Louis Edward "Lewie" Falconer

Louis Edward “Lewie” Falconer, 85, of Warrenton, died Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011, at home.

He was born Dec. 7, 1925, in Astoria, to Lewis Oscar and Gladys Mattie (Shoop) Falconer.

He attended Capt. Robert Gray Elementary and Lewis and Clark Consolidated schools in Astoria.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army. From 1944 to 1946, he was overseas in Europe and Germany. He was in active combat on the front lines as a mortar crewman and second gunner during the Vosges Mountains campaign, the assault and final takeover at the fortress of Bitche, and the drive into Germany, which culminated in the seizure of Stuttgart. He was also a military policeman for eight months in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1946 with a letter of commendation and a Bronze Star for his courage and devotion to duty during the nine-day siege of Heilbronn, at which time he was at his gun position almost continuously.

On Dec. 13, 1947, he married Bonnie Lee Carlson in Astoria. She preceded him in death Oct. 29, 1992.

Mr. Falconer worked with his father crabbing and gillnetting, and for extra money, he would pick ferns for the local florists. For a short period, he drove a log truck and worked at the Fluhrer Shingle Mill in Astoria. The majority of his working life was spent as a longshoreman. He retired in 1981.

He was a member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local No. 50.

Family members said that in his younger years, he enjoyed dancing at clubs on the weekends, bingo, playing pinochle with family and friends, bowling, sport fishing, boating, hunting and camping. In his later years, he enjoyed collecting coins, shopping for vehicles and doing things for and with his daughter and granddaughter. After he retired, for fun, he made more than 100 commercial crab pots and sold them.

He is survived by a daughter, Kimberly Dawn Falconer of Astoria; a granddaughter, Brandi Breanna Falconer of Astoria; a brother-in-law, Jerry Carlson and his wife, Lois, of Salem; six nieces, Kathy Shoop and Marsha Bowers of Astoria, Sandy Nelson of Warrenton, Linda Jones of Idaho and Judy and Kathy Carlson of Salem; and two nephews, Mark Bowers of Warrenton and Kenny Carlson of Salem.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Anna Mae Roby; and a nephew, Lewis Roby.

A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary, 1165 Franklin Ave., immediately followed by a reception at the Longshoremen’s Hall, 491 Industry St.

Interment will be private.