ROBERT AUGUST WOEHLER

Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home

Robert August Woehler was born on August 20th, 1932, in Hamilton, Montana. He spent much of his youth in Montana, Alaska and Washington State, before graduating from Kennewick High School in 1950 and enlisting in the Navy shortly thereafter. Bob, loved and known by many, was an integral part of the Tri-Cities landscape.

Bob was the oldest son, raised by loving parents, Walter and Catherine Woehler. He grew up alongside his sister, Mary, and younger brother David. In his later years he spent innumerable hours detailing his family's history, feeling a special sense of appreciation for the life he led and the people who helped mold him into the very person we all adored.

After high school, Bob traveled the world, from Hollywood to Japan, seeing places and meeting people he remembered all of his life while serving in the Naval Forces of the United States of America during the Korean War. Bob finished his naval career as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve. Bob met Joyce Woodman, the love of his life on December 31st, 1955. As love stories of their caliber go, they courted by mail, separated by the whole of Washington, until marrying September 7, 1956 in Seattle.

As a newlywed, Bob attended the University of Washington, graduating with a Bachelor's of Arts in Communication. He continued to wear purple and gold proudly until his last days.

Bob and Joyce had four children, Judith, Rebecca, Andrew and Thomas - the four of which he considered his greatest accomplishment. He made his living working for the Tri-City Herald as a staff writer, spending over 30 years telling other people's stories with humor, care and passion.

After retirement Bob was voted Kennewick Man of the Year in 2004, was President of the Kennewick Kiwanis in 2005 and also Kiwanis Lt. Governor in 2007.

One of the great joys of Bob's life was his work with Washington wines. Bob happened upon the area's wine industry in the late 1970's, when he worked the TriCity Herald's agricultural beat. He turned his passion into over thirty years of writing, tasting, blogging and ultimately championing for all things wine in Washington.

Bob was preceded in death by his father and mother, Walter and Catherine, and older half-brother, Donald Woehler. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Joyce Woehler, his daughter Judith and her husband Kent, his daughter Rebecca and her husband Jim, his son Andrew and his wife Elinor, his son Thomas, and his grandchildren Chris and Diana Woehler, Elizabeth Moss and Catherine Johnson.

Bob was a big man with an even bigger heart, and he will not be forgotten. These words he wrote to Joyce in 1956 are echoed in his family's thoughts and prayers: 'You are gone and only a memory remains but that memory is of such a multitude that I feel happy and content for the present.'

Graveside services will be held Saturday, August 27, 2011, 11:30 a.m., at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 10th and Union Street in Kennewick.

The family invites you to sign their online guestbook at www.muellersfuneralhomes.com.