Robert L. Woerner

“Bob” Woerner passed away peacefully on Monday December 20, 2010 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania at the age of 85.

Bob was born on January 31, 1925 in Rochester, New York to William and Loretta Woerner. He was the youngest of six children.

He enrolled in the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University, but entered the Army less than a year later in April 1943. He was a member of the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon of the 303rd Infantry, 97th Division. His unit participated in the battle of the Rhineland in 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in action in April 1945; he was honorably discharged seven months later at Halloran General Hospital.

Bob returned to Syracuse University and earned a BA in landscape architecture in 1949. He moved to Yakima, Washington, then to Spokane in 1950, where he met his future bride, Mary Jane Warn. They were married May 12, 1952.

Bob loved Spokane and was involved in many organizations supporting the community. He was a Mason and a Shriner, and also a long-time member of the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Spokane, serving as Lieutenant Governor and President.

Bob was a landscape architect for 50 years, working in both government and private practice. He was very active in his profession, joining the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in 1959. He served as the second president of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of ASLA. Bob was named a Fellow of ASLA in 1978 for his service to the profession and his excellence in works of landscape architecture, and was subsequently elected president of ASLA in 1979. He also served as president of the Council of Landscape Architectural Boards in 1978.

Bob and Mary Jane enjoyed traveling around the world for both business and pleasure, and treasured the friendships they made along the way. For many years they vacationed in Hawaii. They purchased a winter home in Sun City, Arizona in 1991.

Mary Jane passed away on March 14, 2003. Since September 2006, Bob has resided in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

He is survived by his two daughters, Jane Fife (Bill) and Anne Rees (Randy); six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his four brothers and his sister.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home, 1306 N. Monroe St. Interment will follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Shriners Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA, 99210 (http://shrinershq.org/Hospitals/Spokane).