Obituaries for the day of January 1, 2009

Schmidt, Taal

Ronald Schmidt

Island City

1940-2008

Ronald Eugene Schmidt, 68, of Island City, died Dec. 27 at Grande Ronde Hospital.

Services will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the First Nazarene Church in La Grande. A dinner will follow at the church. There will also be a viewing from 5 to 6 this evening at Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 1508 Fourth St.

Ron was born Jan. 18, 1940, to Claude Lester and Mildred Marie (Cross) Schmidt in Davenport, Iowa. He was raised and educated in Oakridge, where he graduated high school in 1958. He has lived in this area since 1966 when he moved from Oakridge. He worked at the Pacific Board Plant in Oakridge, then moved to

La Grande and went to work for Boise Cascade.

He married Sue Meyer on June 16, 1979, in Portland. Ron loved helping people in all ways and loved the outdoors including hunting and fishing. He also loved woodworking, but his most prized possession was his relationship with God and his family. He was a member of the Nazarene Church in La Grande.

Ron is survived by his wife, Sue; children, Mick and his wife, Ann Marie Schmidt, of Victorville, Calif., Dawn and her husband, Robert Rathbone, of Jacksonville, Fla., Debbie and her husband, Rob Comfort, of Greenleaf, Idaho, Deanna and her husband, Merle Comfort, of La Grande, and Scott Charon of Beaverton; sister, Barbara Hubbard of Nampa, Idaho; brother, Jerry and his wife, Carolyn Schmidt of La Grande; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made in Ron’s name to the Nazarene Church.

Wesley Taal

La Grande

1916-2008

Wesley Frederick Taal, 92, of La Grande, died Dec. 30 in Walla Walla.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, tentatively scheduled for the Eagles Lodge in La Grande. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center of

La Grande is handling arrangements.

Wesley was born Oct. 14, 1916, the son of Frederick and Emma M. (Gerber) Taal in

La Grande. On Nov. 20, 1937, he married Aileen Hatcher in

La Grande. They lived at Starkey for 20 years at the Mount Emily camp.

They moved to La Grande in 1955 and he built roads for Boise Cascade in Union, Umatilla and Wallowa counties until his retirement in 1979.

He was a member of the Eagles Lodge. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling in his trailer. He was the ultimate husband, father and grandfather, family members said.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Gerald and Sue Taal of Blue River; three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Lester Taal, Frederica Johnson, Winnie Taal, Donald Taal and Edith Hamhill.

Those who wish may make contributions in his memory to the Eagles Lodge in La Grande.