Obituary of Gordon Kay Joseph Risner

Gordon Kay Joseph Risner July 22, 1940–October 9, 2015   In one's lifetime, a true love comes but once. Ours was that love, a love for eternity.   On October 9, 2015, Jesus and Gordon's angels came to be with him on his final journey home, where he will be fishing the great waters in heaven.   Gordon was born July 22, 1940, in Gary, Indiana, to Rose Baczek and David F. Risner. His family moved to Vancouver, Washington, on VJ Day 1945. They then moved to Longview in 1956.   In his youth, Gordon served in the U.S. Navy as a fireman for four years, followed by the Naval Reserves until May 1963. He worked as a logger on the Olympic Peninsula for a short time before moving to Camas where he was employed by Crown Zellerbach paper mill. Gordon worked as a machine tender and part time as a tour boss/foreman. After 37 years of service, he retired from James River in 2000. After retirement, Gordon spent a brief time working for the Fish and Wildlife Department for the State of Washington where he was able to enjoy the outdoors and spend time close to his second love, fish … Gordon loved to fish and hunt. He hunted until he was no longer able to see well enough to shoot. Gordon loved to hunt deer and elk. In his later years, he particularly enjoyed hunting with their adopted son and best friend Karl Mahlum at Grey's River. They usually returned exhausted and excited, brimming with new stories to share and tags filled.   Now fishing was just in Gordon's blood. He was an exceptional fisherman, known up and down the river as a legend, sometimes referred to as "three poles Risner." When fishing was slow, he could catch them, when fishing was good so was the trip, he loved to fish. Any day on the water was a good day.   Gordon's true heart's desire was Lorell. Theirs was the love for all eternity. They were so much in love, they were as one, soul mates, best freinds and inseparable partners, especially fishing, lots of fishing and hunting, wood cutting, quad riding and the adventure of a lifetime, building their dream log cabin. A life well lived.   Gordon is survived by his wife of 33 years, Lorell, his daughter, Charmaine Jack their son Karl, four brothers, Jack Cheryl, Larry Mary, David Bettie, Raymond Chris, five sisters, Rosemarie Larry, Beverly Sue, Dawn Gloria, Betty Jo Gary and Carol Jean. Many nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. God Only Takes the Best God saw he was getting tired, and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around him, and whispered "Come with Me." With tearful eyes we watched him suffer and saw him fade away. Although we loved him dearly, we could not make him stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard-working hands put to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.         Author unknown   A celebration of life to honor Gordon will be Sunday, October 18, 2015, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Lacamas Lake Lodge and Conference Center, 227 N.E. Lake Road, Camas.   In lieu of flowers, your thoughts and prayers are gratefully accepted or you may donate to our church, Riverside Seventh-Day Adventist, P.O. Box 393, Camas, WA 98607.