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John Sigurd Moll

John Sigurd Moll, 88, of Sonoma, died peacefully Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at his home with family at his side. As the patriarch of the Moll family, John, was a resident of Sonoma for the past 66 years leaving many family members in his legacy His wife of 53 years, Verna, and his sister, Betty Lobsinger, preceded him in death.

John is survived by his younger brother Norman and wife, Peggy Moll, of Sonoma, as well as his five children, Diana Smith (Richard), Glenn Moll (Gina) and Steve Moll (Elis Bittencourt), all of Sonoma; Michael Moll (Cathy) of Reno, Nevada, and Alan Moll (Heather Fargo) of Sacramento. He was the loving grandfather to Ryan Smith, Lisa, David, Brian, Chad, Tony, Casey, and John Moll. John was also the great-grandfather of six including Alina, Christopher, Kate, Krayton, Stella, Camden and great-great-grandfather to baby Ava.

John was born in Oakland, on March 20, 1924, to his parents, Sigurd and Nellie Moll. After graduating from high school two years early at the age of 16, he attended University of California, Berkeley. He studied engineering while playing football and water polo for the Cal Bears. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943, trained in Pullman, Wash., and was selected to be the bombardier of a B-24 Liberator. He completed 30 missions, in which he was the lead bombardier in 21 of them. During his service, John received numerous awards and decorations including the Distinguished Flying Cross for exemplary performance. After returning stateside, John married his pilot’s sister, Verna.

After the war, John and his new wife, Verna, followed his parents to their ranch in Schellville. John, his father, Sigurd, and brother-in-law John Lobsinger, formed a general contracting company called Moll-Lobsinger, building many post-war houses throughout Sonoma, Napa, and Solano counties. The first building permit issued by the city of Sonoma was granted to Moll-Lobsinger. From the 1950s through the 1990s, John designed and built hundreds of homes and several notable commercial buildings, dairies, and wineries throughout Sonoma Valley. Most notable of these buildings are the Sonoma Cheese Factory, Eraldi’s, The Index Tribune, Gundlach Bundschu Winery, the original Teeter baseball field, and the remodel of Sonoma’s City Hall after “the fire.” During the latter part of his career John built Moll Self Storage, which is still in operation today on the original Moll ranch in Schellville where he has resided since 1970.

John’s greatest passion was watching his children and grandchildren participate in numerous sports and activities throughout his life. He was known to be a very honorable, quiet, and humble man. From his early years he has been acknowledged for his character, integrity, and trustworthiness. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.

  Friends are invited to attend a funeral service in John’s honor at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma, CA 9547

  Interment will follow the service at Valley Cemetery, Sonoma, CA.

  Memorial donations may be made to the Youth Sports Organization of your choice in Sonoma Valley.

Duggan’s Mission Chapel
525 West Napa Street
Sonoma, CA.