Richard Owen Grambo

Beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Richard Grambo passed away October 29 at his home in Long Beach at the age of 76, after developing pancreatic cancer. Richard was born August 12, 1939, in Bagley, Minnesota, to Olaus Grambo and Ruth Peterson. Richard was very proud of his Norwegian heritage: His father (at age 11) immigrated to the United States; his mother's parents also were both Norwegian immigrants. When he was four years old, the family moved to Puget Island (Cathlamet) Washington. Two years later, the family moved to Kelso. Richard played football at both Kelso High School and Lower Columbia College. He was a graduate of Kelso High, LCC and Portland State University. In 1963 he married Judi Lanning, they later divorced. In 1976 he married Jan Goff. She passed away January, 2015. Richard was an art major in college, and after graduation he restored many of the Victorian houses in Northwest Portland. In the 1970's he purchased the Lighthouse Motel on North Pacific Avenue in Long Beach: nine rundown cabins that over the years he transformed into the current Lighthouse Oceanfront Resort with 42 units. Richard was an avid tennis player and his dream of having his own tennis court was fulfilled when the Lighthouse Resort and Tennis Club with two indoor tennis courts was established in 2011. Another passion was the Portland Trailblazers and he rarely missed a home game. He was a member of the Jaguar Club of North America, the Kelso HS class of 1957, Sons of Norway, and tennis clubs in both Portland and Kona, Hawaii. Before her death in January, Richard and Jan loved traveling, sailing, boating and skiing. He touched many people with his numerous acts of encouragement, kindness and support, teaching others how to be a good friend, how to share, and how to face death courageously. Richard is survived by a daughter: Christi Grambo-Davis, Longview, a son: Mark Newsom (Cindy), Portland, a sister: Janet Henning-Pontious (Bill), Longview; Grandchildren: Michael Nickerson, Palm Desert, CA; Jordan and Jarod Nickerson, Portland; Caylee Newsom, Portland; Adrianne Demmon (Ryan), Fresno, CA; Danny Shaw, Portland, a niece: Ruthann Brown (Bryan), Kelso; a nephew: Scott Henning (Mandy), Shawnee, KS; three great grandsons, numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. A memorial service is scheduled for 1 PM Sunday, November 15, at The Red Building Loft, 20 Basin St., Astoria OR. To support Richard's vision of a thriving tennis community in Long Beach, memorial contributions for a "ball wall" may be made in his name to The Bank of the Pacific, P.O. Box 738, Long Beach, WA 98631. Memorials may also be made to Harbors Home Health and Hospice, 201 - 7th St., Hoquiam, WA 98550. "When Grandma Jan died, he was lonely. Now he's not lonely anymore." -Asher Demmon (age 6) Arrangements under the direction of Penttila's Chapel by The Sea. Please sign the online guestbook at www.penttiaschapel.com