“Punny” Dambacher Passes Away

Sonora, CA — With the passing of Milton M. “Punny” Dambacher this past weekend, the Mother Lode lost one of its more colorful personalities.

Dambacher, 91, passed away Sunday at his Sonora residence. The son of Tuolumne County Sheriff John Henry “Jack” Dambacher, who served nearly a quarter of a century (1922-1946) in the position, “Punny” was born in the Sonora jail, where he lived, as sheriff’s families did back then, in the jail building. Within a year of leaving home, upon his high school graduation, for junior college, the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor drew Dambacher into the Marines, where he served through World War II. Throughout his life, he remained an active community member and supporter of numerous causes.

Funeral arrangements are through Terzich & Wilson Funeral Home (225 E. Rose Ave., Sonora), where a vigil service will be held Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m. Visitation will be held earlier in the day from 4 to 7 p.m. Dambacher’s funeral mass is scheduled for noon Saturday, March 21 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church (127 West Jackson St., Sonora), after which will follow a graveside service with full military honors at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetary in Sonora.  In lieu of flowers, if you choose, donate to Hospice of the Sierra or the Sonora Area Foundation.