Genevieve Gen Madeline Bowman Wehrman

Genevieve Madeline Wehrman, age 94, died at home in Portland, Oregon, surrounded by family, on Friday, October 22nd. Born in Marshalltown, Iowa, on July 5th, 1916, she was the only child of George and Hazel Bowman. Genevieve graduated from Newton High School (Newton, Iowa) in 1934. She was active in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton from 1920 to 1946. Genevieve was married in 1942 to Roger Wehrman while he was on leave from the Army Air Corps.

Roger and Genevieve moved to California in 1946. They lived in various places, but until their retirement lived primarily in the Bay area. While raising seven children, Genevieve was active in the Saint Leander’s lunch program, the Brownies, the local Swim club, as well as being involved in sewing, gardening, and all the many aspects of being a homemaker.

In 1967 she went back to school herself, finding great pleasure in studying photography, drawing, and botany. These activities were a reflection of her life-long love of learning and reading. A highlight of this period was her work in nature and photography, including field trips and educational expeditions to Mount Lassen and Death Valley.

Genevieve and Roger loved traveling. Their membership in Thousand Trails allowed them to use their motor home as a home base as they explored and visited family around the country. They also traveled across the world to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Mexico, Korea and Europe.

After Roger’s death in 1993 Genevieve continued to live in their mountain home in Arnold, California, where they had moved after retirement. She continued to travel with her daughters and friends to Ireland, Egypt, Panama, Turkey, the Ukraine, Italy, and Greece. She kept active with golf through the Blue Lake Springs Women’s Golf Club, enjoying her family, and with many other activities, including Bible Study, quilting, needlepoint, crocheting, and flower photography.

Genevieve has lived in Portland with daughters Karen and Kris since 2001. Her macular degeneration left her unable to read, see people’s faces, and restricted her ability to do many of the other activities she enjoyed. It did not stop her from continuing to live life to the fullest. She continued to enjoy traveling, visiting family, going to movies, Bible study, and “reading” books through listening to someone read to her or through books on tape.

Genevieve Madeline Bowman Werhman is survived by daughters Lynne Wehrman and her husband Ron, Karen Wehrman, Kristine Wehrman, and Gayle Wehrman and her husband Michael; by Karen P. Wehrman (widow of son George) and her husband Jim; by her grandchildren Brian Wehrman and his wife Jeanne, Brandon Wehrly and his wife Brandie, Greg Wehrman and Brandy, Derek Zaraza and his wife Jennifer, and Zach VerBrugge; by her great-grandchildren Alex, Ashley, Kiley, Tyler, Aidan, Tavia, Kenzie, Claire, Brianna and Ethan. Genevieve was predeceased by her sons Mark, Gregory, and George, by her great grand daughter Brenna, and by her husband Roger.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 PM, Saturday, October 30th, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 3910 SE 11th Ave.,

Portland, OR 97202.

Remembrances to VIEWS (Volunteers Involved for the Emotional Well-being of Seniors), 10373 NE Hancock, Suite 200, Portland OR 97220. www.viewsoregon.org

Arrangements under the direction of Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Portland, OR.