After a vibrant and active life of 103 years, Adeline (Jelmini) Bucholtz passed away on July 19, 2025 while visiting her daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Bill Farris, in Dayton, Nevada.
Adeline was born on November 30, 1921 with her twin sister, Angeline, in Big Pine, California. She was one of five children born to Italian immigrants, John and Margie (Prunotto) Jelmini. John had earned his U.S. citizenship through his service as an interpreter in the U.S. Army during WWI.
For a time, the family lived in Ballico, California. Adeline attended and graduated from Livingston High School where she met the love of her life, William (Bill) Bucholtz. On January 25, 1941, they took the train from Stockton to Reno, Nevada where they were married in the courthouse. They had a son, Rodney, in 1943 and daughter, Betty, in 1946. In the mid 1950’s, she and Bill opened Bucholtz Meats in Hilmar, California where they did custom butchering for local farmers. They started out in the garage and the little breezeway that connected it to the house. Bill cut the meat and Adeline wrapped it all by hand in the old “drug store” wrapping of white butcher paper – and she was FAST. Eventually they expanded the building and included retail meat sales. They sold the business to their son and daughter-in-law, Rod and Charis (Johnson) Bucholtz, in 1969.
They then purchased 20 acres on Geer Road in Hilmar and Bill started raising cattle. It was his dream to have cattle, and of course, his right-hand man was Adeline. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary just before Bill passed away in 2003.
Adeline continued to live in their home on the ranch for the remainder of her life. She was very independent; living alone, managing her own affairs, cooking, canning, and making olives. She renewed her driver’s license in November of 2024 for five years. Up until two weeks before her passing, she drove to her weekly hair appointments in Hilmar where she enjoyed visiting with others for hours at a time. She was not your typical 103 year old! Adeline always saw the best in everyone, did whatever needed to be done, and did it with a smile. Her positive attitude was with her all her life.
Through her 73 some years living in Hilmar, she became known as “Grandma” to a large number of people in the community. She loved to attend all of the sporting events for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had the honor of serving as the Grand Marshal in the Hilmar Homecoming Parade in 2022 and was recognized this past April by the Merced County Old Timers Association.
She was preceded in death by husband, Bill, and grandson, William “Billy” Bucholtz. She is survived by her son Rodney (Mary) and daughter Betty (Bill) Farris, Grandchildren Michelle (Alan) Peterson, Chris (Suzanne) Farris, Doug (Valerie) Farris, Susan (Emanuel) Azevedo, and Tom Farris; and her Great Grandchildren, Benjamin, Sydney and Olivia Peterson, Carter, Aidan and Hudson Azevedo, Artemisia Farris, and Calvin and Kylee Farris.
Services and burial will be held Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Turlock Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 425 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock, California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made either to the Bucholtz Family Scholarship—awarded annually since 1988 to a Hilmar High School graduate—or to a charity of your choice. Scholarship donations may be mailed to Farmers & Merchants Bank, 19925 W. 1st Street, Hilmar, CA 95324.
