On the evening of June 27, 2011, Walter Erick Engstrom, 77, of Brookings, winged his way to heaven. After a wonderful day, playing cards  (and winning!), and getting his hair cut, he settled in with a glass of wine and a couple of cookies to fuel his final journey.

Walt was born and raised in Los Angeles. He grew up in his parents’ nursery business before becoming a landscape contractor and owner/proprietor of The Kings Three Bar and Grill where he learned and loved to cook. 

Walt graduated from  Susan M. Dorsey High School, and attended Los Angeles City College. He served in the U.S. Army.

He and his wife LaVonne moved to Brookings in 1988 after vacationing here for four years and falling in love with the city. He was an avid fisherman, and what more glorious place is there than Brookings for an avid fisherman?

Walt was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the Elks Lodge 1934. 

His hobbies included golf, playing cards, gardening, and shooting pool with mop handles.

His grandson Justin remembers him as “the greatest chess player around, but not so hot as a canoeist.” Husband, father, grandfather – he will be missed by all, and remembered with great love.

He is survived by his beloved wife LaVonne Engstrom of Brookings; son and daughter-in-law John and Gail Engstrom of Dublin, Calif., son and daughter-in-law Steven and Mary Engstrom, and grandsons Jonathon and Justin of North Hills, Calif.;  daughter and son-in-law Christine and Freddy Camacho and grandchildren Carlos and Victoria of Rosamond, Calif.

Walt was preceded in death by his parents Hildegard (nee Hogbloom) and Sven Engstrom and his brother Robert (“Bob”).

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1200 Easy St.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to a charity dear to Walt: Trinity Lutheran Church Community Kitchen, P.O. Box 1199, Brookings, OR 97415.

Submitted by the family.