William V. "Bill" Wuorinen

William Victor “Bill” Wuorinen, 88, passed away on October 20, 2018 at Ocean Beach Hospital in Ilwaco, WA. Bill was born September 11, 1930 to parents Victor and Laura (Anderson) Wuorinen in South Bend.  He spent his early life in the Deep River Logging camp at Toonerville attending the Maple Grove Grade School. In 1938, the family moved to their home in Naselle, in which Bill resided until his passing.

In 1958, Bill married his best friend for life Margie Frances “Midge” Treichler. They had three children, William “Will”, Linda, and stepson Terrence “Terry” Wayman.

A logger by trade, Bill was proud to call the Naselle area his home for his entire life except for three years of service during the Korean War, in which he served bravely. During a fierce battle on March 17, 1953, Bill and another soldier rescued a colonel and provided life-saving first aid while fighting off enemy combatants for over eight hours. After the battle, they were promised the Silver Star, the United States Armed Force’s third-highest personal decoration for valor in combat, but due to a mix-up, Bill never received his award. Through the efforts of many in the community, most notably, his good friend Richard Nikkila, in February of 2013, he finally received the Silver Star he had been promised 60 years earlier at a large ceremony held at the Lyle Patterson Gymnasium at Naselle High School.

Bill and Midge enjoyed many outdoor activities together, especially traveling throughout the northwest in their travel trailer. He was also an avid woodworker and many friends were recipients of the tables, clocks, and bowls he created. Quick with a joke or a story, his greatest passion was visiting with the many friends he made throughout his life. Having lived in the Naselle – Grays River Valley his whole life, he was a fountain of knowledge of local history and loved related stories about the region and the people who inhabited it.

Preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Laura Wuorinen, and his wife of 49 years, Margie Frances “Midge” Wuorinen, Bill is survived by son William K. “Will” Wuorinen of Spokane, daughter Linda K. Gibson (Ted) of Long Beach, stepson Terrence “Terry” Wayman of Seattle, granddaughter Savannah Bryant of Long Beach and grandson Brandon Miller of Long Beach. He will be missed by good friends Cassie Vangundy and the staff of his favorite haunt, Geno’s Pizza and Burgers in Astoria, and long-time neighbors Junea and Dean Brannon as well as anyone else who met him.

Services will be held Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 1:00 PM at Peaceful Hill Cemetery in Naselle. A reception will follow at the Rosburg Hall. The family suggests that any memorial donations be given to the Appelo Archive Center. His casket will be open Friday, October 26, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Penttila’s Chapel in Long Beach. His guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.

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