OBITUARIES DONALD WICKWIRE Auburn resident Donald Dean Wickwire died Jan. 1, 2014, of respiratory failure at age 84. He was born Feb. 20, 1929, in Lyman, Neb., to Gladys O. and Joseph R. Wick-wire and spent his early childhood in Nebraska and Colorado. He moved to Enumclaw when he was 13 with his mother and stepDonald Wickwire father, Merle “Shorty” Shuttlesworth. He graduated in 1947 from Enumclaw High School, where he was the editor of the newspaper and a gifted writer and artist. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1947 and served as a radio operator on the USS Des Moines until 1954. In September 1954, he met Barbara K. Wickwire and they married on April 14, 1955, in Enumclaw. He retired with more than 30 years of service with Rohr Aircraft Corp in 1994. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Crescent Lodge 109 in Enumclaw. He will be remembered for his dry wit, creativity, avid interest in automobiles and love of home and family. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara K. Wickwire of Auburn; daughters Sherry J. Wickwire of San Francisco, Julie A. Wickwire of Kent, Wash., and Lisa C. Wickwire of Renton, Wash. He was preceded in death by sister Wilma J. “Jean” Fugate and brother-in-law Dangis “Doc” Fugate. A celebration of life open house is planned for 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Auburn Golf Course, 29630 Green River Rd. S.E. Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans (www.DAV.org).
MARILYN VARGA Marilyn Town Varga, 78, died Dec. 19, 2013, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. She was born Oct. 16, 1935, to Bill and Evelyn Town, longtime residents of Malta, Mont. Her summers were spent at the family ranch on the Missouri River Breaks and winters at the family home in Malta. She graduated from Malta High School in 1954 and, after attending Montana State College, she moved
Wednesday, January 15, 2014 • The Enumclaw Courier-Herald • Page 9 to Seattle. She married Steve Varga and they lived in Seattle, Ellensburg, Auburn and Enumclaw. She was a homemaker and worked as a commercial underwriter for Mutual of Enumclaw for many years. Marilyn Varga After retirement and her husband lived in Ryderwood and then Yakima, Wash. Following her husband’s death in February 2013 she moved to a retirement community in Milton, Wash., to be closer to her family. She was a longtime member of the Episcopal Church. She is survived by children Steve Varga Jr. of Kalama, Wash., Deborah (Mark Lewis) Pillow of Lake Tapps, Dave Varga of Pacific and Scott Varga (Blanca) of Enumclaw; sisters Rosie Strope of Polson, Mont., and Peggy Town Gustin of Gig Harbor, Wash.; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A service to honor her life will be arranged at a later date.
IRENE PALENSKY Former Enumclaw resident Irene (Louma) Palensky, 84, died at home Jan. 3, 2014. She was born June 3, 1929. After graduating from Oakes (N.D.) Irene Palensky High School in 1946, she worked as a bookkeeper until she met and married Floyd Palensky of Crete, N.D. They made their home and farmed near Crete for 20 years. In 1967, they moved to Auburn, Wash., where she worked for Pacific Northwest Bell as an operator. In 1976, they moved to Enumclaw, where she was an active member at Sacred Heart Church. Due to illness, they moved to their son’s home in Auburn. She is survived by husband Floyd; sons Allen (Charli) of Auburn and Jerry of Zap, N.D.; three grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 6 at Sacred Heart Church. Graveside services were at St. Charles Catholic Cemetery in Oakes, N.D.
TOM GOETZ Former Buckley resident and church pastor Tom Goetz died Dec. 27, 2013.
Judith Koehn Pinkerton
Judith Koehn Pinkerton, born Judith Lanelle Koehn, November 6, 1938, to Edward and Christine Koehn, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2013 at the age of 75 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Judy, or “Mimi” as she was known to her grandchildren, is survived by her siblings, Roger, Michael, and Patricia; sons, Steven and Tad; daughters-in-law, Lisa and Heidi; grandsons, Brian, David, and Blake, and granddaughters-by-marriage, Susan and Jacquie. Judy was born in Pasadena, Texas and graduated from Renton High School in 1956. After her marriage to Stanley Dale Pinkerton in 1958, Judy moved to New Haven, CT with Stan while he attended Yale University. Judy and Stan raised their sons in Southern California, but returned to Washington in 1983, to be close to Judy’s family in Enumclaw. Judy remained in Washington with her husband until Stan’s death in 2008, when she moved to Milwaukee to be near her son, Steven. Judy touched many lives through the several roles she played in her life, including being a mother, grandmother, Presbyterian Church secretary, and a director/stage manager of community-theater. Judy had many interests—principally, reading, creative writing, and spending time with her family, but also including motorcycling, horseback riding, and bridge. Mimi instituted many long-standing and cherished Pinkerton family traditions, for which her family will be forever thankful. She was devoted to her pets, which included horses, dogs, and kitties. She was a life-long sports fan and especially enjoyed rooting for her favorite teams with her family. In Los Angeles, Judy was an avid Dodgers’ fan; in Seattle, her favorite team was the Sonics; and in Milwaukee, Judy and Steven bonded over watching nearly every Packer’s game together. After several years without him, Judy has been reunited with her husband Stan. Judy will be greatly missed by the family members she left behind, as well as by the many close friends that she made throughout her life. A celebration of Judy’s life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, January 18 at Snohomish First Presbyterian Church. 967082
He was born Feb. 5, 1944, in Paris, Texas, to James and Geraldine Goetz. Later he moved to Marlin, Texas, with his parents, to be raised on the family farm. He is survived by wife Tom Goetz Jeanne (Divito) Goetz of Wilson Creek, Wash; sons Treg, Marcus and Cody; daughter, Julie; daughters-inlaw Julie Goetz and Taylor Goetz; brothers Terry and Greg (Lynn); mother Geraldine Goetz; and six grandchildren. Services took place Jan. 11 at Heritage Church in Odessa, Wash., with interment at the Odessa cemetery. Arrangements were by Strate Funeral Home of Davenport, Wash.
WILLIAM HAUSMANN William Clemens “Bill” Hausmann, former priest at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Enumclaw, died Dec. 17, 2013, at the Hospice House in Spokane. He was born Dec. 30, 1925, in Everett, Wash., to Francis J. and Edith (O’Brien) Hausmann. He attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Everett and St. Martin’s High School in Olympia, where he played basketball. He William Hausmann served in the Navy during World War II and graduated from Santa Clara University in 1950. Prior to entering religious life, he worked in his family’s meat business in Everett. He entered the Jesuit Novitiate at Sheridan, Ore., in August 1956 and was ordained a priest on June 4, 1966, in Spokane. He served at St. Leo (Tacoma), Sacred Heart (Enumclaw), St. Joseph (Cloverdale), St. Ignatius (Portland), St. Michael (Olympia), St. Joseph (Seattle) and St. Francis Xavier (Missoula). After recovering from a 2000 stroke, he joined the active Jesuits at Gonzaga University in the office of University Ministry. He was preceded in death by broth-
ers Francis Hausmann and wife Patricia, Robert Hausmann and wife Marge, and Bryce Hausmann and wife Kris; and sister Betty Ferguson of Seattle. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Saturday Jan. 18, at St. Joseph Church, 732 18th Avenue East, Seattle. A memorial Mass will be celebrated in Spokane the following week, and inurnment will be at the Oregon Province Cemetery. Contributions in his honor may be sent to The Senior Fund, c/o The Oregon Province Society of Jesus, P.O. Box 86010, Portland, Ore. 97286, and/or to Hospice of Spokane, P.O. Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210). Arrangements by Ball and Dodd Funeral Home, 5100 W. Wellesley Ave, Spokane, WA 99205.
MICHAEL BUCKINGHAM Enumclaw resident Michael Wynn Buckingham died Jan. 2, 2014, in Sedro Woolley, Wash., surrounded by family at his daughter’s home. He was born Nov. 3, 1952, in Windsor, England, to Ward and Doris Buckingham. He was a police officer in Normandy Park, Wash., before serving as a trooper with the Washington State Patrol; His service as a trooper ended due to injuries received when Michael Buckingham his patrol car crashed during the pursuit of a drunk driver in 1981. He went on to receive his law degree from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma and spent many years traveling the United States and Canada speaking against drinking and driving. He was an active participant in the Kent fire and police department programs to combat drunk driving. He loved music and enjoyed working on wood projects with his father in their workshops. He was also an avid swimmer who enjoyed spending time at his family’s cabin on Lake Bitterroot in Kalispell, Mont. As an active member of Wabash Presbyterian Church, he especially
See OBITUARIES, Page 14
Margaret Olson Margaret passed away December 27 after a long illness. Born in Seattle on March 29, 1929, to James and Williamina Scott, she is preceded in death by her parents, and brothers James and Charles Scott. She is survived by her husband and caregiver, David Harold, of 64 years, sister Violet and Robert Saunders, daughter Nancy Burger and Roger Simmons, daughter Diane and Richard Conover, son David and Sandy Olson, four grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and five nieces and three nephews. Friends and family knew her as a devoted, caring, and loving person. Margaret grew up in Seattle and graduated from Lincoln High School. She married David on August 20, 1949. They eventually moved to the Lake City neighborhood with their three children and established B-Boys Auto Supply. When they sold the business, they moved to Enumclaw and managed a senior mobile home park for many years. Upon the onset of Margaret’s illnesses, they moved next door to daughter Diane for some time and then to a retirement center in Bellevue. Her husband, David, was by her side as caregiver. Margaret was a world traveler, having visited relatives in Scotland, traveled with friends to Portugal, Thailand, Mexico, Hawaii, and most of the United States. She and David were pilots and flew on many trips. She also traveled with bowling leagues as an accomplished bowler. Remembered as riding motorcycles and snowmobiles, golfing, motorhoming, camping, cooking and entertaining, she was very active and adventurous. Memorial service will be held at Hollyhills Clubhouse, 19200 Hollyhills Dr NE, Bothell, Washington, on Wednesday, January 15, at 2:00 PM. Remembrances can be made to American Cancer Society.
Services arranged by Weeks’ Enumclaw Funeral Home. Please sign the online guest book at www.weeksfuneralhomes.com
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