Robert 'Bob' Francis Schallberger's Obituary
Bob was born May 23, 1932 to Arnold and Mary Schallberger, the youngest of 6 children. He said he had the best childhood a young boy could have, with freedom to explore on the family's dairy farm. He attended Cathedral Grade School and graduated Scappoose High School Class of 1950. Never aspiring to attend college being impatient to start his life which included marriage. Bob and Jackie were married June 1952 at 18 and 20 years of age, celebrating 72 years together.
The sales community was a good fit for his very competitive type A personality. Always open to opportunities to "get ahead", he operated several small businesses over the years. He retired from Miller Brewing.
Sports became an outlet, both Bob and Jackie grew up fans of the old Portland Beavers at Vaughn Street Ballpark, following players to "the majors". Bob played on his high school baseball team and also on semi-pro teams in the Portland area. Early in marriage he quit skiing fearing an injury that might require missing work so the family began ice skating where, with newly sharpened blades, Bob fell and lost his two front teeth! Through children and grandchildren, Bob was a supporter of baseball, wrestling, football and was even a coach of a "Bad News Bears" team in Cedar Mill.
He loved to dance growing up in the 40's and Big Band era, and enjoyed most music with the exception of this "new stuff". He also enjoyed hunting which began at an early age with fishing and duck hunting quickly followed by deer and elk hunting. He took hunting trips with buddies to Eastern Oregon, BC, Colorado, and Alaska until he felt he was no longer able to "pull his load".
Travel had to be purposeful but he finally agreed to trips planned by Jackie to Communist Czech Republic, Berlin, Austria, Switzerland, Amsterdam, Hawaii, and many trips to Canada. He also stayed stateside for the Grand Canyon, fall in New England, the Statue of Liberty, and traveled to Alaska by ferry, float plane, Rv and even went to Prudoe Bay and the Arctic Ocean. His only regret was not taking a planned trip to South Africa.
After living in the Garden Home area for fifteen years, he purchased acreage in Cedar Mill, built a home and acquired cattle, pigs, neighbor's llama, dogs, a cat, a rabbit and a duck. A friend in the business suggested a new project, and a Christmas tree farm was planted...not a short term endeavor! For many years Thanksgiving dinner consisted of throwing a turkey in the oven and then greeting customers, with many returning year after year bringing new family with them.
In his 80's he decided it was time to move on and for Bob it meant returning to an area close to where it all began. Building a house on acreage at the age of 86 was the last real challenge. Landscaping was never a problem, both Bob and Jackie enjoyed the process of creating a beautiful yard through the years. Bob grew geraniums from cuttings, and planted marigolds circling the entire yard from seeds he took from previous year's blooms and shared the seeds with others.
He had a long full life with many accomplishments but probably still more on his "to do" list. As a man endowed with incredible energy and determination to complete the job his way, but it's time to let others do the job.
Survivors include his wife Jackie, their three children Patti Portlock (Paul), Steve and David Schallberger, four grandchildren Heather Dodge (Jason), PJ Portlock (Annie), Emily Schallberger (Danny) and Philip Schallberger, and four great-grandchildren Auggie, Stellan, Mabel and Otto, and his longtime close friend Darrell Hagen.
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