Adrian “Johnny” Vandehey, 91, passed away quietly at home on Friday, August 11, 2017, surrounded by his children and granddaughter Sandy Hagerty and her husband Brad who were his primary caregivers this past year.

Johnny was born on April 4, 1926 in Verboort.  He was the 6th child of eleven children born to William and Mary Vandehey. He grew up on the family farm off of Spreadborough Lane. He attended Verboort School.  At the age of 18, he served in the military during WWII for 2 years, spending most of his tour of duty in Germany where he also attended the Nuremburg Trials.

He met his future wife, Pauline Sohler, at a dance in the Verboort Foresters’ Hall.  They soon began dating and they were married on April 20, 1948 in Verboort at Visitation Catholic Church.  Following their wedding, they made their home in Verboort for 5 years.  In 1953, they bought the 37 acre Rainwater place, south of Reiling Road.  They also bought the 43 acre Spreadborough place, where they lived for 48 years.  They were married for 68 years.  For the past 16 years, he has resided in Hillsboro. 

Johnny was a logger, a farmer, and a Millwright & Foreman at Banks Lumber Company where he worked for more than 20 years.  On the farm, they raised pole beans, berries, cucumbers, cauliflower, grain crops, and chickens.

After retiring from Banks Lumber Company in 1998, he enjoyed woodworking and making wooden toys for the grandchildren.  Johnny also enjoyed crossword puzzles and playing cribbage, crazy solo and pinochle.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife Pauline, his parents and five siblings: Gerald Vandehey, Fr. Ervin Vandehey, Howard “Dutch” Vandehey, Jean VanDomelen, and Marcella Herb.

He is survived by his ten children and their spouses: Kathleen Steiert of Portland, Kenneth and Joanne Vandehey of Cornelius, Delores Lazott of Salem, Doug Vandehey of Forest Grove, Joan and Ron Baune of Salem, Jim Vandehey of Newport, Allen Vandehey of Portland, Sharon Giesbers of Forest Grove, Carolyn and Frank Kraaz of Yamhill, Terri and Peter Arcidiacano of Durham, North Carolina, 22 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by five siblings: Florence VanDomelen, Naish Vandehey, Stan Vandehey, Bob Vandehey, and Elaine Duyck.