FIND AN OBITUARY
Service information is posted on our website only with approval from the family.
If you are seeking information not listed below, please contact us.
John Robert Wade
07/20/1917 — 07/22/2009
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Dunkirk, NY
John Robert Wade
John Robert Wade, age 92, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2009 at Altera Wynwood his residence of the past year. John, also known affectionately as Bud, was born in Dunkirk, New York on July 20, 1917.
John was the oldest of four children and the only boy. He graduated from St. Marys Academy at the age of sixteen. Being somewhat younger than his classmates, he did not participate in extracurricular affairs to any great extent. He was an avid reader and especially enjoyed history and English classes. During the depression years he was able to complete one semester of college taking courses geared to improving his employability.
In 1940, John married the love of his life, Helen, with whom he shared nearly 68 years of his lifes journey. Together they raised four children, two sons, and two daughters. In later years they were blessed with three grandsons and two granddaughters. John pursued outdoor life spending many hours fishing and hunting with his family. He had a special passion for snow skiing and skied throughout the northwest with friends and family.
In 1965 John moved the family from Ithaca, NY to Richland, WA and began his career with W.P.P.S.S. John rose through the ranks and ultimately took over the task of writing start up procedures for Plants #3 and #5. Upon retiring John and Helen moved to Coeur DAlene, Idaho where they continued to pursue their love for the outdoors and especially skiing at Schweitzer.
Within a year of the arrival of a grandson, John and Helen returned to Richland to take up their new role as grandparents. John quickly became an expert grandpa. He knew just how to answer questions, stroll at toddler pace, inspect a rock from every angle, and give every character in a storybook a unique voice. He patiently provided restful naps and his lap, and gently unhooked and released fish back in the water, until a grandchild was okay with keeping and cooking a few. He demonstrated how to use tools, grow tomatoes, and be a gentleman. A Cub Scout project required wood Christmas trees he cut with his skill saw. He was in attendance at every school play, little league, and soccer game that he could attend. If John and Helen could have made it so, they would have had all their grandchildren live near them. They enjoyed trips to visit Adri and Misha in Monroe and were thrilled at having grandchildren visit and stay with them. During the visits, grandchildrens favorite meals were prepared and activities to entertain them were planned. The arrival of granddaughter Julianna in New York, gave them a special joy in revisiting their home state.
John was a devout Catholic and long time member of Christ the King Church in Richland. John was also very active in Tri-Cities Industry Kiwanis and thanks to his efforts in creating the Golf Ball Frenzy was selected the 2002 Kiwanian of the Year. It was through Kiwanis that John met and became dear friends with Dick Nipper and Norma Holiday and the family would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to these two special people for all they have done for the wonderful friends they have been.
John is survived by his son Steve and wife Diane, and their daughter Julianna of Mamaroneck, NY., daughter Tai Lahans of Seattle, daughter Janet Rowan and her son and daughter, Adri Richards, and Misha Linn of Monroe, WA, son James and wife Peggy, and their sons Pierce and Chandler of Richland, WA and his sister Grace Leckliter Dunkirk, NY. John is preceded in death by his beloved wife Helen Wade, infant son David Wade, his parents James Thomas and Clara Koch Wade, and sisters Mary and Helen Wade. Special thanks the to truly amazing staff at Altera Wynwood and to the staff at Lower Valley Hospice. These caring and loving people made the last years and days of Johns life a true blessing and the family is deeply thankful and humbled by your spirit of servant hood.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Christ the King Catholic Church.
The funeral service will be held on August 17 at 11:00am at Christ the King Church with a lunch to follow.
John Wade was my father. He and I spent many hours together when I was a very young child. Those hours were some of the most precious of my life and became the root of my life path.
He took me fishing. We went hunting for rabbits and squirrels in the fall. He did not hunt or fish for the killing; in reality my father was a contemplative, and would have been St. Francis in another life. He did these things for the great desire for quiet and the space of listening when one is with nature.
My own son, who my family never met, reaped the benefits of my father’s gifts to me as a child. When he was 15 my son Philip had over 300 birds on his lifetime bird list. He passed away when he was 27 during his residency in pediatric oncology. He loved children, family, beauty, and nature – like my father. My son was immensely beautiful in the same way that my father was beautiful.
Dad was the only person who loved me unconditionally when I was a small child. Because of this he saved my life. He was for me a great man.
Guestbook for
John Robert Wade