August Julius Weitz, II

Born in Gibbs Idaho on August 9th, 1915, August J. Weitz was the son of German Immigrants and the middle child in a lot of six sisters. His family moved to the Portland area in the early 1920's where he later attended Benson High School. He married the love of his life, then Gwenn Johnson on August 14th, 1937 and worked as a butcher before going into business for himself with nothing more than $300 on loan. In 1941 they had a son, Ronald Weitz, and moved temporarily to San Diego where Augie joined the Navy in 1942 where he served as a butcher in the South Pacific during WWII. After returning home, Augie became a successful entrepreneur, building a chain of grocery stores called Super Valu that spanned all over the Pacific Northwest. A true workaholic, Augie would work day and night on every square of the calendar. He worked so much in fact that his wife would often times have to hold his head up while she fed him. Augie and Gwenn moved from Portland with their two sons Ron and Jack to Longview Washington in 1962 where they spent the next 34 years. While making his stores a household name and a frequent destination, he also found time to build bowling alleys, shopping centers, the Yacolt bank, the Kelso Motel and shock everyone with his outlandish and original brand of advertising and sense of humor. Augie was a partner in numerous business endeavors and was a longstanding and generous philanthropist. He was the Commodore of the Columbia River Yacht Club in 1976, which he also helped to create. A devout Mason, he was installed worshipful master of the Longview chapter of the Masonic Lodge in 1970. Augie was active in the Shrine community donning clown makeup and terrorizing parades on mini motorcycles. Augie and Gwenn moved to Vancouver in 1996. While he claimed to have been retired, he never really was, working everyday in his office and about town. Augie and Gwenn shared a passion for golf and spending as much time with one another as possible. They never fought and they never kept any secrets or held anything back. Together they travelled the world and raised a family that they both loved with all their hearts. Augie was confident, strait forward and honest. He was dependable, ornery and diligent. Known for his work and achievements in the community, his generosity and determination, sharp wit, fashion sense and flashy sports cars, he was a self proclaimed old fart and has been. A true character the likes of which you meet seldom through life. Augie passed away in his sleep peacefully on April 19th, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his son Jack A Weitz Sr., his daughter in-law Barbara (wife of Ron), his Grandchildren Kimberlee Weitz Craddock (Husband Craig), Branda Van Fleet (Husband Clint), Jack A Weitz Jr., Nick R. Weitz, and numerous great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Augie was preceded in death by his beloved wife Gwenn Weitz in 2004 and his son August J. (Ron) Weitz III in March of this year. A private funeral will be held at Rose City Cemetery on Thursday at 1:00PM. He will be missed and remembered fondly and proudly.

Service

Rose City Funeral Home
5625 Northeast Fremont Street
Portland , OR US 97213-1754
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 1:00 PM

Cemetery

Rose City Cemetery
5625 N.E. Fremont St.
Portland , OR US 97213-1754
Thursday, April 23, 2009,

---