WDFW Retirees Association News and Updates
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Retirees’ Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping retired employees stay connected with each other and provide a means for employees planning for retirement to learn about our Association. To accomplish this, the Association publishes a quarterly newsletter for paid up members and maintains this website to inform retirees of news items that cannot wait for the newsletter. New retirees receive one newsletter free and then establish membership to continue receiving Association benefits. The Association conducts its business through an elected Board of Directors that meets quarterly. A summary of the meetings are published in the newsletter. Members are welcome and encouraged to use the link at this website to have news items posted and give us feedback as to how we can improve. We welcome members sending in photos about their family, travels, fun and exciting events. Members are given user name and passwords to access the photo website. Membership is now $20 per year. Only paid up members receive the newsletter and are eligible to vote in conjunction with the 4th quarter newsletter. Thank you for visiting this website.
NEW 05/09/2008 – MEMORIAL SERVICE for Officer Jon Jeschke has been scheduled for Monday, May 19th @ 11am at the Life Center Church ( Assembly of God) 19th and Union, in Tacoma. There will be a reception at the church following the service (lite refreshments served). More specifics regarding Law Enforcement staging and coordination will follow in the next few days. WDFW Chief Bjork and Captain Schlenker, R5.
NEW 05/07/2008 – JON JESCHKE. It is with great sadness that we report that long-time Officer Jon Jeschke passed away this afternoon. Memorial services are pending and information regarding time and location will be provided later in the week. Officers are authorized to wear the black band over enforcement badges from now until the end of services. Jon was one of the finest Game Wardens ever known. Michael Cenci - Deputy Chief, WDFW Enforcement Program, 360-902-2938, 360- 581-3305
NEW 05/07/2008 – UPDATE ON JON JESCHKE. I just got off the phone with Ted Holden. They're moving Jon to a private room (no number yet) at the UW Medical Center and shutting down his life support systems. If you want to visit and say goodbye to Jon, today would be the time. WDFW Lt. Dennis W. Nicks via Captain Bill Hebner, R4.
NEW 05/06/2008 – From Captain Bill Hebner, R4, concerning Officer Jon Jeschke. I'm sorry to inform you that Fish and Wildlife Officer Jon Jeschke suffered a heart attack Sunday. He is being treated at University of Washington Hospital. Officer Jeschke, who has been with the Department for over three decades, collapsed while on duty yesterday in the Randle area. Two U.S. Forest Service officers, who were with him at the time, administered CPR until medical aid arrived. I'm sure all who work with Officer JJeschke share my concern and wishes for his speedy recovery. I'll keep you informed of his condition as further word becomes available. Jon is in a medically induced coma, in the Intensive Care wing, of the University of Washington Hospital. Doctors have been unable to stabilize his heart condition long enough to obtain a CAT scan or conduct other neurological tests. Sergeant Ted Holden, members of Jon's detachment, and loved ones are at the hospital. UPDATES AS THEY BECAME AVAILABLE.
NEW 05/02/2008 - Chuck Lavier states that Dory Lavier is having some health problems. He is still living at 115 Lexington, Kelso, in the same house he has lived in for over 50 years. He would appreciate having some visitors. 360-636-1409
NEW 04/21/2008 – WDFW Kids fishing day. Officer Olson participated in the Cast for Kids fishing derby at Green Lake in the Seattle area. This is the third year Officer Olson has participated in the WDFW funded event. The derby has become a very popular and very large event. Officer Olson, in conjunction with the Seattle PD Harbor Patrol Unit, gave five presentations to 5 groups of 100 children and accompanying parents (well over a thousand people), emphasizing the importance of following fish and wildlife rules and wearing a lifejacket while on a vessel. After each child was done fishing, they were permitted to explore Officer Olson’s patrol vehicle, various animal skulls, claws, tusks and antlers. This event is becoming so popular that a cap of 500 children has been placed on the derby, which is booked months in advance. R4 Bill Hebner.
NEW 04/20/2008 - Retirees are invited to a Region Five, Vancouver Regional meeting to be held in Longview at the Cowlitz County PUD building on 12th. The meeting will be held April 25th starting at 9AM. The morning will be devoted to general information from the Director and the two Deputy Directors. After lunch the individual programs will have group sessions. Will Morrison, R5, Office Mgr.
NEW 04/10/2008 – Another retirement: Steve Zender has had all the fun he can stand!! Come help us celebrate his retirement from WDFW Saturday, April 19th 1:00 - 3:00 PM Chewelah Peaks Learning Center www.chewelahpeak.org $10.00 per person. Please RSVP to Kevin Robinette by April 7th. (robinkwr@dfw.wa.gov or 509-892-7859)
Fill out a Waiver form* for those attending and send it along with $10.00 per person to Kevin Robinette at the Region 1 Office. 2315 N. Discovery place, Spokanae Valley, WA 99216 We'll also be accepting donations for a retirement gift for Steve. Please send those along to Kevin at the Regional Office, as well.
* The waiver forms allow us to use the facility without having to purchase liability insurance. (Call Kevin or check the Chewelah Park website for a waiver form.)
NEW 04/09/2008 – Death Notice: David Martin Ross passed away on April 3 surrounded by his family at the Ross Family home, the same home he was born in on March 20, 1930. He was the son of Stephen Harlow and Margaret Nancy (Rosell) Ross.
Dave was raised in Chewelah where he also attended school, graduating from Jenkins High School in 1948. After graduation, he joined the United States Marines for a one year enlistment, but was called back shortly after his year to serve during the Korean War. Dave reached the rank of Sergeant as part of the 7th Battalion, serving as an engineer until his honorable discharge in April of 1952.
He then returned to Chewelah and fell in love with Joy Brooks, and they were married at the Summit Valley Church on Sept. 27, 1952. They lived in California, Colorado and Montana for short times before settling back in Washington State and raising their family. Dave then began his career as a Game Warden with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. He worked in the Stevenson area of the Columbia River Gorge from 1961 until 1964, then in the Okanogan/Douglas County area of North Central Washington until 1975. In 1975, he moved to the Colville area where he worked until his retirement in 1986.
Dave and Joy loved to travel, and spent a couple of years traveling with their trailer after his retirement. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt, fish and trap. In 1989 Dave returned to the Ross family homestead in Chewelah, where he enjoyed the rest of his life with his wife Joy.
He is survived by his wife of 55-years, Joy Ross, at the home; son Marcus Ross, of Sandpoint, ID; daughter Julia Mead, of Dayton; sisters, Marjorie Rausch and Betsy Edwards (Harper), both of Chewelah; brothers, Eric Ross (Mildred) of Chewelah, and Jim Ross (Lorita) of Othello; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Dave was preceded in death by two infant daughters, his son Timothy Ross in 2003; his daughter-in-law Roni (Vaagen) Ross in 1991 and by two brothers, Calvin Ross, who was killed during WWII and Paul Ross.
The funeral service for Dave Ross will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, April 11 at the Summit Valley Church in Addy. Visitation will be from 1- 5 p.m., Monday, April 7 through Wednesday, April 9 at the Danekas Funeral Chapel, 402 E. Main, Chewelah.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Medic One Foundation, 325 Ninth Ave. MS 359747, Seattle, WA 98104-2420, or the charity of your choice.
The Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory in Chewelah is in charge of arrangements.
ON GOING –WDFW website link established. link to this website is now at the “Who we are” tab. When you visit the WDFW website and click the Who We Are tab, scroll down and you will see the link for WDFW Retirees Association. Click that and it brings you directly here. This enables employees to learn about our Association and establish membership. Thank you very much, Guy and Jim.
ON GOING - Razor Clam Season See the following link for details: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/razorclm/season.htm. WDFW
ON GOING - Adopt a access site for volunteers: Service Alternatives, Inc., located in Mount Vernon, officially adopted Young’s Bar access site on the Skagit River. Robert Lantiegne, who had posted a sign at the site that read, “This Site Available for Adoption”, recruited them. Region 4 asks for a minimum monthly commitment from groups that adopt a site. So far this group has provided weekly service to the site. At the Sultan Access on the Skykomish River, a private citizen Larry Faneuf signed on to provide volunteer services for Ross Calvert. He is providing Blackberry clearing and routine maintenance. WDFW