Lt. Col. William "Bill" Charles Pomerenke

Bill and his brother, Bob, grew up in the Alpenrose area of Portland, attending Hayhurst Elementary and his freshman year of high school at Wilson High School. The family moved to northeast Portland, where he finished his final three years at Madison High School, graduating in 1970. He went on to U of O, where he received a BS in history in 1974. He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and of the ROTC, beginning his military career.

Aviation was Bill’s passion that began with earning his private pilot’s license at the age of 19. After college, he entered the USAF and started pilot training at Columbus AFB, MS. He went on to train in the F-4 fighter jet at Homestead AFB, FL. His final four years in the USAF was spent stationed at Ramstein AFB, Germany, defending our country during the Cold War. Upon returning to Portland, he joined the OR Air National Guard and trained to fly the F-15 fighter jet, which he flew until his retirement. In his “spare time” from the Guard, he flew commercial airliners for Pan Am and later for Delta Air Lines.

He was preceded in death by his father, William J. Pomerenke, his mother, Mikki R. (Krivanec) Pomerenke and his brother, Robert E. Pomerenke.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Cindy C. (Missfeldt) Pomerenke, his step-son, Jeremy G. Holloway, his step-mother, Donna F. Pomerenke, his aunt, Helen (Krivanec) Bailey, his niece, Mikki Trowbridge, his nephew, Justin Pomerenke, his grandchildren, Jackson, Maggie, Wyatt and Ruby Holloway and many cousins, in-laws, colleagues, and friends.

Bill lived a full and colorful life in his 70 years, and wanted to be remembered as a Patriot, a Democrat, and a Duck, in that order.

Services will be held on January 22, 2023 at 1pm at Bateman Carroll Funeral home, 520 W Powell Blvd., Gresham, OR 97030. Private interment to be held at a later date.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.batemancarrollfunerals.com for the Pomerenke family.