Paul O. Wanke
Paul O. Wanke, 80, of Ephrata, went to be with the Lord and join his wife, Ann, on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, at Columbia Basin Hospital, following complications from diabetes.
He was born in Vancouver, Wash., to Adolph and Olga Wanke on March 26, 1928. He was the youngest of six children.
He attended St. John’s Lutheran Parochial School and graduated from Vancouver High School in 1946. After graduating, Paul worked for Swift Meat Company as a sausage maker in Portland, Ore. He met and later married his wife Anna (Stone) Snowden in Vancouver, Wash., on Nov. 1, 1952. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary a few months before Ann’s passing in July 2003.
Paul’s love of farming and sunshine brought his young family to the Columbia Basin, where they settled in Grant Orchards. After clearing the land of rocks, they began farming in 1956. To help supplement his income, Paul worked for the Missile Sight at Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake. Other areas of employment throughout his lifetime included: Western Farmers in Quincy and driving truck for Columbia Basin Distributor. Paul was able to purchase the distributorship and subsequently changed the name to Wanke Distributing in 1968. He ran the distributorship until 1980, when he made the decision to sell the business and retire. Much later in his retirement, he chose to return to work at Nicholes Funeral Home alongside his good friend Jim Irving, a job he dearly loved. Another dear friend, Don Gordon, was his constant traveling buddy to his doctor visits and always had to make that stop at the KFC!
Paul always had a love for the outdoors. He and Ann enjoyed golfing, saltwater and freshwater fishing, hunting elk and deer, camping, boating and traveling. They loved to entertain familyand friends at their cabin on the Wenatchee River, outside of Leavenworth, Wash.
Paul was an avid sports fan, sponsoring bowling teams, race cars, softball teams and mini hydroplanes. He was a diehard fan of both the Seattle Mariners and Seahawks. He also loved watching his grandchildren in their various sports activities.
Once you met Paul, you never forgot him. He always had a twinkle in his eye, a story to tell and a prank to pull. Paul loved the Lord, his church and his family. It was important to him to pass this love on to his family and others whose lives he touched. These three things were a great source of comfort to him in his final days.
Paul resided at Garden Oasis Assisted Living the last 10 years of his life. He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Lakeview Golf and Country Club, Ephrata Lions and The Teamsters Union.
He is survived by his stepson Jack Snowden and wife Ann Marie of Redmond, Wash., daughter Karen Long and husband Gary of East Wenatchee, daughter Linda Ebberson and husband Dave of Ephrata, son Mark Wanke and wife Carrie of Ephrata, sister Elsie Zehe of Grapeview, Wash., as well as eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, twin son, his wife Ann, and siblings Walt, Henry, Esther and Albert.
Funeral services will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 472 Nat Washingotn Way, Ephrata, on Saturday at 11 a.m. If desired, memorials may be made to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, The Lutheran Hour, Ephrata Lions Club, Columbia Basin Hospital Foundation or a charity of your choice.
Nicholes Funeral Home in Ephrata is in charge of arrangements.