Obituaries for the day of September 16, 2009

Aschenbrenner, Gorrell, Weber, Fisk, Svetich, Ping

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

Sept. 17 — Edna Aschenbrenner, service, 1 p.m., Enterprise Cemetery

Sept. 17 — Keith Gorrell, funeral, 1 p.m., Daniels-Knopp Funeral Cremation and Life Celebration Center

Sept. 17 — Donald Weber, memorial service, 4 p.m., Elgin Community Center, potluck to follow

Sept. 20 — Howard Fisk, services, 11 a.m., Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center

Sept. 21 — Mabel Svetich, service, 1 p.m., Burns Mortuary, Pendleton; burial to follow, Island City Cemetery

Edna Virginia (Henderson) Aschenbrenner, 89, of Enterprise, died Sept. 7 in Enterprise. A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at Enterprise Cemetery. Family and friends are invited.

Edna was born Aug. 2, 1920, to Wallowa homesteaders Albert Lee and Hattie May (Davis) Henderson at their home near Paradise. Her family moved to Enterprise in 1921 where three of her siblings were born.

Edna graduated from Enterprise in 1938. She married Chet Aschenbrenner on April 1, 1940, in Weiser, Idaho. During their 52 years together, the couple owned properties on the Zumwalt Prairie, up Camp Creek near Imnaha and in rural Wallowa County south of Enterprise.

Edna spent most of her life as a farm wife but also worked in medical records at Wallowa Memorial Hospital and as Enterprise city librarian. She published several poems and a humorous first-person account as a U.S. Forest Service fire lookout at Buckhorn Lookout. She was also selected as a contributor for National Park Service’s “Rosy the Riveter” Museum in San Francisco for memoirs of WWII rural patriotism.

Edna was a former member of the Wallowa County Republican Central Committee and served in several elections as a poll watcher. For 33 years, Edna was a National Weather Service volunteer who provided local radio and newspaper weather information. After her “retirement” from the National Weather Service, she was retained as a local weather emergency spotter.

She enjoyed living on the farm, going to the woods, painting, writing and her family, especially her three grandchildren.

Edna is survived by her son, Robert “Bob” Aschenbrenner and his wife, Annette of Enterprise; daughter, Gail (Aschenbrenner) and her husband, Gary West, of Spokane; sister, Naomi Doss of Enterprise; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and Chet’s remaining family.

She was preceded in death by husband, Chet Aschenbrenner; parents; sisters, Arla Henderson, Ola Henderson, Clyda Willett and Beatrice Hoit; brothers, Earl Henderson, Theodore R. Henderson and Clifford L. Henderson; and many other family members.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Enterprise Public Library.

Howard William Fisk, 93, of La Grande, died Sept. 9 at Serenity Farm, a Haines foster care home. A funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh Street in La Grande. Private burial will be held later at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Howard was born March 11, 1916, to James Howard and Gertrude (McCullough) Fisk in Enterprise. He graduated from Echo High School in 1934. He moved to La Grande in 1937 and on Feb. 22, 1941, married Melba Helen Shepherd in

La Grande. She preceded him in death on May 9, 1998.

He was an Oregon State policeman and Game Commission officer for several years before opening and managing the first outdoor store in Eastern Oregon, Fisks’ Outdoor Store. In later life he worked as a carpenter and pursued his many activities and hobbies including archery, fishing/hunting, bird watching, golf, oil painting, sculpting and jewelry making. His proudest achievement was leading the effort to “Save the Minam.” He testified before a House of Representatives subcommittee in Washington, D.C., to request the Minam’s preservation. His and others’ efforts resulted in the Minam’s inclusion in the federally protected Eagle Cap Wilderness area of the Wallowa Mountains.

He had been an Eagle Scout as a young man and continued his support and love of the Scout program as an archery and firearms safety instructor. He served as an elder in the First Christian Church and was a member of the Elks Lodge.

Survivors include his second wife, Violet Fisk; daughters Patricia Cooke of Bend and Susan Kreutz of La Grande; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Barbara Jordan of Moscow, Idaho; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association or the Blue Mountain Humane Association in care of Daniels-Knopp.

M. Keith Gorrell, 74, of La Grande, died Sept. 12 at his home. A funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh Street in La Grande. Burial will follow at the Island City Cemetery.

Keith was born Jan. 7, 1935, to Charles Teddy and Ethel Ardene (Newby) Gorrell in Nyssa. In his younger years he was a boxer. He worked for Union Pacific Railroad and lived in Huntington until 1980 when he moved to La Grande. He was a self-taught musician who enjoyed playing the guitar and singing. He enjoyed camping and hunting. He will be remembered by many for his coffee breaks at the Smokehouse.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Gayle Gorrell of La Grande; daughter and son-in-law, Sherrie and Terry Gerlach of La Grande; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; siblings, Darwin Gorrell of Utah, Ron Ray Gorrell of Wyoming, Marilyn Blanchard of Utah and Teddy Leroy Gorrell of Florida; and other relatives. He was preceded in death by granddaughter, Misty Dawn Edison Gerlach; brother, Jerry Gorrell; and sisters, Nadine and Doralee.

Memorial contributions may be made to any charity in care of Daniels-Knopp.

Brock Allen Ping, 60, formerly of La Grande, died Aug. 27 of Lou Gehrig’s Disease. A celebration of Brock’s life will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 26 at The Gathering Place, 302 E. Riggs, East Helena, Mont., 59601. Big Sky Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements.

Brock was born Feb. 3, 1949, to Everett and Verda Ping in Cortez, Colo. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1967. In 1969 he married Susan Rudd. Together they had two sons. He moved his family to Helena, Mont., in 1987.

Those who knew Brock say he worked and played hard. He was in the Army National Guard and worked as a logger, railroader, tanker driver, flooring contractor and business owner.

He loved the outdoors, and when not spending time with his family or working could be found hunting, fishing or boating.

Brock is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Susan Ping of Helena; two sons, Brock and his wife, Stephania Ping; and two grandchildren; son, Jake Ping of Helena; two sisters, Lessa Adams of Elgin and Shirley and her husband, Jerry Long, of Rock Springs, Wyo.; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Peter’s, 247 5 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601.

Mabel M. Svetich, 88, of Pendleton and formerly of La Grande, died Sept. 13 at Ashley Manor from complications of advanced dementia. A service will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at Burns Mortuary in Pendleton. Burial will follow at the Island City Cemetery.

Mabel was born April 23, 1921, to Raymond and Maud Woolf in Weiser, Idaho. She lived in Pendleton her entire adult life. She resided at Ashley Manor for 18 months before her death.

Mabel spent her youth in La Grande and graduated from La Grande High School. She moved to Pendleton during World War II, where she worked at the Pendleton Air Base, designing and painting signs. She married Antone “Tony” Svetich on July 21, 1941.

Mabel work at the Pendleton Woolen Mills. For most of her working life, Mabel worked out of her home, making drapes for much of the Pendleton area. She made drapes for the customers of Pendleton Furniture, McKee’s Furniture, Hills Furniture and Sherwood and Williams, in addition to individuals who came to her to have her make custom-made drapes. Her single biggest job was making drapes for St. Anthony Hospital.

Mabel loved to sew, draw and paint. More than anything, she loved her family, and raising her two sons.

She is survived by her sister, Marie Singleton; brother, Clifford Woolf; son, Tony Svetich Jr. and his wife, Valerie Svetich; son, Danny Svetich; two grandsons, and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Tony Svetich; and brother, Robert Woolf.