John Wenholz has been described as being a straightforward and no-nonsense sort of guy. A former Morrow County commissioner (1997-2009), Wenholz, who was 81, died Dec. 1 in Irrigon.
“He was a very common sense, logical-thinking person,” Kathy Mendoza said. “He also had a good sense of humor.”
Mendoza first became acquainted with him through her job at the Oregon Employment Department. Wenholz and several other local elected officials, she said, served on the Oregon Workforce Board. His knowledge and familiarity with the needs of the region, Mendoza said, assisted with the development of the program.
Boardman resident Dori Drago also initially met Wenholz at work when he was one of her banking customers.
“He did great things for our county and was involved in a lot of things over the years,” she said. “And he was very direct.”
Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, agreed, saying Wenholz wasn’t “bashful” and was “very candid” when advocating for Irrigon and Morrow County. While always viewing Wenholz as a friend and a supporter, Smith said he didn’t sugarcoat things.
“As a young state rep, he would take a pound out of my backside,” Smith said with a laugh. “He wanted to make sure I knew and understood where he stood and what the county’s needs were.”
Smith said Wenholz brought varied experience to the table as a public servant. As a business owner, Smith said Wenholz was acquainted with making payroll and as a former member of the planning commission, he was familiar with policies, procedures and working toward long-term goals.
“He understood both sides and he was able to bring that together in such a way that it made him … a unique voice to the county,” Smith said.
Wenholz was born and raised in Portland, graduating from Madison High School in 1960. After serving in the U.S. Army, he returned to his hometown and was employed as an ironworker for several years. He married his wife, Jeanette, in 1967.
In 1973, the couple moved to Boardman and a year later, they moved to Irrigon, where he has lived since. His wife died in December 2020.
Public servant, candy man
Mendoza said once someone is an elected official, they typically are called upon to participate in a variety of boards and activities. She said as a public servant, Wenholz was willing to help wherever people needed him.
“My goal has always been to represent all members of Morrow County and give back to the community I’ve enjoyed being a part of and living in,” Wenholz said in a February 2008 interview. In addition to his public service — including the Irrigon-Boardman Assistance Center, the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Umatilla Chemical Depot and the Special Transportation Program for Morrow County — Wenholz was active in the community. He attended such functions as the grand opening of the Don Baxter Skatepark, the Irrigon Veterans Memorial dedication ceremony and could often be found serving cotton candy at community events.
A resident of Irrigon, Jane Ginther knew of Wenholz long before she met him. She fondly recalls him taking the time to show her and other staff at A.C. Houghton Elementary the fine art of spinning the sugary confection. Ginther said it became a staple at the school’s annual carnival.
“No one makes better cotton candy,” he said with a laugh during a July 2005 interview.
Wenholz was sometimes referred to as the “candy man.” And for good reason — he manned the cotton candy machine for more than two dozen years during the Irrigon Watermelon Festival. By the end of the festival, Mendoza said Wenholz always had the pink sticky candy on his arms and in his hair — along with a melon-sized grin on his face.
In 2011, the Irrigon Chamber of Commerce gave Wenholz a standing ovation. He was honored as citizen of the year during Time to Shine, the city’s annual recognition banquet.
“I thought the world of him and still do,” Smith said. “He will go down in history as one of Irrigon’s finest.”
