Alphonse "Al" Henry Baresh

Alphonse "Al" Henry Baresh, age 96, died peacefully on Saturday August 16, 2025.

Born to Frank and Frances Baresh in Chelsea, Iowa, he grew up on the family farm in Scappoose, Oregon, with ten older brothers and sisters, and his twin brother Joseph.

Al and Joe shared an adventurous boyhood making stilts, building a raft named “Queen Mary,” rolling together in an old truck tire down the home’s outside stairway, and climbing Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, Oregon.

After high school, and before leaving to serve in the Korean War, Al proposed to his sweetheart, Mary Lou, on top of Rocky Butte in Portland. They were married after he returned from overseas.

While in the Army in Korea, Al maintained Forward Observation Aircraft. At home he attended machine-shop school and worked as a machinist at Cascade Corporation until retiring early in March of 1992.

Al and his family enjoyed camping trips, visiting the beach, Mount Hood, and family get-togethers. He and Mary Lou visited Alaska, California, Hawaii, and Florida.

After retiring, for many years Al cared for Mary Lou with loving tenderness, a model of husbandly love. He also took up pottery, creating many wonderful pieces in his garage.

Al is preceded in death by his infant son, John and his wife of 56 years, Mary Lou. He is survived by his twin brother, Joe; his children and family, David Baresh (MaryJo), Carol Sommers (Tim), Theresa Qualheim (Dave) and Mary Bethke (Clinton); his cherished grandchildren, Joshua, Devin, Ryan, Melissa, Eric, Kyle and Katie; and his adored great-grandchildren, Miles, Maya, Madison, Brody, Dru, Waylon, Anna, Josie, Alma, Calla, and Rowen.

Following the loss of his wife Mary Lou, Al and his kids visited Alaska, Hawaii, Utah, Turkey, and the Czech Republic, where his parents were born.

A Rosary for Alphonse will be held Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 10:30 AM at St. Henry Catholic Church, 346 NW 1st Street, Gresham, Oregon 97030, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM, with a reception to follow in the Madonna Center.