Hi.  For those of you who may not know, I am Steve, Howard and Cece's first born. I am here today not so much to mourn Dad's passing, but to celebrate his life by sharing memories with family and friends. I'd like to take this opportunity to relate a few of them as I remember.

From what Dad told me, he started life from rather humble beginnings; born in a little house on the banks of the Willamette River to parents who, at that time, were tenant farmers.  He worked on the farm from a very young age.  A child during the great depression, he certainly had come a long way since those early years.

Looking back it seems strange what I remember. Some of my earliest memories of him were of life in our first house on Todd Street.  I remember my father growing a beard for the Oregon centennial celebration; standing outside with him one late summer evening searching the sky for Sputnik; and, being there when he and Mom brought a baby girl home to meet her brother and sister.  I remember moving into our new house on Queen Lane, and then years later helping to enlarge and remodel it to accommodate a growing family.  Like many families, we had our challenges, our ups and downs so to speak.  I choose to remember the good times, of which there were many.  As a child I loved being in his presence, helping where I could or just watching him working in the garage or in the yard gardening.  It seemed, through my eyes, that he could build or repair just about anything.  And wow, what a green thumb.  I have always been a bit envious of Mom and Dad's backyard.  I know the past few years have been tough for him, realizing his physical limitations and not being able to accomplish many of the things he had always taken for granted.  He told me once "looking in a mirror I wonder who that is looking back at me."  Growing old, he said, is not for sissy's!

It seems Dad always worked hard and put in long hours both at home and on the job.  He had a very strong work ethic and believed in the American Dream.'  He expected a lot of himself and of others. And yet, despite all the long hours of work he took time to spend with family.  Some of my fondest memories are of our family camping trips; some to the Cascade Lakes.  Places like Suttle Lake, Three Creeks Lake and many others; trips to the coast.  Fishing and some hiking were always part of the deal.  I particularly remember as a young child, deer hunting trips where just he and I joined other friends and acquaintances in the hunt.  Quite a cast of characters, some right out of the pages of a Tom Bodett novel.  Dad was quite a hunter, and as I remember, always got his deer.  In later years we all took up water skiing and that became our summer camping trips to Big Lake and Prineville Reservoir.  I'm sure my love of nature and the outdoors stems from those early experiences.  Dad loved to cook over the campfire and had a large cast iron griddle that was the centerpiece of that experience.  He loved to make sourdough pancakes on that griddle when camping.  Boy, did we enjoy a lot of wonderful meals cooked on that griddle and in the dutch oven.  I miss those times!  After I left home it seems Dad took up baking.  I bought him a book by James Beard on making bread.  I was in college then and I remember coming home to the smell of fresh baked bread.  Oh my!  And his home made sticky buns...yum!  They were the best.

Dad has always enjoyed listening to or watching sports on TV.  I remember as a young boy sitting next to him listening to Portland Beaver baseball games on the radio in the evening hours before it was bedtime.  Sitting or lying there next to him with my head against his shoulder, I can still feel his warmth and the love I felt.  The day before his passing, as family was gathered in the hospital room, I had that same feeling again.  As I gently held his hand he would respond with a gentle squeeze and a sense of reassurance.  The love I felt was palpable!

I live in southern Oregon with my wife and children.  Though I haven't spent as much time with Mom and Dad as I probably should have these past years, I would call them weekly and check in to let them know that we're thinking of them and ask how they are doing.  The last call I made just a few days before Dad's passing he said something that I found somewhat strange.  He asked "Steve, do you still love me?"  I kind of chuckled because it seemed so out of character for him to say such a thing.  I said "of course Dad, I couldn't possibly love you any more than I already do.  I have loved you as a child growing up, and as an adult with my own family.  I love you now, and will forever throughout eternity!"  He seemed reassured.  I wonder today if somehow he knew then his time was short.  I still speak to my father in my dreams and I still feel his love.  This I find reassuring.  He was a good father to me and a good grandfather to my children.  They knew and loved him as their `Poppa Howdy.'  Thank you for listening.   My love to you all.

Hi, my name is Debby.  I am the third child of my parents.  My husband Grayden and I, and my entire family thank you for joining us today to celebrate the life of my wonderful Dad.

We hope you are enjoying the food and drink.  Know that every item here was selected with Dad in mind because they were his favorites:  cashews and pistachios; garlic bread; seafood pasta, and banana whipped cream cake.
  
Dad lived a very full 87 years.  He accomplished much in his lifetime:  military service, family, career and 22 years of retirement.

Dad was very proud of the four years he spent in the Navy serving his country.  Our family is honored that Rex Smith, State Chaplain of the VFW will be speaking at Dad's inurnment at Willamette National tomorrow afternoon.  He will receive military honors which will be followed by the playing of Taps' by Kekoa Lemke of Bugles Across America and Amazing Grace' on the bagpipes performed by Mark Mullaney of Oregon Piper. 
 
Dad was always interested in genealogy and he did extensive research on both the Klug and Brant families.   Many years ago he entered all of his research into the computer.  He spent numerous hours putting it all together, but for Dad it was a labor of love.  Steve, Kathie and I now have access to our complete family history and we have Dad to thank for it.

When Grayden and I got engaged in 1993 I mentioned to Dad that he and I would have a special dance at our reception.  He said he wanted to take a few dance lessons to make sure he didn't embarrass himself.  Those few lessons turned into twice a week for more than 15 years.  My parents both loved dancing together.  It was not uncommon at their home when they recognized a song on the radio they would take hold of each other and do a few beautiful dance moves in the living room.  I remember smiling with pride watching my parents at the Elsie Stuhr Center when the group they took lessons with did a performance there.

Dancing was also a favorite pastime on many of the cruises they took over the years.  Mom and Dad loved to travel, and did so extensively.  They experienced as much of the world first hand as they could, and never returned to the same destination, even if it was a favorite.  Their reasoning was simple:  why repeat when there is so much more to see.  That was their philosophy and they lived it to the fullest.  They loved a good adventure.  When in port they would take as many shore excursions as they could fit in.  Dad often commented that he returned from vacation more tired than when they started.  You know, I need a vacation to recover from my vacation  They came home with incredible pictures and stories.  Dad's bookbinding skills came in handy because he needed to make a lot of albums to hold all of the pictures and memorabilia.  

Mom and Dad traveled coach class, always.  My brother, sister and I would encourage them to splurge on themselves, fly front cabin or maybe confirm a suite on the cruise ship, but they never did.  My parents are honest, hard-working, humble people that were raised during the depression and they would never spend what they considered to be frivolously on themselves.  On more than one occasion they were the recipient of a complimentary cabin upgrade from the cruise line, which they happily accepted.  Mom and Dad returned home with stories about new friends they made on their trips.  Their holiday card and email lists expanded exponentially after each vacation and they have maintained communication with these friends to this day. 
 
As Mom and Dad entered their 80's, health issues became more frequent.  Dad's love of working in and maintaining the beautiful gardens he had created became a burden instead of a passion and the single family dwelling where they had lived since 1959 was too much work.  It was a hospitalization of Dad in 2013 that prompted Mom to say to Dad when she entered his room, its time Poppy; we need to move somewhere where we don't have all of the homeowner responsibilities.  You could see the relief on Dad's face when he told her he agreed.  They asked Grayden and me to research options for them with one requirement:  it had to be in Beaverton.  We toured a number of assisted living facilities and soon realized that the level of care at assisted living is not what they needed.  We then started looking at independent living facilities.  Our first stop was at a nearby property but neither of us felt it was a good match so we called Maureen here at Beaverton Lodge and asked if we could come by earlier than originally scheduled.  She was gracious in her reply and took us on an extensive tour of the lodge.  We both knew that this was the perfect match for Mom and Dad and couldn't wait to have them see it.  A week later Mo took Mom, Dad, Grayden and me around the lodge and treated us to lunch.  When we drove them home we asked them how they liked it and their response was unanimous and enthusiastic:  it feels like home; how soon can we move in?  Dad moved in first while Mom recovered from her fractured hip.  When she joined him two months later she shed tears of joy as she walked through the door and saw everything was unpacked, put away, set up just like she would want it and all she had to do was start enjoying her life with Dad in their new home.

So to Margaret and Wayne, Maureen and Jerry, Donna and Alan, and Jerry Hoff:  the loving care and attention you showered on Mom and Dad means everything to me.  I could not have hand-picked a better group of devoted individuals.  You treated them as family from day one.  I hold each of you close to my heart and will always consider you a very important part of my family.    

I will never take for granted how lucky I am to have had my Dad for 60 years.  Childhood memories of building fires, camping, fishing and cooking on the large cast iron grill; his patience driving the boat while I learned to waterski; teaching me how to drive and parallel park; loaning a suit and tie to my high school boyfriend to attend a prom; comforting me after a broken engagement; shared lunches when we both worked in the downtown area; walking me down the aisle; loving on his 4-legged grandpuppies; walks on the beach; watching the sun set from the deck; hearing him say I love you, too and squeezing my hand in his final days.  Until the day I join him in heaven I want Dad to know how very proud I am to be his daughter and how very much I love him.

We had the pleasure of knowing Howard and Cece for 22 years. They graciously shared their family thanksgiving celebrations with our family. Howard was the kindest man, and it was very evident that he loved his family very much. We will miss his smile and ready wit. The world has lost a bright light.

Howard, You and Cece were wonderful neighbors. We enjoyed turning your basil into pesto to share with you all the rest of the year. We are growing our own basil now, but will never eat pesto without thinking of you and special chats over the backyard fence.  Thank you for modeling what a good neighbor is and should be.
                                                                            Kent and Cindy Haldorson

"I saw a ship a sailing on the mourn,
and Howard was at the rail."

I cannot believe Howard was gone because I just saw him about two weeks before he passed away.I still remember he called me "My Asian daughter" and gave me a big hug before I left.He will be in my heart forever.I love and miss you,DAD.Rest in peace and from heaven,please watch over your beloved wife and your three wonderful children.
From our deepest sympathy.
Andy and Maria (Tigard)

In loving memory of you Dad 

Your life was a blessing,
your memory a treasure, 
You are loved beyond words
and missed beyond measure.

I had the pleasure of working with with Howard for 30 plus years. He was a great boss, a great teacher ( he taught me a valuable trade), and a wonderful friend. Rest in peace my friend, Dick Kelly

w

As a child, although you were my uncle, you were like a father to me. I have wonderful memories of your kindness and love. I will miss your voice over the phone and your emails, updating me of your wonderful legacy, your family. My heart goes out to Aunt Cece, Kathie, Debbie and Steve. God bless you all.

OBITUARY

Howard Ralph Klug

September 1, 1927 – July 15, 2015

Pegg, Paxson & Springer Funeral Chapel

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