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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017
OBITUARIES
Forrest William Harding
Kaisa K. Saari
Imbler
March 3, 1941 — April 1, 2017
Naselle, Washington
May 29, 1938 — March 24, 2017
Forrest William Harding, of Imbler, Ore- of seeing the redwoods, those beautiful big
gon, and many years in Elsie, Oregon (aka trees. He also was a fisherman several times
Bill to his family, and Weasel to his friends) in Alaska, when he decided to find a “safer”
left this earth on April 1, 2017, after 76 years job than logging.
of living life to its fullest on his own
He was a lover of hunting,
motorcycles (in his younger days),
terms.
fishing, gardening, shooting, grow-
A graveside service will be
ing roses and listening to good
held Saturday, April 8, 2017, at the
Elsie Cemetery on U.S. Highway
music.
26 at 1 p.m., officiated by Brian
His surviving family include
his friend and partner for life, Joan
McKelvey.
Harding; four children, James
Forrest was born on March 3,
Harding, Scott Harding, Jessica
1941, to Forrest E. Harding and
Harding Bogard and April Harding
Ruth (Gagnon) Harding in Astoria,
Scurr; his brother, Gary Harding; 11
Oregon. He graduated from Sea-
side, Oregon, in 1959 and joined the Forrest Harding grandchildren, Rachael, Stephanie,
Mekenzi, Austin, Stephen, William,
U.S. Army in July 1959 until Janu-
Michelle, Brandon, Finnegan, Imre
ary 1963.
Forrest married Carolyn Mae Rackley in and Annabelle; three great-grandchildren; and
1962, and had two sons, James and Scoot. He eight nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents,
married his wife of 45 years, Joan Thomes, on
Forrest and Ruth; and brother in spirit, if not
Dec. 3, 1975.
Forrest was a logger his whole life, start- in blood, Bruce Thomes.
Online condolences may be made to the
ing with Crown Zellerbach in the 1960s. But
it wasn’t until 2010 that he fulfilled a dream family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com
Kaisa K. Saari, a Naselle resident, 78, died “Mummi” and “Ukki” — the Finnish terms for
March 24, 2017, in Portland, Oregon. She was “grandma” and “grandpa” used by the couple’s
born in Kuopio, Finland, on May 29, 1938, to six grandchildren.
She loved music, and lent her voice to sev-
Tauno and Rauha (Miettinen) Kankkunen. The
oldest of five children, she spent her
eral community choirs. She was also
early life in Finland, growing up in
a devoted member of the Naselle
Kuopio, and later, Jyväskylä.
Assembly of God Church, where she
After graduating from high school,
could always be found sitting in her
Kaisa fed her interest in language
same spot: in the front, off to the side.
by traveling to the U.S., where she
Her faith was her greatest passion and
intended to learn English, and return
solace, and fueled every decision she
to Finland as an English teacher.
made.
Instead, she met Wilho Saari, whom
Though her earlier years were
she married in June 1957, a few
filled with travel and adventure, Kai-
months after their first introduction.
sa’s later life was, as she said, “gen-
Kaisa Saari
Wilho and Kaisa settled first in
tle.” She enjoyed racing Wilho in daily
Seattle, where Wilho was finishing
crossword and Sudoku puzzles; she
his student teaching. Shortly after,
usually won. She spent many hours
they moved to North River, Washington, where a day knitting — she never used a pattern, and
Wilho taught for two years, and where they hardly even needed to look down, but always
welcomed their first child, son Riki, in 1959. produced works of art that were gifted to family
The following year, the family moved back to members and community members alike.
Seattle, so Kaisa could attend Seattle Pacific
She invested deeply and quietly in the lives of
University.
the people she loved. When retirement spurred
During her four years of study, Kaisa a new musical career for Wilho, she traveled
received her bachelor’s degree in Spanish, and alongside him as his “roadie.” She personally
had her second child, daughter Karen, in 1962. and prayerfully rooted her grandchildren on in
She immediately went on to obtain her mas- each venture. She welcomed visitors warmly,
ter’s degree in Spanish from the University of treated all graciously, and is remembered, espe-
Washington.
cially, for the sincerely kind smile that always
In 1965, the Saari’s accepted teaching posi- accompanied any greeting.
tions at a mission school in Liberia, West
Kaisa was preceded in death by her brother,
Africa, where they lived until 1969. Upon fin- Kauko Kankkunen, and sister, Kerttu Gus-
ishing their African adventure, the young fam- tavson. She is survived by Wilho Sarri, her
ily moved to Wilho’s hometown of Naselle, beloved husband of 59 years; two children and
Washington, which they made their permanent their spouses, Riki Saari and his wife, Jill, and
residence. Until her retirement from Naselle Karen Nelson and her husband, Greg; six grand-
High School in 1995, Kaisa was a well-loved, children, Kyle, Kirsten and Kenny Saari and
fun-spirited foreign language teacher of Span- Kelsi, Karli and Kayti Nelson; her sister and
ish, German and Finnish.
brother, Kirsti Mustonen and Kari Kankkunen
Kaisa was a consistent presence in the of Finland; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Naselle community. She and Wilho could
Services will be held Saturday, April 8, at 1
always be spotted in the crowd at school sport- p.m. at Naselle Assembly of God.
ing events and performances. They seemed to
Arrangements are being provided by Pentti-
serve as unofficial community grandparents, la’s Chapel By the Sea, and her guest book is
with residents of all ages referring to them as available at www.penttilaschapel.com
Doug Heiner
Ocean Park, Washington
Oct. 19, 1941 — April 1, 2017
Doug Heiner, age 75, of Ocean
Park, Washington, went on his final
drift with the Lord on Saturday, April
1, 2017, and is no longer in pain.
Doug is preceded in death by his
parents, Harold and Bernice Heiner,
and his sister, Kathy Zilmer, all of
Altoona, Washington.
Survivors include his sons, Scott
Heiner of Montesano, Washington,
Dale Heiner of Cathlamet, Washing-
Doug Heiner
ton, Doug Heiner of Naselle, Wash-
ington, Dave Heiner of Aromas, Cal-
ifornia, Will Heiner serving in the Army at he spent
Tomah, Wisconsin, and Rick Heiner of Pasco, together.
Washington. He is also survived by
two nieces, 11 grandchildren, and
eight great-grandchildren.
Doug graduated from Naselle
High School in 1960, and served
four years in the U.S. Navy. He was
a logger and gillnetter throughout
his working years, and was a loving
father and loyal friend to many.
Doug did not want a memorial
service, so anyone wishing to get
closure in his passing, just look upon
the mighty Columbia River, where
his life, and reflect on your times
Astoria assault suspect Opponents of short-term
rental rules fault Gearhart
jumps into Columbia
Birrell ran from
police officers
Claim city
clouded their
ballot proposal
By JACK HEFFERNAN
The Daily Astorian
Astoria Police’s pursuit of
an assault suspect Wednesday
night ended in the Columbia
River.
Police attempted to arrest
Ian Travis Birrell, 35, of Asto-
ria, for an alleged assault at on
the 100 Block of Flavel Street
early Wednesday morning.
Birrell had fled prior to offi-
cers’ arrival, and a woman was
taken to Columbia Memorial
Hospital.
Police were notified just
before 7 p.m. that Birrell
would be meeting some-
one on Bond Street between
Second and Third streets.
But when officers arrived
and attempted to arrest Bir-
rell, he ran toward the river
and then west on the Astoria
Riverwalk.
He then leaped into
the river when an officer
attempted to cut him off. Soon
after, Columbia River Pilots
pulled Birrell from the water
and returned him to shore. He
was then treated at Columbia
Memorial Hospital.
After his release from the
hospital, Birrell was arrested
By R.J. MARX
The Daily Astorian
Elizabeth Hayes/Submitted Photo
An Astoria man wanted for assault fled police and jumped
into the Columbia River Wednesday.
for fourth-degree assault,
strangulation,
third-degree
escape and second-degree dis-
orderly conduct.
Dentist hit with environmental fine
The Daily Astorian
WARRENTON — The
state Department of Envi-
ronmental Quality has
issued a $12,078 civil pen-
alty to Dr. Roman Alexan-
droff for failing to imple-
ment an erosion and
Clatsop Post 12
Seafood
Platter
Cod, Shrimp, Oysters,
Clam & Salmon Chowder,
Potatoes, Coleslaw &
Garlic Bread
Friday
April 7 th
sediment control plan at the
construction site for Alex-
androff Dentistry. Alex-
Featuring boys and girls
high school teams
from throughout the
Columbia-Pacifi c region
androff’s stormwater dis-
charge permit requires a
plan at the Ensign Lane site.
GEARHART — City
officials misrepresented
the meaning of a bal-
lot proposal to repeal and
replace Gearhart’s vaca-
tion rental dwelling ordi-
nance, an initiative orga-
nizer said Wednesday.
Gearhart
vacation
homeowner Jim Whitte-
more said the city’s ballot
title summary was prepared
without input or review
by those who wrote it and
does not reflect the pur-
pose and intent of the ini-
tiative petition, a response
to short-term rental rules
enacted last fall.
The
petition
was
authored by a large com-
mittee of Gearhart prop-
erty owners, including
the three sponsors, Sarah
Nebeker and Joy and Brian
Sigler, Whittemore said.
According to the docu-
ment submitted to the city,
the initiative’s purpose and
intent “is to assure that
the interests of vacation
homeowners and perma-
nent residents remain in a
sustainable balance that is
good for the community,
that every property own-
er’s rights are fairly pro-
tected and that no prop-
erty owner is economically
29
D
harmed by excessive rules summary, the proposed ini-
and regulations.”
tiative would “eliminate off-
The 2 1/2-page petition street parking, residential
offered 15 rules for short- appearance and garbage ser-
term vacation rent-
vice requirements.”
als, including owner
“We are not elim-
inating
parking,
contact details, trans-
ferability, occupancy
appearance or gar-
and health and safety
bage service require-
details, among others.
ments,” Whittemore
The city’s sum-
said.
mary of the document
Other areas of dif-
was issued in a city Peter Watts ference run through-
blog post. The full
out the summary,
initiative petition was
he said, including
not posted.
inspection issues, per-
“The city misrep-
mit caps and a pro-
resented (what) was
posed public vote on
the essence of our
future vacation rental
initiative petition,”
ordinances.
Whittemore
said.
“There is an obvi-
“The summary was
ous appeal procedure
written by (Gearhart
that (the) group may
Jim
City Attorney) Peter Whittemore take if they feel this
Watts and clearly
is not accurate,” City
seeks to misguide and misin- Administrator Chad Sweet
form the public.”
said.
Watts did not respond to a
This includes an opportu-
request for comment.
nity to appeal the draft ballot
Discrepancies
between summary within seven days.
the summary and the docu-
“We will challenge and our
ment can be found in details attorneys are preparing that
throughout, Whittemore said. challenge now,” Whittemore
According to the city’s said.
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