Claudie Clarence Pittack

Claudie C. "Red" Pittack was born in Meadow Grove, NE, to Adolf Pittack and Ester Kerber on May 20, 1922. He graduated from Battle Creek High School in Nebraska in 1940. After graduation, he worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), where his nickname was changed from "Sonny" to "Red" because of his bright red hair. He traveled to California in the winter of 1941, in his unheated Model A Ford, where he met and eventually married Carmen Paolercio on December 30, 1942. He joined the U.S. Navy as a CB on April 24, 1943, and eventually earned the rank of Shipfitter First Class. He served in the South Pacific on the islands of Saipan and Okinawa in World War II and was honorably discharged December 29, 1945. After being discharged, he enrolled at Fresno, California State College and graduated in 1950, with a BS degree in Horticulture. He began his working career for Standard Oil Company of California - Ortho Division and held the titles of Sales Representative and Branch Manager. Starting out in Fresno, his career took the family to Madera, CA and eventually in 1963, to Wenatchee, where he worked until retirement in 1983. He was National Salesman of the Year for Ortho in 1970 and 1971. He was called many times as an expert witness in crop damage claims. After retirement, he raised leaf cutter bees for pollinating alfalfa in the Columbia Basin for five years. Red was active all his life in civic, sporting and conservation groups. Those include: The Wenatchee Sportsmen Association, where he served as President in 1975 and 1976. He received Sportsman of the Year in 1978, and became a life member in 1998. One of his favorite activities was planning and attending the annual Big Game Feed. He was a member in the early 1960's of a number of organizations that would eventually become the Washington Council of Trout Unlimited (TU). He was a local organizer in the Wenatchee and Leavenworth areas and served in all positions, including Chapter President. He also served TU on State Boards and eventually was elected to National President. After that term, he was elected National Chairman of the Board, where he served two terms and was elected to Chairman Emeritus, the only one in TU history. He and his wife, Carmen, were life members of TU and he was actively involved in Washington D.C. in the 1980's, promoting worldwide fish conservation with trips to Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and the Soviet Union. He was a member of the Wenatchee Lions Club in the 1960's and received Lion of the Year in 1966. He served from 1986 to 1987, on the Washington State Department of Ecology Commission in Olympia. He volunteered regularly for the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and was named their Volunteer of the Year in 1995. He was an avid horticulturist and worked with the Eastmont High School FFA for many years in growing fruits and vegetables. He received an honorary degree from the FFA for his service. He enjoyed fly fishing and fly tying and taught fly tying for the Boy Scouts and at Eastmont High School for over 25 years. He had many "students of students" in his later years. He volunteered for many years at the local office of the National Forest Service and served on their Advisory Panel. Besides his commitment to conservation, he enjoyed bowling, fishing, hunting, camping, landscaping and gardening. He also enjoyed cooking outdoors and made his own wine and beer. He used his training in horticulture by serving as fair judge for many years at the Chelan, Douglas and Grant County Fairs. He was very much a handyman and was well known by family, friends and neighbors as a man who could fix almost anything. He was a voracious reader and was always studying and learning about growing plants and how things worked. His landscaped yard and huge garden were the envy of the neighborhood. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Carmen; one brother; and one sister. He is survived by a sister in Torrence, CA; three children - daughters, Robin Pittack of Shelton, WA and Deb Pittack of Cheney, WA; and one son, Larry Pittack of Hamilton, MT. He has three grandchildren, Steven, Rodney and Megan; and three great-grandchildren, Alice, Jason and KarmaLena. A Funeral Service will be held at Telford's Chapel of the Valley at 711 Grant Road in East Wenatchee at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 25, 2010. Any memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or Trout Unlimited. A Reception will be held at the East Wenatchee High School Auditorium, immediately after the ceremony.

Claudie Clarence Pittack

May 20, 1922 - September 15, 2010