ObituariesAugust 18, 1993

Weldon B. Wasem, longtime Lewiston-Clarkston Valley businessman and founder of Wasem's Drugs, died of congestive heart failure Tuesday at Tri-State Convalescent Center in Clarkston. He was 94.

He was born to George Frederick and Anna Geiger Wasem June 11, 1899, on the family farm at Rosetta, Idaho, near Gifford.

In 1914 the family rented the farm and moved to Clarkston, where he graduated from Clarkston High School in 1918. During high school, he worked as a delivery boy for McMillan's Pharmacy in Clarkston.

He then served a year in the U.S. Army during World War I.

He attended Washington State College (now Washington State University) in Pullman his freshman year and became a registered pharmacist in 1920 after passing the Washington State Board exams.

He graduated with a degree in pharmacology from the University of Washington in 1923. He then returned to McMillan's Pharmacy, where he began working as a licensed pharmacist.

He married Laura Dustan in 1924 at Seattle.

In 1925 he purchased Clarkston Drug Store, which he operated until selling it in 1936. That year, he opened Wasem's Drugs in Lewiston.

Ill health forced him to sell the Lewiston store to Payless Drugs in 1945, and he and Wes Tollenaar opened a photo and appliance store the following year.

In 1950 he sold his share of the business to Tollenaar and bought back the Clarkston Drug Store.

That same year, he and Paul Schurman Sr. entered a partnership in the hardware and furniture business in Clarkston.

After selling his share of the hardware store to Schurman, he was joined in the pharmacy business by his son, Clifford Wasem, in 1951. He continued to operate Wasem's Furniture and was later joined by his son-in-law, Roy Burke.

Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM

He purchased Berger Mace Furniture in Lewiston and merged it with Wasem's Furniture. This became Burke Furniture, for which he served several years as vice president.

In 1966 he built the new Wasem's Drugs building at 800 Sixth St. in Clarkston and remained active in the business until 1988. He also contiued to manage the family farm in Rosetta for several years.

He served for more than 22 years on the Lewiston First Federal Savings and Loan board of directors, including several years as vice president. He was also active in both the Lewiston and Clarkston chambers of commerce and served as president of the Clarkston chamber.

He was a member of the Clarkston City Council, and was active in the Clarkston Red Feather Drive (now the United Fund) and the Boy Scouts Council. He helped establish Camp Waha for the scouts.

He served as chairman of the Clarkston School Board for 11 years, was a volunteer fireman and a 73-year member of the Lewiston Elks Lodge, the longest length of membership for that club.

He was also a member of the Calam Temple at Lewiston, Clarkston Country Club, Clarkston Presbyterian Church, American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Rotary Club and Moose Lodge, all at Clarkston, and a lifetime member of the Asotin County Historical Society and the Washington State Pharmaceutical Association.

He enjoyed traveling throughout the world with his wife, and later in life, was interested in the Washington State Historical Pharmacy Foundation.

He was the last living member of the U.S. Army's WWI Hells Canyon barracks.

Survivors include his wife at the family home in Clarkston; a son, Clifford Wasem of Clarkston; a daughter, Janet Wasem Burke of Clarkston; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at Merchant Funeral Home in Clarkston, with Gary McIntosh officiating.

The family suggests memorials be given to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 911 W. Fifth St., Spokane 99204.

Story Tags
Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM