Joe Robinson

Joe L. Robinson, 74, a resident of Chinook, WA the past 15 years, died June 13, 2007 in Astoria. The son of Harlen and Hannah (Osborn) Robinson, he was born December 21, 1932 in Burlington, Washington. He grew up in near by Sedro Wooley where he graduated from high school in 1952. During high school he was trainer for the varsity basketball team and participated in competitive roller skating in Burlington. With high school complete, Joe worked at the naval shipyards in Bremerton. From 1953 through 1956 he served with the US Army. He was stationed in the Eritrea area of Ethiopia as a communication specialist. While in Africa he participated in numerous big game hunts. He married his high school sweetheart Viola "Vi" Schlagel on July 11, 1953. Upon the completion of his military duty the couple settled in Portland where Vi was completing her nursing education at OHSU. Joe began his working career as a machinist at Iron Fireman Manufacturing in Portland. Through a succession of mergers, this eventually became Boeing of Portland and Joe retired as supervisor from that concern in 1991. Having often visited the Long Beach Peninsula, Joe retired to Chinook in 1992. There he continued his love of fishing on the Columbia River and at Buoy 10. In addition he enjoyed bird, elk and deer hunting, woodworking, and in past years, water skiing. He and Vi enjoyed RV travels south in the winter months and had enjoyed a memorable ocean trip via freighter to Australia and New Zealand. Joe was confirmed in the Lutheran church on January 3, 1965 in Portland. He was currently a member of St. John Lutheran Church of Seaview. He was a past member of the Machinist Union. Besides his wife of 54 years, Joe is survived by daughter Joan (Bill) Sears of Beaverton, OR; son Jeff (Cynthia) Robinson of Sandy, OR; brother Al Johnson of Issaquah, WA; grandchildren Justine and Megan Robinson and Tony and Jeremy Sears. He was preceded in death by his brother Donald. Funeral service will be held at 11 AM Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at St. John Lutheran Church in Seaview, WA. A reception follows. Concluding graveside service with full military honors will be Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at 2:30 PM at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Memorials may be made to either St. John Lutheran Church or the American Diabetes Association in care of Penttila's Chapel by The Sea, PO Box 417, Long beach, WA 98631. The guestbook may be signed at www.penttilaschapel.com.