado

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Stanley Raymond Payne, 68, of Fort Collins, died on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at home with his wife, Shirley and daughter, Debra. Stanley was born on Shabbat, March 15, 1941, in Burbank, California to William Franklin Payne and Estella B. Payne. He graduated from Burbank High School and attended UCLA for three years. He became a plumber and opened his own shop, Payne and Mechanical and Plumbing Company, in Fontana, California. At the time of his death he was retired from Local 3 Plumbers Union in Denver.

Stanley died on Shabbat during the Feast of Tabernacles, (Known in Hebrew as Sukkot). He had a passion lasting over 50 years for learning and following in the footsteps of the Messiah, and a gift for sharing both his passion and knowledge. He shared his knowledge and heart with many people from California to Israel and all points in between. Stanley had the gift of drawing people into his life and as a result he has many “adopted” children and extended family who will miss him greatly.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley; daughters, Debra (Scott) Saddlemire, Lisa (Paul) Carney; son, Todd Payne; stepchildren, Melanie Pimentel, Scott Pimentel and John Hamers; brothers, Bob Payne and Tom Payne and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and two brothers.

A private memorial service was held in the home for close friends and extended family.

Arthur Lee Fall, BHS 1941

Arthur Lee Fall, BHS 1941

Coeur d’ Alene Press, Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, Friday, January 11, 1991

Art L. Fall, 67, Coeur d’ Alene, died at his home Wednesday, January 9, 1991.

He was born February 17, 1923, in Gallup, New Mexico, to Howard and Gladys (Graham) Fall. He was raised and graduated from high school in Burbank, California. He served with the U. S. Navy during World War II. After his discharge, he became an excavating contractor in the Los Angeles area. He married Sue Welch on October 3, 1952, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and they moved to Coeur d’ Alene wherehe continued his career as a contractor and developer. In 1959 he built the Kidd Island cabins, a resort at Kidd Island Bay that he and his wife owned and operated for 17 years. For the past several years he worked on energy conservation heating systems.

He traditionally used the initials E.N. after his name, designating he was an energy nut.

He was the first president of North Idaho Building Contractors Associations, was a charter member of Homeowner Warranty Program of Idaho and the Kidd Island Bay Development Corp. and a member of Inland Northwest Energy Efficient Builders Association.

Survivors include his wife, Sue, at home; daughters, Diane Fall and Cindy Fall of Post Falls, Carol Ruyl, Susan Loper and Sandy Ward of Coeur d’ Allene, brother Wally Fall of Reseda, California, and 10 grandchildren.

Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Christ the King Lutheran Church with Rev. Ray Connor officiating. Yates Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The family prefers memorials to Christ the King Lutheran Church. 

Lorretta Christoffersen Bolton, BHS 1965

Lorretta Christoffersen Bolton, BHS 1965

Burbank Leader Newspaper, July 2005

Lorretta Christoffersen Bolton died July 18, 2005 in Painesville, Ohio. She was 58.

Lorretta was born in Glendale and lived in Burbank for 28 years. She attended Burbank schools graduating from Burbank High School with the class of 1965. She went on to graduate with a B.A. from Cal State LA. Lorretta has lived in Ohio for the past 30 years where she worked as a preschool teacher and as a sales associate for Kaufmann’s Department Store.

Lorretta is survived by her husband of 32 years, John; her daughters, Robyn Bolton of Boston, MA and Diana Bolton of Seattle, WA; her mother, Esther Christoffersen of Burbank; her father, Robert Christoffersen of Carlsbad, CA; and her sisters, Dawn (Ed) Cooper of Covina, CA and Karen John Capellaro) Christoffersen of Burbank. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Advent Lutheran Children’s Playground Fund, 7985 Munson Road, Mentor, Ohio 44060.