A Kapolei woman who died after her van plunged into a water hazard at the Kapolei Golf Course Thursday night has been identified as Josephine Vanic.

Many longtime Hawai'i residents may remember Vanic when she was Josephine Pagud, who gained fame in the early 1970s as the rotund marshal who pitched appliances and furniture for the old Consumer City store. Vanic appeared in the store's TV commercials and newspaper ads wearing a white cowboy hat and gun belt.

She was one of the most popular local TV personalities of that time and eventually landed roles on "Hawaii Five-0" and Brian Keith's "The Little People," which also was filmed in Hawai'i.

Vanic, a native of Pa'ia, Maui, was 67.

On Thursday, Vanic was driving her white Mazda van on Farrington Highway when it somehow got onto the golf course.

Police said the van traveled about 200 yards before plunging into a pond next to the 1st hole.

Vanic was pulled from her submerged vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The city medical examiner said an autopsy did not produce conclusive results and the cause of death is pending more tests.

Police believe she may have suffered a medical condition prior to the crash.

Cheryl Botelho, Vanic's niece, said yesterday that her aunt was returning from a dialysis treatment when she apparently ran into trouble.

The treatment center is a five-minute drive from her home, Botelho said.

"We're all still puzzled what she was doing on the golf course because she lives right across from the golf course," she said.

Botelho said Vanic had a history of heart ailments and also had problems seeing at night.

"Usually by 7 o'clock she's off dialysis. But I guess since the nights are longer now it gets darker earlier," she said.

Police said the crash occurred at about 8 p.m.

Botelho said her aunt was a "cool" person who enjoyed life. Botelho, 36, said she lost both her parents and Vanic was like a second mother to her.

"She was one that you could talk to when you're down, and we would always joke around and she would say, 'Cheryl, don't get old,' " Botelho laughed. "We always had fun. We always went out to eat. She probably took me to almost every restaurant on this island. Everytime I'm with her we're always eating. And she loved to shop."

Vanic was a janitor at Consumer City when she stood out during a commercial shoot. She quickly became the face and voice of the store and was recognized everywhere she went.

Vanic later worked for the state Department of Human Services in its investigation office. She retired in 2003, but kept in touch with her former co-workers.

"This past June one of her co-workers had retired so they had a surprise retirement party for her and she got invited to go," Botelho said. "Every now and then she would stop in at her office to see how everybody was doing."

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.