Martin "Marty" Wefald
86, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2016 in San Diego surrounded by family after an eight-month battle with lung cancer. He was predeceased by his wife, Chela, daughter, Verna and brother, Harold. Marty is survived by his sons, son-in-law, brother, siste, grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Born in Maryland to Magnus and Verna Wefald on March 5, 1929, he was raised in Hawley, Minnesota. Marty joined the Merchant Marines at 18 and sailed the world. Landing in San Francisco in the early 1950s, he met the love of his life, Maria "Chela" Campos, from El Salvador, and he never left the city he loved.
Marty worked for the US Forestry Service as a Systems Analyst and developed computer programs to fight forest fires. He parlayed his love of computers, math, and statistics into handicapping the ponies. His passion won him 2nd place in a horse racing tournament in Las Vegas.
He retired early at 57 and found great meaning and purpose as chief bosun on the Jeremiah O'Brien, a liberty ship that participated in WWII and is docked in San Francisco. One of the highlights of his life was accompanying the crew on a five-month voyage to Europe "Back to the Beaches" in 1994 to commemorate the Allied invasion of Normandy with Operation Overlord.
Marty was instrumental in organizing the highly popular "Brews on the Bay" Festival on the Jeremiah O'Brien. It has been a major fundraiser for the ship for over 10 years. He was also one of the longest serving crew members aboard.
Marty's other loves included hiking, good beer, and cards. You could always find Marty walking around SF. Up to last year Marty was still hiking the steep trails in "Lands End". His most memorable hike was the Rim to Rim trail in Grand Canyon, which he did with his siblings three times. He was also fortunate to have great friends at the Beach Chalet, his favorite watering hole. There you could find Marty and the boys at the end of the bar playing "bones" and telling stories.
The family considers themselves blessed to have spent almost the entire eight months with Marty during his illness. Marty will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Per Marty's wishes, half of his ashes will be scattered by the crew of the Jeremiah O'Brien underneath the Golden Gate Bridge on the next Memorial Cruise (May 21st 2016), and the other half with his wife and daughter at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in San Rafael.
Published in San Francisco Chronicle on Feb. 7, 2016
Parental links from
CAW 47885308
1-28-2019
86, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2016 in San Diego surrounded by family after an eight-month battle with lung cancer. He was predeceased by his wife, Chela, daughter, Verna and brother, Harold. Marty is survived by his sons, son-in-law, brother, siste, grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Born in Maryland to Magnus and Verna Wefald on March 5, 1929, he was raised in Hawley, Minnesota. Marty joined the Merchant Marines at 18 and sailed the world. Landing in San Francisco in the early 1950s, he met the love of his life, Maria "Chela" Campos, from El Salvador, and he never left the city he loved.
Marty worked for the US Forestry Service as a Systems Analyst and developed computer programs to fight forest fires. He parlayed his love of computers, math, and statistics into handicapping the ponies. His passion won him 2nd place in a horse racing tournament in Las Vegas.
He retired early at 57 and found great meaning and purpose as chief bosun on the Jeremiah O'Brien, a liberty ship that participated in WWII and is docked in San Francisco. One of the highlights of his life was accompanying the crew on a five-month voyage to Europe "Back to the Beaches" in 1994 to commemorate the Allied invasion of Normandy with Operation Overlord.
Marty was instrumental in organizing the highly popular "Brews on the Bay" Festival on the Jeremiah O'Brien. It has been a major fundraiser for the ship for over 10 years. He was also one of the longest serving crew members aboard.
Marty's other loves included hiking, good beer, and cards. You could always find Marty walking around SF. Up to last year Marty was still hiking the steep trails in "Lands End". His most memorable hike was the Rim to Rim trail in Grand Canyon, which he did with his siblings three times. He was also fortunate to have great friends at the Beach Chalet, his favorite watering hole. There you could find Marty and the boys at the end of the bar playing "bones" and telling stories.
The family considers themselves blessed to have spent almost the entire eight months with Marty during his illness. Marty will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Per Marty's wishes, half of his ashes will be scattered by the crew of the Jeremiah O'Brien underneath the Golden Gate Bridge on the next Memorial Cruise (May 21st 2016), and the other half with his wife and daughter at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in San Rafael.
Published in San Francisco Chronicle on Feb. 7, 2016
Parental links from
CAW 47885308
1-28-2019
Martin "Marty" Wefald
86, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2016 in San Diego surrounded by family after an eight-month battle with lung cancer. He was predeceased by his wife, Chela, daughter, Verna and brother, Harold. Marty is survived by his sons, son-in-law, brother, siste, grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Born in Maryland to Magnus and Verna Wefald on March 5, 1929, he was raised in Hawley, Minnesota. Marty joined the Merchant Marines at 18 and sailed the world. Landing in San Francisco in the early 1950s, he met the love of his life, Maria "Chela" Campos, from El Salvador, and he never left the city he loved.
Marty worked for the US Forestry Service as a Systems Analyst and developed computer programs to fight forest fires. He parlayed his love of computers, math, and statistics into handicapping the ponies. His passion won him 2nd place in a horse racing tournament in Las Vegas.
He retired early at 57 and found great meaning and purpose as chief bosun on the Jeremiah O'Brien, a liberty ship that participated in WWII and is docked in San Francisco. One of the highlights of his life was accompanying the crew on a five-month voyage to Europe "Back to the Beaches" in 1994 to commemorate the Allied invasion of Normandy with Operation Overlord.
Marty was instrumental in organizing the highly popular "Brews on the Bay" Festival on the Jeremiah O'Brien. It has been a major fundraiser for the ship for over 10 years. He was also one of the longest serving crew members aboard.
Marty's other loves included hiking, good beer, and cards. You could always find Marty walking around SF. Up to last year Marty was still hiking the steep trails in "Lands End". His most memorable hike was the Rim to Rim trail in Grand Canyon, which he did with his siblings three times. He was also fortunate to have great friends at the Beach Chalet, his favorite watering hole. There you could find Marty and the boys at the end of the bar playing "bones" and telling stories.
The family considers themselves blessed to have spent almost the entire eight months with Marty during his illness. Marty will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Per Marty's wishes, half of his ashes will be scattered by the crew of the Jeremiah O'Brien underneath the Golden Gate Bridge on the next Memorial Cruise (May 21st 2016), and the other half with his wife and daughter at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in San Rafael.
Published in San Francisco Chronicle on Feb. 7, 2016
Parental links from
CAW 47885308
1-28-2019
86, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2016 in San Diego surrounded by family after an eight-month battle with lung cancer. He was predeceased by his wife, Chela, daughter, Verna and brother, Harold. Marty is survived by his sons, son-in-law, brother, siste, grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Born in Maryland to Magnus and Verna Wefald on March 5, 1929, he was raised in Hawley, Minnesota. Marty joined the Merchant Marines at 18 and sailed the world. Landing in San Francisco in the early 1950s, he met the love of his life, Maria "Chela" Campos, from El Salvador, and he never left the city he loved.
Marty worked for the US Forestry Service as a Systems Analyst and developed computer programs to fight forest fires. He parlayed his love of computers, math, and statistics into handicapping the ponies. His passion won him 2nd place in a horse racing tournament in Las Vegas.
He retired early at 57 and found great meaning and purpose as chief bosun on the Jeremiah O'Brien, a liberty ship that participated in WWII and is docked in San Francisco. One of the highlights of his life was accompanying the crew on a five-month voyage to Europe "Back to the Beaches" in 1994 to commemorate the Allied invasion of Normandy with Operation Overlord.
Marty was instrumental in organizing the highly popular "Brews on the Bay" Festival on the Jeremiah O'Brien. It has been a major fundraiser for the ship for over 10 years. He was also one of the longest serving crew members aboard.
Marty's other loves included hiking, good beer, and cards. You could always find Marty walking around SF. Up to last year Marty was still hiking the steep trails in "Lands End". His most memorable hike was the Rim to Rim trail in Grand Canyon, which he did with his siblings three times. He was also fortunate to have great friends at the Beach Chalet, his favorite watering hole. There you could find Marty and the boys at the end of the bar playing "bones" and telling stories.
The family considers themselves blessed to have spent almost the entire eight months with Marty during his illness. Marty will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Per Marty's wishes, half of his ashes will be scattered by the crew of the Jeremiah O'Brien underneath the Golden Gate Bridge on the next Memorial Cruise (May 21st 2016), and the other half with his wife and daughter at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in San Rafael.
Published in San Francisco Chronicle on Feb. 7, 2016
Parental links from
CAW 47885308
1-28-2019
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