Condolence From: david campbell
Condolence: ken was my teacher for my first ski lesson at cooper spur. he was always kind and supportive of me in my young days as a new skier kid. im still skiing and have not missed a year in 56 years..so thanks ken. what a great guy
Monday May 16, 2016
Condolence From: cary mallon
Condolence: Ken was an important part of my family's life. He and my father Jim were colleagues, they each took a principalship of a junior high the year that Hood River Valley High School opened. Working together helped Ken and Jim form a tight friendship that sustained through their careers and their retirements. There were many camping and rafting trips that kept them together.
Also, Ken was the father of one of my best friends from the growing up years. Brian and I shared many a ski racing trip and training. One memory I have of Ken is the day that Brian skied down the east side of Mt. Hood to win a bet. When we arrived home (I was a confederate on this stunt) Ken knew what we had done. But he knew it couldn't be undone and reacted reasonably. I respected that.
I can't forget the scene encountered nearly every one of my young childhood trips to Cooper Spur. There would be Ken, presiding over the ski school. It's hard to estimate the number of skiers who started with Ken and advanced their way up to the top of Jump Hill and beyond.
No question, Ken was a titan of the community, and he left an indelible mark.
Monday May 02, 2016
Condolence From: Rev. Cal Kemper
Condolence: Celebrating the wonderful man who taught our kids to ski, shepherded them through school and gave a model of how to live a good life to us all. I thank God for his life & for the opportunity to have known him. Ken loved those he touched in this life and he remained "The Zen Master" of Cooper Spur. Best wishes to those left behind & all of us who grieve his passing. I'd like to think that Ken is alive, just living at a new "Cosmic Address" where we too will be also one day. God Bless Ken & all of us who loved him. - Cal
Monday May 02, 2016
Condolence From: Melanie (Clark) Bloom
Condolence: There is a hole in the world once filled by Mr. Raasch. Like so many others, I first met him at Cooper Spur - I had fallen down at the rope tow, holding up the line, and he appeared out of nowhere to pick me up and get me back on track. Then when I fell and my ski went down the mountain without me, lost until Spring, he had a hot cup of cocoa waiting for me inside the warming hut. What a joy to get to know him over 4-H and as my principal in Jr. High. A more fair, honest and loving man will be hard to come by. I'm so sorry for your loss, Jennifer, Brian and Kathy, and your families.
Friday April 29, 2016
Condolence From: Jean anderson
Condolence: I was Ken's secretary at Wy'east for a while. What a wonderful understanding he had of his students .... His one phrase to me that I'll always remember .... You can't save them all ... A wonderful boss .....
Thursday April 28, 2016
Condolence From: Lindy Tyler Curry
Condolence: So many wonderful childhood memories come back as I think about Ken Raasch. I never heard a harsh word from him. He always had a smile and gentle teasing for me. He shared with my family many educational and entertaining films. My brothers Ross and Randy and I were so lucky to have him as our middle school principal at Mid Valley Jr. High. His cheerful and wise words over the PA system were a great way to start off the school day.
Kathy, Brian and Jennifer, you have a wonderful father who lived an exemplary life dedicated to thousands of children. He made such a difference in all our lives by showing us what a loving father should be. And I can't help chiming in at this late date how much we appreciated your mother Marge--she was just as dedicated and even more accessible to us kids as a 2nd mother. No wonder you kids turned out to be such upstanding citizens to carry on the legacy of love and dedication to education of children.
I look forward to rejoining them both in Heaven. "May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you as we part one from the other." 2 Corinthians 13:14
Wednesday April 27, 2016
Condolence From: Judy Newman & Newman family
Condolence: Ken has left his mark on the ski slopes, schools and the community.....he added and put so much into all of us. He made Cooper Spur Ski Area famous for its ski school and learn to ski program. What would we have done without him? It would have been a boring world as he always made us laugh. When he took some flying lessons in our C-172 N738WL....he called it N738Whip Lash...as that is how he landed he said. We loved to have him come into WAAAM to make our day. We will miss you Ken. Our thoughts are with all his family that he loved so much and was so proud to call his.
Wednesday April 27, 2016
Condolence From: Anne Saxby
Condolence: Ken was my favorite lucky leprechaun at our 9 am Sports Club Geezer Group. Always with a smile on his face and a joke to share. I never heard a complaint out of Ken - he was upbeat through it all. I will miss him, but I'll never forget him. What a lovely man!
Monday April 25, 2016
Condolence From: Bob Davis
Condolence: Ken was the principal when I attended Wy'East Jr. High. He called me into his office one day, which was a surprise, since I couldn't figure out why. Turns out he told me I should take it easier on myself than I seemed to be doing. (More or less, RELAX!) Although this confused me at first, I later realized that having folks like Ken at the helm of a school is about as good as you're going to get. He didn't take himself too seriously, and it's taken me years to see how important that really is... Obviously he was also a wizard on skis. Used to watch him ski backward and experiment with the 'ballet' skis/moves. I'll miss him. Best wishes to his family.
Monday April 25, 2016
Condolence From: Tami Hukari
Condolence: We will miss Ken's stories, jokes, and smiles! He always made it look so easy to use that rope tow belt at Cooper Spur, smiling the whole time. He was a great debater during my days in student government at Wy'East. I can still see he and Jp sitting at the dining room table drinking their whiskey and sharing stories. I spoke to Ken last summer when I met him on the street and he asked about dad....He said how is Jim? As I pondered how to reply...He said we aren't getting to age gracefully are we? I said no, and that is the perfect response. Hugs to the whole family!
Monday April 25, 2016
