Alfred Winfred Kriko

Alfred Winfred Kriko, took his mortal leave and peacefully entered eternal life on Nov, 6th, 2014. He was exactly two months shy of his 96th birthday. Alfred was born in Winlock, WA. on Jan 6th 1919 to Emma Toppari and Samuel Kriko. He was the last born of their eight children. After High School, he worked as a printer for the Longview Fiber Company while attending night school for welding. Three years later, while working as a Foreman Welder for the Oregon and Vancouver Shipyards, Alfred, at 25 yrs old, was drafted and entered the US Army Infantry in July, 1944. He fought for our country overseas in the 2nd Battle of Guam, The Battle of Leyte, and 'Operation Iceberg' in Okinawa. In 1946, while stationed in Korea, he received two Purple Hearts and an Honorable Discharge as Staff Sargent. After the military, Alfred enrolled in the Strutz School of Watchmaking in Sacramento, CA. to begin a new career in the jewelry business. In 1948, he was hired by Butterfield Brother Jewelry in Portland, and spent the following 13 years as their Watch Materials Manager. In 1961, he joined Seattle's renowned jewelry business of Simon Golub & Sons and spent the following 25 years as one of their top Wholesale Jewelry Representatives by traveling and selling fine jewelry throughout Alaska, the Pacific NW and California. He spent his last 4yrs in the Jewelry business with Lythgoe & Mottau Jewelry before retiring in 1990 to care for his beloved wife Ruth, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1987. Alfred met Ruth and her daughter Claudette in 1949 and fell in love with both of them. Shortly thereafter, he married Ruth and adopted Claudette. The three of them remained inseparable and it was a heavy burden upon Alfred's heart to outlive the two loves of his life. Alfred and Ruth loved to travel and their favorite destination was Reno because those two always came home with winnings! They were socialites involved in many fund raising and charity events as well as proud members of their Golf Club, Elks Club and Hilton Associations, and when out on the town, they dazzled people as they dominated the dance floor. They loved living and entertaing in their home in the southwest hills of portland, and with Alfred's avid gardening skills, the grounds were always kept in stellar shape. Alfred was a stoic, hardworking, sensitive and trusting man. A doting husband and father who kept in touch and cared about his extended family and friends. He made the bed every morning, loved his Finish toast with coffee. Wore a suit jacket most days, drank a couple Manhattans every night (“not before 5pm” he'd say) enjoyed golf, chess and card games, watching pro sports, and driving his big yellow Cadillac's. He was a Christian with moral integrity of what's right and wrong. A man who spent his retirement years shopping, cooking, feeding and bathing his beloved wife as she slowly withered from her illness. A man who survived the war. A man that has lived with leukemia since the late 70's and prostate cancer since the late 80's without invasive treatment, and also survived a major colon cancer resection. In other words, he is a miracle. Alfred is preceded by his 3 grandchildren: Debra McKillip, Darci Lavitz, and Brady Weidner. 5 great grandchildren, two great great grandchilden, as well as many beloved nephews, nieces, cousins and extended family and friends. And special note of gratitude to all the kind-hearted caregivers at McLaughlin Service Information