Alvene Robert Weitz

Alvene R. Weitz was born on May 29, 1935 to Rino and Elizabeth Weitz in the town of Endicott, Washington. He passed away on September 3, 2016 at home from a five-month battle with Lymphoma cancer. Alvene grew up on the family wheat farm until graduating from high school in 1953. He served in the 141st Infantry Division of the National Guard from 1954-1961. Al married his high school sweetheart, Claudia Morasch, on November 13, 1954. They welcomed a daughter on May 22, 1956 Jana Lynn, and lived on the farm until February 1958. In preparation for employment with the Washington State Patrol, the family moved to Kennewick, Washington where he was a Driver's License examiner. On August 7, 1958 a son was born, Richard Allen Weitz. Another big event in 1958, Al was selected to the Washington State Patrol Academy graduating on December 29, 1958 with the 28th Trooper Cadet class. The family moved to Wenatchee, Washington where Al worked as a patrolman. In 1961, Al left the patrol to go into the dry cleaning business. Within a year, the family moved to Ephrata where he worked in advertising for KULE Radio. The next year he returned to the State Patrol moving to Tacoma, Washington to work the I-5 corridor for three years and then was transferred to Colfax, Washington. In 1971, a position opened up in Wenatchee with the Washington State Patrol in Safety Education and he took the position moving his family back to Wenatchee. Safety Education entailed working with kids in the schools, civic groups, and state parks in four counties. In 1976 he was promoted to sergeant status in White Salmon, transferring to Kennewick and finally back to Wenatchee at which time he decided not to pursue any additional promotional exams retiring from the Washington State Patrol in 1983 with 25 years of service. He then started a photography business, sold insurance for New York Life and drove school bus for Eastmont School District. An opportunity came up to teach driver's education for the Wenatchee School District which he did for twelve years, with four of those years teaching driver's education at Wenatchee Valley College as well. After 38 years in the traffic safety field, Al decided to really retire! Not quite...he got a call from Waterville High School to teach driver's education in the summer months to 45 kids which he did for the next three summers. Then came the REAL retirement--- living on Lake Chelan enjoying boating, fishing and packing up the motorhome for trips down south. Al and Claudia relocated back to East Wenatchee moving to a home on the golf course for many years of golfing enjoyment. They became members of Celebration Lutheran Church in December of 2005 where they have many wonderful friends, fellowship and guidance under Pastor Haven who, in Al's words, " is a first class man and pastor." Al was a member of the Wenatchee Golf and Country Club, Lake Chelan Yacht Club, International Order of the Blue Gavel, Greater Wenatchee Sunrise Lions Club, Wenatchee Masonic Lodge, Chelan /Douglas County Peace Officers Association, NCW Gun Club, Sportsman Association, Life Underwriters /Wenatchee Valley, Grace Lutheran Church (Wenatchee) board member, Washington Traffic Safety Association, Colfax Kiwanis, White Salmon Rotary and Chelan Douglas School Retirees' Association. In his spare time Al enjoyed wood working, wood burning, glass cutting, photography, target shooting , reading a good book, fishing, golfing. He even got three holes in one! Al is survived by his wife Claudia of 63 years, sister Dorothy Freitas (Puerto Rico), daughter Jana Ernst (Yakima), son Richard Weitz (College Station, Texas) , grandchildren Heather Starkey(Lacey), Angela Ernst (Wenatchee), Andrew Weitz (South Carolina), Michael Weitz (Texas), six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Services will be Sept 10, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Celebration Lutheran Church, East Wenatchee, Washington. Memorials may be made to Wenatchee Humane Society or Celebration Lutheran Church. For further information, visit Heritage Funeral Home Wenatchee website, www.heritagememorialchapel.com

Alvene Robert Weitz

May 29, 1935 - September 3, 2016