User menu

Nicholas "Nick" Charles Vandehey

Nicholas "Nick" Charles Vandehey, 59, a resident of the Banks community passed away Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at Providence St Vincent Medical Center in Portland.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary and the Funeral Mass will start at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church; 39136 NW Harrington Rd in Roy.

Family and friends will be invited to a reception following the Mass held in the school basement.

Born on June 9, 1955 in Hillsboro, Nick was the second oldest of five children of Eugene "Gene" and Sylvia (Coussens) Vandehey. Raised on the family farm in Forest Grove, Nick learned hard work and persistence as a young man, a trait that followed him throughout his life. He graduated from Banks High School in 1974 where he was active in FFA and 4-H. Following graduation Nick studied Crop Sciences at Oregon State University, before starting his own farm in Banks.

He met his future wife, Joan Reynoldson at the Oregon State Fair. Nick won the state Tractor Driving contest, but his true victory was winning the heart of Joan who was collecting scorecards that day.

They courted for three years and were married on December 18, 1976 at St Francis. Following their marriage they lived close to the family farm and then moved to Banks in 1986, where they raised their three children, Charlie, Michael and Stephanie.

Nick was dedicated to working any job, anytime, for the betterment of his family and their passions. After Nick left the farm, he ventured into several trades before finding his lifelong career as an electrician. While in search for his career, Nick joked about receiving eleven W2’s in a single year. As we all know, Nick never met an electrical challenge that he couldn’t solve. He prided himself on not only being an accomplished Master Journeyman, but also felt passionate about teaching others. He loved to work with new apprentices and see them develop. While in school Nick represented IBEW local 48 at the

National Journeyman Electrical Workers Championship in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he took first place by a record setting margin. Nick then became an accomplished teacher at the union for many years.

Born: 

Thursday, June 9, 1955

Died: 

Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Design by Fruition.