Clifford Frederick Koppe

Considered a true original by all the lives he touched, Clifford Frederick Koppe died peacefully on January 11, 2018 at his beloved mountain home in Dole Valley, Yacolt, Washington at the age of 78. Cliff was born April 6, 1939 in Portland, Oregon to Clifford Walter Koppe, Waldena Koppe (ne Goley), and Sister Gretchen. His 3-year-old sister called him her teenie baby, so he was affectionately nicknamed Teenie by his family. Cliff grew up in the Arnada neighborhood of Vancouver, Washington. He sang in the junior choir at St. Lukes Episcopal Church, participated in Boy Scouts of America, and obtained his Eagle Scout designation while in high school. He and his family frequently made fishing trips to the coast, and weekends at the Dole Valley family cabin. Cliff graduated from Vancouver High School in 1957, entered college at the University of Washington, and participated in ROTC. When his father died in 1959, he withdrew from college and began running the familys Vancouver auto wrecking business Inter City Junk with his mother Waldena. Shortly thereafter, he became a Master Freemason of Vancouver Lodge No. 4, and a Shriner. He continued living in Vancouver, meeting Tricia Posey, of whom he was briefly married in 1964. While living in the Bella Vista neighborhood, he met and married his neighbor Pamelia Weems in 1967, and adopted her daughter Lori. They had two more children, Audrey, and Clifford Walter, aka C.W. In 1974, Cliff and Pam upgraded the Koppe family cabin to a residence and moved the family to Dole Valley until their divorce in 1978. Cliff married Shirley Madison in 1982, and continued to reside in Dole Valley with she and her son Jace until their divorce in early 1990, and during that time Audrey and C.W. joined them after Pams death in 1983. While involved in his equine pursuits, he married longtime friend and fellow horsewoman Rene Foster in December 1990, bringing she and her children Ryan and Tyler to reside on the mountain, and remained married until her death in 2002. Cliff was a successful and respected businessman in Clark County for 50 years doing what he called mining the mine above the ground. After taking over the family business, he created and grew Inter City Metals, Inc., a scrap processing company that operated throughout the 70s. It included operations on E. Fourth Plain, Five Corners, and next door to Oregon Steel Mills in Portland, Oregon. At peak operations, Cliff sold the business to Oregon Steel Mills, retaining the original family property at Fourth Plain. In 1982, Cliff started again in Kelso, Washington as Cliff Koppe Metals, Inc., and additionally on Fourth Plain in 1985. He briefly operated in Fairbanks, Alaska under K&K Recycling in 1984. He merged with Mt. Hood Metals and Metro Metals Northwest in 1999, both of Portland, Oregon, to form Metro Metals Northwest, Inc. The collaboration helped create Pacific Coast Shredding in Vancouver, Washington, and after contributing to the shredders startup and success, Cliff retired to other pursuits in 2009. In recent years, he created Koppe Enterprises, LLC, and drove truck hauling scrap in his brand new Peterbilt until 2016. In his years of business, Cliff was a skilled equipment operator and truck driver, using his expertise to grow his business. He was a true scrap magnet with rust in his veins, with tenacious dedication, and an indelible understanding of the importance of customer service. Many employees remained loyal and longtime friends. He was humble about his successes, claiming luck had more to do with it than smarts or skill. As a Vancouver Executives Association member, he also assisted in helping others in their business success, and continued to participate well into retirement. More importantly, Cliff always claimed he was born with the defective gene for horses, his lifelong passion. As a child, he first began taking lessons at Jantzen Beach, and then riding at Cousin Stan Greens and childhood friend Ed Walters home. After moving to his Bella Vista acreage, he bought horses and joined the Clark County Saddle Club, sitting on the board and helping create the annual Vancouver Rodeo. He participated in gymkhana events, the Clark County Posse, and became drillmaster of the Clarkettes drill team. He hauled his horses and daughters to rodeos for drill team exhibitions, game shows, and jackpots, and participated in the annual Washington State Posse Meet, including with his son C.W. in later years. With his wife Rene, he became extremely active in the barrel racing circuit, riding to many victories, predominantly on his favorite horse Yellow, while supporting Rene in her professional barrel racing endeavors. He claimed after briefly team roping with his buddies, he tried barrel racing, and would never go back after having the opportunity to spend time with beautiful women. They were members of numerous organizations, including Brand4D, BTM, and NBHA to name a few. Cliff was a friendly and supportive competitor, always cheering for his girls, thus making and retaining lifelong friends. Many barrel racing friends remember him for his welcoming and encouraging disposition along with the always-available ice cold Coors Light in his trailer. He competed into his early 70s. Attending Pendleton Roundup was one his annual commitments for over 40 years, only missing the year before his death. As a member of the Clark County Posse Relay Team, he participated in baton relay races and pony express, providing horses and ground crew support. He had many friends and family who joined him every year, both in and out of the horse community, and gladly shared his annual tickets. He enjoyed watching the daily performances, parade, and the evening activities, including dancing, and drinking his preferred Pendleton whiskey, particularly in the Leter Buck Room. Cliff loved everyday life pursuits as well, including growing pumpkins in the garden at the scrap yard, grooming numerous riding trails on the Dole Valley property with his John Deere tractor, and socializing with his numerous friends. He especially liked playing slots. Cliff always loved a good party, especially at home in Cliffs Lounge in later years. Cliff was a dedicated family man to his children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and was a father figure to many. He is remembered with devotion and love by daughter Lori Walker and husband Tim Walker of Yacolt, WA, daughter Audrey Koppe and Shane Green of Battle Ground, WA, son C.W. Koppe and wife Kimberly Koppe of Yacolt, WA, stepson Jace Rutherford and wife Angie Rutherford of Post Falls, ID, stepsons Ryan Helgerson and Tyler Helgerson. Grandchildren Timothy Walker, Lukas Walker, Pamela Koppe, Alexis Stanning, Max Koppe, Emma Koppe, Jacob Rutherford, Cole Rutherford, Tyson Rutherford, and Austin Rutherford. He is also survived by his sister Gretchen Jordal of Gig Harbor, WA. He was preceded in death by his wife Rene Koppe, and numerous horses including Yellow, 2 Bar, Bearback, and Pudy, and his favorite dog Henry. A private memorial service will be held at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Cliff will be interred at Old City Cemetery - Vancouver. Cliffs Celebration of Life will be held on January 27, 2018 at 5 PM at the Red Lion Hotel on the River - Jantzen Beach, 909 N. Hayden Island Drive, Portland, OR 97217. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made in his name to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, Oregon 97239. Attn: Donations. Phone 503-241-5090, or online at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc/donate

Clifford Frederick Koppe

April 6, 1939 - January 11, 2018