Wesley Strohecker's Obituary
Wesley G. Strohecker passed away Saturday, February 9, 2013 at the age of 83.Wes was born in Portland, Oregon on August 5, 1929 to Roswell and Opal Strohecker. He was the grandson of Gottlieb Strohecker, founder of Strohecker's, Inc. grocery store in Portland's West Hills neighborhood.Wes attended Ainsworth Elementary, Cathedral Grade School, Columbia Prep, Lincoln High School and University of Oregon. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was based in San Diego. He was honorably discharged in 1949. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve until 1954.Wes started working at Strohecker's as a delivery boy and was President upon his retirement in 1992. He wore many hats during his life-long career at the store. He prided himself on providing the level of customer service Strohecker's was renowned for, and he cared deeply for his customers. A favorite family story is one Thanksgiving day a customer called Wes at home, upset that she had forgot the cranberry sauce. Dad told her to meet him at the store and he opened the store just for her, ensuring she would have a perfect dinner for her family. Wes married his first wife Gloria Jean Sells in 1959. Together they had four children: Tamara, Dale, Nancy and Mollyanna. He married his second wife Marcia Peterson Marks in 1977, and Marcia's two children John and Kristin became like his own. Wes and Marcia enjoyed 36 years of marriage together.Wes had a keen sense of humor and loved a good laugh, even if it was at his own expense. He was very outgoing, and loved spending time with his family and friends. He had a notorious sweet tooth, with maple bars and homemade ice cream as particular favorites. As a young man he was passionate about building and racing street roadsters and coupes. A favorite racing strip was SW Vista Avenue late at night. Wes was a member of the local Pacer's racing club and the Northwest Timing Association, and a driver for the club's custom built cars at the 1952 National Timing meet at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. Wes loved to snow ski. He was a partner in the Sports Unlimited ski shop in Goose Hollow. As a member of the Schnee Vogeli Ski Club he participated in ski races on Mt. Hood. He lived in Government Camp for a couple of years. During Ski Bowl's development he cleared the tree stumps from the runs with the use of dynamite. Wes and his friends knew just the right amount of powder to use to loosen the stump, allowing them to stand on top of the stumps as they blew up and get a ride out of it. Wes's other passion was sailing. He purchased Minerva, a classic 52-foot wood sailing ketch in 1966. Family life and vacations were centered around the boat. Weekends were spent sailing the Columbia and Willamette rivers, and family summer vacations were spent cruising the San Juan Islands and San Francisco Bay. One of his favorite tricks would be heading directly at the Red Lion's Quay restaurant under full sail on a windy day. He would wait until the last minute to tack just as the diners looking out the window were starting to get up from their seats thinking we were going to sail right into the building. Wes was a member of the Portland Yacht Club and Multnomah Athletic Club. He served on the board for Northwest Pilot Project, was a Community Advisor for the Junior League's Pittock Mansion Teahouse development, and volunteered for the Portland Art Museum. He worshiped at Ascension Chapel.Wes is preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Gerald Roswell Strohecker. He is survived by his wife Marcia, his children Tamara Strohecker Florer (Herb), Dale Strohecker (Debbie), Nancy Strohecker Burke (Michael), John Marks (Lynnette), Mollyanna Strohecker Rios-Nogales (Jorge), and Kristin Marks Roslund (Drew) and 12 grandchildren.A celebration of Wes's life will be held Monday, February 18 at 2:30 pm at the Multnomah Athletic Club following a private funeral service.Remembrances in Wes's name may be made to Providence Hospice, Alzheimer's Association or Ascension Chapel.
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