Rooney Family Tree

The Eugene Register-Guard
Lane County, Oregon
Monday, January 7, 2013

Milbert C. Wienecke
7/13/1924 - 12/29/2012

Mel was born on July 13, 1924 in Onalaska WA, the youngest son of Carl and Alice Mae (Bledsoe) Wienecke. He passed away on December 29, 2012 from age related illness at the age of 88 years.

He moved with his family to Vernonia, OR when he was young and attended schools there through the 9th grade. He enlisted in the Army in 1943 and served in the 154th Army Engineers in the Pacific during World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Service Arrowhead, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, American Theater Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze Service Star and a Victory Medal. In October of 2012 he flew to Washington DC with WWII Veterans on the South Willamette Valley Honor Flight to view WWII Memorials in Washington DC. It was a thrill of his life.

He married Leona Vinecore on June 11, 1946 in Eugene. They were married for 66 years and lived in the same house for 65 years. He was a member of St Mary's Catholic Church in Eugene and served as an usher for many years.

His life-long career was that of a local delivery truck driver and dock manager. He worked for Pierce/Delta/East Texas Motor Freight/I-5 Truck Lines. He retired in 1986 and then he and Leona spent winters in Mexico and/or Yuma, AZ where he made many friends. He was a member of the Eugene Eagles and worked at the Golf Pro Shop and Yuma Arizona Golf Course.

He loved to travel and camp, ride motorcycles, fish, hunt, square dance with the Daisy-Chainers, do jigsaw puzzles, bowl and play golf. His biggest love, however, was his family. He loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and they all have very special memories of the time spent with him.

He is survived by his wife, Leona; his four children and their spouses, Nanci Hogan of Eugene; Alice (John) Brooks of Coburg; Patricia (Bill) Tackett of Springfield; Jim (Kathy) Wienecke of Eugene; 10 grandchildren -- Mike Hogan, Mikalan Krause, Curtis Brooks, Sarah Booth, Duane Tackett, Lisa Rangel, Kelly Blodgett, Kevin Wienecke, Kyle Wienecke, & Bonnie Wienecke; 13 great grandchildren -- Cornell, Gwen, Clarece and Jacquelyn Krause; Ryan and Jacob Brooks, Madeleine, Kathryn, Allison and Jillian Booth, Katy Warner, Nicole Rangel, and Dalton Blodgett and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Chester (Chet) and Carrol and one grandson, Patrick Daniel Hogan.

He was cremated and his ashes buried at West Lawn Memorial Gardens in Eugene.

A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, January 9th, 4:30 PM at River Road Park Annex, 1055 River Road, Eugene, Oregon.
Memorial contributions may be made to South Willamette Valley Honor Flight, 37833 Shenandoah Loop, Springfield OR 97478 or St. Vincent De Paul Society.