Kenneth "Ken" Eddie Lampi

Kenneth (Ken) Eddie Lampi, 95, a lifetime resident of Clatsop County, passed away on Sept. 7, 2017, in Astoria, Oregon.

Ken was born in Astoria on Aug. 24, 1922, to Eddie and Ailie (Pietila) Lampi. He was raised in the Lewis and Clark area, attended Lewis and Clark Elementary School, and graduated from Astoria High School in 1941. He also attended Santa Rosa Junior College.

He served three years in the Army during World War II with the 1051st Army Engineers in the European Theatre, including in Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany.

Ken married Esther June Louise Simonson on Jan. 13, 1951, at Peace Lutheran Church in Astoria. He built their house in Youngs River, where they raised three children and lived for over 60 years, before moving to senior living facilities in recent years.

Before and after serving in the Army, he worked as a logger. Later he worked for Coast Marine Construction as a heavy equipment operator on river-related construction and pile driving projects until retirement. Ken had a Coast Guard tugboat operating license, and after discharge from the Army, obtained a commercial pilot’s license.

He was an innovator and inventor, designing and fabricating small articles or mechanisms to ease functions in the house or his work. He also loved woodworking, and built a number of boats for his personal use. Other interests included sports, boating, sturgeon fishing and clam digging. In recent years, he liked monitoring Columbia River traffic from his room at the Clatsop Care Center. He also enjoyed talking with his grandchildren and keeping track of their locations across the country with a poster he kept in his room.

Ken was a member of Peace Lutheran Church, the Astoria Elks and the Finnish Brotherhood.

Ken is survived by a son, Eugene, and his wife, Yomaira, of Portland; a daughter, June, and her husband, Bruce Day, of Springfield; six grandchildren, Clara, Benjamin (Melissa), Marsha (Dan), Jacob, Ryan (Jordanne) and Alex; one great-grandchild, Scarlette; two step-grandchildren, Staci and Stephani; and two step-great-grandchildren, Parker and Benjamin.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther, in 2016; and their son, Donald, in 2001.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, at 1 p.m., at Bethany Free Lutheran Church, 575 34th St., in Astoria, with a reception following.

A private interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Astoria.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Columbia River Maritime Museum or a charity of your choice.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff and residents of the Clatsop Care Center for the care he received, and friendships he enjoyed there over the last few years.