William Andrew Zehner

William Andrew Zehner - beloved BZ to his big family and many, many friends - died in Palm Springs, California on February 23, 2025. Bill was born January 19, 1956, in Redwood City, California, delivered by Dr. Pepper at Sequoia Hospital.

His parents were Fenton John Zehner (1918-2004) and Eleanor Mary Lauenroth Zehner (1919-1997). Bill was the youngest of their four children, John Fenton Zehner, Sr (1940-2013), Mary Eleanor DiTullio (1944-2024), and Suzanne Elizabeth Hustad (b. 1953).

Bill graduated from Sequoia High School in 1974, from Willamette University in 1978 and from the School of Social Work at Portland State University in 1987.

Bill worked for North Clackamas School District for 25 years, supporting special needs students. An elementary school principal with whom he worked noted that Bill had this knack: a consummate professional, he could connect with the family, lay out the situation in a no-nonsense way, leave them with some hope and a feeling that they had been heard and were understood. In this way, he dissolved the barriers between the family and the services to benefit them. He had a way of seeing the good in people.

Bill married the love of his life, Jacquie (Burns), on her birthday, St. Patrick's Day, in 1990. He said he knew early in their courtship that she was "the" one because she had her own SkilSaw.

Jacquie survives Bill, as does a large family: Burgee the cat, his sister Suzanne, his sisters-in-law Cathy Miller, Taryn Burns (Bill), and Sally Urlin (Allan); his nieces and nephews, Corin (Dan) Heather, Laura (Mike), Jay (Melody), Troy (who predeceased him) (Lori), Jess (Natalie), Zac (Kat), Justin and Jack.

Bill was a man of deep and active love, for planes, cars, boats, projects, his cats, family and his Christian faith. And for friends. In making those, he looked not just what they had in common, but for the special ingredient on which his irrepressible and irreverent humor could thrive. He'd tease, he'd prank, could never quite suppress the telltale sparkle in his eye. He'd do anything for you: build, fix, accompany, teach, comfort, facilitate ... go out of his way.

It is such an immense loss that he is no longer here with us. But because of the way he lived, we will hold him in our hearts forever. Our BZ, sail on, dear friend to so many. Calm seas now, and following winds.

Bill's funeral is Friday, June 27, 2025 at 1pm at Christ The King Catholic Church, 11709 SE Fuller Rd, Milwaukie, OR 97222, reception following in the Parish Hall.