Randy Christopher Polzel of Hood River passed away Monday, May 13th, 2013 at Providence Medical Center of Portland after a courageous fight with pancreatitis. Randy was born on November 11, 1971 and was 41 years old at the time of his passing.

Randy was born in Hood River to Kathyrn J. Polzel, and Gary L. Scoville. Randy received his education at the Cascade Locks, Parkdale Elementary, and May Street Schools in Hood River. He graduated from Hood River Valley High School in 1990. Randy also continued his education that focused on his electrical interests and employment.

Randy had several part time jobs while in high school. They included pumping gas, working in the local mini mart, driving for a delivery service, merchandising for Frito-Lay and Nabisco where he worked full time. Randy went to work in the electrical supply field in 1994.

Most of Randy’s adult life was spent in the electrical supply field. He always liked to help friends and family with electrical projects, and later in life, did most of the wiring in his own new construction home with the help from his family.

Randy learned to play chess when he was 5 years old, and loved to play against his mother, his “Uncle Joe” (who was a state champion), and then later with his son Austyn. He played the trumpet in both the middle school and high school. He was immensely proud to pass his silver trumpet on to both of his sons, who both play the trumpet. Randy played T-Ball, Little League, Babe Rut and Freshman Baseball. Much to Dad’s delight, both Brycen and Austyn played baseball also. They have many great memories of Dad taking them and practicing with them by playing catch, hitting, and done most of all taking a bucket of baseballs to the batting cage many times. He was on the cross country team in high school also. While in high school he took flying lessons at the Troutdale Airport, and in later years, was able to fly with his friends Darla and Russ. He enjoyed taking his son Austyn on plane rides in order to share his love of flying with him.
Randy and Brycen ate, drank, and slept football! From the time Brycen was a toddler, the two of them were out tossing that ball. These two could be found watching football, talking football, watching football movies, and collecting football memorabilla and football cards. They both wore and continue to wear numerous jackets, shirts, and hats of their favorite teams- which are the San Fransisco 49’ers and the Oregon Ducks.

He also had many other hobbies. They include fishing, camping (Thanks “Uncle Joe”) and boating. Randy always said, “A boat was a hole in the water that you threw money into!” He enjoyed taking his boys fishing at Kingsley. Randy also enjoyed target practicing, and four wheeling in the mud and snow. In later years, it was an excuse to use it to find the “perfect” Christmas tree. Motorcycles were another passion and he loved the many road trips he took with his friends. He also liked to dirt bike.. Randy loved to ski and took Austyn up to the mountains many times to ski with him. Planning the annual trip to Mt. Bachelor with friends Larry Foster, Don Wheat, and Chris Shute also brought great joy for him. Randy loved playing golf with his boys, and loved watching his son Brycen sparring and competing in Tae-Kwon-Do.

Randy collected music all his life. He had an extensive baseball cap collection (most of which are the “49’ers” or Oregon Ducks). Anyone who knew him rarely saw him without a baseball cap on. He had a great sense of humor and was quite the prankster-skills that he honed and fine-tuned with his best friend Ashley when they were young, and continued on all through his life. He certainly loved to make people smile.

Holidays were very special to Randy- especially Halloween and carving pumpkins with the boys. Great times were had at Rasmussen’s picking out the “perfect pumpkin”, the maze, caramel apples, etc. At Christmas time, Randy loved to help Austyn with the outside lights .Randy and the boys did so many things together-video games, Yahtzee, Scrabble, remote control vehicles, helicopters, and airplanes. The list goes on and on…


Randy also enjoyed cooking-and was pretty good at it! He liked to experiment and came up with some delectable recipes. He enjoyed “flipping pancakes” Lion’s Club also (while Austyn, a Leo, assisted him).

Early on, Randy had an interest in Pyrotechnics’ with which he found a perfect outlet when he became a member of the Lion’s Club Pyro Crew that set up and set off the Hood River Fourth of July fireworks. They also did the fireworks at football games and graduation at the Hood River Valley High School.


He is survived by his mother, Kathryn; sons Austyn and Brycen of Hood River; maternal grandparents Les and Gladys Polzel of Klamath Falls, Oregon, paternal grandmother LaVonne Scoville of Youngtown, Arizona, and half-sisters “Chennie” Wright of North Venice, Florida and Shelley Celtier of Cottonwood, California and many aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends, and a host of other family and many, many friends that he has collected over his life-time in Hood River.

Preceding Randy in death is his much beloved aunt Leta (Polzel) Wood, maternal grandmother Edna Polzel, and paternal grandfather Ross Scoville.

Randy had such an eclectic interest in so many things. He truly loved his family and his friends. But, his greatest love is his sons, and his greatest pride was in their character, their intelligence and their accomplishments. They are his legacy!

Services are planned for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Family friend Bob Huskey will lead Randy’s service. Please visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for family.