Lonnie Ray Weitzel January 15, 1969 – June 2, 2017

Lonnie passed away peacefully at Mercy Hospital in Redding after a brief illness.

Lonnie was born and raised in Fortuna by his parents Leslie and Beverley Weitzel. Lonnie owned and operated Weitzel Truck and Trailer since 2007. Lonnie was extremely talented and was one of the best welder fabricators in this area. Lonnie was a perfectionist and was loved by his customers from all over California and Southern Oregon, whom he became friends with. Lonnie had a heart of gold, he was soft spoken and could sweet talk any little old lady into anything — his twinkling soft blue eyes and beautiful smile would just melt hearts.

Lonnie was engaged to Lisa Armstrong for the past 15 years, calling it “a love story” — blending and raising their four sons and welcoming four grandsons. Lonnie and Lisa spent years working so they could retire early to spend the rest of their lives enjoying their family and traveling.

Lonnie loved his family. He loved working with his sons at his shop teaching them to weld, fabricate and work on trucks. Lonnie loved his grandsons. He loved watching them play with their toy trucks to teaching them how to run a “real forklift.” His oldest grandson, Bentley, would spend hours at the shop with Grandpa, even taking naps on pieces of old cardboard in the corner of the shop. Grandpa loved taking Bentley to school in the mornings, giving Bentley a ride in his “big truck.”

Lonnie leaves behind his fiancé Lisa Armstrong; his sons Brandon, Bradley, Bryce Weitzel and Jesse Armstrong; one daughter-in-law, Melissa Weitzel; his four grandsons, Bentley and Teigen Weitzel and Uriah and Kaique Armstrong; his parents, Leslie and Beverley Weitzel; his brother, Shawn Weitzel; nephews Gibson, Ethan and niece Hannah Weitzel, all of Fortuna; grandmother Martha Weitzel, aunts Lavonne Purnhagen (Dusty), Sharon Dahl (Boyd), Donna Gabrielli Straub (Stanley); uncle, Gary Huber (Suzie); great-uncle Bud Wright and Great Aunt Kay Wright; in-laws Kenneth and Kay Armstrong of Bridgeville; brother in-law Jud Armstrong (Sarah) of Tillamook, Ore.; along with other cousins of California and Oregon. Lonnie also leaves behind one of his closest and best friends, Tim Ireland of Fortuna.

Lonnie was proceeded in death by Grandfather Lester Weitzel, Grandfather Oliver Huber and Grandmother Ann Huber.

There will be a Celebration of Life on June 24, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Fortuna River Lodge in Fortuna. All customers who can bring their trucks to honor Lonnie for his outstanding work are encouraged to do so. Food and refreshments will be provided.

“God has you in his arms, I have you in my heart forever and always my love”

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Lonnie Weitzel’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.