Elwyn H. Weide

Elwyn Henry Weide, son of Seattle Fireman Otto Weide and his wife Minnie, was born in their Seattle home at 1911 11th Ave N. He attended Bryant Grade School and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1930. Accepted by Washington State College, but deterred by the Great Depression Elwyn chose to work instead. At 31 he married Marian Warrant-Nerland and had two sons, Darryl and wife Karen residing in Maple Valley and Richard and wife Mary Jo living in Enumclaw. He has grandchildren Marjorie Weide of Lake Tapps, Scott Weide of Auburn, Renae Paradis of Enumclaw, and Heide Weide Hansen of Graham, and a great granddaughter Zoe of Auburn. With Richard's marriage to Mary Jo, He became 'the old grandpa,' or just 'Elwyn' to her son Jason, and daughters Kelly and Kim, grandchildren Stephanie, Cody, Amber, and Riley, and great grandchildren Taylor and Ajay.

Elwyn became involved in Free Masonry as a teenager and became Master Counselor of the University Lodge De Molay in 1930. He was a life member (70 years) of the University Lodge, FAM 141 and very active in the Nile Shriners. Many of his best friends were found through his relationships in Masonry which he often said was about "making good men better men."

He was very active in the Sahalie Ski Club from his 20's until his mid 50's. It is here that he met and married his wife Marian. He skied, presided as club president, and was always a willing worker bee. He also developed many life- long relationships including the Smiths, Nerlands, Turners, Skubis, and Longs. As ski club tapered off Mom and Dad found solace at their riverfront property in Winthrop, where they spent many happy days with a new group of friends. It seems where ever Elwyn was he found friends.

As a child Elwyn was a tinkerer and builder and as an adult became the original Mr. Fixit. During high school he worked in a gas station where auto repair became a life-long fascination. After high school Elwyn worked at the Kenworth Truck Plant making jigs for truck assembly. During WWII he worked at Boeing inspecting aircraft assembly, and during the Korean War he inspected Army tanks built by Pacific Car and Foundry. He began selling Cummins Diesel engines in his early 40s, and in his 60's formed the Lucerne Equipment Company. He and his wife traveled the Northwest states with their travel trailer selling repair tools to heavy equipment shops and power generators to Alaska Pipeline contractors.

Retiring at about age 75 he cared for his older sister Gretchen and his wife Marian, who had Alzheimers disease, until their passing 15 years later. During this retirement phase of life Elwyn found connection at the Black Diamond and Maple Valley Senior Centers. He had a great gift of gab, often led flag salutes and prayers, repaired vehicles, and presided as president of the Maple Valley Seniors for three years.

With help, for the past six years, from his son Darryl and his wonderful wife Karen, Elwyn was able to live in the home he purchased, at age 28, on Lake Lucerne. He died of a severe acute pneumonia infection. His story is one of a life well lived, taking chances, and just doing what needed to be done, whether it was a job needing done or caring for his wife and sister. Elwyn was remarkably lucid to the very end of his life. The entire family was able to tell this, now old man, how they loved him, and he intern returning the favor of love. When asked, two hours before his passing, how he was doing he still had it in him to let us know he was still "Mean and ornery, hard to handle, no different," his stock answer to the question.