Fredrick "Willie" Moeller

Fredrick Wilson “Willie” Moeller peacefully passed into the arms of our Lord November 1, 2025, at the age of 91, in Regent Court Memory Care, Corvallis, Oregon. He was born March 4, 1934, in Bozeman, Montana to Henry and Margaret Moeller. His family lived in Bozeman and then later in Trail Creek, Montana where his father worked in a coal mine. He attended elementary school in Bozeman until 1945 when his family moved to Ashland, Oregon and later to Medford, Oregon. Willie finished elementary school at Lone Pine Grade School in Medford and went on to Medford High School where he played football, baseball and track as a Black Tornado, graduating in 1952. While in high school he worked in the RoxyAnn Pear orchard with his father who managed the pear orchard. After high school, Willie attended Oregon State College in Corvallis, Oregon where he pledge the Chi Phi fraternity. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in General Agriculture in 1956. In 1966, he earned a second Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Oregon State University. In 1956, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He completed basic training in Alabama and was sent to Radar School New Jersey before shipping out to serve in Vicenza, Italy for a year. He finished his service with the National Guards at Fort Lewis, Washington, retiring with an Honorable Discharge in 1959. After returning from Italy, Willie initially moved back to Medford with his parents and worked building Holiday trailers until 1961 when he got a job as a technician in the Oregon State University Horticulture Department. Early in his career he worked on growing and improving lily production and learned how to grow Douglas firs from seed. Willie met Wanda in 1961 at OSU Prominaders, a Folk Dance Club. They were married in 1962 and had three children, Karen, Annette and Rick. They were married for 63 wonderful years. All of their married life, they enjoyed dancing together. They belonged to several dance clubs and enjoyed a variety dancing styles—folk dancing, ballroom dancing, square dancing, round dancing and line dancing. Willie also had a passion for the outdoors. Willie loved steelhead fishing with friends on the Siletz River so much that he kicked the family car out of the garage for three years while he and a buddy built a drift boat in the garage, Later, when his children were older, he enjoyed white water rafting with the family. He rafted six different rivers in the Pacific Northwest multiple times and even learned to Captain a raft. Working with plants was not just an occupation for Willie. He also spent a great deal of time at home gardening, growing flowers and fruit and cultivating plants. He propagated Japanese maple trees and rhododendrons and was constantly taking a cutting from some plant that struck his fancy to see if he could get it to grow. He liked making wine and experimented making different fruit wines including blueberry, cherry, elderberry, rhubarb, grapes, blackberry and raspberry. In 1997, Willie retired after 36 years as a horticulture technician working for the OSU Horticulture Department. Willie and Wanda became snowbirds and wintered in Yuma, Arizona for 22 years. They started with a fifth wheel, upgraded to a motorhome; and later they purchased a park model in the Gila Mountain RV Park in Yuma. He liked to travel. He and Wanda visited many European countries, took several cruises in Europe and Alaska, and regularly visited Hawaii, where they owned a time share. Willie belonged to the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge for 60 years, Knights of Columbus for 20 years, Spinning Antlers Square Dance Club for 50 years, and Rounds-are-Us round dance club for 40 years. He joined the Catholic Church in 1999. He played in various softball and bowling leagues, bowling up to 3 times per week. He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Margaret Moeller, his siblings, Hank Moeller and Vanetta Johnson, and his son-in-law, Craig Harrison. Willie is survived by his wife, Wanda, his children Karen Beck (Matthew), Annette Harrison, and Frederick “Rick” Moeller, Jr. He will be greatly missed by his wife and family. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Corvallis, Linn Benton Food Share or a charity of your choice. A Memorial Mass will be at 11:00am Friday, Dec 5 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 501 NW 25th St. Corvallis. A recitation of the Rosary will begin at 10:30am at the church and Military Honors will be at 10:45am. A luncheon will be served after the mass in the Social Hall.

Tributes

Fredrick "Willie" Moeller

March 4, 1934 - November 1, 2025