Anne Wickert

Baker City, 1924-2013

Anne Margaret Wickert, 89, of Baker City died Dec. 2, 2013 while at St. Alphonsus Medical Center-Baker City.

Visitations will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Gray’s West and Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday also as Gray’s West and Co. Father Robert Greiner of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will officiate. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.

There will be a reception at noon at the Catholic Church Parish Hall, First and Church streets.

Anne was born on March 3, 1924, to Anton Henry Williamson and Wilhelmina Hendrixson Williamson.

She attended at David City High School at David City, Neb. During World War II she worked in a munitions factory.

She and Donald Wickert were married at St. Francis Cathedral on March 11, 1949. Besides being a loving wife, she was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, family members said.

Anne was a clerk at the Baker County Courthouse and also worked for Commercial Welding. She retired in 1986.

Those who knew Anne agree she always had a kind word to say and a huge smile on her face.

Survivors include her sons, John Wickert and his wife, Jerri, of Baker City, Dale Wickert and his wife, Claudia, of Ontario, Steve Wickert and his wife, Sherry, of The Dalles, and Mike Wickert and his companion, Shirley Gessele, of Baker City; her brothers, Francis Williamson, Anton Williamson and Donald Williamson, all of Baker City, Leo Williamson of Pendleton, and John Williamson of La Grande; and sisters, Margaret Sagendorf and Shirley Sagendorf, both of Spokane, Wash.; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Donald Wickert; her mother, Minnie Williamson; her father, Anton Williamson; and her sister, Mary Devos.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Northeast Oregon Compassion Center through Gray’s West and Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. Baker City, OR. 97814.

Loretta Larkins

Richland, 1944-2013

Loretta Ann Pollard Larkins, 69, of Richland, died Dec. 1, 2013, at her home with her family by her side.

A private memorial service will be scheduled later.

Loretta was a private person who shared her big heart with family and friends.

She was born on July 26, 1944. She started school at Robinette, moving to Eagle Valley around the age of 6 where she attended grade school and high school. She made lifelong friends during that time; friends who knew they could count on Loretta’s loyalty, love, and support.

Friends and family alike respected her passion for knowledge. Loretta excelled at history and for fun, entered radio contests correctly answering history questions and winning pizzas.

She was an original armchair traveler and rarely met a book she didn’t like. She loved playing games, especially pinochle, a game she learned at the age of 8 watching her grandpa, Harley, play. Whenever a pinochle game was on, everyone wanted to be Loretta’s partner – a guaranteed win.

Loretta, an avid birdwatcher, was fond of relaxing in her backyard surrounded by birds. She happily anticipated the arrival of the first hummingbird.

Although Loretta could spend hours indoors with a good book, she loved the mountains where she rode horses, fished, and explored the forests. Her love of and appreciation for the great outdoors developed naturally.

Being the daughter of a sheepherder provided her with ample opportunities to find pleasure in the solitude of the mountains, the fresh air, and tracking planets in the night sky.

In later years, Loretta and her husband, Glenn, enjoyed the drive up North Pine and across to Joseph, spotting elk, birds, and bears, to attend Chief Joseph Days and in the winter, attending the winter carnival at McCall, Idaho.

Loretta and Glenn were true soulmates, falling in love as teenagers and reconnecting years later to enjoy more than 30 years together as husband and wife.

Loretta was proud of her family and never missed an opportunity to share stories of her daughter, grandchildren, niece, and nephews. Family members said Loretta’s stories were often laced with examples of her great sense of humor – gently wicked, often self-deprecating, and always funny. Her grandkids always knew that there would be cookies for them at Grandma Loretta’s.

Like many girls, Loretta started smoking when she was a teenager. She smoked for 50 years and smoking eventually took her life.

Although Loretta was a private person who wouldn’t dream of imposing her beliefs on or intruding in other’s lives, she wanted her death to serve as a cautionary tale – to encourage all smokers to seek help for quitting, as she, better than anyone, knew how difficult quitting could be, and to encourage others to not start smoking.

Survivors include her husband, Glenn Larkins; her daughter, Diana Smith; her grandson, Coby Ryder; great-grandchildren, Caden, Avilyn, and Jacob Ryder; niece and nephews, Jessica, Logan, and Harley Pollard; brother and sister, Davis and Zona Pollard; her cousin, Earletta Baker; and her mother, Billie Wells.

Loretta’s family knows your prayers are with them at this time and thank you for your kindness. They also want to say a special thank you to Crystal Sadlowsky, Maureen Stanciu, Heart ‘N Home Hospice, Tony Bonn, Gordon Bond, Eagle Valley Ambulance, Patty and Wally Hammond, and the Hilary Bonn Benevolence Fund.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Hilary Bonn Benevolence Fund in Loretta’s name through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.

Robert Neuberger

Portland,1953-2013

Robert J. Neuberger, 60, a longtime Portland attorney, died Nov. 30, 2013, after a four-year battle with cancer.

Private burial service has been completed. A celebration of his life will be scheduled later.

Robert was born on Aug. 6, 1953, at Baker City to Gert and Erna Neuberger. He graduated from Baker High School, Colorado College and Lewis and Clark Law School.

Survivors include his son, Stuart Neuberger; and sisters, Roz and Pat Neuberger.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

See more at: http://obits.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregon/obituary.aspx?page=lifestoryandpid=168331627#sthash.1CrED743.dpuf.