Robert Dean Rankin

Robert was born on February 11, 1943 to Roberta “Gene,” and Carlyle Rankin in Kansas City, MO. He attended Southeast High School, where he served as the Student Body President, Sports Editor of the school newspaper, and excelled in basketball, and football. In 1961, the school awarded him the Knights Memorial Award for Outstanding Student.

A graduate of Iowa State University and Northwestern School of Law in Illinois, Robert began his law career in 1968 with the Portland based law firm, Cake and Cake. He swiftly rose to senior partner as the firm evolved into McEwen, Gisvold, Rankin, Carter & Strienz, LLP. Over his distinguished 35+ year legal career, he played a key role in developing the numerous original contracts, financing and leases for the development of numerous significant projects in the Sunset Corridor, Tanasbourne Town Center, and Kaiser Hospital. Robert also served on the Metropolitan board of the Columbia Willamette YMCA and was the Board Chairman from 1981-1982.

In his personal life, Robert was a loving husband, father, and brother who relentlessly coached, cheered, encouraged, and led his four sons and even his little sister, guiding them to successful careers, marriages, and families. An active member of the Multnomah Athletic Club for 52 years, he spent his retirement enjoying 20 happy years on his family ranch with his wife Joyce, raising, training and even racing horses, walking the pasture with their dogs, and loving their grandchildren who adored him.

Preceded in death by his wife, Linda Love Rankin in 2002, Robert is survived by his wife of 20 years, Joyce Rankin; his four sons and their wives: Marc & Tawnia, James & Jill, William & LibbyOla, Alexander & Adrienne; his stepdaughter, Ashleigh, and her husband, Juan Carlos; his grandchildren: Connor, Hannah, Sydney, Cooper, Isobel, Lochlan, Abram, Grace, Josephine, and Leo; and by his sister, Elaine Groshong, her husband, Andrew, and their daughter, Heather

A Celebration of Life will be held in the summer of 2025, at a date to be determined, on the property he loved.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Robert's memory to one of his favorite local charities, The Edward's Center, https://edwardscenter.ejoinme.org/donate

We appreciate your prayers for Joyce and the family during this difficult time.