Jay Wellner Obituary

Jay August Wellner, 92, passed away peacefully on December 13, 2025 at home in Hillsboro, Oregon surrounded by his loving family.

Jay was born on March 29, 1933, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the first of two children to August and Arlyle (Roundy) Wellner. On June 18th, 1933, he was baptized in Menno, South Dakota, grew up in New Richland, Minnesota and graduated from Westbrook High School in 1951. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the United States Army, serving from 1953 to 1955 at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Jay moved to Oregon in 1953 while serving in the Army, and married Westbrook classmate LaVonne Vosberg the same year. Following his honorable discharge, they relocated to southern California where Jay attended Pasadena City College, earning an Associate Degree in Accounting in 1957. Jay and LaVonne had two children, Julia and Paul, and in 1964, moved back to Oregon, and later parted after many years together. In 1971, Jay met Delores (Krauss) Brown through friends, and they married on June 12, blending their families and making Hillsboro their forever home.

Jay had a long and successful career as a Hyster Accountant in Portland, working for 30 years before retiring. In retirement, he and Delores enjoyed traveling: to the Oregon coast, abroad to Europe and China, and to Alaska via cruise ships. He also cherished the outdoors, highlighted by a canoe trip to Bowron Lakes in British Columbia in 1995, as well as slow pitch softball, golf, and tending his yard and garden.

Jay was deeply involved in his church community, caring for the Trinity Lutheran Church grounds and helping to plan, administer, and maintain the Celebration of Life Memorial garden, where he will be laid to rest.

He is preceded in death by his parents, August and Arlyle Wellner. He is survived by his devoted wife, Delores; sister Judy Angevine (Jim); and four children and their spouses: Julia Wellner (David Foster) of Bend, Oregon; Paul Wellner (Valerie) of Washougal, Washington; Melinda Miyagishima (Michael) of San Francisco; and Jeffrey Brown (Angeles) of Guadalajara, Mexico; six grandchildren: Michaelyn, Jessica, Jonathan, Jeffrey, Jessica, and Marley; two great-grandsons, Ryker and Wyatt; and many nieces and nephews.

Jay's warmth, dedication, and love for family, church, and community will be fondly remembered and deeply missed.