Obituary of Elmer John Turja

ELMER JOHN TURJA Elmer Turja, age 78 , passed away Tuesday, December 7 at home in Vancouver. He was born April 5, 1926 in Astoria, OR and grew up in Portland, OR. After high school he joined the Merchant Marines and served during WWII in Southeast Asia and later on the Columbia River. He moved to Washougal in 1954 and worked for Crown Zellerbach paper mill for 36 years. While living in Washougal he served on the Planning Commission, City Council and Mayor of Washougal. Mr. Turja was also on the Board of Directors of LaCamas Community Credit Union. After he retired he moved to Long Beach, WA where he was active in the local Senior Center and the P.A.C.E. program. Elmer later moved back to Washougal and has lived in Vancouver for the past year. Elmer liked being involved in his community. He was Past Master of the Masonic Temple in Washougal and a member of the Washougal and the Long Beach Lions Clubs. He also enjoyed doing carpentry work. Survivors include his wife, Audrey, in Vancouver; daughters, Lynn Risjord of Vancouver, Kay Lane of Stevensville, MT, Leigh Ann Turja of Seattle, WA; son, David Turja of Vancouver; brother, Allen Turja of Lake Oswego, OR; 9 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and his cat, Kissa. A funeral service will be Monday, December 13 at 11am at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Washougal. Burial will follow at the Washougal Memorial Cemetery. Straub?s Funeral Home in Camas is in charge of the arrangements. To sign the online guest book visit www.straubsfuneralhome.com.