The Odessa Record - Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!

John VandeWege, 86, passed away Aug.13, 2022, in Olympia, Wash., his home of 56 years. He was born May 27, 1936, to Jacob and Jane (Tingley) VandeWege in Sheboygan, Wis.

He also resided in Sunnyside, Wash.; Odessa, Wash.; and Anchorage, Ala.

John graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1954 and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1957.

He graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1961, before marrying Mitzi Alling in 1965 in Warden, Wash.

Professionally, John was an elementary school teacher, both full-time and as a substitute, for 50 years. He was kind, patient, and loved read...