The Applegater

Applegater Spring 2017

The Applegater - The best (okay, only) nonprofit newsmagazine serving the Applegate Valley with interesting, relevant and educational articles written by community members.

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2 Spring 2017 Applegater Remembering Chuck Guches April 29, 1930 - December 2, 2016 Richard "Dutch" Offenbacher January 26, 1932 - January 23, 2017 Major General (Dr.) David S. Trump, 83, of Grants Pass, Oregon, passed away at home on January 24, 2017. Dave, along with wife Elaine, owned and managed Silver Star Vineyard on Kubli Road for 24 years. Dr. Trump was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Dr. Frank and Mary Trump in 1933. Dave attended Michigan State University and Ohio State University medical school, where he graduated cum laude. After an internship at the University of Colorado, he completed a four-year general surgery residency at Marquette University and was awarded a master of science in 1964. He then entered a three-year pediatric surgical fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital. During the last year of this program he served as chief surgical resident Major General David S. Trump 1933 - 2017 and instructor in surgery at Harvard University. Simultaneously, he joined the Air Force Reserve Medical Corps. Dave's medical career took him and his first wife, Judith Bean, and their three children to Phoenix, Arizona, where he practiced pediatric general, urologic, and cardiac surgery for 20 years. In 1977 he married Elaine Olness, who was by his side in the operating room and beyond for the next 39 years. Understanding the fears parent and child face when a child undergoes surgery, Dave authored the book, Once Upon an Operation, in which each patient starred as the main character. Seeing the importance of a dedicated pediatric hospital, he was instrumental in founding Phoenix Children's Hospital, where he served as chief of surgery. He also served as chief of multiple surgical residency programs and was a fellow and member of many other professional organizations. In 1987 he earned a master of science in health services administration, retiring from private practice to spend a year applying experience and knowledge as medical director of Mercy Care Plan. He twice led a Project Esperanza surgical team in Brazil. After becoming Air Force Deputy Surgeon General for Reserve Affairs, he was awarded the rank of major general in 1988. Dave and Elaine moved to Washington, DC, so he could combine medical and military experiences working in a civilian position as dean of the Military Medicine Education Institute and vice president of Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. In 1993 Dave and Elaine moved to the Applegate Valley in Oregon. He joined Grants Pass Rotary Club, in which he was chairman of the District Rotary World Community Service Committee and traveled to administer polio vaccinations and apply hand prostheses in India and Africa. Dave was elected to the Board of Education of Rogue Community College and was a member of the Board of Directors of Southern Oregon Adolescent Study and Treatment Center (now Kairos). He received Rogue Community College's Outstanding Citizen Award in 2011. Dr. Trump is survived by his wife, Elaine; his brother, Richard; daughters Patty Bell (Lee) and Susan Felstiner (Paul); son Jeff (Kimberly); and seven grandchildren: Kawika Bell, Makanani Bell, Carl Felstiner, Alden Felstiner, Jack Trump, Sam Trump, and Michael Trump. A Celebration of Life will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church on Friday, March 3, at 11 am. Military Honors will follow at Eagle Point National Cemetery at 3 pm. Remembrances may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090), e Rotary Foundation (PO Box 1201, Grants Pass, OR 97528), or Calvary Lutheran Church (909 NE A Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526). OBITUARIES One of the first sounds of spring for the past 40 years has been that of C h u c k Gu c h e s's tractor chugging up Thompson Creek Road in Applegate t o a n e i g h b o r 's h o u s e w h e r e h e would find a garden to be rototilled. W h e n o u r family moved here 40 years ago, the woman we bought our farm from told us, "When you need help, call Chuck." And it was true. And we did. Chuck prepared our garden for us for about 38 years. Now, we, as well as many other families in the valley, wonder who will ever take his place. Chuck and Bev Guches were married for 60 years. ey met right here in Applegate when Bev's family managed the first Applegate Store on the corner of North Applegate and Highway 238. Chuck's family moved to Applegate from Medford, where Chuck and his two brothers, Ralph and Richard, and his sister, Verna Williams, were born. Chuck attended Provolt School until the eighth grade and then went on to high school. Chuck was born April 29, 1930, the son of Vernon R. Guches and Viola E. Guches (Meadows). He was in the US Army from 1952 until 1954. He and Bev were married on November 23, 1956. Chuck worked for several timber companies until he found Timber Products, where he worked for 32 years until retiring. He never stopped working, though. After he retired, he began taking on local jobs with his tractor, and, when word got around the valley that he was for hire for mowing and rototilling, he had more work than he could handle. e trick was to get on his list early enough in the spring so that he could make it to your house in time for the crops to be planted. His rule was, "Don't plant until Memorial Day weekend." He knew the climate well enough to understand that anything could happen during those spring months, and a frost could hit anytime. Chuck and Bev have one son, Roy, who lives next door to Bev. When I asked Bev if Roy would take Chuck's place with the tractor work, she just smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Roy bought that tractor for Chuck, so it's his now." But that didn't really answer my question, "Who is going to take Chuck's place?" at will be a hard place to fill. Joan Peterson 541-846-6988 Richard Leroy "Dutch" Offenbacher, 84, passed away on January 23, 2017, peacefully and in his own bed, next to his high school sweetheart and wife of 65 years. He was born January 26, 1932, "on the Applegate," to Leon and Lola Offenbacher. Dutch was a fourth-generation Applegate Valley cattle rancher and spent his early years working on his father's ranch. The Offenbacher family came from Bellheim, Germany, in the 1880s and were related to the Orth family in Jacksonville. Dutch graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1949, where he lettered in all sports and played on the 1948 Class B State Championship Basketball team. Dutch married Ann Killingsworth in 1951 and enjoyed their life together thereafter. Leroy, as his mom called him, enlisted in the navy and served from 1950 to 1954, based primarily in San Francisco; he hitchhiked from base to home many times when on leave. Dutchy, as his friends called him, came back to the Applegate, bought a cattle ranch on the Applegate River (now Red Lily Vineyards), and raised registered Hereford cows. He also raised a daughter, Dana Lynne Schefstrom, and a son, Carl Ray Offenbacher. Richard, as no one ever called him, was a past president of the Jackson County Stockman's Association and the Applegate School Board. He was also a Shriner and member of the Masonic Lodge No. 10. After selling the ranch, "Dutchman" (as Bruce Matheny called him) went to work for the Grange Co-op, and later for the Oregon Department of Forestry as a forest practices officer until retirement in 1989. Dutch and Ann traveled from Anchorage, Alaska, to Key West, Florida, and to Australia in their retirement years and had many great trips with good friends. ey also enjoyed their family and watching the Applegate River from their kitchen table. His name was "Grandpa" to Rachel, Annie, and Joe. He was called Great- grandpa by Zakiya, Silas, Zavin, Kaysen, Azaria, and Justice. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Elvis Offenbacher. A small family service will be held at the Jacksonville Cemetery. Please direct any donations to Applegate Valley Fire District No. 9, 1095 Upper Applegate Road, Jacksonville, OR 97530. National celebration to welcome home all veterans who served during the period of the Vietnam War. Wednesday, March 29, 2017 • 10 am to 2 pm A barbecue lunch, service providers, and guests speakers will be at the event. Please come and show your support. All are welcome! Riverside Park Trevillian Pavilion • 304 SE Park Street • Grants Pass, OR Grants Pass Vet Center • 541-479-6912

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