Obituary of William F. Minkel

William (Bill) Fredrick Minkel, 74 entered into God’s Kingdom on February 28 th , 2024. Bill was born September 6 th , 1949, to Walter (Bud) Raymond Minkel and Dorothy Dephine Minkel (Lattuada) in San Jose, CA and grew up in Almaden, CA. He played baseball from a young age and continued to play at Pioneer High School and San Jose City College. He then went on to join the Airforce, following in his fathers’ footsteps, and was proud to be a veteran. He also followed in his fathers’ footsteps when in 1973 he joined the IBEW Local 332 Electrical Union, which he retired from in 2011. Bill and Anita fell in love 40 plus years ago and married on February 14th , 1998, at the Heyes Ranch. Bill not only gained a wife but gained 1 son and 2 daughters. Bill and Anita lived on the Heyes Ranch before moving back to Hollister in 1997. He enjoyed skiing, ranching, hunting, fishing, and traveling (ok mostly hunting trips and a few destination weddings). Bills true passion for work was being a cattle rancher. His father started the family cattle business in the early 1960s with cows up the Jaques Gulch off of Hick’s road, The Sharp Ranch, Bald Mountain and Almaden Mine property, and the Hayes Ranch. Bill then went on to start his own cattle business, Minkel Ranches, and ran it for many years from the Lucky Herford Ranch. Now, Minkel Ranches run from Pepper Tree Ranch, permanent pasture in San Martin, and golf course property. Bill shared his love of the cattle business with his wife, Anita, and grandsons Dylan and Jeffrey. Dylan will continue to run part of his grandfathers’ cattle business. Bill was an avid hunter and went on countless family hunting trips all over California, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Arizona & Utah. He enjoyed all types of hunting, but hunting with his Chesapeake Bay Retrievers was always top of his hunting list. Bill shared his love of hunting with his brother and passed it onto his grandson Dylan. He planned a Stag hunting trip with is grandson Dylan to New Zealand which quickly turned into a 2-week family hunting trip with his Wife, grandson Dylan, Granddaughter in law Megan and his Perry family. It was a trip of a lifetime. He also enjoyed fishing and took many fishing trips with his wife, son Jeff Sr, and daughter-in-law Julie. While in Mexico attending his Grandson Travis wedding, he was able to go out on fishing charter with some of his great grand-kids. Bill, a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle. He is survived by his loving wife, Anita Jane Pedazzi Minkel, son Jeff Cattaneo Sr., and daughter-in-law Julie Cattaneo, daughter Bernadette Cattaneo and partner Craig (Buddy) Robinson and Daughter Anna Perry and son-in-law Scott Perry, Grandsons Jeff Cattaneo Jr, Blake Wilson, Tyler Wilson, Giovanni Cattaneo, Travis Wilson, and Dylan Pierce, Granddaughter Kennedy Abramson, and his brother Mike Minkel and family (Donna, Mike Jr and Danielle), and 23 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father Walter (Bud) Minkel and Mother Dorothy Minkel.