OBITUARIES FOR SEPTEMBER 3 - 15, 2001

Frank Nelson

Formerly of La Grande

1925 -2001

Frank Nelson, 76, formerly of La Grande and Elgin, died Sept. 1 at his home in Central Point.

A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Summerville Cemetery, with Bishop Ray Baum of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officiating.

Mr. Nelson was born March 1, 1925, in Junction City to Nels Lassen and Ethel Fox Nelson. He graduated from Elgin High School. He married Marjorie Ruth Ellen Wickersham on Feb. 18, 1949, in La Grande.

The couple lived in La Grande until 1969 when they moved to Medford. They moved to Prineville in 1972 where he worked for the USDA, ASCS office. They returned to Medford in 1976. When Mr. Nelson retired in 1997, they returned to La Grande. They moved to Central Point in 1991. Mr. Nelson worked with farmers as an employee of Del Monte from 1951 to 1965 and later with USDA, ASCS. He retired as office manager for ASCS in 1987. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. He was a member of the LDS Church, Central Point Ward.

Besides his wife of Central Point, he is survived by four sons, Mike and Julie Nelson of Medford, Jim of Central Point, Les of White City, and Dean and Bev Nelson of Gresham; three daughters, Sue and Bruce Williams of Prineville, Kathie and Larry Moss of Central Point and Marlin and Dean Evernham of Eagle Point; a brother, Carl Nelson, of Siletz; 22 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. A brother, Nels Earnest Nelson, died earlier.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Rogue Valley Medical Center Hospice, 2825 Barnett Road, Medford 97504.

Memory Gardens Mortuary of Medford is in charge of arrangements.

Donald Parker

Cove

1938-2001

Donald Dean Parker, 62, of Cove, died Aug. 31 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church, 707 Main St., Cove, with Pastor Don Camp officiating.

A memorial book with stories and pictures is being assembled and additions will be welcomed.

Mr. Parker was born Nov. 19, 1938, to Dow and Thelma White Parker in Bakersfield, Calif. He married Judy Wiles on Nov. 18, 1963, in Concrete, Wash. The couple moved to Cove in 1984 where he volunteered at Dollars Corner Store.

He liked woodworking, building furniture, repairing bicycles for children, playing the piano and talking on the CB radio. He enjoyed his rose garden and having barbe-cues with his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife of Cove, children and step-children and their spouses, Charles and Donna Lee of Batesville, Ark., Gary and Sandra Olsen of Auburn, Wash., Starleen Parker of Cove, Joshua Parker of Cove, and Donald Parker Jr. of Albany; four grandchildren; his brothers, James Parker and Dan Parker, both of Concrete, and Jack Parker of Albany, and other relatives.

Contributions may be made to the Donald Parker Memorial Fund in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St.

Sandra Proebstel

La Grande

1974-2001

Sandra D. Proebstel, 27, of La Grande, died Sept. 6 at Grande Ronde Hospital after a long illness. At her request there will be no services.

Mrs. Proebstel was born May 26, 1974, to Kenneth and Joyce Kunz Eich in Joliet, Ill. She enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas where she married Joshua Proebstel April 6, 1997, in Killeen, Texas. The couple moved to La Grande where she attended Eastern Oregon University and worked as a nurses aid. She enjoyed crafts.

Survivors include her husband and son, Luke, both of La Grande; her father, of Largo, Fla.; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Eich of St. Petersburg, Fla.; a sister, Jackie Eich of Largo, Fla.; her mother- and father-in-law, Carol and Steve Proebstel of Haines; and other relatives. Her mother and maternal grandparents died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City.

Jessie Petrich

Jessie Elizabeth Bovitz Petrich, 84, of La Grande, died Saturday at the home of Ruthie Furman in La Grande.

A complete obituary will be published later. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Charlene J. Woolsey

Wallowa

1948-2001

Charlene J. Woolsey, 53, died at her home in Wallowa on Sept 4.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Wallowa Christian Church. Disposition was by cremation, with Tehama Cemetery in Tehama, Calif. receving the remains.

She was born on April 4, 1948, in Red Bluff, Calif., to Pearl A. and Molly Brownfield.

She married Roy Woolsey on Aug. 10, 1968, in Reno. He survives her, as does her mother.

Other survivors include three sisters, Claudine Villalobos and Pearl Parker of Red Bluff and Sharon Dycus of Virginia Beach, Va.; two brothers, Delbert Brownfield and Joe Brownfield of Red Bluff. Her father and a sister, Nell Banyai, died earlier.

Local arrangements are being handled by Bollman Funeral Home in Enterprise.

Mildred O. Wise

Mildred Opal Wise, 85, of La Grande and formerly of Elgin died Monday at a local care center.

An obituary will be published later.

Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Mildred Wilkinson

Mildred Wilkinson, 91, of La Grande died this morning at a local care facility.

A full obituary will be published later.

Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Mildred O. Wise

La Grande, formerly of Elgin

1915-2001

Mildred Opal Wise, 85, of La Grande and formerly of Elgin, died Sept. 10 at a local care center. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow at the Elgin Cemetery.

Mrs. Wise was born on Oct. 23, 1915, to Guy and Lucy Middleton Hopper in Egbert, Wyo. She attended school in Idaho and finished the eighth grade. She began working in a medical office in 1936 in Coeur dAlene, Idaho. She worked for the same doctor at Hot Lake for a year before transferring to the hospital in Enterprise.

She married Foster Herbert Wise on March 21, 1939, in Coeur dAlene. They lived in Seneca and in 1946 moved to La Grande. In 1950 the family moved to Elgin where they started their own watch repair business. In 1968 she began working at Valley View Manor in La Grande and was head cook for several years before her retirement in 1974. She made pies and doughnuts for Odies Steak House in Elgin. In 1988 the couple moved to La Grande and in 1989 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Shirley and Ray Stephens of Olympia, Wash., Richard and Martha Wise of Imbler, and Duane and JoAnne Wise of Anchorage, Alaska, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Her husband and a sister died earlier.

Robert Nussbaumer

Cove resident Robert Nussbaumer died Thursday at the home of a friend in Cove. He was 60. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. An obituary will be published later.

Ruby Schoesler

Ruby Alvina Schoesler, 96, of La Grande died Thursday at a local care center. Arrangements will be announced later by Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Ralph Smith

Ralph Smith, 89, of Summerville died Thursday at a local care center. Arrangements will be announced later by Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Esther White

Esther White, 90, of La Grande died today at a local care center. Arrangements will be announced later by Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Robert W. Nussbaumer

Cove

1940 -2001

Robert Walter Nussbaumer, 60, of Cove, died Sept. 13 at the home of Howard Elmer in Cove.

A celebration of life will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Lower Cove Cemetery, with Pastor Irwin Smutz of the Imbler Christian Church officiating. A luncheon at the church will follow the committal service.

Mr. Nussbaumer was born Aug. 2, 1941, in Portland to Tony and Bertha Schallberger Nussbaumer. He moved to Cove from Hillsboro in 1981.

He married Letha on Jan. 17, 1987, at the First Christian Church of La Grande. He was a member of the Star Promenaders and enjoyed square dancing. He also enjoyed working on tractors, bowling and music. He played the accordian.

Besides his wife of La Grande, he is survived by his mother of Hillsboro; stepchildren, Candy Huffman of Elgin, Connie Hazen of Boise, Cindy Ward of Walsh, Col., Lorena Krizman of Grand Junction, Col.; a sister, Ellen Imholt of Cornelius; a brother, Richard of Lincoln City; 12 grandchildren, and five nieces and nephews.

His father died earlier.

Ruby T. Schoesler

La Grande

1904 -2001

Ruby Thiel Schoesler, 97, of La Grande, died Sept. 13. She had lived at Grande Ronde Retirement Residence and other care homes.

A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Oct. 13 at Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville, Wash.

Mrs. Schoesler was born July 3, 1904, west of Ritzville on the family farm of her parents, John Peter and Katherine Benzel Thiel.

She married Harold Edward Schoesler on Oct. 21, 1926, in Ritzville. He died in 1957.

She is survived by a son, Ronald of Tigard; two daughters, Thelma Plager of Redmond, Wash., and Joan Robinson of Union; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Four sisters, Leah Klaus, Gayle Thiel, Laura Heinemann and Bertha Schoesler, and two brothers, Arthur and Aaron Thiel, died earlier.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grande Ronde Hospital Home Health-Hospice, P.O. Box 3290, La Grande, or Zion Congregational Church, 301 E. Broadway, Ritzville 99169.

Ralph Smith

Summerville

1912 -2001

Ralph Smith, 89, of Summerville, died Sept. 13 at a local care home.

A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Summerville Cemetery Chapel. Interment will follow at the Summerville Cemetery. Friends may call at Daniels Chapel of the Valley from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday.

Mr. Smith was born May 20, 1912, in Elk Point, S.D., to Simon and Ettia Phillips Smith. He married Evelyn Billings on Dec. 28, 1929, in Sioux City, Iowa. They moved to La Grande in 1970 from Maywood, Calif.

He was a member of the Odd Fellows in Summerville. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening and entered produce in the Union County Fair.

Besides his wife, of La Grande, he is survived by his children, Leona and Wesley Shaffer and LeRoy and Betty Smith, all of Summerville, Konnie and Sharon Smith of Chino, Calif., and Marolyn and David Smith of La Grande; 21 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, 11 great-great-grandchildren, and other relatives.

Four brothers, two sisters, a great-grandchild, and two great-great-grandchildren died earlier.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Union County Home Care Services or the Oregon Heart Association, in care of Daniels Chapel, 1502 Seventh St.