Calvin Eston Weissenfluh, 1923-2018 Calvin Eston Weissenfluh of Bend, Oregon, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2018 at his home, surrounded by three generations of family members. He was 95. Cal was born August 10, 1923 in Long Creek, Oregon, the oldest of three children of Garland and Leona (Blackwell) Weissenfluh.
He spent his early years there, where he was known by his middle name, Eston. He learned to fish and hunt as a young boy and enjoyed these pursuits for most of his life. In 1943 Cal enlisted in the US Marine Corps.
For the duration of World War II he was stationed in Hawaii, where he was promoted to the rank of Technical Sergeant. After his honorable discharge in 1946, he entered Oregon State College on the GI Bill, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management. Cal’s first position out of college was a summer job as Junior Forester with the US Forest Service in Trout Lake, Washington, followed by a year-long position with the Klamath Indian Agency in Klamath Falls.
He then got a job with the Forest Service in Prineville. In a career lasting almost 30 years, Cal worked on the Ochoco, Umatilla, and Fremont National Forests. He served as Assistant District Ranger in Dale and as District Ranger in Burns and Lakeview.
In 1978 Cal retired from the Forest Service and he and his wife Shirley moved to Bend. Cal’s ancestors on his father’s side emigrated from Switzerland in 1880, settling in eastern Kansas before moving to eastern Oregon. A chance encounter with a Swiss tourist visiting Oregon in 1950 led to Cal’s discovery of Weissenfluh relatives in Guttannen, Switzerland.
He made two trips to Switzerland to visit them and maintained close contact with his Swiss relatives for the remainder of his life. He was always very proud of his Swiss ancestry. Retirement gave Cal the leisure time to learn about computers and to pursue his interest in genealogy.
He created a comprehensive family tree that brought branches of the family into contact with each other, forming the basis for some memorable family reunions. A gifted raconteur with a phenomenal memory for names, dates, and events, Cal created a slide show of the Weissenfluh family history and narrated it — without notes — at the most recent reunion in 2017. Cal is survived by his wife of 59 years, Shirley; half-brother Harvey Sweek; son Gregg; daughters Reigh Hays, Dawn White, Diana Stoffel, Jenny Hansford, and Tracy Hayes; grandsons Scott Hayes, Gary Weissenfluh, Jamie Hayes, and David Weissenfluh; granddaughters Teresa Gregor and Katie Stoffel; great grandchildren Dylan Glover, Kristalyn Hayes, Edward Harr, Emma Weissenfluh, Gregory Weissenfluh, Lyra Weissenfluh, and Selene Weissenfluh; nephew Tim McAllister; and nieces Neva Lynde, Treva Archer, and Tracie Valenzuela.
He was predeceased by his brother John “Bud” Weissenfluh, sister Helen McAllister, and grandson Kristopher Hayes. At Cal’s request, no local service will be held. His urn will be interred at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.
A graveside service with full military honors will be scheduled at a later date. Memorial contributions in Cal’s memory may be made to the Humane Society of Central Oregon. Autumn Funerals of Bend is honored to serve the family – (541) 318-0842.
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