Theodore Melvin Zacher

Theodore M. Zacher Ted Zacher passed away on June 14, 2014 in Wenatchee, Washington at age 91. He was born to Gustave and Lydia Spies Zacher on October 29, 1922 in Low Gap, WA near George. The family moved to Dryden in 1926, where Ted developed his life-long work ethic for hard work and his affinity for farming on his family's apple and pear orchard. He worked his way through Wenatchee Jr. College and the University of Washington by nailing together wooden apple boxes and hand line spraying orchards on Stine's Hill, now Pine Flat Loop Road. He graduated from Dryden High School in 1940, Wenatchee Junior College in 1942 and earned a B.A. in Economics and Business at the University of Washington. Ted joined the United States Navy Reserve at the U of W and went on to graduate from Harvard School of Business. After graduation, he was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy Supply Corp., and served as a Supply and Disbursement Officer aboard the destroyers USS George K. MacKenzie DD836 and USS Glennon DD 840. He then served as the Commissary Officer at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard until his discharge in April 1947 as a Lieutenant, (jg), SC USNR. Ted married Vera Nelson Gericke in 1947 and they made their home in Wenatchee. Together they raised 4 children and owned and operated a number of orchards. They operated a Flying A service station on South Wenatchee Avenue until Ted went to work in sales for Wells and Wade Hardware, and later, Webb Tractor and Equipment Co. which became Columbia Tractor. In June 1956 he joined Wenatchee Wenoka Growers' Association and shortly thereafter was voted in as General Manager of the grower-owned cooperative. Wenoka later became Chief Wenatchee at their new location on Hawley Street and Ted was elected as their President. After 36 years at Chief Wenatchee and Wenatchee Wenoka Grower's Association, Ted resigned in 1992. During those 36 years, Ted and Vera raised cherries, apricots, peaches, pears and apples. Ted was a leader who helped advance production and sales innovations in multiple aspects of the fruit industry opening Asian markets to Northwest cherries, apples and peaches. He repeatedly introduced new technology for processing, storing and shipping fruit. In 1960 he was appointed by Secretary of Agriculture, Ezra Taft Benson, to serve as an advisor on the Refrigerated and Frozen Products Research Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 6 years. He served on the Washington State Fruit Commission, Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association and as President of Northwest Wholesale. In 1969 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association in Washington, D.C. While President of Chief Wenatchee he installed the first cherry cluster cutter and machine sizer used in the cherry industry in 1958; the first electronic color apple sorter in the world in 1961 and introduced controlled atmosphere in cold storage rooms in 1962. In 1978 he negotiated with the Japanese government to get Northwest cherries into the Japanese market and was crowned Northwest Cherry King in a ceremony in Yakima, WA. In 1987 he was the first in the industry to ship frozen apple products to Japan. In 1989 he brought Glico Apple Corporation to Wenatchee to produce and ship a cloudy type apple juice to Japan. After Ted retired from Chief Wenatchee, he developed a couple hundred acre close-planted orchard of white fleshed peaches, donut peaches, nectarines and apples in Royal Slope, and packed the fruit in his warehouse in George, Washington, a mere stone's throw from where he was born. Ted was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Beacon Hill Grange, Wenatchee Central Lions Club, and Wenatchee Senior Activity Center. For fun Ted enjoyed water skiing and relaxing at the cabin he built at Lake Chelan. Until 15 years ago he water-skied on Lake Chelan in a business suit on April 1st every year with the rest of the family looking on from the boat and dock in jeans, long johns down parkas, boots, hats and gloves. He was an avid marathon and half-marathon runner, and always beat the time of his 18 to 24 year old nephews and second cousins at Bloomsday Race in Spokane. He had great stories to tell of his running portion of the annual Ridge to River Run. When he moved to a smaller home a few years ago, we took 484 marathon t-shirts to local shelters, Good Will and the Salvation Army. Ted was extra-tough and worked hard in his yard and orchards. He loved to play basketball. Going to watch a WHS, WVC, U of W, or Seahawks game was a treat, too. In the past few years Ted enjoyed growing fruit trees, grapes and vegetables around his Wenatchee home, sharing his produce with friends and taking boxes of fruit to the hospital, Grace Lutheran, and to the Senior Center. Together, Ted and his long-time friend, Motoyo Harvill, made many friends at the Senior Center and enjoyed afternoon dances there. Ted is survived by daughter Pixiann (Vito) Kalcic of Kodiak, AK; brother Kenneth (Penny) Zacher of Carmichael, CA; granddaughter Paula Zacher of Wenatchee; grandson Tyee (Amber) Zacher and great-granddaughter Evelyn Tacey Ann of Cashmere; grandsons Michael and Jarred Zacher of Wenatchee; granddaughter Trina (Ricky Garcia) Zacher and great-grandson Tanner Zacher-Garcia of Cashmere and friend and partner of many years, Motoyo Harvill. Ted was preceded in death by his wife Vera; parents Gus and Lydia Spies Zacher-Schille; sister Viola Mayhan Davis; sons Dennis, Gregory and Timothy; grandson Kristin and granddaughter Teddi. Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church Music Fund or to Wenatchee Valley Senior Activity Center. A celebration of Ted's life will be held at Grace Lutheran Church on Friday, June 20th at 11:00 a.m. with refreshments to follow in the church fellowship hall at 1408 Washington Street, Wenatchee, WA. Condolences may be mailed to the Zacher Family at 300 Elliott Ave S, Apt 4, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

Theodore Melvin Zacher

October 29, 1922 - June 14, 2014