A2 • Friday, January 21, 2022 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com
OBITUARIES
Gwynn Marie Bakkensen
Joseph Edward Bakkensen
Portland
Oct. 4, 1931 — Nov. 1, 2021
Portland
Feb. 9, 1929 — Nov. 8, 2021
Gwynn and Joe Bakkensen were together
till the end. Gwynn died on Nov. 1, 2021,
at 90, and Joe died on Nov. 8, 2021. They
were married for 68 years, had fi ve children,
14 grandchildren and three great-grandchil-
dren. Gwynn was proud of her family, and
they were always the center of her life.
She was preceded in death by her eldest
daughter, Laurie Bakkensen Odlum (Jim),
and survived by Nancy Bakkensen Plum-
lee (Maury), of Vancouver, Washington,
Joni Bakkensen Juergens (Eric), of Madi-
son, Wisconsin, Drew Bakkensen (Debbie),
of Portland, and Jim Bakkensen (Laura), of
Scappoose.
Gwynn Marie Calkins was born on Oct.
4, 1931, in Portland. Gwynn had a diffi cult
childhood, with limited parental involve-
ment. She never used this as an excuse not
to succeed.
Gwynn graduated from Astoria High
School. She married Joe Bakkensen on June
6, 1953. The newlyweds lived in Portland
and Seattle, settling in Astoria in 1961.
Gwynn later got an associate degree
from Clatsop Community College. She then
worked as a realtor in Astoria. When Joe’s
work took them to Oklahoma, she continued
her education at Oklahoma State University.
At the time she had three children in college,
and found humor in comparing GPAs, as
hers was always a 4.0.
Typical of her generation, Gwynn’s pri-
mary focus was her family. Gwynn managed
a household with fi ve children, and always
had room at the table for cousins and friends.
When they remodeled their Astoria home in
the 1970s, Gwynn put a picnic table in the
kitchen. You could always add another per-
son to the table with bench seating.
Kindness and humor were hallmarks of
Gwynn’s personality. When Gwynn’s health
made a move to assisted living necessary,
one of her big concerns was who would take
the Meals on Wheels route that she and Joe
covered.
Gwynn took on leadership roles in church,
scouting and the Rotary club, as well as any
organization her kids were involved in.
Her kids’ activities often took her out
of her comfort zone. She learned to load a
horse in a trailer, took sewing classes so she
could keep one step ahead and brought home
snakes and frogs from the country club to
entertain her sons.
She was involved in the League of
Women Voters, and felt strongly about edu-
Gwynn and Joe Bakkensen
cational opportunities for women. She was
a lifelong learner. The Philanthropic Educa-
tional Organization was a passion of hers.
Gwynn was the chairwomen of the educa-
tional committee for many years.
Although Gwynn immersed herself in
her husband’s Scandinavian culture, she
was also proud of her heritage. She knit
Irish fi sherman afghans for all her children
and grandchildren as high school gradua-
tion gifts. Considering the crippling arthri-
tis in her hands, this was a gift of pure love
and devotion.
Joe and Gwynn loved the game of golf,
and it infl uenced much of their leisure time,
as well as travel. Gwynn had three holes-in-
one, and fully enjoyed the competition and
the social aspects of the game.
They built a home in Surf Pines, and
enjoyed the proximity to the Astoria Golf &
Country Club. Gwynn walked a loop to the
beach most days with her dog, and stayed
fi t her whole life. Gwynn was also a mas-
ter gardener, although the sandy soil in Surf
Pines challenged her green thumb.
There will be a celebration of life for both
Gwynn and Joe on March 5 at Our Saviour’s
Lutheran Church in Seaside, with a recep-
tion to follow.
To accommodate any COVID-19 related
changes to this plan, please RSVP to gwynn.
joe.service@gmail.com
Donations may be made in Gwynn’s
memory to the P.E.O. Oregon Marguerite
Scholarship Fund; donations may be sent to
the Oregon State Chapter P.E.O. Sisterhood
Charitable Trust, in care of A. Carpenter,
P.O. Box 777, Astoria, OR., 97103.
SEASIDE POLICE DEPT.
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
1:15 p.m., 800 block Necan-
icum Drive: Caller reports a
stolen lawn ornament.
Jan. 7
4:43 p.m., 300 block Avenue C:
Caller requests welfare check
on his wife and children.
5:03 p.m., 400 block S. Holl-
aday: Caller requests welfare
check on his father who he
thinks may be intoxicated and
unable to care for himself.
11:03 p.m., 1300 block Kyla
Lane: Welfare check.
Jan. 8
12:07 p.m., 500 block S. Holla-
day: Fraud is reported.
7:24 p.m., 2000 block N. Roos-
evelt: A person is arrested on a
warrant.
Jan. 9
10:39 a.m., Sunset Boulevard
and Keepsake Drive: Caller
reports disturbance between
himself and another person
over a drone. He is given
options.
Jan. 10
9:33 a.m., 600 block Avenue
T: Caller registers a complaint
4:31 p.m., Avenue U Bridge: A
person is arrested on a warrant
after a suspicious item is
reported.
Jan. 11
2:34 a.m., 800 block S. Roos-
evelt: Police receive a report of
a male harassing customers at
a business.
12:54 p.m., 1000 block S.
Downing: Caller reports
neighbor is using a jammer to
reroute her phone calls.
1:48 p.m., 800 block Broadway:
Caller reports receiving phone
calls from an unknown person
soliciting sexual favors.
2:18 p.m., Convention Center
parking: Possible stolen car.
requests contact information to
report his employer who they
say is not following federal tax
laws and is selling restricted
items to minors.
12:36 p.m., 2100 block Lewis
and Clark Road: Caller reports
his tenant chased him down
and threatened to injure him.
He requested police contact.
Jan. 13
1:06 a.m., 13th and Wahanna:
Caller reports barefoot woman
walking in the road. Police
responding couldn’t fi nd her.
1:16 p.m., Roosevelt between
15th and 16th Avenues: Elk
herd reported.
9:29 p.m., 1800 block S. Roos-
evelt: A person is arrested on a
warrant.
SEASIDE FIRE & RESCUE
PUBLIC SAFETY
LOG
Jan. 12
10:08 a.m., Avenue U: Caller
reports a subject sleeping in his
car in front of the golf course.
They requested a welfare
check. Police contacted the
person who said they were fi ne
and just napping.
Jan. 7
4:09 a.m., 300 block Fourth
Avenue: EMS call.
5:52 a.m., 300 block Eighth
10:50 a.m., Broadway: Caller
See Log, Page A3
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PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
about a neighbor who yodels
all night.
Joe and Gwynn Bakkensen were together
till the end. Joe died at 92, on Nov. 8, 2021,
joining his wife, Gwynn, who died on Nov.
1, 2021. They were married for 68 years, had
fi ve children, 14 grandchildren, and three
great-grandchildren. Joe’s family was his
pride and joy, and the center of his life.
He was preceded in death by his eldest
daughter, Laurie Bakkensen Odlum (Jim),
and is survived by Nancy Bakkensen Plum-
lee (Maury), of Vancouver, Washington,
Joni Bakkensen Juergens (Eric), of Madi-
son, Wisconsin, Drew Bakkensen (Debbie),
of Portland, and Jim Bakkensen (Laura), of
Scappoose.
Joseph Edward Bakkensen was born at
home, in Astoria, on Feb. 9, 1929. He was
the youngest of nine children in a loud and
loving Scandinavian family. Joe graduated
from Astoria High School early, and joined
the U.S. Army at 17.
He served in World War II in Japan, and
then returned to Oregon, using the GI Bill to
attend Linfi eld College. Joe was president of
his fraternity, and his class, while a student
at Linfi eld.
He married Gwynn Marie Calkins the
weekend after he graduated from college
on June 6, 1953. They lived in Portland
and Seattle, returning to Astoria when Joe
became a sales representative for Bumble
Bee Seafoods. Later, to avoid relocation out
of state, Joe became vice president of Barbey
Packing Co. Joe purchased Barbey Packing,
and expanded the business to include Union
Fish.
Joe was fond of retiring, but was not good
at it. After he sold Barbey, he went to work
as business manager of Claterbos Construc-
tion. Next, Joe put his political acumen to
work as a Clatsop County commissioner.
Finally, he worked for the federal govern-
ment with the National Oceanic and Atmo-
spheric Administration. Joe provided many
opportunities for his children and grandchil-
dren that he did not have growing up, and for
him that was the measure of success.
Joe had an infectious enthusiasm for life.
He was a raconteur, and thoroughly enjoyed
entertaining. He could remember events in
great detail, up until the end of his life.
One constant in Joe’s life was a dog. From
his fi rst dog, “Wacky,” to his last dog “Hari,”
they could always be seen by his side. They
were usually waiting for a table scrap or a
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Joe and Gwynn Bakkensen
ride in his truck, and they were important to
him. He even suggested his loyal compan-
ion Hari should be nominated for sainthood.
He was devoted to Astoria, and served the
community in numerous ways. He volun-
teered for, was on the board of, or was presi-
dent of, many local businesses and nonprofi t
organizations. Joe never met an organiza-
tion he didn’t want to join and lead. He was
known by his colleagues for his intelligence,
but was quick to remind his children, “it’s
nice to be smart, but it’s smarter to be nice.”
Joe loved playing, watching and coach-
ing sports of all kinds. Golf was his pri-
mary sport, and something he shared with
his family. He had three holes-in-one. Joe
and Gwynn enjoyed international travel for
work and pleasure, often with golf clubs in
tow. Joe was a grandmaster at bridge, and he
loved a good bridge tournament.
In June 2014, Joe, Gwynn and their
youngest son, Jim, were thrilled to attend an
honor fl ight to Washington, D.C.
A celebration of life for Joe and Gwynn
will be held at Our Saviour’s Lutheran
Church in Seaside on March 5. A reception
will follow.
To accommodate any COVID-19 related
changes to this plan, please RSVP to gwynn.
joe.service@gmail.com
To honor Joe’s love of golf and education,
memorial donations may go to the Evans
Scholarship for caddies: Evans Scholars
Foundation, 2501 Patriot Blvd., Glenview,
IL., 60626-8022.
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