Celebration of life for Bob Deahl

Grandpaw was like no other grandpaw. He loved his family very much and adored all of his grandkids. He was always there and involved in everyone's lives. From attending our sporting events, going to campouts, and being there for every holiday. Some special moments that I remember is the amount of times he would ask what the plans were. One that I can clearly remember is on the day I got married. I thought I had explained to him everything that was happening that day, and what he needed to do to make sure he was there and ready. I remember coming downstairs and my dad having to reexplain it all to him in a stern voice. It made me laugh everytime he would ask someone what the plans were anytime something was going on. I don't know if he really did forget, or wanted to be sure we all knew what was going on. A more recent memory, about 3 years ago when my grandma moved, he, my dad, and uncle Ben were loading up the moving truck. He thought it would be funny to take the office wheel chair down the driveway "weeee" he said. Yes, he crashed at the end of the driveway. It gave us all a good laugh for the day, and what seemed to be an inside joke for the boys. Grandpaw was always one to show up and be there for you when you needed him. We chatted every Sunday night to share about our week and upcoming plans for the following week. He'd always ask about the weather and how it might have been perfect to go outside and take 5 minutes to mow his lawn or pull a couple weeds. He was pretty proud of the fact that it didn't take him long. We also often met in Centraila for lunch at country cousins. We wouldn't always have enough time to meet in saint helens for an extended visit, not always easy with the girls. We loved meeting and catching up. Even if there wasn't much to say, just being there with each other was enough. He was also one who loved his great grand babies dearly. We video chatted often so he could see the girls. He loved to just sit and watch Callie be her crazy, high energy self. He just adored her and the way she has grown up to be so smart. Although he didn't get as much time with Evelyn, it was so important to me to have him meet her. He loved her so much! My grandpaw was my buddy. We could look at each other and we just knew what the other was thinking. A wink or smile said it all. He was the best! I love you granpaw!

I met Bob in1982 when we first moved into a mobile home, I had placed it near the levee which got his attention, since the levee was his baby for most of his work life. Bob was the General Manager of Scappoose Drainage Improvement Company (SDIC) for about 30 years until he retired in 2012. SDIC, includes the 10-mile-long levee along Multnomah Channel, initially built in 1925, a dozen pumps, and many miles of drainage ditches that protects about 5,700 acres from annual flooding including the last 100-year flood in1996. SDIC protects a big part of the City of Scappoose, 900 landowners (including about 600 homes). In 2002 I volunteered to be on the SDIC board and continued until 2021. In all those years we worked together I always knew Bob’s priority was the safe and efficient operation of the SDIC and he took the responsibility very seriously. Since he retired Bob continued to be a resource of historical knowledge when needed by the current Board & management. Bob will be missed

Bob and I met 60 years ago at St. Helens High in Algebra II class. We went together for two years. When he was drafted into the US Army we decided to get married even though I still had a half year left in my senior year. That was frowned on by parents and faculty. No stopping that plan. For the next 23 years we shared real good times and really bad times. After our divorce we were still brought together with our 4 kids. The most wonderful time was our first grandbaby, Bobby, the third, and the loss of our beautiful daughter were just three weeks apart. A hard time for the whole family. Since then neither of us was willing to miss any family event so we still saw each other many times at birthdays, dance recitals, weddings, births. Bob enjoyed driving me crazy. We had a like/no like relationship for many years. This last year, watching his painful journey with the cancer was very difficult. I saw him pretty often and each time he was declining. I admired the fight that he put up. He didn't want to be sick. He had too much to live for. The last two weeks were so difficult. He said, I'm ready to go. He didn't want to live like that. We certainly had our differences but I had the greatest respect for how hard Bob worked and the love and generosity he had for his kids, grandkids and now great grandkids. I'm not sure that anyone knows for sure just what our life after death will be but I know how I hope it will be. I hope Bob is with our daughter and all the other loved ones that have gone before him. And I'm sure he is walking those streets that aren't asphalt but, streets of gold. Waiting for the rest of us "Deahls".

Even though I was just the kid down the street, Bob played a major role in my childhood. I have vivid memories of riding my bike to his house so I could watch John Wayne movies with him. No matter what my interests were at the time, he always made an effort to foster those interests as if I was his own son. Whether it was woodworking projects at his shop, letting me walk the dyke with him during one of his ‘loops’, or learning about the history of our country through Ken Burns Documentaries, he never missed an opportunity to share the things he was passionate about with me. The memories I have of Bob span back 20 years, and without them, I would not have developed into the man I am today. Although learning of his passing is saddening, I will do my part to ensure these memories live on well into the future.

I only knew Bob a few years but he was a great family friend. Bob was friends and worked with my husband Ron Elmore for many years. They paved all over Columbia County and yes when driving past a driveway or an approach they would say we paved that! It’s in our blood! Bob was 1 day younger than Ron and he love to remind Ron every July 6th Bob “The Candy Man” was enjoyed by all the grandkids not only for the Werthers lol but because he was nice to them and he would look for them to give them his candy, they would always know when he was over cuz he would leave candy for them even if they weren’t here. Bob thanks for being our family’s friend.

Bob loved to play basketball and so did I so we always tried to play or pick up game with anyone that wanted to play. We had so many parties out at his house in Scappoose on the dike. So we remained friends ever since and over the years we just became family. He would come to dinner with my family and we would just hang out. Bob was a very special guy. We will truly miss him and our talks.

I could always count on Grandpaw to show up to all the big moments in my life. From graduations, dance recitals, camping trips, and holidays, he was always there. One of my favorite memories is skipping school to ride around the dike with Grandpaw while he did his rounds for work. He always had candy (chocolate covered macadamia nuts were my favorite!) and we got to listen to his "old timey" music. I love you Grandpa and miss you!