Alfred Dennis Alleman

Dr. Alfred “Dennis” Alleman, 79, passed away on Wednesday, March 16th in his home in The Dalles, Oregon.  Dennis was born January 1943 in Seattle, WA to Myrtle Hope Alleman and Alfred Joseph Alleman.  Dennis lived with his mother and father and his brother, Darryl and sister, Marilyn in Unalaska, AK and Las Vegas, NV during his childhood and graduated from Rancho High School, Las Vegas in 1961.  He attended UNLV for a year before he was accepted into the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD where he was a proud Navy Orsman graduating in 1966.  He served in the Navy as a fighter pilot for several years after graduation from the Naval Academy.

After leaving the Navy, Dennis attended the Medical College of Georgia and graduated to become a distinguished dentist and Fellow of the American Academy of Dentistry.  After serving as a dentist in the Indian Health Service in Oklahoma and Pendleton, OR, he established his private dental practice in The Dalles, OR and retired after almost 30 years of practicing dentistry in The Dalles. 
Dennis was a wonderful man who loved his family, his Alaskan Native heritage, his Catholic faith and adventure.  He enjoyed hiking, biking, scuba diving, rowing, golfing, paddling in his rowboat, and looking for the next great viewpoint.  He loved to travel and explore.  He was a lifelong learner, always curious and eager to understand more of the world and challenge himself to try new things.  His appreciation of the beauty of nature and savoring all those little and big moments in life are definitely passed on to all who love him.

Dennis met and married Carolyn Estelle Horton in 1966. In addition to his wife Carolyn Horton Alleman, Dennis is survived by his daughter Alice Hope Alleman (Kristy Fleming) of Portland, OR Daughter Wendy Alleman Denham (David Denham) and their 2 daughters (his granddaughters) Lauren Hope and Rachel Ellen of Tigard, OR and his son Alfred Charles Alleman of The Dalles, OR.  

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

 

Mark Powell
Lloyd Eldon Rambo

Lloyd Eldon Rambo, age 69, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 17, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

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Mary Luann Wickwire

Mary Luann Wickwire, age 86, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 14, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

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Ann Klinkhamar

Ann Klinkhamar, age 71, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 12, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

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Marvin Otto Polehn

Marvin, age 88, of The Dalles, Oregon, passed away peacefully Thursday evening, February 3, 2022 at his home, surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

            Marvin was born August 24 1933, in Tenino, Washington and was preceded in death by his parents, Otto Frederick Leo Polehn and Emma Delinda Spieckerman, his brother Leo Frederick Polehn (2019) and sister Margarette Ann Polehn Chisholm (2017).  Marvin was baptized at the home of his parents on October 8,1933. He attended The Dalles schools and spent his youth on Millcreek, working on various family farms including Millcreek, Dry Hollow, Three Mile, Five Mile and Sherman County. He also worked as a mechanic for the local Ford garage. Enlisting in the US  Army February 19, 1953 he was assigned to the motor pool as a wheeled vehicle mechanic.  After serving 3 years, 3 months, 13 days, of which 1 year, 4 months and 28 days in Korea, Marvin was honorably discharged. 

            He married his bride Donella Potter in Linden, California, on April 14,1956. Immediately after her high school graduation, Marvin and Doni loaded up what little possessions they had and headed north to The  Dalles, Oregon, as cherry harvest was just days away. They lived in a farm labor camp on Skyline Rd. Marvin helped his uncle farm until they could move to a small home on Otto and Emma's property on Dry Hollow Rd.  Marvin worked as a Journeyman carpenter and roofer while farming the homeplace. Within a few years he and Donella were able to grow the farm enough to become full time orchardists. In 1972 he bought 300 ewes to support the family and shepherd them for 10 years, eventually establishing Polehn Farms Inc. in 1983. They went on to build a cherry packing house just outside the city limits on Dry Hollow Rd. In 1989.

            Marvin was a true leader and innovator in the orchard community all his adult life. His property received the first water delivered through The Dalles Irrigation District from the Columbia River and among the first orchardists to establish a permanent cover crop to prevent erosion. He was well respected among his fellow orchardists, making himself available to help repair equipment and sharing his wealth of knowledge about best horticultural practices. 

 

Marvin was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church and The Wasco County Farm Bureau. He served his community in many ways including The Dalles Irrigation District Board of Directors, Wasco County Soil & Water Conservation District, The Dalles Cherry Growers Board of Directors, Fort Dalles Museum, Wasco County Republican Central Committee and Zion Lutheran Church Council. 

            Marvin delighted in restoring broken cars and equipment back to working condition and was willing to teach anyone who was willing to learn mechanics, carpentry, or anything else he was passionate about.  What Marvin enjoyed the most was fixing and driving old Caterpillar equipment and reminiscing about his family and friends who inspired him. He was also generous in donating his time,    talents and financial support to community and church projects.  Marvin also had a deep love and appreciation for animals, horses, cows, sheep, cats and especially his dogs. He went out of his way to make sure all his children and grandchildren had the opportunity to raise livestock and participate in 4-H and FFA.

Marvin is well known for his strength and large hands. He knew how to be gentle and caring with animals and people in need of kindness and strength. He was a quiet man who didn’t seek       attention or to boast about his accomplishments.

            Community awards include FFA, Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree 1974, The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce Farmer of the year 1974, Senior Ambassador, "KING BING" The Dalles Cherry Festival 1996, Wasco County Fruit & Produce League, award for outstanding contributions to the sweet cherry industry 2004.

            He was a dedicated husband of 65 years, father, teacher, Orchardist, Mechanic, Carpenter, shepherd, and friend.

            Marvin is survived by his wife Donella Polehn, his children Delinda Jane Polehn Anderson, Kenneth Marvin Polehn, Molly Ann Polehn Lapsley and Timothy William Polehn, 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren with one on the way and was preceded in death by Daughter Karen Marie Polehn (2019).

 

In lieu of Flowers donations can be made to either the Zion Lutheran Church Trust fund or the Fort Dalles Museum.

 

 

Mark Powell
Jack Morrell Gillis

Jack Morrell Gillis, age 92, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 8, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

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Guillermo Flores-Pacheco

Guillermo Flore-Pacheco, age 50, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 6, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arranmgents.

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Victoria Ann Loudd

Victoria Ann Loudd, age 67, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 22, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

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Sammy Allen Benson

Sammy Allen Benson, age 61, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 18, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

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George Benson

George Benson, age 87, a resident of Sherman County, OR, passed away February 21, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

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Ben Adam Munoz

Ben Adam Munoz, age 74, a resident of Wamic, OR, passed away March 2, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

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James David Frakes

James David Frakes, age 65, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 2, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

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Laura Hollzner

Laura Hollzner, age 58, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 14, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

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Jason Paul Weaver

Jason Paul Weaver, age 51, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 22, 2022. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

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Dalles Vestal Denton

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.

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Emma Jean Smith

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.

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Mark Baehm

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.

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Joan Carol Swett

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.

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Glen Monroe Cunningham

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.

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Thomas Edward Schunk

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.   

Mark Powell