Roy Edward Gyllstrom

Roy was born in Chicago to Eric and Helga Gyllstrom as the third of nine children. Much of his childhood was spent very simply, working hard with his siblings in the household and playing baseball. An accomplished athlete, he was recruited to play semi-pro baseball in Chicago in 1941, at the same time that he and three brothers were drafted to serve in World War II. Roy served four years in the US Army, stationed in Australia and the Philippines. After the war ended, he returned home and in 1946 married Betty Comer, whom he had known since childhood. As the family grew, ultimately to include seven children, they lived in Illinois, Michigan and Oregon. Roy had developed a successful career in lithography and printing with Rand McNally. Longing to leave the extremes of summer heat and winter cold, in 1957 he drove his family west to Milwaukie, Oregon, where he took a job in the printing industry. Family was the most important thing in life to Roy—he coached all four sons in baseball, fished with them at mountain lakes, and hiked the many trails of the Columbia River Gorge; the whole family took numerous day-trips to the mountains and the beach. His appreciation of nature and the outdoors brought out both his love for hiking and his passion for painting. He was a long-time member of the Brush & Palette Art Association, skilled photographer and enthusiastic gardener. The beautiful rhododendron garden of the family home was the scene of many group photos amidst the blossoms on Sunday afternoon following church. In 1967, Roy was recruited to develop the Graphic Arts Program for Portland Community College, Sylvania Campus. For 14 rewarding years, he enjoyed teaching and helping students find their own creativity; he retired in 1982. Too soon thereafter, in 1984, he lost his beloved Betty to cancer. He continued the pursuit of his many passions: gardening, daily workouts at the athletic club, painting and sharing time with family. His bountiful garden was the source for zucchini bread all summer long. He claimed that garlic is the key to a long life and a martini at the end of the day made him love everyone. Such enthusiasm yielded a great life of 98 years. In addition to his wife Betty, he was pre-deceased by son John of Lewiston ID in January of this year. He is survived by sons Jim (Gayle) of Twenty-Nine Palms, CA; Bill (Darlene) of Canby, OR; Bob of Spokane, WA; and daughters Linda (Jerry) Wright and Ellen of Portland; and Joan (Kevin) Pantano of Milwaukie, OR; and six grandchildren. A private burial will be held at Willamette National Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to a celebration of his life on Wednesday, March 30th at 3:00 p.m. at Eastmoreland Golf Course. The family expresses deep appreciation for Medical and Hospice staff who offered extraordinary care at Providence Milwaukie Hospital. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Providence Milwaukie Foundation, 10150 SE 32nd Ave., Milwaukie, OR 9722 or ProvidenceMilwaukieFoundation.com