Dalles Vestal Denton, age 79, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 24, 2022. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Emma Jean Smith, age 97, a resident of Grass Valley, OR, passed away February 22, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Mark Baehm, age 86, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away January 27, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Joan Carol Swett, age 83, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 14, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Glen Monroe Cunningham, age 86, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 19, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Thomas Edward Schunk was born in February, 1947, and passed away peacefully on January 22, 2022, at a local care facility in The Dalles, Oregon. He was born in Portland, Oregon, and adopted at 10 days old by his loving parents, Emanuel and Nellie Schunk. Tom, along with his sister, Bernadine, grew up in their family home that was built by their dad in Milwaukie, Oregon. They went on many family vacations. Camping and clamming were their favorites, often going to Bend and Seaside, Oregon.
Tom was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Milwaukie, Oregon. His family was very involved in their church throughout his entire childhood. Tom also served as an altar boy. He attended the St. John the Baptist School from first grade through the eighth grade, and then attended Clackamas High School from his freshman through senior year, graduating in 1965. Tom was an active youth. He was a Cub and Boy Scout (receiving many merit badges) and loved playing sports. He played baseball, football, swam on the swim team, and participated in 4–H, raising two calves named Tuffy, and Tuffy Two. At the ripe old age of 12, Tom also joined the NRA.
After graduating high school, Tom joined the United States Coast Guard and was based out of Coos Bay, Oregon. He served 4 years, from 1966-1970. During his service one of his jobs was to maintain and paint lighthouses along the Oregon coastline. He also served in the Vietnam War on a Coast Guard River Patrol Boat. He received the National Defense Service Medal, a Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with device (1960), and a CG Good Conduct Award during his time of service.
After Tom’s time in the service, he married Charlene in 1971. They were married for 20 years, and remained great friends until his passing. They had two children, Kelly and Gary. As a family, they enjoyed their horses, cows, and family dog. As an adult, Tom was one of the 1st EMT's in the state of Oregon. Later he worked in construction, sold door-to-door insurance, and ultimately sold automobiles for most of his career. He was the life of party "Good ole` Tom". He loved to hunt, play softball, shoot pool, and as he got older, it was all about golf. After retirement he returned to work for a few years at the local Eagles and Home Depot in The Dalles, Oregon. Tom enjoyed spending time with his grandkids and family.
Tom Schunk is survived by his daughter and son, Kelly Haskins, and Gary Schunk, and their spouses Patrick Haskins and Rachel Schunk. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Grace Haskins, and two grandsons, Tyson Haskins and Nicholas Haskins. Tom was predeceased by his father, Emanuel Schunk, his Mother, Nellie (Frossard) Schunk, and sister, Bernadine (Schunk) Counts.
A Celebration of Tom's Life will be held at Spencer, Libby and Powell at 1100 Kelly Ave, The Dalles, Oregon, on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 1:00pm. A light reception will follow.
Tom loved and proudly served this amazing USA. We feel the best way to honor Tom is to ask everyone to wear something either patriotic (red, white, and blue) or something that would represent the branch of the military in which you served (a hat, shirt, or jacket, etc). You know Tom, no fuss needed. Please come and join us in his celebration.
Richard E. “Dick” Yecny, 89, a resident of The Dalles, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 28th, 2022.
He was born April 3, 1932, in Madera, California, the youngest of four children born of Bessie and Ernest Yecny. His father died before he was born.
His early life was spent in Fresno, California, where he attended both public and parochial schools through the second grade. His mother then remarried, and Dick moved to Oregon, where he lived first in Scappoose and then St. Helens. He attended St. Frederic’s elementary school in St. Helens. Upon completing the eighth grade he attended and boarded at Columbia Prep High School on the University of Portland campus during his freshman and sophomore years. Dick then moved back to Fresno, California, where he completed his junior and senior high school years at Roosevelt High School. He played football for Roosevelt and was selected to the Fresno All City football team his senior year. Following high school graduation in 1950, Dick served with the United States Marine Corps in Korea. He married his high school sweetheart, Pat (she conveniently lived across the street) in 1953.
Dick continued his education at Fresno City College where he played football and was inducted into the college’s “Wall of Fame”. He and Pat then moved to Eugene where their first son, Rick, was born and where Dick played football and graduated from the University of Oregon. They then moved to Prineville, where their second son, Ken, was born. In addition to teaching, Dick was the assistant football coach, and head coach for both wrestling and golf. Their third child, Terry, was born in The Dalles, and Dick and Pat decided not to move again.
Dick earned his Master’s Degree at Oregon College of Education, Monmouth Oregon. While with The Dalles Public Schools, Dick taught biology and P. E., and coached football, wrestling, and golf. He later became Director of the Resource and Media Center (RAM Center) where the centralized ordering, processing, and repairs of the district’s library media materials and equipment occurred. The RAM Center also provided graphics and printing services to The Dalles Public Schools and surrounding districts. Dick concluded his educational career as principal of Colonel Wright Elementary School, The Dalles.
Dick was a past member of The Dalles Lions Club, the Elks, The Dalles Master Gardeners, Afternoon Tea Group, an active member of The Dalles Country Club, and was an original and active board member of St. Vincent de Paul, The Dalles. In addition, he and his wife Pat served as Eucharistic Ministers, representing St. Peter Catholic Church in ministering to occupants of The Dalles Veterans Home. Dick was a second generation American, and enjoyed reconnecting with his relatives in the Czech Republic in his later years.
Dick is survived by his wife of 68 years, Pat Yecny of The Dalles, children Rick Yecny (Jane) of Florence, Oregon, Ken Yecny of Livermore, California, Terry Carlson (Dave) of Seattle, Washington and daughter-in-law Debbie Koch. He is also survived by his grandchildren Laurel Ferguson (Alex), Ellen Huntingdon (Christopher), Eric, Phillip, Ryan, and Jason Yecny, Brian Carlson (Annie), Terence Carlson and great-grandchildren Maren and Graeme Ferguson, Kieran and Olivia Carlson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Teresa, Bess Louise, Rose, his daughters-in-law Lisa Carlson Yecny and Diane Candelario and his grandson, David Carlson.
Date and time for a mass of Christian burial at St. Peter Catholic Church, The Dalles, and a celebration of life will be determined on a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Home At Last, The Dalles, or a charity of your choice.
Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Leonard (Len) A. Rankin, age 78, a resident of Wasco, OR, passed away February 15, 2022. A celebration of life and Graveside Service to follow. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
John Houston Grant, age 62, a resident of Shaniko, OR formally of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 14, 2022. A celebration of life to be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
William (Buck) Wayne Henderson, age 69, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 12, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Willard Elmer Leff, age 96, a resident of Moro, OR, passed away February 11, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Wilbur Ben Harth Jr, age 73, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away January 30, 2022. A celebration of life to be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Diana Marie Munsen, age 75, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 8, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Laureen Marie Bloniarz, age 60, a resident of The Dalles, Oregon passed away February 7, 2022. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Kenneth Douglas Leash, age 83, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 4, 2022. A celebration of life to be held later this Spring. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Cyrus Claud Harris, a resident of The Dalles, Oregon, passed away January 28, 2022.
Cyrus Claud Harris was born May 5, 1938, in Mendenhall, Mississippi. His parents moved he and his siblings to Yakima, Washington arriving Christmas Eve 1952. His father worked construction on several dams including The Dalles Dam. Cyrus began working at Harvey Aluminum in The Dalles, when he was only 20 years old, when that plant opened in 1958. He eventually moved to The Dalles. Cyrus worked for the aluminum plants new owners Martin Marietta Aluminum and then Northwest Aluminum, retiring after 41 years of service, June 16, 1999.
Cyrus moved to Vancouver, Washington to be closer to extended family. Due to health matters, Cyrus moved back to The Dalles, in 2018 to be by his two children that live locally.
He loved fishing, especially going to the Snake River for catfish! Building his Chevrolet muscle cars, listening and dancing to good music, he was a very social person and was a to many people, playing his guitar and singing as he would be the next “Rick James” and watching the old westerns of John Wayne. Cyrus enjoyed his retirement working in his yard and rebuilding engines in his garage.
Cyrus was preceded in death by his parents A.C. and Mattie Lee Brown Harris, his brothers, Commic, Eugene and Hertis Hariss, two sisters, Emma Wyatt and Ruby Harris, and his daughter, Diane Harris.
Cyrus Claud Harris is survived by his sons, Tommie, Duane, Marvin and Brian “Buck” Harris, and his daughter Deana Harris Aloh, 11 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, two sisters, Bessie Gratton and Joann Francis. He will be missed greatly by many.
A memorial for Cyrus will be held at Spencer, Libby and Powell Gathering Hall in The Dalles, OR on February 27, 2022 at 2:00 pm.
Larry Ross Thompson, age 82, a resident of Sherman, OR, passed away February 3, 2022. A celebration of life to be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.
Josephine “Josie” Maciel Castaneda, 76, passed away on February 4th, 2022 at her home in
The Dalles, OR surrounded by her family. Josie was a R.N. and worked at Valley Children’s Hospital in Fresno, CA for 23 years she later worked at Hospice of the Gorge in The Dalles for 14 years and Hearts of Gold in Hood River for 5 years.
Josie was a loving and compassionate wife, mother, grandmother and nurse. She was a loving mentor to her grandchildren. She enjoyed dancing with Manuel, helping the members of her communities, sewing, and traveling.
Preceded in death by her son Ralphie, husband Manuel, and parents Josefina and Rafael Maciel.
Survived by daughters Martha Flores (William), Alice Enriquez (Salvador), grandchildren Andrea Flores (Mike), Salvador, Alejandra, Ricky, great grandchildren Thomas, Elizabeth, brother Ralph Maciel, sister Ida Ontiveros (Rod) and many nieces and nephews.
Josie’s viewing will be on Wednesday February 9th from 2-7pm and Rosary at 7:30pm at Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home. Funeral mass at 10am Thursday, February 10th at St. Peter’s Church in The Dalles, OR.
Josie has requested in lieu of flowers; donations be made to Hope Medical Clinic in The Dalles.
John Walter Fredrick, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away Friday January 28, 2022 at Mid Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles, after a short illness. He was born to John L. and Caroline DeBritz Fredrick on May 14, 1957 in Oak Park, Illinois. He was the first of three sons, including Larry Fredrick of Camargo, Illinois, and Donald R. Fredrick (deceased). He graduated from West Provisio High School in Hillside, Illinois. He worked as a DJ for 4 years and then a tool and dye maker. He served on the school board of St Charles HS for 8 years.
John moved to The Dalles area and married Cheryl DeMyer in 2007. He worked as a tool and dye maker in White Salmon, Wa., then started Elf Janitorial and Carpet Cleaning, then Elf Property Management. John joined the staff at KODL after working on the radio broadcasting ball games with Al Wynn, and keeping stats. He was a host for the Coffeebreak Talk Show two days a week. In his free time you could find him at The Dalles High School gym or field, serving where needed as statistician, announcer, or scoreboard operator. He was a member of The Dalles Urban Renewal Committee for 4 years, and member of North Wasco County School board for two years. He also was a member of the Riverhawk Booster Club and Salvation Army. He had a nose for news, and was passionate about The Dalles politics and Riverhawk athletics. He was a voice of reason and common sense. This year John celebrated his 50 year anniversary as a high school and college sports statistician. He was honored to be invited by Lewis and Clark to do their football states two years in a row, and was selected by the Oregon State Activities Association to do the championship playoffs for football. John’s other passion included rescuing older Labrador retriever dogs from the local animal shelter.
John is survived by his wife, Cheryl, his father, John L Fredrick, his brother, Larry Fredrick, and his children John R (JR) Fredrick of Chicago, Ill, Jennifer Rose Fredrick of Fox River Grove, Ill and step daughter Natalie of Tacoma, WA. He was preceded in death by his mother, Caroline, and his brother Donald.
John’s celebration of Life will be held March 6, 2022 at 2:00 pm at the Granada Theatre. The community is invited to come and celebrate John. If you would like to be speaker, please sign up ahead of time by calling KODL and leaving a message. Donations in John’s name can be made to Riverhawk Athletics, c/o Bill Brost, Athletic Director, The Dalles High School or Home at Last Animal Shelter.
William Francis Simpson, age 73, a resident Wamic, OR, passed away January 30, 2022. A celebration of life to be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.