In loving memory of Wayne Robertson: 1945-2021

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Wayne Michael Robertson passed away peacefully Sunday, May 16, 2021, surrounded by his wife and children. Wayne was born Feb. 12, 1945, in Vancouver, Wash., to James and Gay (DesCloux) Robertson. 

Wayne grew up in Brush Prairie, Wash., and was educated in the Battle Ground School District. He was a friendly guy with a great smile, an athlete and a team player whether playing a game of pickup baseball with the neighborhood kids or playing baseball and basketball for the BGHS Tigers. Wayne graduated from Battle Ground High School in 1963. He attended Clark College part time from 1964-65, but also worked at the Chelatchie Prairie Plywood Mill. The summer of 1965 he enlisted in the Army. After boot camp, he married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Prather, on October 24, 1965. He was too soon on his way to Southeast Asia, returning safely to Pat and their son Rod in the early fall of 1967. The family of three packed up and headed for Fort Hood, Texas, in November of 1967 where Wayne served his last 10 months for Uncle Sam. 

In early 1969, Wayne went to work for Clark Public Utilities as a “grunt.” In 1972 he was accepted into the three-year apprenticeship program to become a journeyman lineman, which he completed on January 3, 1975. How he loved that job and the men he worked with! He retired in 1996. Wayne enjoyed the satisfaction and camaraderie of working so it wasn’t surprising that he went to work for George Schmid & Sons for five years, followed up by seven years at Tapani Underground, Inc., as operations and safety coordinator for each company. 

Wayne enjoyed hunting, fishing, and clamming with family and friends. He had tales to tell and racks to show. Ocean Shores, Wash., and Sunriver, Ore., were two favorite destinations for the family, but home on Kelly Hill in north Clark County was where he most loved to be. 

Wayne was a patient and loving husband, a wonderful father and a good friend to many. A genuinely good man with good will for all. 

Wayne is survived by his loving family: wife, Pat, of 55 years; his three children, Rod (Robyn) of Walla Walla, Greg (Deena) of Battle Ground, Jeannie Yates of Vancouver; and six grandchildren, Sam and Emma Yates, Mitch and Baylee Robertson, and Ty and Ava Robertson. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Helen Wiswall, his brother, Larry Robertson, his sister, Karen Robertson. He is survived by his brother, Maurice Paladeni, his sister Joan Ratkowski, both of Vancouver, and his brother, Jim (Eva) Robertson, of Clarkia, Idaho. 

A celebration of life for Wayne will be held Tuesday, July 27, 2021 1 p.m. at Bethany Vineyard and Winery, 4115 NE 259th St., Ridgefield, Wash., 98642 

In remembrance of Wayne, please consider a donation to Project ALS, 801 Riverside Drive, #6G, New York, N.Y. 10032 or go online at Project ALS.