Paul Edward Anderson
April 26, 1926 to February 27, 2009
Howard Leroy Myers
April 22, 1932 to July 19, 2007
Daniel W. Wakefield
July 06, 1928 to January 26, 2011
Anthony “Tony” McDowell
August 18, 1960 to January 31, 2011
Albert “Al” Turner
Tualatin has lost a great patriot. Albert “Al” Turner passed away on December 19. He was a highly decorated World War II veteran. His medals include ex-POW, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, combat medic, WWII victory, European Theatre, Presidential Unit Citation, Jubilee of Victory (from the French government), Good Conduct and honorable discharge (known as the ruptured duck). He turned 90 on December 3.
Al had a keen wit. He asked a young friend to read the dates on his driver’s license for him. After hearing the expiration date (which was some years in the future), he looked the friend in the eye and said, “Boy, they’re optimistic, aren’t they?” But overall, he was a humble, very modest gentleman. He rarely discussed his military experiences and if he did, it was primarily with other veterans.
Highly regarded in Tualatin and Wilsonville for his patriotic activities, he was responsible for several businesses along Hwy I-5 deciding to display large American flags. Also for the placement of American flags on the previous “Tualatin wall” located on the island between K-Mart and Fred Meyer; personally putting up the flags in the morning on patriotic holidays and taking them back down in the evening. The Tualatin City Council proclaimed him as “Mr. Patriot” on May 26, 2009
William F. Gilham
Gilham, William F. 85 April 07, 1926 Nov. 21, 2011 William F. “Bill” Gilham succumbed to cancer on Nov. 21, 2011, at the Vancouver, Wash., Veterans Hospital. He was a longtime supporter and co-founder of the city of Durham, later serving as planning commissioner, city council member and mayor. A champion of the little guy, he had a ready wit and a gift for story telling that he used to support those causes that meant so much to him: Tualatin River Keepers, Tualatin Historical Society and his close and extended family. He was an avid race fan and historical car buff. He passed his love of boating on to his sons and enjoyed sailing on the Columbia River. For the majority of his 85 years, with the exception of a World War II enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps, he resided on the family property at the end of Ellman Lane. He is survived by his ex-wife, Anita Gilham; sons, Bryan and Mark; daughter, Alison; daughter-in-law, Margo; and granddaughter, Amanda. He is predeceased by his son, Jeffrey. Memorial services are planned for Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at the Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR from 2 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made toTualatinriverkeepers.org or Semperfifund.org.
Bud Smith
Bud Smith passed away June 24, 2010 after a 12 year battle with cancer. His family has scheduled a military service at Willamette National cemetary at 11am of Monday August 2nd and will then have a memorial event at the Heritage Center at noon that day.
Clarence Fessler
Clarence Fessler
April 10, 1920 – June 4, 2010
Viewing is set for 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, with rosary at 6 p.m. at Prineville Funeral Home. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 9, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prineville; graveside service will follow at Juniper Haven Cemetery. Family and friends will gather for a luncheon at the parish hall following the burial. Also following luncheon all are invited to come to the Cody Harnden home in Powell Butte for more sharing.
Clarence Wilford (William) Fessler, 90, died June 4, 2010, in a Prineville hospital from complications of pneumonia and heart problems. He was born at home April 10, 1920, near La Crosse, Wisc., to Albert Joseph and Elizabeth Elsen Fessler. He grew up working on farms in the Willamette Valley and attended school at Whiskey Hill, Donald, West Woodburn and Champoeg. He married Arleta Dykstra Jan. 7, 1942, in Sherwood. About a month later, he was drafted into the Army to serve in World War II. He shipped out of Camp Roberts, Calif., bound for the South Pacific just days before his first daughter was born back in Pendleton. He served in Australia and New Guinea before returning to Pendleton in 1945. He and his family moved to Condon and worked on a ranch and then moved to Tualatin. In 1948, he began working at Bonk’s Shell station in Tualatin, which he would eventually buy and operate until he was forced to retire in 1975 because of heart problems.
He and Arleta retired to Prineville in 1976, following Clarence’s dream to live close to the Crooked River, where he loved to fish and camp.
Clarence lost his middle daughter, Marcia Anna, after a long battle with leukemia in 1968. He cared for his wife in their home while she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease during the last two years of her life. They had been married 61 years when she died in 2003.
His oldest daughter, Clarene Looney, died of breast cancer, in 2004. He was also preceded in death by his parents, a brother and three sisters. He is survived by his younger brother, Vic Fessler of Beaver Creek; his daughters Jeanne Hummel Hora, Bend; Jerre Lynne Kosta Dodson and husband Sean, and Julie Harnden and husband Jim; all of Prineville; grandchildren George Looney, Philomath; Vicki Menard, Glide; Kathy Moen, Albany; Stacey Hummel, Bend; Shane Hummel, Devin Kosta, Joey Harnden, Brandi Fabbrini and Cody Harnden, all of Prineville; Stephen Harnden, Salem; and Todd Harnden, Nyssa; and 24 great-grand- children.
Clarence never owned a credit card, never got a traffic ticket and only borrowed money twice in his life. He loved children and charmed them as well as animals. He loved to fish, camp and enjoyed a plane trip to Alaska with an old friend. He was a wonderful loving influence in the lives of his children and grandchildren and many others. He will be greatly missed.
Memorial Contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, 1425 NE Irving #100, Portland, OR 97232.
Clarence Fessler
Frank Fina
Frank Joseph Fina, 85, of Woodburn, died Tuesday, March 2, 2010.
He was born Sept. 29, 1924, in Brooklyn, N.Y.
He was a tax auditor for the Internal Revenue Service.
He is survived by his wife, Celina, and daughters, Linda Reinsch and Denise Fina.
A Mass will be held Wednesday, March 10, at 11 a.m. at St. Cyril Catholic Church in Wilsonville. Burial will be at Willamette National Cemetery at 2 p.m.
Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Cornwell Colonial Chapel of Wilsonville.
Charles F. Miller
Miller, Charles F. 89 7/28/1920 5/23/2010 Charles “Charlie” F. Miller passed away May 23, 2010, in Milwaukie at the age of 89. Charlie was born July 28, 1920, of August Alois Miller and Mary Jane Hart Miller in Independence. The family moved to Klamath Falls in 1921 where his father owned Miller’s Meat Packing Plant on the Weed-Ashland road. Charlie graduated from Klamath Union High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served on the USS Selfridge. Charlie was wounded during the war and medically discharged from the Navy in 1944. He returned to Klamath Falls to marry Willa Maxine Winebarger in 1944. Their daughter, Janice Lynn, was born in May 1945. Charlie worked in many meat packing plants and retail meat markets in the Klamath Falls area for many years before moving to Oregon City in 1974. He moved to Wilsonville in 1979 where he lived with his wife, Willa, for 28 years. He retired as a meat cutter from Safeway in 1984. In 2007, with the closing of the Thunderbird Mobile Home Park, Charlie and Willa moved to Homewoods on the Willamette, a retirement center in the Milwaukie area. Charlie is survived by his wife, Willa Miller of Milwaukie; daughter, Jan Miller of Oregon City; grandchildren, Paul F. Glidden of San Diego; Christine Glidden of Oregon City; Chuck Glidden of St. Louis, Mo.; and Mike Glidden of Portland; great-grandchildren, Shaun Glidden of San Diego; Cassidy Horstman of Oregon City; Nicole Glidden of San Diego; and Amelia Glidden of St. Louis. A memorial service with full military honors will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, June 11, 2010, in Willamette National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in the name of Charles Miller to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 3452, 18820 S.W. Boones Ferry Road; Tualatin, OR 97062.
Saturday Brunch
May 19, 2012Saturday Brunch
May 26, 2012Memorial Day at Winona Cemetery
May 28, 2012Saturday Brunch
Jun 2, 2012Saturday Brunch
Jun 9, 2012Saturday Brunch
Jun 16, 2012
Events
Schedules
The Post meets on the first Monday of each month at 7 pm.
Everyone is invited to brunch every Saturday from 10AM – Noon at Cpl Matthew Lembke Hall. Cost is donation only.
Ladies Auxiliary meeting is at 1:00 p.m., the first Monday of each month.
Men’s Auxiliary meeting is at 6:30 p.m., the third Thursday of each month.
Deployed family members support group, last Friday of each month 5:30PM to 7:30PM.
Newsletter
Keep updated on events to benefit our veterans:Local VFW News
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Maija Girardi – Winner of Patriot’s Pen Essay
Apr 8, 2012
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Voice of Democracy Winner for 2012
Mar 6, 2012
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COURSE IN STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
Feb 24, 2012
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Retired USAF Pilot is Speaking on Feb 11th
Feb 3, 2012
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Professional Handyman Services
Jan 25, 2012
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Help a Vet Find Work
Jan 23, 2012
News and Resources
- DD-214
- Federal Benefits for Vets
- National VA Council
- National VFW
- Oregon Dept of Vet Affairs
- Oregon VFW
- Oregon VFW (Twitter)
- Veterans in the news
- VFW in the news
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Vietnam War Resources
