Obituary of Robert Alan Wellnitz

In loving memory of Robert “Bob” Alan Wellnitz who passed away in his Gresham, Oregon home in the early morning hours on Saturday 6/19/2021 after struggling with on-going health complications. “Big Bob”, “The Commish”, and the “Biggest Whippersnapper of them all” will be missed by so many and we will cherish all the fond memories of our time with him. Bob was born in Eugene, Oregon on 5/19/1940 to Edward and Wahnita Wellnitz and was the oldest of 4 siblings. He grew up in Eugene and attended college at the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!) where he earned a Masters’ Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 1962. Bob married in 1963 and immediately started his family, having a family of 5 with 3 children by 1966! Growing up Bob was a three-sport athlete and throughout his life he has always been a huge sports enthusiast. Bob held multiple coaching positions during his career and also taught Drivers’ Education for many years where his students could always count on a trip to the local donut shop where he’d treat them to a healthy breakfast during their driving lesson. A career highlight for Bob was while working and coaching at Crow High School he was the head coach of the baseball squad that took the State Championships in 68’ and 69’. He was a very popular and well-liked counselor at Gresham High School for almost 25 years where he retired in 1995. Bob also spent 50 years working as a Football Official and was elected the Portland Football Official Associations’ Commissioner eight times by his peers for a total of 24 years. Bob is survived by his wife Edna Wellnitz, daughter Erin Wellnitz, daughter Michele Wellnitz, daughter Pauline Johnson, son-in-law Tim Johnson, daughter-in-law Laura Wellnitz, daughter-in-law Teresa Kozic, sister Bette Savini, brother-in-law Ete Savini, 7 grandchildren and a great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his son, Kirk Wellnitz. “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” ~Thucydides A celebration of life is being organized by the family and will be announced soon.