William Frank Shake

William Frank (Bill) Shake, 84, of Tigard, Oregon, a loving husband, father, grandfather, friend and an acclaimed spokesman for fish in the Columbia basin and throughout the Pacific Northwest, died February 10th of congestive heart failure, complicated by dementia at his home with his family by his side.

Bill started as something of a landlubber, in the landlocked Illinois farming town of Macomb. The son of a physics teacher Kimbrough Shake, at the nearby Western Illinois University and a schoolteacher Verda Shake. There, he explored the Mississippi River, fishing, duck hunting and perfected water skiing.

Bill mowed yards, delivered newspapers, bagged groceries, worked as a counselor at a Wisconsin summer camp, and earned the coveted Eagle Scout award.

He was a 22-year alumnus of Western Illinois University, starting at their on-campus laboratory kindergarten and ending with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in zoology in 1964 and 1967 respectively. Bill earned a second master’s in public administration at American University in Washington, D.C. in 1981.

While attending Western he met his high school sweetheart Deanna (Bower) and later married on August 2nd, 1964.

A 38-year employee of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and culminating in Portland, Bill saw the agency through two of the nation’s most complex environmental battles of the past half-century: forest and fisheries management in a region where both carried profound conservation, economic, and cultural implications. Ending it as a respected advocate for salmon and steelhead in high-level negotiations where he counseled Cabinet secretaries and presidential administration.

Hired for a temporary position with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Indiana, his subsequent agency promotions took him to Lansing, Michigan’s Regional Office, where Bill and Deanna had their two daughters, Shantel Renee, and Jennifer Michelle.

Moving to Minneapolis, then Washington, D.C., he split his time between Capitol Hill and the Oval Office, working on President Jimmy Carter’s 100-million-acre expansion of public lands in Alaska, the largest in the country’s conservation history. While living in Virginia without opportunities for fishing and hunting, he perfected his skills in tennis and coached both daughters’ softball teams.

Bill arrived in Portland in 1982, with responsibilities for endangered species and Federal aid programs to state fish and game departments in the agency’s six-state Pacific region. By 1987, his duties focused exclusively on fisheries. “And I had become a crazy salmon and steelhead fisherman,” he said in a 2008 oral history. A massive agency reorganization in 1998 gave him responsibility for all agency functions throughout the Columbia River basin — an area the size of France.

In retirement in 2004, Bill served as a science and policy advisor to the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association. He also spent time as a board member with Oregon Wildlife Foundation and Friends of Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. He and Deanna co-chaired the Northwest Wine Showcase for “The Heart of Doernbecher” annual gala for many years. As a member of Sophie’s Chapter, he helped raise funds for OHSU’s Grant Program.

Bill divided the 22 years of his retirement between annual salmon and halibut fishing trips to Sitka, Alaska for 30+ years starting with 4 and filling out the lodge with 30+ fishermen with a waiting list. He was happy he shared the experience with both his grandsons on each of their 16th birthdays. Joining friends boating on the Columbia, Willamette, the Washington and Oregon coast, saltwater salmon fishing, razor clamming and crabbing was a favorite recreation and enjoying the bounties of the Northwest. Foraging for wild mushrooms was another bonus being a “foodie”. Exploring many wine regions across the state of OR, WA, and CA and enjoying many wine club activities provided great wine and meeting wonderful people. Traveling for work and in retirement brought about many adventures. Northshore of Oahu in Hawaii and Italy being favorite destinations.

Bill was a huge people person. He loved people and people loved him. When he laughed, which was often, it was contagious. He always smiled, even when there was no one to smile at. He always wanted to know about you and your life. And, he had the gift of listening rather than talking. Bill loved life and life loved Bill.

In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by two daughters, Shantel Shake and Jennifer Dardenne, and son-in-law David Dardenne, all of Sherwood, Oregon: two grandsons, Jacob Ames of California and Hayden Ames of Arizona, one cousin, Susan Shake of Delaware and sister-in-law Debra Hazlett and husband Roger, of Missouri. They are “parents by affirmation” to Jennifer Saliba, husband Greg and three grandchildren Sophia, Marcus and Bennett, all of Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Bill was one of the good ones and he will be missed by so many. In honor of Bill donations can be made to Oregon Wildlife Foundation or Sophie’s Chapter Grant Program at the Doernbecher Foundation.

Life Celebration at Cheatham Hall at the Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Rd Portland, OR 97221 on April 26, 2026 from 2-5PM.

"Having Happy Hour with Bill"