Wayne VanDeHey

Wayne L VanDeHey passed naturally on his terms as he departed us on August 7, 2026. He was 101 years old.

Wayne was born at home in Verboort Oregon to Lawrence (Pappy) and Ida Bell (Bell) Vandehey (LaHaie). There, and in Hillsboro he attended school in grades 1-8 before starting work in support of the family on the farm and various other jobs including logging in Vernonia and building ships in Portland for the war. He played and had fun as a kid, like challenging others to follow him on his bike over the teeter-toter in Shute park and remembered he was fired from his job setting “chokers’ in the logging industry for being under age. He wished to continue his education and play sports but need to work and contribute to the family.

He was drafted into the Army in 1942 and landed in Anzio Italy after deployment from Africa where his platoon held a beach head while being bombed daily. The only good thing he recounted was having steak after one of the cattle were hit by Nazi’s bombs (cook tried to ruin by serving with ketchup). He marched, carrying a bazooka, to the Black Forest bordering France/Germany where he was ambushed receiving multiple gun shot wounds on October 31 ’44. He spent his 21st birthday in ’45 on the Atlantic returning post war.

Wayne married Reta L VanDeHey in St Mathews in 1948. They were blessed with 4 children they raised south of Hillsboro and Wayne pursued a 40 yr career at American Sheet Metal before retiring in their dream home in the woods where they hosted regular party events. He engaged in gardening, camping, square dancing and was a devout Catholic.

He is survived by 3 children, Gloria of Astoria OR, Carol of Tucson AZ and Kelly (Sara) of Lake Tahoe NV, 5 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. He lost his wife, Reta of Forest Grove OR in 2020 after 72 yrs of marriage and his son, Danny (Roberta) of Husum WA in 2018.

In Lieu of flowers, contribution suggestions include Multnomah County Animal Services 1700 W Historic Columbia River Highway, Troutdale, Or 97060 (phone 503 988-7387) and Humane Society of Central Oregon, 61170 SE 27th Street, Bend, Oregon (phone 541 382-3537)