James is survived by his wife, Laura Canon-Mensendiek of Ventura; his brother John Mensendiek and sister-in law Barbara Mensendiek of Danville, CA; his niece Caroline Mensendiek of San Francisco; his nephews Robert Thomas Mensendiek and Erik Mensendiek of Danville; and his sister-in-law Mary Beth Dockery and brother-in law Tim Dockery of Dallas, Georgia. He is predeceased by his father Robert R. Mensendiek, his mother Benita S. Mensendiek, and his brother David B. Mensendiek.
James was born in Seattle, WA on March 27, 1959. He lived there until his family moved briefly to Modesto, CA in the early 1960’s then settled in Oxnard, CA in 1963. James graduated from Rio Mesa High School in 1978 where he was a member of the varsity tennis team. In 1981 James began his career with the Ventura County Fire Department as a seasonal worker on brush fires. He knew that the fire service was his calling. In 1984 he was hired as a full time firefighter with the County and worked for the department until he retired in March 2013. In 1992, James received the Firefighter of the Year Award for Battalion 2. His firefighter brothers and sisters were his and Laura’s second family.
James met his wife, Laura, on the tennis courts at the Cabrillo Racquet Club in 1979. They have been together ever since. James and Laura married on April 5,1986, and have been residents of Ventura for the past 33 years.
James had many hobbies including cooking, golf, Shelby automobiles and Mustangs, watching sports on TV, going on long drives with his wife Laura, and spending time with his beloved cats Tanner and Heather. James loved animals and he enjoyed taking trips to the Santa Barbara Zoo and Exotic Feline Breeding Compound in Rosemond, CA. James was such a kind, caring, generous and loving man and he will be deeply missed
by all who knew and loved him.
A Celebration of Life for James will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2019 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at the Pierpont Inn in Ventura. Donations in James’s name may be offered to Greyfoot Cat Rescue and Sanctuary, P.O. Box 310, Ventura, CA 93002-0310, Greyfoot.org and Exotic Feline Breeding Compound, 3718 60th Street West, Rosamond, CA 93560, www.wildcatzoo.org
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home.
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