Dale Fish

Astoria

March 8, 1938 — March 8, 2024

Dale Allan Fish, 86, passed away on March 8 in Astoria.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on April 6 at the Knappa High School gymnasium, with Michael Slivkoff and David Sablan officiating. A potluck in the commons area follows the service.

Dale was born in Astoria to Allan Harrison Fish and Henrietta (Hank) Barendse on March 8, 1938. He went to school at Knappa High School.

He married Dianne Hicks, of Wauna, on Feb. 21, 1961, in Kelso, Washington.

He worked as a choker setter in Walterville, and later became a window maker at Eugene Glass. He then moved to Brownsmead and began working at the Clatsop County Road Department. He left for a brief time to drive log trucks for Snooky and Delwin Barendse.

When he quit logging, he returned to the Clatsop County Road Department and was promoted through the ranks, ending as supervisor before he retired.

He volunteered with his son to coach basketball for his granddaughter, Tia, for two years. He was the ultimate Knappa basketball fan for any Knappa basketball participant. Watching Knappa kids win would always bring some tears.

On his 85th birthday, he was honored in Pendleton by his family and fans for his participation in the first Knappa state basketball championship, which was held in 1955. He was blessed by a crowd-pleasing rendition of “Happy Birthday” — one of his fondest memories.

Dale loved gardening and building birdhouses and planters. He was always a farmer at heart.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Allan and Hank Fish; his sisters and their husbands, Dorothy (Mel) Peterson, Harriet (Bob) Engblom and Joan (Marvin) Young; and a grandson, Tyler Fish.

Dale is survived by wife, Dianne Fish; children, Shawn’a (Chuck) Nussbaumer, Nena (Richard) West, Randy Fish and Karen (Tischer) Fish; grandchildren, Nathan (Natashaw Merculief) West, Cassandra (Jon) Bisson and Tia (Andy) Oros; great-grandchildren, Toby, Trinity and Riley; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Honorary pallbearers are: Richard West, Jonathon Miller, Malcom Meridith, Carl Paronen, Gary Ziak, Dick Kirkpatrick and Leroy Saukko.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Knappa High School Basketball Program, in care of Knappa High School, 41535 Old Highway 30, Astoria, OR., 97103.

The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Knappa Fire District, Tad and Andrew Pedersen and Kurt Donaldson.

Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary of Astoria was in charge of the arrangements. Please sign the online guest book at caldwellsmortuary.com.