2 Fall 2018 Applegater
OBITUARY
Claude Anderson Sr.
May 5, 1919 - June 12, 2018
Applegate
Valley resident
Claude “Victor”
A n d e r s o n S r.
passed away on
June 12, 2018,
at the age of 99,
at Hearthstone
Nursing and
Rehabilitation
Center in
Me d f o rd ,
Oregon.
Victor was the
seventh of eight
children born
t o i m m i g r ant
parents, John and
Ida Anderson,
from Sweden.
Victor was born on May 5, 1919, in
Central Point, Oregon.
During World War II, from 1942
to 1946, he served in the US Navy
as a gunner’s mate second class on a
destroyer in the South Pacific.
Victor spent 38 years in Alaska as
a heavy equipment operator before
moving to Applegate, where he owned
a small-engine repair shop for 20 years.
In later years, he would dismantle
and recycle the small engines of lawn
mowers and other equipment neighbors
dropped off along his driveway. Victor
was in his workshop daily, keeping
active and doing
what he enjoyed.
D u r i n g
walnut season,
Vi c t o r w o u l d
dry roast, shell,
and can walnuts,
then give them
to family and
friends in the
community for
Christmas.
Victor was
preceded in
death by Margo,
his wife of
29 years; son
Claude Jr., from
a prior marriage;
brothers Lloyd,
Ted, Richard, and Ray; and sisters
Ella, Ida, and Edith. He is survived by
two nieces, Jean Tiempe of Gresham,
Oregon, and Margie Riley of Talent,
Oregon; and three grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be
made to the Paralyzed Veterans of
America, 801 Eighteenth Street NW,
Washington, DC 20006 (800-555-
9140).
A Celebration of Life will be held at
a later date. Victor will be inurned at
Eagle Point National Cemetery. Chapel
of the Valley - L.B. Hall Funeral Home
is entrusted with the arrangements.
As this paper goes to press in late August, wildfires are still raging in southern
Oregon. But the smoke—rated “hazardous” at times— that plagued the Applegate
Valley is gone. Thank you to the estimated 7,000 firefighting personnel, including
the National Guard and recruits from Australia and New Zealand, who have
worked tirelessly to put out these fires. We extend our heartfelt appreciation.
Photo, left: Firefighters take a
much-needed break from their
heroic efforts.
Photo, bottom: Sunset on the
Taylor Creek Fire. Located ten miles
west of Grants Pass, the Taylor Creek Fire
is the second largest of the
lightning-caused fires burning since July 15.
As of August 28, fire had consumed
almost 53,000 acres.
The largest fire, Klondike, had burned
over 93,000 acres.
Photos: Oregon Department of Forestry
Facebook page.
~ In Memoriam ~
Robert Alsenz
September 1, 1928 - June 12, 2018
Welcome to the Applegater,
Cathy Rodgers!
New Applegater board
member Cathy Rodgers has
had property on the Applegate
River for almost 30 years.
Now, after nearly 40 years
with IBM as vice president of
global engagements and years
spent globe-trotting, she has
moved back to the Applegate,
where she has already made
herself indispensable to the
community.
In addition to the Applegater
board, Cathy also serves on
the Cantrall Buckley Park
Enhancement Committee and
is a member of the Applegate
Partnership and Watershed
Council Board of Directors.
Cathy serves as a passionate
speaker and advocate on climate
change, global warming,
sustainability, women’s issues,
and entrepreneurism. She has
been recognized as “Woman of
the Year” in California for her work in
disaster preparedness and featured in
the New York Times for her role with
minority suppliers. She has worked
with the US State Department on topics
concerning women, youth, education,
and entrepreneurism around the world.
She is a frequent lecturer at colleges
and universities, including Semester
at Sea. She serves as the Institute of
Supply Management’s committee chair
on sustainability, social responsibility
and ethics, and is co-founder and
president of Rooted in Hope, a
nonprofit organization dedicated
to environmental conservation and
sustainable development, located in
the Applegate.
Born in Chicago, Cathy spent her
younger years in New York, then moved
west to California, living the last ten
years at Lake Tahoe. Cathy enjoys
writing, hiking, and kayaking. She has
summited Mt. Kilimanjaro and is the
fourth woman to have completed a half
marathon on all seven continents. In
fact, she recently returned from Bhutan,
having circled the seven continents for
the second time and becoming, with
her daughter, the first mother-daughter
team to run a half marathon on all
continents. Fittingly, she was one of
the first female paramedics certified in
California.
Cathy holds a master’s degree in
hazard management and community
service and a master’s in business
administration. She is currently
completing her PhD in environmental
policy in Kenya.
Over the years, Look Who’s Reading the Gater included
photos of Cathy on all seven continents.
This is one of them, from 2006, in Sydney Harbor, Australia.
