Eva Ann (Ward) Kasch, died Friday afternoon September 16th at Avamere Arbor, where she had lived since 2009. She was born on November 13, 1937 to Larry Edgar Ward and Doris Odell Ward.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00pm Tuesday October 4th at the Christian Church of St. Helens, 185 S. 12th Street.
Eva was the youngest of five children, born in Miami, Arizona where her father had found a job as an electrician at a mine in Vanadium. Work was so difficult to find in those days that the family bravely endured the hardships of remote desert life, including being tent-dwellers. Since scorpions were always a hazard, Eva’s crib was placed on a table and the legs were set into tuna cans of coal oil. Eva’s mother used to tell of burning an entire book of safety matches each night, just to check on Eva’s safety.
After several years the family moved to Oregon, living in Keizer where Eva started first grade. There, the family eked out a living by picking hops, prunes and strawberries. Sister, Martha had the job of babysitting Eva, keeping her on a blanket and out of the sun, while the family worked.
During the early years of World War II, they moved to the Portland area. Eva’s mom found work in the shipyards, being one of the first women riveters of that era. She worked fiercely to provide food and shelter for her family during those hard years.
The next move was to the St. Helens area where Eva’s dad found the family a tiny house in the Yankton area. There was no running water and space was cramped, so again they dealt with hardships.
All the children contributed to the family income as soon as they were able. Eva’s siblings: Betty Jo, Carl Reid, Jerry Edgar and Martha Helen each helped take care of their youngest sister, as well. They were all hard workers, following their mother’s example. Great credit for their survival goes to Fred Luttrell and family for the much appreciated job opportunities he gave them through those difficult years.
After Eva graduated High School in St. Helens, she attended Clackamas Community College where she completed a course of training for Nursing Assistant. She worked in various jobs as a caregiver, but her special love was taking care of children, especially babies. In fact, Eva loved most everyone and nothing made her happier than seeing people she knew. She always greeted them with an exuberant hug, whether or not they wanted one! She was just a hugging type person, always welcoming of her friends and family and always watching for that familiar face!
Her love of music, especially gospel music, resulted in her finding a vibraharp at a second-hand store. She taught herself to play by ear, as she had already done by playing the piano. This became a ministry with her. She loved opportunities to play her vibraharp in church settings or whenever she could! One time she even played it in the Port-o-Fun parade along with the Ridge Runners.
In 1979 she met Bill Kasch and the two of them were married on October 21st of that year. They moved several times between St. Helens and Union in Eastern Oregon. Perhaps Eva had inherited some of her father’s wanderlust, but she loved to travel and to go places.
She was also a person of faith. While growing up she was a member of the Old Yankton Baptist Church. After Bill and Eva were married, they attended the Nazarene Church. From time to time she also visited the Christian Church of St, Helens where she loved playing her vibraharp as special music. The past years even after health had failed considerably she was blessed by Jeninne Lindberg who took her to church and sat with her during worship.
Eva is survived by her sister, Martha Magoon of Pendleton. Relatives of the local area include her sister-in-law, Kathleen Ward and her nieces Robin Nunn and Karen Ward. She had many other nieces and nephews and she dearly loved each of them.
Eva is also survived by her former neighbors, Henry and Pam Heimuller and their daughter Mikela. Though not related, they excelled in faithfully caring for both Bill and Eva and their many needs throughout the years. Eva’s family wishes to express great appreciation of the Heimullers and to thank them for their many kindnesses.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00pm Tuesday October 4th at the Christian Church of St. Helens, 185 S. 12th Street.
Eva was the youngest of five children, born in Miami, Arizona where her father had found a job as an electrician at a mine in Vanadium. Work was so difficult to find in those days that the family bravely endured the hardships of remote desert life, including being tent-dwellers. Since scorpions were always a hazard, Eva’s crib was placed on a table and the legs were set into tuna cans of coal oil. Eva’s mother used to tell of burning an entire book of safety matches each night, just to check on Eva’s safety.
After several years the family moved to Oregon, living in Keizer where Eva started first grade. There, the family eked out a living by picking hops, prunes and strawberries. Sister, Martha had the job of babysitting Eva, keeping her on a blanket and out of the sun, while the family worked.
During the early years of World War II, they moved to the Portland area. Eva’s mom found work in the shipyards, being one of the first women riveters of that era. She worked fiercely to provide food and shelter for her family during those hard years.
The next move was to the St. Helens area where Eva’s dad found the family a tiny house in the Yankton area. There was no running water and space was cramped, so again they dealt with hardships.
All the children contributed to the family income as soon as they were able. Eva’s siblings: Betty Jo, Carl Reid, Jerry Edgar and Martha Helen each helped take care of their youngest sister, as well. They were all hard workers, following their mother’s example. Great credit for their survival goes to Fred Luttrell and family for the much appreciated job opportunities he gave them through those difficult years.
After Eva graduated High School in St. Helens, she attended Clackamas Community College where she completed a course of training for Nursing Assistant. She worked in various jobs as a caregiver, but her special love was taking care of children, especially babies. In fact, Eva loved most everyone and nothing made her happier than seeing people she knew. She always greeted them with an exuberant hug, whether or not they wanted one! She was just a hugging type person, always welcoming of her friends and family and always watching for that familiar face!
Her love of music, especially gospel music, resulted in her finding a vibraharp at a second-hand store. She taught herself to play by ear, as she had already done by playing the piano. This became a ministry with her. She loved opportunities to play her vibraharp in church settings or whenever she could! One time she even played it in the Port-o-Fun parade along with the Ridge Runners.
In 1979 she met Bill Kasch and the two of them were married on October 21st of that year. They moved several times between St. Helens and Union in Eastern Oregon. Perhaps Eva had inherited some of her father’s wanderlust, but she loved to travel and to go places.
She was also a person of faith. While growing up she was a member of the Old Yankton Baptist Church. After Bill and Eva were married, they attended the Nazarene Church. From time to time she also visited the Christian Church of St, Helens where she loved playing her vibraharp as special music. The past years even after health had failed considerably she was blessed by Jeninne Lindberg who took her to church and sat with her during worship.
Eva is survived by her sister, Martha Magoon of Pendleton. Relatives of the local area include her sister-in-law, Kathleen Ward and her nieces Robin Nunn and Karen Ward. She had many other nieces and nephews and she dearly loved each of them.
Eva is also survived by her former neighbors, Henry and Pam Heimuller and their daughter Mikela. Though not related, they excelled in faithfully caring for both Bill and Eva and their many needs throughout the years. Eva’s family wishes to express great appreciation of the Heimullers and to thank them for their many kindnesses.
Eva Ann (Ward) Kasch, died Friday afternoon September 16th at Avamere Arbor, where she had lived since 2009. She was born on November 13, 1937 to Larry Edgar Ward and Doris Odell Ward.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00pm Tuesday October 4th at the Christian Church of St. Helens, 185 S. 12th Street.
Eva was the youngest of five children, born in Miami, Arizona where her father had found a job as an electrician at a mine in Vanadium. Work was so difficult to find in those days that the family bravely endured the hardships of remote desert life, including being tent-dwellers. Since scorpions were always a hazard, Eva’s crib was placed on a table and the legs were set into tuna cans of coal oil. Eva’s mother used to tell of burning an entire book of safety matches each night, just to check on Eva’s safety.
After several years the family moved to Oregon, living in Keizer where Eva started first grade. There, the family eked out a living by picking hops, prunes and strawberries. Sister, Martha had the job of babysitting Eva, keeping her on a blanket and out of the sun, while the family worked.
During the early years of World War II, they moved to the Portland area. Eva’s mom found work in the shipyards, being one of the first women riveters of that era. She worked fiercely to provide food and shelter for her family during those hard years.
The next move was to the St. Helens area where Eva’s dad found the family a tiny house in the Yankton area. There was no running water and space was cramped, so again they dealt with hardships.
All the children contributed to the family income as soon as they were able. Eva’s siblings: Betty Jo, Carl Reid, Jerry Edgar and Martha Helen each helped take care of their youngest sister, as well. They were all hard workers, following their mother’s example. Great credit for their survival goes to Fred Luttrell and family for the much appreciated job opportunities he gave them through those difficult years.
After Eva graduated High School in St. Helens, she attended Clackamas Community College where she completed a course of training for Nursing Assistant. She worked in various jobs as a caregiver, but her special love was taking care of children, especially babies. In fact, Eva loved most everyone and nothing made her happier than seeing people she knew. She always greeted them with an exuberant hug, whether or not they wanted one! She was just a hugging type person, always welcoming of her friends and family and always watching for that familiar face!
Her love of music, especially gospel music, resulted in her finding a vibraharp at a second-hand store. She taught herself to play by ear, as she had already done by playing the piano. This became a ministry with her. She loved opportunities to play her vibraharp in church settings or whenever she could! One time she even played it in the Port-o-Fun parade along with the Ridge Runners.
In 1979 she met Bill Kasch and the two of them were married on October 21st of that year. They moved several times between St. Helens and Union in Eastern Oregon. Perhaps Eva had inherited some of her father’s wanderlust, but she loved to travel and to go places.
She was also a person of faith. While growing up she was a member of the Old Yankton Baptist Church. After Bill and Eva were married, they attended the Nazarene Church. From time to time she also visited the Christian Church of St, Helens where she loved playing her vibraharp as special music. The past years even after health had failed considerably she was blessed by Jeninne Lindberg who took her to church and sat with her during worship.
Eva is survived by her sister, Martha Magoon of Pendleton. Relatives of the local area include her sister-in-law, Kathleen Ward and her nieces Robin Nunn and Karen Ward. She had many other nieces and nephews and she dearly loved each of them.
Eva is also survived by her former neighbors, Henry and Pam Heimuller and their daughter Mikela. Though not related, they excelled in faithfully caring for both Bill and Eva and their many needs throughout the years. Eva’s family wishes to express great appreciation of the Heimullers and to thank them for their many kindnesses.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00pm Tuesday October 4th at the Christian Church of St. Helens, 185 S. 12th Street.
Eva was the youngest of five children, born in Miami, Arizona where her father had found a job as an electrician at a mine in Vanadium. Work was so difficult to find in those days that the family bravely endured the hardships of remote desert life, including being tent-dwellers. Since scorpions were always a hazard, Eva’s crib was placed on a table and the legs were set into tuna cans of coal oil. Eva’s mother used to tell of burning an entire book of safety matches each night, just to check on Eva’s safety.
After several years the family moved to Oregon, living in Keizer where Eva started first grade. There, the family eked out a living by picking hops, prunes and strawberries. Sister, Martha had the job of babysitting Eva, keeping her on a blanket and out of the sun, while the family worked.
During the early years of World War II, they moved to the Portland area. Eva’s mom found work in the shipyards, being one of the first women riveters of that era. She worked fiercely to provide food and shelter for her family during those hard years.
The next move was to the St. Helens area where Eva’s dad found the family a tiny house in the Yankton area. There was no running water and space was cramped, so again they dealt with hardships.
All the children contributed to the family income as soon as they were able. Eva’s siblings: Betty Jo, Carl Reid, Jerry Edgar and Martha Helen each helped take care of their youngest sister, as well. They were all hard workers, following their mother’s example. Great credit for their survival goes to Fred Luttrell and family for the much appreciated job opportunities he gave them through those difficult years.
After Eva graduated High School in St. Helens, she attended Clackamas Community College where she completed a course of training for Nursing Assistant. She worked in various jobs as a caregiver, but her special love was taking care of children, especially babies. In fact, Eva loved most everyone and nothing made her happier than seeing people she knew. She always greeted them with an exuberant hug, whether or not they wanted one! She was just a hugging type person, always welcoming of her friends and family and always watching for that familiar face!
Her love of music, especially gospel music, resulted in her finding a vibraharp at a second-hand store. She taught herself to play by ear, as she had already done by playing the piano. This became a ministry with her. She loved opportunities to play her vibraharp in church settings or whenever she could! One time she even played it in the Port-o-Fun parade along with the Ridge Runners.
In 1979 she met Bill Kasch and the two of them were married on October 21st of that year. They moved several times between St. Helens and Union in Eastern Oregon. Perhaps Eva had inherited some of her father’s wanderlust, but she loved to travel and to go places.
She was also a person of faith. While growing up she was a member of the Old Yankton Baptist Church. After Bill and Eva were married, they attended the Nazarene Church. From time to time she also visited the Christian Church of St, Helens where she loved playing her vibraharp as special music. The past years even after health had failed considerably she was blessed by Jeninne Lindberg who took her to church and sat with her during worship.
Eva is survived by her sister, Martha Magoon of Pendleton. Relatives of the local area include her sister-in-law, Kathleen Ward and her nieces Robin Nunn and Karen Ward. She had many other nieces and nephews and she dearly loved each of them.
Eva is also survived by her former neighbors, Henry and Pam Heimuller and their daughter Mikela. Though not related, they excelled in faithfully caring for both Bill and Eva and their many needs throughout the years. Eva’s family wishes to express great appreciation of the Heimullers and to thank them for their many kindnesses.
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