Beloved and respected Sierra logger Joe Thornton, of Joe Thornton Logging in Wilton, passed away in early January, 2022.
Many of our members and Board members – both within and outside of the Sierra region – knew Joe Thornton and knew of his strong support for Associated California Loggers and our membership. Joe attended meetings of the El Dorado-Mother Lode Chapter, and attended our Annual Meetings. Joe both donated to our auctions and bid on items.
One of the final things that Joe Thornton did, mere days before his passing, was to mail a donation to the ACL Resource Availability Fund; this reflects the support and regard that Joe had for our members and our mission.
Joe’s wife, Sydney, has provided ACL with details about two days of ceremonies next week. ACL members can attend some or all of these events listed below.
Please notice that Wednesday January 26involves a long drive down Interstate 5 (I-5) from a funeral mass in Elk Grove (about 5 miles south of Sacramento) to Santa Nella (about 114 miles south of Sacramento. ) In Santa Nella, burial with full military honors and an Air Force flyover will take place.
Here are the details, as written by Sydney Thornton:
Jan 25, 2022 (Tuesday) East Lawn Funeral Home in Elk Grove CA.
o Purpose: streaming the rosary and sharing of Joe’s Life with people present or on line.
o Need more candid shots of Joe + others in the shot.
o We will create a repeating collage set to music that we can purchase after the event.
o The time is 5 – 8 after most people’s work. People can join over the smart phone to tell a story or show up in person. Navigate to www. EastLawn.com, click on Obituaries, and select Thornton. The event will launch, but only at the time of the funeral. Listen with smart phone.
o This tradition will last two hours and come BEFORE the mass due to covid prevention measures of no food on site and no rosary in church. ü Jan 26, 2022 (Wednesday – a long day).
o Funeral Mass at St Joseph’s Church in Elk Grove 10 am followed by the drive to Santa Nella.
o Burial with High Military Honors ( Flag previously flow over capital, now on his casket, 21 gun salute, presentation of colors, bugle calls, Taps, Lowering Flag, Presentation of Flag to surviving family, a THUNDEROUS fly over by the Air Force jets, moving to burial site, prayer, dropping dirt on the casket (Joe just loves dirt).
o It may be cold, but the salute is short and formal just like you see on TV).
o We are reserving a 40 person room at the Anderson Pea Soup restaurant in Santa Nella, with warm deli trays to warm up from the cold, even as a short meal may help arrive home sooner and safer.
For further information, please call the ACL office at 916-441-7940