William Martin Kankkonen

William Kankkonen, born of Hannes and Anita Kankkonen in Astoria, Oregon, Nov. 24, 1946, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018.

Bill is survived by many loving members of the family that has been so dear to him, including his wife, Pat; daughter, Jen, and her husband, DeWayne; nephews, Mathew and Patrick; and grandchildren, Taylor, Brady and his wife, Gillian, Madison and her boyfriend, Elijah, Yoda and his girlfriend, Mermer, and Bryce. An expected baby for Brady and Gillian, first great-grandchild for Bill and Pat, will arrive in early autumn 2019. Bill loved every member of his family deeply and took great joy and pride in each one.

Bill’s family of origin immigrated from Finland to Astoria in the 1870s. Fishermen and shipbuilders, they became key and lasting members of the community. Bill graduated from Astoria High School in 1965, and entered the Marine Corps in 1966, serving in the Vietnam War, his focus on troop movement, including transportation of the wounded. He was welcomed home in 1969 to begin his college education at Clatsop Community College, continuing at Portland State University to achieve a degree and establish a long career in accounting with the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

In various regions of Oregon, and over many years, Bill will be remembered for his dedication to the military. He was admired by fellow military members and their families, not only for service during his time in Vietnam, but also for lifelong commitment in membership and service to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Marine Corps League, and the American Legion.

In any setting, Bill loved working with others as he provided resources and personal expertise in areas of organization, data management, and information gathering. His wife, Pat, says that he loved attending meetings, and being with others to participate in the activities of development and progress.

An active and valued member of Grace Community Baptist Church in Astoria, Bill was always ready to bring assistance and generosity to meet the needs of the church. He will be deeply missed there. His fellow Christian believers know that all will be again joined in eternal worship of their Heavenly Father, where Bill’s sweet and gentle spirit now lives on, continuing to love and care about those awaiting glorious reunion.

Everyone who knew Bill has appreciated his loyalty in service, in friendship and in life as loving husband, father, grandfather and soon-to-be great-grandfather. A gentle, kind and loyal heart, worthy of the Marine Corps motto Semper Fi, Bill lived that loyalty with love for his fellow servicemen and women, beloved family and his immense cadre of friends, both lifelong and new.

Again, Welcome Home, Bill ... this time to the Kingdom of Heaven!

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, at 1 p.m. at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary, 1165 Franklin Ave., Astoria, Oregon.