Jeanne Rose Wichman
October 11, 1928 — October 11, 2022
Jeanne Rose Wichman was born in Wichita, Kansas, on Oct. 11, 1928, and passed away peacefully with her family beside her on Oct. 11, 2022, her 94th birthday.
Jeanne and her brother Glenn enjoyed a wonderful childhood, riding bikes and exploring the small town of Wichita. Jeanne’s father was an inventor and entrepreneur, and her mother helped with the family business and was a dedicated mother and homemaker. Jeanne remembered clearly the horse-drawn wagon that would deliver ice to their home and gasoline costing 11 cents/gallon.
Jeanne attended Miss Hockaday’s Preparatory School for Young Ladies in Dallas and went on to the University of Kansas. After graduating, she worked for the Bartlesville Examiner newspaper and taught 2nd grade.
In 1953, inspired by a book she had read, Jeanne and her best friend Carol drove a Chrysler convertible to the west coast and booked passage on the SS Lurline to Hawai‘i.
Jeanne started working at the Halekulani Hotel, and it wasn’t long before a mutual acquaintance introduced her to Charlie Wichman. It was love at first sight, and after taking her to meet his family on Kaua‘i, Charlie proposed.
The happy couple were married on May 14, 1955, at Saint Andrew’s Cathedral in Honolulu and then flew to Kaua‘i for their honeymoon at Koke‘e and Kipu Kai.
Jeanne was an active member of the Honolulu Garden Club for nearly 50 years, a patron of the Honolulu Academy of Arts, the Honolulu Symphony, the Hawai‘i Opera Theatre, a fellow of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, as well as many other community organizations.
Having grown up during the great depression, Jeanne taught her family to value frugality, home cooking, and public service. Jeanne leaves behind a legacy of generosity, love, acceptance, humor and a family cookbook of her wonderful recipes.
She is dearly missed by all who knew her.
Charles Rice (Goodale) Wichman
August 11, 1925 — April 24, 2024
Charles Rice (Goodale) Wichman was born in Lihu‘e on Aug. 11, 1925, and died peacefully with his family beside him on April 24, 2024.
Charlie was the second child born to Juliet Rice and Holbrook Goodale. In 1927, Juliet married Fred Wichman, who adopted Charlie and his older brother Hobey. Juliet and Fred had a son, Frederick Bruce, and together the three boys grew up surfing, swimming, hiking and spending long hours at their grandfather Charlie Rice’s ranch at Kipu and in the ocean in front of his home at Kalapaki.
After attending Lihu‘e Grammar School, Charlie was a boarding student at Iolani School on O‘ahu from 1936-41 and then attended Menlo High School in California from 1941-43.
Upon graduating, he enlisted in the army, trained as a radio operator, and was deployed to the Pacific.
After the war, Charlie attended Stanford University, and then, on the advice of his uncle, Stanford Law School, graduating in 1952. Charlie began his career as a young attorney working in Hilo and then moved to Honolulu to work in the U.S. Attorney’s office from 1954-57.
From the moment he met Jeanne on a blind date in 1954, the two became inseparable, marrying in 1955
In 1957, Charlie opened the Honolulu office of the law firm that would become Carlsmith, Carlsmith, Wichman and Case, which he helped grow into the largest law firm in the Pacific region.
Charlie was an avid gardener, tennis player, and skier. He loved music, especially opera, classical symphonies, and Hawaiian slack key.
He was a lifelong philanthropist and supported many island non-profits, including the National Tropical Botanical Garden, the Honolulu Academy of Art, the Hawai‘i Opera Theater, the Honolulu Symphony, ‘Iolani School, Punahou School and the Hawai‘i Community Foundation.
Charlie will be remembered for his generosity, integrity, humor and especially his deep love for Jeanne, his family, and his beloved Labrador Retrievers.
Jeanne and Charlie’s Married Life
After Jeanne and Charlie were married on May 14, 1955, they bought a small house in Manoa valley, where they had their first child, Wendy Jeanne. In 1957 they welcomed their second child, Charles ‘Chipper’ Rice Jr. and moved their growing family to Aukai Street in Kahala, where they lived for 10 years.
In 1959 they had their third son Michael Whitney and in 1963 Jonathan Goodale. Jeanne was known as “Supermom” volunteering to be Room Mother for her four children at their various schools — all at the same time. In 1967, the family made their final move to a home at the top of Tantalus, overlooking Diamond Head and west O‘ahu.
Charlie and Jeanne loved their home high up in the rainforest as it reminded them of Koke‘e. Jeanne, Charlie, and their children spent their summers and many holidays on Kaua‘i, dividing their time between his mother Juliet’s home at Ha‘ena and his grandfather’s cabin in Koke‘e. They spent many happy hours hiking, swimming, picking fruit for jam and jelly, and cooking large meals for their family, friends, and cousins.
When Charlie retired in the early 2000s, he and Jeanne began to alternate between O‘ahu and Kaua‘i, spending 3 months at a time on each island. Jeanne and Charlie were beloved grandparents, affectionately named Grandma Jelly and Boppu by their grandchildren.
Jeanne and Charlie are survived by their four children Wendy Wichman (Egesdal), Chipper (Hau‘oli) Wichman, Mike Wichman, Jonathan (Bernadette) Wichman, eight grandchildren and their spouses, and ten great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for both of them will be held at the Lihu‘e Cemetery on Friday, June 28, at 10:30 a.m. Donations in their memory can be made to Limahuli Garden of the National Tropical Botanical Garden or the Kaua‘i Museum.
Manuel ‘Manny’ Lopez Jr.
Manuel “Manny” Lopez Jr. was called to the heavenly shores on April 17, 2024. He was 83. Manny was born on Kaua‘i on May 13, 1941.
He was preceded in death by his parents Eulogia, Manuel and sister Connie Ceda. But those he left behind will never forget him.
He is survived by his wife Estrelita, daughter Julie (Adam), son Nole (Marianne), nephew Eric Carbonel, sister Teodocia Lastimosa, grandchildren Athan Marsh, Noelani Lopez, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Manny had a passion for fishing, family and friends. His love for all three was unwavering.
A celebration of life was held.
Peter Randall Riopta
Peter Randall Riopta, of Hanama‘ulu, went home to heaven on May 7, 2024, at the age of 66. He was born on Jan. 11, 1958, on Oma‘o Bridge, Kaua‘i.
He was preceded in passing by father Pedro Redor Riopta, mother Juliet Ellasos Riopta, grandfather Silverio Ellasos, grandmother Suzie Salvacion, and granddaughter Alazne Amorin.
He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Esther Jimenez Riopta, daughters Brooke (Travis) Aguinaldo, Amber (Emerson) Amorin, Casie Riopta, son Donovan Riopta, grandchildren Cainan Aguinaldo, Aryana Amorin, Alexia Amorin, Wana‘ao Naihe, Ethan Amorin, Cailer Aguinaldo, Caitlyn Aguinaldo, numerous aunties, uncles, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother-in-law, nephew, uncle, friend, and coach to many. He will be greatly missed.
A celebration of life will be held on June 21, 2024, at Kaua‘i Veterans Center. Viewing at 8:30 a.m. Service at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
