Marvin Wayne Wamhoff, 60, died Friday, Feb. 26 after battling cancer for more than two years.
He was a contractor, a cross-country truck driver, and a construction superintendent.
Mr. Wamhoff touched many lives. He was a big man with a big heart and his handshake was as good as his word. He was a hard worker and taught many young men the value of a hard day’s work and gave them the life tools they needed to be successful. He was also very gentle whenever he was holding a baby or helping to guide the many girls that grew up around him.
He was a family man; he loved his children and grandchildren. The greatest joy in his life was the time he got to spend with them. He was involved in their baseball, basketball, cheerleading, choir concerts, and their schools’ fall festivals. He helped them with their science projects. If his grandchildren wanted to build a house for their cats, he helped them. He taught them how to use tools to build things, to ride bicycles and go-carts.
He was a mentor and teacher to many friends, young men and girls, as well as his own large extended family unit. He made friends easily and was always quick with a smile and a handshake. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of his family and many friends.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Gloria Wamhoff; children, Chris Peterson, Randy and Patti Wong of Oakdale, Claudia Medeiros of Fortaleza, Brazil, and Eduardo and Georgia Rocha of Oakland; siblings, Richard and Carole Gordon of Clearlake, Sandy Harrison and Kay Wamhoff of Oakdale, Rod and Lee Ertel of Chino, Jack Armstrong, Georgia Cannon, Dutch and Jackie Groendal, all of Bullhead City, AZ, Jim and Janet Rauch, and Larry and Ginny Green, all of Yucca Valley, and George and Joy Rauch of Three Rivers; grandchildren, Nicole, Kyle, and Cody Peterson, and Jordan, Brooke, and Mikayla Wong, all of Oakdale; Joao Lucas Rocha of Oakland, Joao Paulo Rubio, Tasso Freitas, and Filipe Freitas, all of Fortaleza, Brazil; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts, and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin ‘Mick’ Wamhoff, Sr. and Dorothy Wamhoff; and his brother, Melvin ‘Micky’ Wamhoff, Jr.
A Memorial Service will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 6 at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 4606 Michigan (on the corner of Lone Tree Road and Michigan), Valley Home. Open reception to follow at the Wamhoff residence on Victory Avenue.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in his name for cancer research through the Relay for Life Oakdale at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/marvwamhoff.
