Allan James Sigler, 89, of Baker City, died Sept. 17, 2007, at St. Elizabeth Care Center.
His graveside funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, followed by a reception at the family’s home. Pastor David Eddy of the Faith Center in La Grande will officiate.
Allan was born on Sept. 3, 1918, in Hillsboro to Harlan and Evelyn Sigler. On July 14, 1945, he married Mary Morgan of Unity. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. He loved playing football and baseball. He once hitchhiked to San Francisco to tryout for the pro baseball team. He once wrote to Lou Gehrig to get some advice on his game and actually got a letter back.
In later years, his passion was steam engines. He had collected many videos and would spend evenings watching them. He was fortunate to have ridden the one from Baker to La Grande.
Allan was a World War II veteran, serving in the 41st Infantry division. He earned the Bronze Star, Bronze Arrowhead, Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, and Philippine Liberation Medal with a Bronze Service Star.
He worked for 15 years with the State of Oregon for the Department of Motor Vehicles, three years of which were in La Grande.
Allan is survived by his wife, Mary of Baker City; a son, Larry Sigler of Longview, Wash.; a daughter, Sharon Stream and her husband, Ron, of La Grande; four granddaughters: Jennifer Hoffman and her husband, Basil, of Rainier, Jana Isaacson and her husband, Dan, of Longview, Wash., Stephanie House and her husband, Matt, of Post Falls, Idaho, and Melissa Chamberlain and her husband, Brian, of La Grande; five great-grandsons: Jake, Isaac and Daniel Chamberlain, Nate Guzman and Jacob Isaacson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, and a daughter-in-law, Linda Sigler.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Elizabeth Care Center in care of Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, September 19, 2007
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor