Wallace Einar “Wally” Waara, 82, a resident of Grayland for more than 50 years, died at Grays Harbor Health and Rehabilitation Center, Aberdeen, Washington, Saturday, July 18, 2015. He was born in Aberdeen on March 20, 1933, the son of Einar and Anna (Karjala) Waara.
Wally was raised on the South Beach and graduated from Ocosta High School in 1951. He was attending Grays Harbor College when he was drafted into the Army and upon his return he attended the University of Washington, graduating in 1959.
He met Lois E. Niemi, a young teacher at Weatherwax High School, and they were married September 12, 1959 in Marquette, Michigan, her home town. Wally went to work for two years in Milwaukee, WI at Perfex Corp., a manufacturer of heat exchange equipment. He would start college again in Marquette, MI at Northern Michigan University where he graduated in 1963 with a Master’s in Business Administration. He returned to the Twin Harbors area to teach business courses at South Bend High School.
In 1965 he and Lois purchased a cranberry farm. They then began farming fulltime as Grower-Owners of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. Wally continued to be active on the bogs until just a few years ago. His son, Carl, has taken over operation of the farm.
Wally served on the Board of Directors of Ocean Spray in the early 1970’s. He was a member of Twin Harbors Lutheran Church, the Raymond Elks Lodge, and the former Grayland Lions Club.
He enjoyed his life’s work, farming cranberries. He was a lifelong fan of baseball, including the Mariners. His family was important to him and he especially enjoyed anything that involved his grandson, Evan.
Wally is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lois, of the family home in Grayland; a son and his wife, Carl and Liisa Waara, Grayland; and a grandson, Evan Waara.
A memorial service will be held at a future time at Twin Harbors Lutheran Church, Grayland.
The family suggests memorials may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 520 Pike St., Ste. 1075, Seattle, WA 98101 or Twin Harbors Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 490, Grayland, WA 98547.
A card of condolence with a message or a memory may be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen.