Wayne Frederick Appel

He was born April 22, 1931, in Upland, CA, the son of late Edward Appel and Mary Mickert. He was the youngest of three siblings. He graduated from Chaffey Union High School in Ontario, CA in 1949.

He married his high school sweetheart, Vianna (née Dodson), on August 5, 1950, at the Wee Kirk O’ The Heather Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, NV. They were separated by his death just two days shy of their 75th wedding anniversary.

One month after his wedding, he entered the California National Guard 40th Division 224th Infantry. He trained at Camp Cooke Army Base (now known as Vandenberg Air Force base). His regiment was soon called into federal service to fight in the Korean War. Wayne spent time on the frontlines, primarily as a wartime photographer and was sent to Korea, then Japan and back to Korea. He was discharged in 1952 with the rank of sergeant. After his discharge, he attended California State Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo (now known as California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo or “Cal Poly SLO”). He graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with an emphasis in Horticultural Services and Inspection.

He began working at the Orange County Department of Agriculture in 1959. He passed the Deputy County Agricultural Commissioner exam in March 1963, the Deputy County Sealer of Weights and Measures exam in July 1963, the County Agriculture Inspector exam in May 1967 and the County Agricultural Commissioner exam in July 1972. He retired in 1990 after 31 years of service.

Wayne loved to travel by RV around the United States. His favorite travel destination was Alaska, or wherever the fishing and hunting was best. He was an avid photographer his entire life and took thousands of pictures on film before moving to digital. He was also a self-taught do-it-yourself’er and busied himself with projects well his 90s. He tried to live by the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”, as any tightening of a screw often led him into a full-blown fix-it project.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Vianna, his three daughters: Linda Howe Canvin (née Appel), Evelyn “Joanne” Schmidt (née Appel), and Mary Stewart (née Appel); six grandchildren: Danny, Erin, Michael, Laura, Matthew and John; (10) great-grandchildren: Ashtyn, Rylee, Mikaila, Aryanna, Gracelyn, Hunter, Jackson, Skylor, Elise and Celia, and (6) great great-grandchildren: Elisa, Ava, Isabella, Spencer, Jackson and Oliver.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Edward Appel, his sister Evelyn Overhuls Dashiell (née Appel) and his beloved dog, Ginger.