William Howard (Bill) Barfknecht, 84, passed away quietly Friday evening, Sept. 19, Bill was born Aug. 3, 1930 to Fritz William Barfknecht and Cena Rose Sutter in Ladysmith, Wisconsin.
He grew up in this small town and attended Flambeau High School where he ran track. He graduated in 1949. As a youth, one of his first jobs was as a fire watcher for the Forest Service. He also picked green beans, which seems to account for his lifelong dislike of the vegetable. As a hobby he built model airplanes and crystal radios. In 1950 he joined the United States Air Force where his hobbies were transformed into a lifelong career. As a trained aircraft radio repairman he was sent to war in Korea where he worked on F-80 fighter jets. His time in the Air Force took him and his family all over the world. In fact, he had children born in Texas, Alaska, Italy and France. In 1963 he was transferred to then March Air Force Base near Riverside California. From then on, he did the moving while the rest of the family stayed put. These moves included a tour in Vietnam, a tour in Japan, and an assignment with Aerospace Command at Vandenberg Air Force base near Lompoc, California, among others. He retired as a Master Sergeant in 1970. With children still at home, Bill, sought work after the Air Force. He also tried his hand at domestic chores. Some of his "experimental" dinners will never be forgotten. Eventually he landed a job as a communications technician with San Bernardino County. He worked there for 18 years and retired just as he reached the age where his Social Security kicked in. He was extremely proud of being a "triple dipper." Shortly after the passing of his wife, Dolores Barfknecht, he moved to Lebanon, Oregon. There he spent 20 years fishing, carving wood, studying the stars, camping, building radio receivers from scratch, watching birds and enjoying life. He was an active member of the Lebanon Moose, Elks, the American Legion, and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He had many friends in Lebanon and he really enjoyed his time there. In 2011, after a bout with cancer, he moved to Indio, California to be closer to family. He and his patch jacket quickly became known around town. Bill was an extremely likable man and he loved to talk to people whether he knew them well or not. If he had an opinion on something, you could bet it would not be long before you heard it. And, there were very few subjects on which he did not have an opinion. He loved to laugh and he loved to joke.
Bill was preceded into death by his brother Ray of Fresno, California, and his sister Marion of Vancouver, Washington.
He is survived by son Craig of Nuevo, California; his son Mark (Minerva) of Indio, California; his daughter Galyn of Oxnard, California; and his son Bill of Norfolk, Virginia. He also left behind eleven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. He was a wonderful father and grandfather, a great friend, and a loving companion and he will be sorely missed.
He grew up in this small town and attended Flambeau High School where he ran track. He graduated in 1949. As a youth, one of his first jobs was as a fire watcher for the Forest Service. He also picked green beans, which seems to account for his lifelong dislike of the vegetable. As a hobby he built model airplanes and crystal radios. In 1950 he joined the United States Air Force where his hobbies were transformed into a lifelong career. As a trained aircraft radio repairman he was sent to war in Korea where he worked on F-80 fighter jets. His time in the Air Force took him and his family all over the world. In fact, he had children born in Texas, Alaska, Italy and France. In 1963 he was transferred to then March Air Force Base near Riverside California. From then on, he did the moving while the rest of the family stayed put. These moves included a tour in Vietnam, a tour in Japan, and an assignment with Aerospace Command at Vandenberg Air Force base near Lompoc, California, among others. He retired as a Master Sergeant in 1970. With children still at home, Bill, sought work after the Air Force. He also tried his hand at domestic chores. Some of his "experimental" dinners will never be forgotten. Eventually he landed a job as a communications technician with San Bernardino County. He worked there for 18 years and retired just as he reached the age where his Social Security kicked in. He was extremely proud of being a "triple dipper." Shortly after the passing of his wife, Dolores Barfknecht, he moved to Lebanon, Oregon. There he spent 20 years fishing, carving wood, studying the stars, camping, building radio receivers from scratch, watching birds and enjoying life. He was an active member of the Lebanon Moose, Elks, the American Legion, and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He had many friends in Lebanon and he really enjoyed his time there. In 2011, after a bout with cancer, he moved to Indio, California to be closer to family. He and his patch jacket quickly became known around town. Bill was an extremely likable man and he loved to talk to people whether he knew them well or not. If he had an opinion on something, you could bet it would not be long before you heard it. And, there were very few subjects on which he did not have an opinion. He loved to laugh and he loved to joke.
Bill was preceded into death by his brother Ray of Fresno, California, and his sister Marion of Vancouver, Washington.
He is survived by son Craig of Nuevo, California; his son Mark (Minerva) of Indio, California; his daughter Galyn of Oxnard, California; and his son Bill of Norfolk, Virginia. He also left behind eleven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. He was a wonderful father and grandfather, a great friend, and a loving companion and he will be sorely missed.
William Howard (Bill) Barfknecht, 84, passed away quietly Friday evening, Sept. 19, Bill was born Aug. 3, 1930 to Fritz William Barfknecht and Cena Rose Sutter in Ladysmith, Wisconsin.
He grew up in this small town and attended Flambeau High School where he ran track. He graduated in 1949. As a youth, one of his first jobs was as a fire watcher for the Forest Service. He also picked green beans, which seems to account for his lifelong dislike of the vegetable. As a hobby he built model airplanes and crystal radios. In 1950 he joined the United States Air Force where his hobbies were transformed into a lifelong career. As a trained aircraft radio repairman he was sent to war in Korea where he worked on F-80 fighter jets. His time in the Air Force took him and his family all over the world. In fact, he had children born in Texas, Alaska, Italy and France. In 1963 he was transferred to then March Air Force Base near Riverside California. From then on, he did the moving while the rest of the family stayed put. These moves included a tour in Vietnam, a tour in Japan, and an assignment with Aerospace Command at Vandenberg Air Force base near Lompoc, California, among others. He retired as a Master Sergeant in 1970. With children still at home, Bill, sought work after the Air Force. He also tried his hand at domestic chores. Some of his "experimental" dinners will never be forgotten. Eventually he landed a job as a communications technician with San Bernardino County. He worked there for 18 years and retired just as he reached the age where his Social Security kicked in. He was extremely proud of being a "triple dipper." Shortly after the passing of his wife, Dolores Barfknecht, he moved to Lebanon, Oregon. There he spent 20 years fishing, carving wood, studying the stars, camping, building radio receivers from scratch, watching birds and enjoying life. He was an active member of the Lebanon Moose, Elks, the American Legion, and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He had many friends in Lebanon and he really enjoyed his time there. In 2011, after a bout with cancer, he moved to Indio, California to be closer to family. He and his patch jacket quickly became known around town. Bill was an extremely likable man and he loved to talk to people whether he knew them well or not. If he had an opinion on something, you could bet it would not be long before you heard it. And, there were very few subjects on which he did not have an opinion. He loved to laugh and he loved to joke.
Bill was preceded into death by his brother Ray of Fresno, California, and his sister Marion of Vancouver, Washington.
He is survived by son Craig of Nuevo, California; his son Mark (Minerva) of Indio, California; his daughter Galyn of Oxnard, California; and his son Bill of Norfolk, Virginia. He also left behind eleven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. He was a wonderful father and grandfather, a great friend, and a loving companion and he will be sorely missed.
He grew up in this small town and attended Flambeau High School where he ran track. He graduated in 1949. As a youth, one of his first jobs was as a fire watcher for the Forest Service. He also picked green beans, which seems to account for his lifelong dislike of the vegetable. As a hobby he built model airplanes and crystal radios. In 1950 he joined the United States Air Force where his hobbies were transformed into a lifelong career. As a trained aircraft radio repairman he was sent to war in Korea where he worked on F-80 fighter jets. His time in the Air Force took him and his family all over the world. In fact, he had children born in Texas, Alaska, Italy and France. In 1963 he was transferred to then March Air Force Base near Riverside California. From then on, he did the moving while the rest of the family stayed put. These moves included a tour in Vietnam, a tour in Japan, and an assignment with Aerospace Command at Vandenberg Air Force base near Lompoc, California, among others. He retired as a Master Sergeant in 1970. With children still at home, Bill, sought work after the Air Force. He also tried his hand at domestic chores. Some of his "experimental" dinners will never be forgotten. Eventually he landed a job as a communications technician with San Bernardino County. He worked there for 18 years and retired just as he reached the age where his Social Security kicked in. He was extremely proud of being a "triple dipper." Shortly after the passing of his wife, Dolores Barfknecht, he moved to Lebanon, Oregon. There he spent 20 years fishing, carving wood, studying the stars, camping, building radio receivers from scratch, watching birds and enjoying life. He was an active member of the Lebanon Moose, Elks, the American Legion, and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He had many friends in Lebanon and he really enjoyed his time there. In 2011, after a bout with cancer, he moved to Indio, California to be closer to family. He and his patch jacket quickly became known around town. Bill was an extremely likable man and he loved to talk to people whether he knew them well or not. If he had an opinion on something, you could bet it would not be long before you heard it. And, there were very few subjects on which he did not have an opinion. He loved to laugh and he loved to joke.
Bill was preceded into death by his brother Ray of Fresno, California, and his sister Marion of Vancouver, Washington.
He is survived by son Craig of Nuevo, California; his son Mark (Minerva) of Indio, California; his daughter Galyn of Oxnard, California; and his son Bill of Norfolk, Virginia. He also left behind eleven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. He was a wonderful father and grandfather, a great friend, and a loving companion and he will be sorely missed.
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