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Polk County News 6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 18, 2017 Summerfest: Changes come to festivals Continued from Page 1A Each person will be focused on a part of the event, such as entertainment, food and bev- erages, and the parade. Kahl said she wants to draw in more youth to the festival with plans to host baking and art contests for children in kindergarten through high school. She’s also joining forces with Dal- las High School social stud- ies classes to get idea on re- branding the festival from students’ perspective. “Kids in the class will pos- sibly come up with a new name, come up with themes, come up with things they would like to see at Summerfest,” Kahl said. At least to begin with, the retooled event will be cut to two days, Friday and Saturday. “Thursday kind of gets overlooked,” Kahl said. “It’s seen as a set-up day. If we can do it really, really well on Friday and Saturday, I would like to see that happen.” Expanding on the success of last year’s Prince tribute group Erotic City concert at the amphitheater, Kahl said the two days will feature four concerts, complete with food vendors and a beer gar- den. On the schedule already is Erotic City and Port-a- Party, which performs dance hits from the ’70s and ’90s. Continuing with the com- munity vibe, the 2018 theme is simply “Orange & Black,” DHS’ school colors. Kahl noted it’s broad enough to allow people to be creative with parade floats. “It more interpretive, so they can do something fun,” Kahl said. “They can do Dra g o n s ; t h e y c a n d o Beavers; they can do Hal- loween, even, in July.” Kahl said she’s open to more ideas for events and changes as the new Sum- merfest takes shape. “I welcome feedback,” she said. “I can’t do this on my own, so any help or any feedback would be great.” Contact Ashley Kahl at: 503-623-2564 or ashley@dal- lasoregon.org. Group takes on 2018 summer events DALLAS — From the perspective of city and business leaders in Dallas, summer 2017 — highlighted by the solar eclipse — was like a downtown revival. Locals and people from afar filled the city’s core during the eclipse events, city-sponsored Tuesdays on the Square grew and downtown businesses took part in a successful wine walk. A group originally formed to help connect organizers of eclipse events decided that energy and success shouldn’t end just because there isn’t another eclipse on the horizon. “It seems to me that this past summer, more than any time in the 15 years that I’ve lived here, we actually started to develop the beginning of something you could call momentum,” said David Shein, the chairman of the Dallas Urban Renewal District Advisory Committee. “Let’s not let anything happen to that.” The group is renamed Dallas Summer Events 2018 Community Forum and it meets on the second Monday of the month at Pressed Coffee & Wine Bar. It had its first meeting on Oct. 10. While not an official planning group, it serves as connection point for organizations and businesses sponsoring events and a forum to offer ideas and marketing strategies. Anyone in- terested is welcome to join. Events on the group’s radar are: Summerfest, Tuesdays on the Square, Sounds of Summer, and Freedomfest. The forum will offer support and ideas for two events introduced last sum- mer, May’s Wine Down and Lunar Bash, the concert series staged near Pressed Coffee & Wine Bar during the eclipse. — Jolene Guzman OBITUARIES Wanda Jean Thiessen Sept. 29, 1936 – Oct. 9, 2017 Wanda Jean Thiessen passed into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Oct. 9, 2017. Wanda was born to William and Nettie Martens on Sept. 29, 1936, in Lustre, Mont. About two years later, the f a m i l y moved to Dallas, w h e r e Wa n d a grew up and lived until her death. She at- tended Dallas schools and graduated from Dallas High in 1954. She was a member of the first graduating class in the current high school. She and her classmates helped with moving day using their personal vehi- cles. After graduation, she went to work at Oregon Farm Bureau as a punch card operator. Shortly before graduating from high school, Wanda met the love of her life, Eldon Thiessen, who looked dashing in his Coast Guard uniform. They were married on July 20, 1956, and raised three children together. Wanda worked as the bookkeeper for Dallas Auto- Salem 412 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, OR 97301 (503) 581-6265 Low Cost Cremation & Burial Funerals & Memorials Simple Direct Cremation $595 Simple Direct Burial $710 Traditional Funeral $2,275 Discount priced Caskets, Urns and other Memorial items. Privately owned cremation facility. Locally owned and operated by Oregon families. www.ANewTradition.com motive Service as well as Heating Efficiency Service, businesses which she and Eldon owned and operated together. Wanda was an active member of the Dallas Men- nonite Brethren Church for over 60 years. She invested much time and energy in her children, her family and her home. She was active in local church ministries and also volunteered with a number of Christian ministries in- cluding Village Missions (Dallas), Wycliffe Bible Translators (Dallas, Texas, and Orlando, Fla.) and the Haggai Institute (Hawaii). Wanda loved quilting, board games, and reading her Bible. She was inventive and a very clever problem solver. She was always coming up with a better way of doing everyday tasks. Wanda and Eldon were avid RV’ers. Among their fa- vorite places to visit were the Oregon Coast, Detroit Lake and the Oregon Cas- cades. The bakery in Sisters was on speed dial so Mom could call ahead and reserve a couple of apple fritters for them to pick up later in the day. Wanda is survived by her husband Eldon; son Phillip (Shelly) Thiessen; daughters Patricia (Steve) Trent, and Traci (Dan) Treanor; sister, Ruby Rickson; seven grand- children; and four great- grandchildren. Join us in celebrating Wanda’s life at the Evangeli- cal Bible Church on Satur- day, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Weekday School of the Bible, in care of Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center, who is caring for the family. Gott ist die liebe Nick (Richard) Jones Nov. 16, 1944 – Oct. 12, 2017 “They saw you getting tired, and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms around you and whispered, ‘come with me.’ With tearful eyes we watched you slowly fade away. Although we loved you dearly, we would not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, your hard-working hands put to rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best.” Richard “Ni c k” Jones was born to Perry and Pauline Jo n e s o n Nov. 16, 1944, in Tonasket, Wash. The family moved to Ore- gon, living in Newport and Dallas. Nick graduated from Dallas High School in 1963 (Go Dragons). He proudly served his country in Vietnam, dis- charging as a sergeant with several medals including a Bronze Star. Nick and his first wife Bar- bara (Hilts) settled in Eu- gene with their three chil- dren Rick, Kim and Torrey. Nick was a store manager and district manager for Fred Meyer, where he met the love of his life Barb (Brock). They were married for 31 years living in Tualatin and Dundee. They worked to- gether owning a printing company in Tigard for 25 years. In 2013, Nick retired and spent as many days as there were in a week playing golf in King City and in Sun City, Ariz., where they have a winter home. Nick leaves his loving family, wife Barb; father Perry; brothers Mike and Brian (Janelle); and children Rick, Kim (Frankie), and Tor- rey (Audra). He had five g ra n d c h i l d re n t h a t h e adored Kasey, Katelyn and Jennifer Crutsinger, and An- thony and Tyler Jones; one great-granddaughter, Brook- lyn; and many nieces, nephews and cousins, who were all so special to him. There are too many friends to mention; his life was very full. He lived his life to the fullest and left without re- grets. Graveside service will be held at Restlawn Memory Gardens in Salem on Satur- day, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m., where he will be reunited with his mother Pauline and brother Craig. www.restlawnfh.com. Katherine Gregory Overstreet April 9, 1933 – Oct. 7, 2017 Katherine Overstreet, 84, of Salem, died Oct. 7, 2017. Katherine was born April 9, 1933, in Oklahoma City. Daughter of Norman H. and Katherine Wilson Gregory, she grew up on several Indi- an reservations, including Pine Ridge, S.D., as her par- ents were teachers with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Katherine graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in so- cial work, and was a mem- ber of Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her master’s of social work from the University of Denver in 1961, and served as a caseworker in Minneso- ta and in the state of Wash- ington over a career of more than 46 years, during which she touched countless lives. In 1965, she married Stephen H. Overstreet, and they lived in Vancouver, B.C. — where their two chil- dren, Greg and April, were born — until settling in Mount Vernon, Wash., where they lived for over 40 years. Katherine’s generous and loving spirit was treasured by all who knew her. She en- joyed tending her rose gar- den and spending time with family and friends. Katherine is survived by h e r h u s b a n d , St e p h e n Harold Overstreet; son Stephen Harold Gregory Overstreet, of Sequim, Wash.; and daughter April Ann Overstreet; along with three grandchildren, Alexa Jane Overstreet, Jackson Cole Overstreet and Zula Skye Overstreet. Also surviv- ing is a beloved sister, Ree Gregory Greenwood, of Atchison, Kan. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, in the Salt Creek Baptist Church in Dallas. Gifts in her memory can be made to the University of North Dakota Noah and Gregory Fund, in care of the Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center, 287 Washington St., Dallas, OR 97338. Tamera Laurie Jones Aug. 7, 1958 – Oct. 7, 2017 Tamera Laurie Jones, 59, a resident of Keizer, died Sat- urday, Oct. 7, 2017, at Salem Health Hospital after a 10- month battle with lung can- cer. She was born Aug. 7, 1958, in Myrtle Point, the daughter of Brooks and San- dra Wagner (Boice). Ta m m y spent her first two years in Port Orford and Cor - vallis while Brooks and Sandra complet- ed college at Oregon State University. The next seven years were in Seaside living a couple blocks from the ocean, where her sandbox was the Oregon Coast, and her love of the beach and sea took hold. The family moved to Dal- las in 1967. There were fre- quent trips to visit family on the Southern Oregon Coast for vacations and holidays, often where four genera- tions would be gathered for dinner and celebrations. Growing up held times of camping in central Oregon and on the Rogue River, hav- ing fun with friends, picking berries and being annoyed by her little brother. In jun- ior high, Tammy became in- volved with the Internation- al Order of Rainbow for Girls and attained the highest of- fice of Worthy Advisor. Also during this time, she found her voice, literally, and start- ed to sing in the school choirs, something she truly enjoyed and continued while attending Dallas Sen- ior High, where she graduat- ed in 1976. Also during high school, Tammy started her first job as a nurse’s aide at the Dal- las Retirement home. After high school, she worked in a law office in Salem for a few years, and then with NW Farm Bureau. Tammy married Warren Jones, and together had their daughter Kaylan in 1988 when she started her favorite career as a stay-at- home mom. In 2003, she went to work for SharpCorp where she worked as an office manager until earlier this year. Tammy is survived by her parents Sandra and Dennis Tiernan, and Brooks and Donna Wagner; daughter Kaylan Jones; sister Rise” Cuellar and brother-in-law Raz; brother Brian Wagner and sister-in-law Linda; brother Don Tiernan and sister-in-law Patricia; sister Julie Chase and brother-in- law Mark; uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many dear friends. The family would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Bud Pierce and his staff, along with a special thanks to the nurses of the Salem Health ICU and IMCU for their care, love and prayers. Charitable gifts in lieu of flowers can be given in Tammy’s name to the Can- cer Action Network of the American Cancer Society. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m., Saturday Oct. 21 at the Dallas Mortu- ary Tribute Center, 287 SW Washington St, Dallas, OR. There will be a gathering and fellowship at St. Philip Catholic Church, 825 SW Mill St.,Dallas, immediately following the memorial. To leave a message or memory for the family, please go to www.dallastribute.com. Gale Carruthers April 30, 1925 – Oct. 2, 2017 On Oct. 2, 2017, Gale Car- ruthers left this world to be with Betty, the love of his life, his wife of 54 years, who departed in 2011. Gale leaves three children, nine grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Gale was born April 30, 1925, in Rockville Center, Long Is- land, N.Y. When he was an in- fant, his family moved to Sacramento, Calif., where he attended public schools. Early in 1943, Gale enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served in the Naval Am- phibious Forces and partici- pated in the Normandy In- vasion. Gale held undergraduate and graduate degrees from California State University of Northridge. He was a teacher. Adan Reyes- Santiago Oct. 16, 2017 Arrangements are pend- ing by Farnstrom Mortuary, 503-838-1414. Obituary Information Obituaries cost $8 per col- umn inch (25 words) and in- clude a photo and a flag for veterans. Obituary information must be submitted by 4 p.m. on the Monday before publication. Color and black-and-white photos can be submitted, but photos will only be published in black and white. The Itemiz- er-Observer uses a flag logo in the obituaries of people who served in the armed forces. Death notices are subject to editing for style, content and length. Information can be brought or mailed to the Itemizer-Ob- server, 147 SE Court St., Dallas, OR 97338, or emailed to ionews@polkio.com. For more information: Emily Mentzer, 503-623-2373.