Les E. Kaiser Obituary (2013

Les lost his 10 year battle with his illness on December 23, 2013. Les is survived by his wife Eva (Petty) Kaiser of Grandview; son and wife Kaz and Jen Kaiser, and their children Kali and Kassidy, of Phoenix, AZ; daughter and husband Karla and Josh Brown of Kennewick; brothers Verne (Donna) Kaiser, Terry Kaiser, and Jerry (Roxanne) Kaiser, all of Yakima; sister Tracy (Mickey) LacQuaye; inlaws Dale and Evelyn Petty of Yakima; brother-in-law Kimbol Petty of Selah; uncles Ted, Gene, and Bud (Janie) Kaiser, all of Yakima; aunt Marleen Lusk of Kennewick, WA; aunt Sibby and Louk Hatley of Yakima, and many cousins, nephews and nieces. Preceding him in death are his father, Vernon Kaiser, mother Bonnie Smith, aunt Lois Kaiser, and uncle Ron Lusk. Les was the last man to be drafted into the Army in 1973. He didn't have to spend his full term as the war ended. Les and Eva were married for 38 years. They started out in Yakima before moving to Seattle. In Seattle Les worked until 1982 as the warehouse foreman at Block Steel which made Lopi stoves and fireplace inserts. He then went to work for the City of Tacoma in Pierce County. He became a journeyman lineman and the shop steward. He began training to teach first aid and CPR. He started doing Pole Top Rescue and competing at the Washington State Governor's Safety Conferences against the other utilities in the Pole Top Rescue Competition, always winning a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place. We had lots of good friends there which made it hard to leave. In 1990, we decided we didn't want to raise our children in the big city, so Les took a job at the Benton County REA in Prosser. In 1992, Les went to work at Pacific Power & Light in Yakima County. In 1994, Les was given a special spirit of Excellence award by Pacific Power President Paul Lorenzini. In 1995, Les was chosen to be the Grandview/Mabton representative. He was asked to join the Grandview Rotary Club and became the President of the Rotary Club from 1998-1999. He also joined the Chamber of Commerce and was the Chamber President in 1999-2000. In 2000-2001, Les was the assistant Governor for the Governor's District 5060 of British Columbia, Canada and Washington State. Les did lots of volunteer work and loved it. He received the Mayor's Beautification Award in 1999, in honor of his outstanding service to enhance the overall appearance of the Grandview community. He put up the metal signs of fruit and grapes that hang on poles throughout Grandview. He helped to get a donation from Pacific Power for the trees that are all planted on the walkway throughout Grandview, which he helped plant. His favorite charity was United Way. His motto was, "Give until it feels good!" At Christmastime he rang the bell at Safeway for United Way. He was the most proud of his children, Kaz and Karla. He wanted them to set their goals high, and accomplish them they did. He loved seeing his granddaughters, Kali and Kassidy. Les loved to hunt deer. When he was with Tacoma City Light, he and 4 others got together and decided to make a dream come true. They bought 20 acres in Goldendale and built a cabin on it. So they always had a place to go hunt and stay. "I know there is football in heaven and Les is watching the Seahawks!" A Memorial Service celebrating Les' life will be held Saturday, February 8, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at Shaw & Sons Funeral Directors, 201 N. 2nd Street, Yakima. Memories of Les and condolences may be shared at www.shawandsons.com. Les, we all love you, and always will miss you forever!