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Robert 'Bobby' Kramer
On Friday, April 25, 2008, Robert J. 'Bobby' Kramer, a beloved friend and lifelong member of the community, was taken from us in a tragic farm accident.
Bob was born in Hood River on Nov. 15, 1954, to Anita Hasagawa and Leon Kramer. He attended both Frankton Elementary School and Wy'east High School. He graduated from Hood River Valley High School in 1973.
During his early school years Bob enjoyed playing Little League baseball, and in his later years Bob was on the high school wrestling team. He was told that he wouldn't be able to do either, but at an early age proved he could do whatever he set his mind to.
Except for a brief stint living in Portland while attending Mt. Hood Community College with his brother, Allan Tengwall, Bob lived in Hood River the entire 53 years of his life.
Bobby was known by all as a fun-loving and adventurous man. He enjoyed life, his friends, and mostly his family, which has expanded over the years to include most of Hood River County. Bobby was a stranger to no one; you met Bob once and you were friends forever.
Bob was a very personable and confident man. A man with a huge personality, and a sense of humor to match. He was known best for his playful banter and mischievous ways.
Bobby was always up for a challenge. He was determined to the point of being stubborn. At 4 foot 4 inches Bob was bigger than most men and he stood 7 feet tall. He was told many times that he couldn't do it, or it couldn't be done. He took great pride in proving it could be done, he could do it, and in proving you wrong.
Family and friends were Bob's universe; his wife, Anita, and daughter, Tara, were the center of his universe. The Kramer house is considered home by many. Kids throughout the valley called Bob 'Dad, ' and call Anita 'Mom.' Dinner was always a social event which Bob relished.
Kids were drawn to the Kramer home because they could confide in Bob. He would tell them how it was. He put it to them straight and didn't pull any punches. All kids were treated with respect, and Bob demanded and received respect in return.
Bobby loved many things. He was an avid Harley-Davidson fan, enjoying all things Harley, and was planning to purchase a Harley trike. He loved animals, but dogs and cats were his favorites. He loved to watch and participate in sports.
Bowling was a favorite sport, and he was a league bowler for many years. Bob also loved to play golf and especially enjoyed those times when he played with his father, Leon Kramer. It surprised many of his closest friends that Bob could out-drive them on the golf course.
He enjoyed playing both sports until back problems prevented him from continuing to play.
In addition to sports Bob was involved in the community. He was an active member for over 30 years in the Hood River Elks Lodge, and past officer. He was also a member of the American Legion and a member of Little People of America (LPA).
Bob met Anita at an LPA convention in 1973 after Anita pushed him into a swimming pool. In true form, Bob did get her back later that night. They continued a long-distance romance for a number of years until they were married
in Tempe, Ariz., on Feb. 20, 1982.
A source of great pride, the joy and light of his life, his daughter, Tara, was born in 1983.
Bobby was employed by the U.S. Forest Service for 19 years as a dispatcher, purchasing agent and fire supply supervisor; a job at which he excelled. He was known statewide as the man that 'Would' get the job done.
His reputation for getting things done earned Bob and his family numerous interrupted summer outings, events and even a vacation, as the Forest Service tracked Bob down wherever he was because he was needed to help fight a forest fire.
After the passing of Bob's stepfather, Tom Hasagawa, in 1993, Bob worked with his brother, Kenny Kramer, for a short period running the family orchard. In 1996, Bob retired from the forest service to help his mother, Anita Hasagawa, manage the orchard full time.
Once again people told Bob he couldn't do it, and once again Bobby proved 'anything is possible.' Bob became a great orchardist, growing top quality fruit, and earned the respect of orchardists throughout the valley.
On April 19, 2008, it was Bob's greatest pleasure and honor to walk his daughter, Tara, down the wedding isle, and to welcome Todd A. Williams into his family. Bob's star shined brightest that night as he saw his daughter get married
to a man he loved and was honored to call son.
He was in his element; surrounded by family and friends at the dinner table laughing and telling jokes. The look in his eyes and the smile on his face during the father-daughter dance made it apparent that this day was one of the happiest of Bob's life.
Bob leaves behind an extended family that loves and misses him dearly. He is survived by: Anita Kramer, his wife of 26 years, daughter and son-in-law, Tara and Todd Williams, his mother, Anita Hasagawa; and father and stepmother, Leon and Joanne Kramer, all of Hood River.
Bob is also survived by four brothers and a sister: brother and sister-in-law Kenny and Lori Kramer, of Maricopa, Ariz., brother and sister-in-law Allan and Julie Tengwall, of Hood River, sister and brother-in-law Lynn and Marc Potter, of Myrtle Point, Ore., brother Mark Tengwall, of Portland, Ore., and brother, Wayne Tengwall, of Hood River.
Bob also leaves behind 17 adoring nieces and nephews, numerous cousins, aunts and uncles, countless friends who are considered family, uncounted children of different parents, and brokenhearted women throughout the state.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 2, at the Bowe Theatre at Hood River Valley High School. The family requests informal dress with jeans and Harley-Davidson T-shirts encouraged. Graveside services will be held afterward at Idlewild cemetery. Following the graveside services you are invited to join the family at the Hood River Elks Lodge for refreshments.
Donations can be made to the Robert Kramer Memorial Fund in care of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000
Barbara Marxer
Barbara Jane Marxer, 91, of Portland, Ore., died April 13, 2008, at Hillside Adult Care Home in Portland. She was born June 15, 1916, in Evanston, Ill., to Gordon and Mabel Bull.
Barbara was married
47 years to Edward J. Marxer, who passed away in 1986. She has six children, 13 grandchildren and two more on the way. She lived at Hawks Ridge Assisted Living in Hood River for nearly two years, from 2003-05, but Portland, Ore., was her home for many years before and after that time.
Barbara felt her finest accomplishment was teaching her children to take life's punches with grace and hope; that there is beauty almost everywhere; and that reading books is a good thing.
She also taught them that modesty and decency are never out of style; just assume everyone could use another friend; your family is your greatest ally, and unconditional love is the best kind of love. We wish her peace.
Survivors include her son, Charles Gordon Marxer, of White Rock, British Columbia, daughter, Diane G. Bell, of Weston, Vt., son and daughter-in-law Larry and Susan Marxer, of Portland, Ore., and daughters and sons-in-law Barbie and Ken Culp, of El Paso, Texas, Mary and John Hoxer, of Flagstaff, Ariz., and TD and Steve Roney, of Hood River, Ore.
The family suggests that remembrances may be made to Elder Place-Providence, 4540 N.E. Glisan St., Portland, OR 97213.
Charles John Kingery
Charlie was welcomed home on April 19, 2008. He was born in San Diego, Calif., on Sept. 6, 1931, to his loving parents, Karmen and John Kingery.
Charlie was a beloved high school biology teacher for 30 years. During these years he was also an accomplished photographer, potter, silversmith, sculptor, woodworker, arachnologist, blacksmith, poet, miscroscopist and swap meet aficionado. Truly a renaissance man.
In 1990 he and his wife, Mary, along with Charlie's parents relocated to the beautiful Columbia River Gorge area. They settled up Snowden in Washington and together they created Mountain View Pottery.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Mary, and his children, Christopher, David, Sarah and Noah Kingery. He has four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who will hold his memory dear, especially their days at Kamp Kingery.
Charlie requested that there be no funeral or memorials.
Charlie and I extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our wonderful angels who hold us in their loving embrace while we navigate this life passage.
Carpe diem Dearest Charlie!
Please make any remembrances of Charlie's life to Hospice of the Gorge or your local library in care of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000
Keith Fredrickson
Keith Durrell Fredrickson, 61, former editor of the Hood River News, died Dec. 27, 2007, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene.
Keith was born Sept. 22, 1946, to William and Frances Pat Howell, in Roosevelt, Utah.
He graduated from Union High School in Roosevelt in 1964 and from Weber State in Ogden, Utah.
Keith was an avid sports enthusiast. After college he worked as sports reporter for Las Vegas Sun and a number of other newspapers in the intermountain area. Keith worked for the Ogden Standard Examiner after college, and for newspapers in Corvallis, Ore., and Pocatello, Idaho.
Keith was Hood River News editor from June 1996 to May 2000. From 1987-1996 he worked for Fishing Hunting News, Bend Bulletin, and the Newberg Graphic.
He also worked for the The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver, Wash., and for the Columbia Gorge Commission after leaving the Hood River News.
Keith is preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by sons Dylan Fredrickson and Shannon F., now living in Oregon, and by his siblings. He was the youngest of seven children and the only boy.
His sisters are Delores Harless, of Plano, Texas, Ina Thompson, of Allen, Texas, Marlene Rhoe, of Layton, Utah, Hazel Peterson, of Willard, Utah, Laura Middleton, of Heber City, Utah, and Margaret Galley, of Roosevelt, Utah.
Keith will be cremated in Eugene, with remains to be interred in City cemetery in Roosevelt, Utah; final arrangements to be decided later.
Luvilla Marie Maurer-Gurwell-Bettencourt
Just call her Lu.
Luvilla Marie Maurer was born on Sept. 18, 1952, in Hood River, Ore., to Henry and Gladys Adkins-Maurer. She was brought home to the family farm in Parkdale, where she quickly came to be known as 'Lu' or 'Louie.'
Born several years after her older brothers and sisters Ronnie, Dorris, Portia and Grant, Lu was the baby of the family. However, that never stopped her from jumping right in when there was work to be done. In fact, baby Louie became quite the tomboy at home, and rarely missed a chance to go hunting with her dad or help her brothers with the farm chores.
She was taught to ride a horse at a very early age, and soon cultivated a love of horses that would last her entire life. The warm memories she had of her first horse, Babe, a beautiful Palomino, never faded. But though she loved to get her hands dirty outside, there were other pastimes she discovered in her girlhood, especially music.
With a name like Maurer, her family's German heritage could not be denied. In the spirit of that heritage, Lu played the accordion and danced the polka. She also played the piano very well, and danced to any music that moved her, but over the years she never forgot how she loved to polka with her dad, and recalled dancing barefoot with him until there were blisters on her feet.
Having graduated from Wy'east High School in 1970, Lu had grown into a friendly, fun-loving, feminine young woman with ambitions of becoming a beautician. So, she did just that. Between visits with her sister Portia in Seattle and trips to Portland with her girlfriends, she completed beauty school and found work as a hairdresser in Hood River.
Throughout her life she made excellent use of this education, owning and operating both the Cascade Locks Hair Boutique (which she and Rick started from scratch in 1975) of Cascade Locks, Ore., and then the Shear Shop of Moscow, Idaho. Even when she was not running her own business, Lu enjoyed doing hair and nails, and developed a particular fondness for providing her services to the elderly, hairdressing for residents at facilities like the Moscow Care Center.
In 1972 Luvilla married
Rick Gurwell, who would be the father of her three children. Their romance was born of shared passions such as music (especially Elvis Presley), which they listened to at least every Sunday; animals, outdoor activities like three-wheeling, snowmobiling, and visiting the coast, and frequent get-togethers with family and friends.
In the 16 years of their marriage they lived first in Hood River, where they had their first daughter, Karriana, then moved to Moscow, Idaho, the birthplace of their second and third children, Kathryn and Grant. Doctors had long expected that childbearing would be difficult if not impossible for her, so she saw each of her three children as heaven-sent. She would have done anything she could for any one of them, and despite the fact that she never thought it was enough, she always gave them her very best.
One of the most difficult choices she ever made was the decision to leave Rick, and though their marriage did not last, it remained a full and memorable period of her life.
To Lu, 'home' meant any place where she had friends and family. After her divorce, she did hair in Longview, Wash., where she established another home for herself. With her warm, easy laugh and friendly demeanor she soon developed a close circle of friends there.
Lu remarried
in the 1990s, taking the name Bettencourt. Though she traveled around quite a bit with her second husband (whom she eventually divorced), living in a handful of small towns in Oregon, southern Washington and central California, she always came back to Longview.
Her belief in working hard dictated that no matter where she lived, Lu always found ways to keep herself busy. When she wasn't working overtime at more than one job, she devoted herself to either the extracurricular activities of her kids and grandkids (she attended every game, match, or performance she could, and was never shy about cheering her kids on from the stands), or her own creative pursuits.
She loved to bake, and Lu's pies were competition-worthy. She also had a most skillful hand at crocheting and knitting. She made everything, from king-sized quilts made of hundreds of finely crocheted squares, to sweaters, hats and handbags, to rugs and valances, to delicate Christmas ornaments and doll dresses. Nearly everything she made, she gave away to the many people she loved.
Despite a life of hard work, Lu always knew how to have fun, how to laugh. She loved funny movies, music and dancing, sharing meals and watching football with her family (her team was the Seahawks), bowling, riding horses and going to rodeos.
She loved visiting her sister, Portia, and brother-in-law, Stan, in Camano, Island, Wash.; she loved taking the train with Portia to visit their brother, Grant, and sister-in-law, Lois, in Myrtle Creek, Ore. She loved going with Portia to get a mocha at their favorite coffee stand, and going fishing with Grant.
She loved autumn in the Northwest, sharing butterhorns with her kids, and doing hair for little old ladies and gentlemen. She loved every dog she ever had, most recently Tia and Pepsi. She loved goofing off with friends and family. She loved her family. She loved anything that made her laugh. Basically, Lu loved to live.
Lu never lost her talent for hairdressing, but she found a second calling when she started care giving in the early 1990s. She had always known a fondness for the elderly, so it was only natural that jobs such as managing small residential care facilities eventually led her to become a C.N.A.
As though they were her own family, she cared for the residents and coworkers wherever she went, but one facility in particular had a special place in her heart. She worked at the Woodland Rehabilitation Center of Woodland, Wash., for several years. There, she had been affectionately called Lu-Bell, and was loved by staff and resident alike for her down-to-earth, light-hearted, hard-working personality.
She was thrilled to return to Woodland and Woodland Rehab after more than a year away, and the very morning she came back to work was the last morning she knew. The beloved facility that was like home to her was where she took her last footsteps, drank her last cup of coffee, and laughed her last laugh.
Luvilla Marie Maurer-Gurwell-Bettencourt passed away Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007, at the young age of 55. She took her last few breaths in the loving arms of her three children.
She is survived by her dear sister and brother-in-law, Portia and Stan Wilkes of Camano Island; her dear brother and sister-in-law, Grant and Lois Maurer of Myrtle Creek; her beloved children, Kori Lyon and her fianc', Bob DeCamp, of Longview, Kathryn Gurwell and her fianc', William Joersz, of Portland, Ore., and Grant Gurwell and his fianc', Kila Hinton, of Everett, Wash.; her seven wonderful grandchildren, Matt, Brittany, Jordan, Zachary, Chelsea, Shyane and little Shaun, whom she called Hank; several loving nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends; and her little old Shih Tzu, Tia. Her passing reunites her with her mother and father, her siblings, Ronnie and Dorris, and her cherished dog, Pepsi, who all preceded her in death.
Her interment will be private, but a celebration of life service will be held at the Woodland Rehabilitation Center at a later date. Contact Kori at (360) 957-0224, or Katie at (503) 807-9930 for further information. Remembrances may be made to Emergency Shelter Groups of Cowlitz County (360-425-1176).
Will Brookover
Joe Wilbur Brookover, affectionately known as Will, passed away Dec. 31, 2007, at Ashley Manor of Hood River, Ore. He was born July 1, 1912, in Shawnee, Okla., to Campbell C. and Edith (Coffin) Brookover. His birth was followed by six girls.
The family moved to Petaluma, Calif., in 1925 where they operated a chicken ranch. Will graduated from Petaluma High School and went to work for McPhail Fuel Company where he worked through World War II as his job was considered necessary for fueling the ships involved in the war effort.
Will married
Mary Belle Graham in 1937 and they had three daughters, Marcia, Susan and Mary Jo. He retired from McPhail Fuel in 1970.
After retiring he moved to Hawaii where he lived in Pahoa for 25 years. He enjoyed square dancing and growing flowers, trees and vegetables. His favorite tree was the Royal Palm. Will moved to Hood River in 2000.
Will is survived by his three daughters, Marcia Berkhover, of San Diego, Calif., Susan Brookover of Ulapalakua, Hawaii, and Mary Jo Bartlett, of Mt. Hood, Ore.; and three grandchildren, Susan Brittain, Ginger Sadlier and Sean Sadlier.
Masonic funeral rites will be performed at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, at Anderson's Tribute Center. Graveside rites will follow at Idlewilde cemetery of Hood River, Ore.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000
