Roland "Rollie" Robert Weirup

Roland Robert “Rollie” Weirup, age 88, of Astoria, died Friday, Dec. 3, 2010, in Astoria, surrounded by family. He was born Oct. 7, 1922, in McKinleyville, Calif., to Conrad Weirup and Barbara Steinbocker. He attended Washington Elementary School until the eighth grade. Then, with his best friend, Harry Barlow, he began fur trapping. During World War II, he served in Europe in the U.S. Army’s 89th Infantry, 4th Battalion, until the end of the war. On July 4, 1960, he married Joan Neiman. She preceded him in death in 2007. The couple made their home in Svensen. Upon returning to the U.S. after the war, Mr. Weirup began his career as a timber faller, beginning logging with a crosscut saw. He moved to Clatsop County in 1955. He retired from logging in 1985. He also commercial fished in Alaska for salmon and halibut. He was a member of the American Legion. Family members said he was a gentle giant of a man with a heart of gold. He is survived by a sister, Dorothea Birnie of McKinleyville; and numerous nieces and nephews in Clatsop County and across California. He was preceded in death by four brothers, David, Conrad, Marcus James and Charles Weirup; and two sisters, Mary Sutter and Barbara Ford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the local hospice. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7 at the Knappa Prairie Cemetery in Knappa. If weather conditions are bad, the service will be held at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary, 1165 Franklin Ave.