Obituary: James Struck

A service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River. Military rites will be performed by the Oregon Honors Team. Graveside rites will follow at the Upper Valley Cemetery in Parkdale, Ore.

Jim was born April 10, 1924, in Parkdale, Ore., to George E. and Gladys (Morton) Struck. He grew up in the Upper Valley and after high school went to college at Oregon State College (now OSU). He was a member of Beta Theta Phi fraternity.

His college career was interrupted due to World War II; he joined the Army at the end of his freshman year and then returned back to school in 1946 and finished his degree in horticulture/pomology. After graduating from OSC he taught vocational education classes at Hood River High School.

During World War II he was in the Army in the field artillery. He served in the U.S., spending a couple of semesters at Stanford taking engineering courses, and the Pacific theater mostly in the Philippines Islands.

He married Mary Massee on July 31, 1949, and they had three sons: David, Sheldon and Stephen. Mary died July 12, 1983. Jim later married Arlene Mickelson Puddy.

He started orcharding in Parkdale and over his career grew pears, apples, cherries and mint rootstock. He operated orchards in a number of locations in the Upper Valley and at Ruthton Point. He operated a weather station for Hood River Agricultural Experiment Station for a number of years and worked with the experiment station on cultural practices. He was awarded the Young Farmer of the Year award for Hood River County in 1958.

Jim was a skilled carpenter and built his home in Parkdale. He also reconstructed the house at Ruthton Point. He was a life-member of the Crag Rats and was active in mountain climbing, mountain rescue and conducting snow pack surveys undertaken by the Crag Rats.

He was active in the community and served for many years on the Hood River County School Board. He was a Boy Scout leader while his three sons were members of Troop 380 in Parkdale. In his youth he was an active Boy Scout and Sea Scout in Hood River.

In retirement, he and Mickey became active world travelers and moved to Port Orford where they both lived and where Jim passed away this last Saturday, April 21.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary; his son Sheldon; and stepson Mike.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River OR 97031; 541-386-1000. Please visit www.andersonstributecenter.com to leave a note of condolence for family.