Richard "Dick" Weber, one of the last of Petaluma's Poultrymen, died on Tuesday after a long and wonderful life. Dick was born and lived his entire life in Petaluma on one of the thousands of family-owned egg ranches that once blanketed the surrounding area and contributed to Petaluma's famed reputation of the "Egg Basket of the World". As a third generation poultryman, Dick survived the decline of the local egg industry by collaborating with two business partners at a time when farming partnerships where unheard of. The resulting business is one of Sonoma County's two surviving commercial egg producing businesses today and continues to thrive despite an uncertain future.
In 1966, Dick married his wife Rosalind and the two raised their sons Michael and Scott on the same ranch where he grew up. Dick and Rosalind had many wonderful years together raising their children, traveling around the world (especially Hawaii), and spending time with their grandchildren Ben, Camden, Alexandra and Madison. The couple was also known to enjoy a good party, no matter how late it went.
Dick supported numerous non-profit organizations, volunteering for school boards, fire departments, and supporting countless organizations with his time and donations. He was especially fond of his membership in the Petaluma Rotary Club where he made lasting friendships with generations of people throughout the greater Petaluma community.
When Rosalind passed away suddenly in 2004, Dick's sons were blessed with the opportunity to get to know their father on a deeper scale through daily visits and calls. As his health declined, his sons attended to his needs and were assisted by Onisi, Dick's caretaker of five years.
Dick Weber was 83 years old. He is survived by his two sons Michael and Scott. Scott continues to manage the family business as a fourth generation Petaluma egg producer. The Weber Family would like to express their tremendous gratitude to the family and friends who brightened Dick's final months with regular visits (especially those bringing food and treats), to the amazing staff at Petaluma Valley Hospital (you gave us strength), to the loving care and friendship of Onisi (you will forever be part of the family), and to the employees and business partners of Sunrise Farms.
Friends and family are invited to attend a Funeral Service on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Parent-Sorensen Mortuary & Crematory, 850 Keokuk Street, Petaluma, CA. A visitation will be held at the mortuary on Thursday, October 13, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Petaluma Rotary Club, P.O. Box 5655, Petaluma, CA 94955, an organization which Dick was a devoted member of for nearly fifty years.
Published - October 13, 2011
Dick Weber saw the egg industry rise and fall through his decades running a Petaluma farm. He began delivering eggs by horse and semi-retired as new regulations became burdensome on farmers.
Weber, one of the last egg farmers in what used to be called the “Egg Basket of the World,” died Tuesday after a long illness. He was 83.
A third-generation poultryman, Weber was born and lived his entire life in Petaluma.
His family-owned egg ranch was one of thousands that once dotted the area and contributed to Petaluma's agricultural reputation, said one of two sons, Mike Weber of Carmel. Now there are only two egg farms.
Dick Weber's parents operated an egg ranch, as did his grandparents. Scott Weber continues to run the family farm in Petaluma.
“It was the only thing he ever knew,” Mike Weber said of his father. “But he wasn't like a traditional farmer. He wasn't a guy who wore cowboy boots. He was more of a business person than what you'd imagine a farmer to look like.”
He said his father was one of the most well-read people he's ever known, reading several newspapers each day and subscribing to nearly 20 news magazines. He wasn't attracted to hobbies like shooting, fishing or drinking.
“Instead, he paid close attention to what was going on in the world,” Weber said. “When things were good, he invested and stored away his nuts. When times were bad, we kind of scrimped by.”
Weber, born in 1928, was a typical Depression baby, his son said.
“He wouldn't buy things he wanted, he'd wait until it was not a want, but an absolute need. That's not to say he was tight with money, but he looked at things that were not necessary and didn't invest. But if there was something to invest in that would help make the business stronger, he would put his efforts there.”
His business acumen guided his farm through difficult times.
He saw small farms failing as they tried to go it alone, his son said. So he formed a partnership with other Sonoma County ag men, Sunrise Farms, a collaboration that still exists today.
Sunrise Farms was honored as “Agriculturalist of the Year” by the Sonoma County Farm Bureau in 2004. Owned by Weber and partners Arnold Riebli, Al Nissan, Jim Carlson and Larry Johnson, the company was noted for its progressive production and marketing prowess in a very competitive business.
Sunrise, in its affiliation with Nulaid eggs, NuCal and CalEgg, produces nearly all of the eggs eaten in Northern and Central California in stores as diverse as Whole Foods and Costco, Weber said.
“He's leaving at a time when the egg industry is facing challenges,” his son said. “But he managed to eke it out.”
In 1988, Weber was chosen as the grand marshal for Petaluma's Butter & Egg Days. In 2005, the Chamber of Commerce bestowed on him an “excellence in agriculture” award.
In 1966, Weber met his wife, Rosalind, while both were on vacation in Hawaii. They were married for 38 years until her death in 2004.
In addition to his two sons, Weber is survived by four grandchildren.
Weber supported several nonprofits and volunteered on various school boards and fire departments. He had particularly fond memories of friendships made during his 50 years with the Petaluma Rotary Club, his son said.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary at Magnolia Avenue and Keokuk Street, followed by a reception and celebration of his life at 1159 Skillman Lane. Interment will be at Liberty Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Petaluma Rotary Club.
Lori A. Carter
© The Press Democrat.
Published - October 20, 2011
Richard "Dick" Weber, one of the last of Petaluma's poultrymen, died on Oct. 11, 2011. He was 83.
Mr. Weber was born and lived his entire life in Petaluma on one of the thousands of family-owned egg ranches that once blanketed the surrounding area and contributed to Petaluma's famed reputation of the "Egg Basket of the World."
As a third-generation poultryman, he survived the decline of the local egg industry by collaborating with two business partners at a time when farming partnerships were unheard of. The resulting business, Sunrise Farms, is one of Sonoma County's two surviving commercial egg-producing businesses today and continues to thrive. Sunrise produces nearly all the eggs sold in Northern and Central California stores due to its affiliation with Nulaid eggs, NuCal and CalEgg.
Owned by Weber and partners Arnold Riebli, Al Nissan, Jim Carlson and Larry Johnson, Sunrise Farms was honored as Agriculturalist of the Year by the Sonoma County Farm Bureau in 2004.
His son, Scott Weber, continues to manage the family business as a fourth generation Petaluma egg producer.
In 1966, Mr. Weber married his wife, Rosalind, and the two raised their sons, Michael and Scott, on the same ranch where he grew up.
Weber served as grand marshal of the Butter and Egg Days parade in 1988. The Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce honored Weber with the Excellence in Agriculture award in 2005.
Mr. Weber supported several nonprofit organizations, volunteered for school boards, fire departments and supported countless organizations with his time and donations. He was especially fond of his membership in the Petaluma Rotary Club where he made lasting friendships with generations of people throughout the Petaluma community. He was a member of Rotary for nearly 50 years.
He is survived by his two sons, Michael Weber of Carmel and Scott Weber of Petaluma; and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of 38 years, Rosalind Weber.
Memorial services were held last week.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Petaluma Rotary Club, P .O. Box 5655, Petaluma 94955.
© Petaluma Argus Courier.
Dick Weber
Richard Weber
Egg farmer