Rudolph Fenk passed away February 13 at the age of 99 at his home in Tillamook with his family at his side. He was born September 28, 1926 in Nehalem, Oregon to Rudolph, Sr. and Mary Fenk.
As a child, his family moved from Nehalem to a dairy farm on Chance Road in Tillamook. In 1951 he and his wife Ruth bought her parents farm, the current site of Tilla-Bay Farms at the confluence of the Tillamook and Trask rivers. The operation remains in the family and is a State of Oregon Century Farm. In 1984 the family was named the Oregon Farm Family of the Year.
Fenk was a lifelong resident of Tillamook County, except for a stint in World War II after enlisting in the United States Navy following his junior year at Tillamook High School. As a photographer in the Navy, he took many memorable photos, including the famous aircraft the B-29 Enola Gay. He was honorably discharged as Petty Officer Second Class.
Upon his return from the South Pacific, he earned his GED. He also returned to work at the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) Feed Store where he had worked while in high school following employment at the Long Prairie Cheese Factory.
In 1950 Rudy married Ruth Josi. In 1951, the couple purchased a 32-acre dairy farm from Ruth’s parents Fred and Lina Josi. Rudy continued to drive truck for the creamery until 1963 when they purchased an adjacent dairy farm. In 1968 he purchased yet another adjacent farm which gave them a combined 220 acres. He had 220 head of dairy cows at the farm’s peak.
Fenk was active in numerous organizations in the county and state: some of those include the Tillamook Elks, an active board member of the Tillamook County Soil and Water Conservation District (Outstanding Special District Service Award recipient), the Oregon Farm Bureau, Tillamook County Economic Development Council, Tillamook County Creamery Association (president 1988-90), Tillamook Swiss Society, Dairy Herd Improvement Association, Tillamook County Historical Society, Oregon State University Department of Animal Sciences (Distinguished Service Award), and countless others.
Rudy and Ruth were active travelers, serving as cruise hosts to many international locales. He enjoyed family, wood working, playing cards, fishing, the Tillamook County Fair, and conversing with local youths about the history of the county and his stint in the military. He was known for his strong gift of gab and later in life he cherished his daily trips to the Fern Cafe for “coffee with the guys.”
Fenk was a gentleman who was extremely generous with his time and financial support to people in need. He is survived by his wife of 75 years Ruth, daughters Cathy Froehlich (Jim) and Terry Mizee (Bart), and son Steve (Tina); grandsons Kurt (Wendy) and Chad (Joanna) Mizee, granddaughters Leisha Riggert-Mizee (Todd) and Janae Walker (Tim); great grandson Ryan Mizee, and great granddaughters Josi Riggert and Stella Mizee. He is preceded in death by his parents Rudolph Sr. and Mary, brothers Alfred and Carl, granddaughter-in-law Wendy Mizee, and great granddaughter Shelby.
A celebration of life will be held March 7 at 1 p.m. at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Tillamook High School FFA program through the Tillamook Education Foundation at 2510 1st Street, Tillamook.