Willie Ellis Van Vranken Jr., 85, passed away at his home Wednesday, June 10, 2009, after a short bout with cancer.
Willie was born Feb. 29, 1924, to W. E. Van Vranken and Minnie Timms Van Vranken in Hockerville, OK.
As a young man, he moved to the Northwest where he found work in the mines prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army. He proudly served from 1944 to 1946 with the 565th Quartermaster Railroad Company.
In 1947, he married Fern Klipper. With Fern he had three children, Jimmie, Judy and Glenn. All preceded him in death Fern in 1957, Judy in 1963, Glenn in 1976 and Jim in 1984.
In 1958, he married Marjorie Whittington at Kellogg, Idaho, and acquired two stepchildren, Marilee Leatherbury and Henry Whittington.
Willie and Marjorie moved to Lewiston in 1959, where Willie began working for Potlatch Corp. (now Clearwater Paper) in Lewiston. Marjorie passed away in 1983, and he retired from Potlatch in 1985.
Willie loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping and fishing. He also loved woodworking and built many items in his shop, including numerous clocks. He also enjoyed gardening - raising zucchini and tomatoes. Although he couldn't eat all the tomatoes he grew, he enjoyed sharing them with neighbors and his "girlfriends" at Albertsons.
Willie is survived by his stepdaughter, Marilee and Darrell Leatherbury of Clarkston' stepson, Henry and Bonnie Whittington of Cabot, Ark.; grandchildren, Vickie and Steve Frei of Clarkston; Steve and Lisa Leatherbury of Clarkston; Curtis and Darlene Leatherbury of Glenburn, N.D., and Corey Whittington of Lewiston. He is also survived by several great-grandchildren and various nieces and nephews.
Lewiston Morning Tribune (ID) June 13, 2009
Willie was born Feb. 29, 1924, to W. E. Van Vranken and Minnie Timms Van Vranken in Hockerville, OK.
As a young man, he moved to the Northwest where he found work in the mines prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army. He proudly served from 1944 to 1946 with the 565th Quartermaster Railroad Company.
In 1947, he married Fern Klipper. With Fern he had three children, Jimmie, Judy and Glenn. All preceded him in death Fern in 1957, Judy in 1963, Glenn in 1976 and Jim in 1984.
In 1958, he married Marjorie Whittington at Kellogg, Idaho, and acquired two stepchildren, Marilee Leatherbury and Henry Whittington.
Willie and Marjorie moved to Lewiston in 1959, where Willie began working for Potlatch Corp. (now Clearwater Paper) in Lewiston. Marjorie passed away in 1983, and he retired from Potlatch in 1985.
Willie loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping and fishing. He also loved woodworking and built many items in his shop, including numerous clocks. He also enjoyed gardening - raising zucchini and tomatoes. Although he couldn't eat all the tomatoes he grew, he enjoyed sharing them with neighbors and his "girlfriends" at Albertsons.
Willie is survived by his stepdaughter, Marilee and Darrell Leatherbury of Clarkston' stepson, Henry and Bonnie Whittington of Cabot, Ark.; grandchildren, Vickie and Steve Frei of Clarkston; Steve and Lisa Leatherbury of Clarkston; Curtis and Darlene Leatherbury of Glenburn, N.D., and Corey Whittington of Lewiston. He is also survived by several great-grandchildren and various nieces and nephews.
Lewiston Morning Tribune (ID) June 13, 2009
Willie Ellis Van Vranken Jr., 85, passed away at his home Wednesday, June 10, 2009, after a short bout with cancer.
Willie was born Feb. 29, 1924, to W. E. Van Vranken and Minnie Timms Van Vranken in Hockerville, OK.
As a young man, he moved to the Northwest where he found work in the mines prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army. He proudly served from 1944 to 1946 with the 565th Quartermaster Railroad Company.
In 1947, he married Fern Klipper. With Fern he had three children, Jimmie, Judy and Glenn. All preceded him in death Fern in 1957, Judy in 1963, Glenn in 1976 and Jim in 1984.
In 1958, he married Marjorie Whittington at Kellogg, Idaho, and acquired two stepchildren, Marilee Leatherbury and Henry Whittington.
Willie and Marjorie moved to Lewiston in 1959, where Willie began working for Potlatch Corp. (now Clearwater Paper) in Lewiston. Marjorie passed away in 1983, and he retired from Potlatch in 1985.
Willie loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping and fishing. He also loved woodworking and built many items in his shop, including numerous clocks. He also enjoyed gardening - raising zucchini and tomatoes. Although he couldn't eat all the tomatoes he grew, he enjoyed sharing them with neighbors and his "girlfriends" at Albertsons.
Willie is survived by his stepdaughter, Marilee and Darrell Leatherbury of Clarkston' stepson, Henry and Bonnie Whittington of Cabot, Ark.; grandchildren, Vickie and Steve Frei of Clarkston; Steve and Lisa Leatherbury of Clarkston; Curtis and Darlene Leatherbury of Glenburn, N.D., and Corey Whittington of Lewiston. He is also survived by several great-grandchildren and various nieces and nephews.
Lewiston Morning Tribune (ID) June 13, 2009
Willie was born Feb. 29, 1924, to W. E. Van Vranken and Minnie Timms Van Vranken in Hockerville, OK.
As a young man, he moved to the Northwest where he found work in the mines prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army. He proudly served from 1944 to 1946 with the 565th Quartermaster Railroad Company.
In 1947, he married Fern Klipper. With Fern he had three children, Jimmie, Judy and Glenn. All preceded him in death Fern in 1957, Judy in 1963, Glenn in 1976 and Jim in 1984.
In 1958, he married Marjorie Whittington at Kellogg, Idaho, and acquired two stepchildren, Marilee Leatherbury and Henry Whittington.
Willie and Marjorie moved to Lewiston in 1959, where Willie began working for Potlatch Corp. (now Clearwater Paper) in Lewiston. Marjorie passed away in 1983, and he retired from Potlatch in 1985.
Willie loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping and fishing. He also loved woodworking and built many items in his shop, including numerous clocks. He also enjoyed gardening - raising zucchini and tomatoes. Although he couldn't eat all the tomatoes he grew, he enjoyed sharing them with neighbors and his "girlfriends" at Albertsons.
Willie is survived by his stepdaughter, Marilee and Darrell Leatherbury of Clarkston' stepson, Henry and Bonnie Whittington of Cabot, Ark.; grandchildren, Vickie and Steve Frei of Clarkston; Steve and Lisa Leatherbury of Clarkston; Curtis and Darlene Leatherbury of Glenburn, N.D., and Corey Whittington of Lewiston. He is also survived by several great-grandchildren and various nieces and nephews.
Lewiston Morning Tribune (ID) June 13, 2009
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