Calvin Cal Kenneth Jaggar

Calvin Kenneth Jaggar was a modest man, quiet and hard working in his ways. He was trustworthy and traditional in his approach to his life and in his relationships. He was tough-minded with the kind of “stick to it” attitude that earned the respect of all who knew him. He was also a man who had strong morals, was carefully disciplined, and had a strong sense of self that was evident to all that knew him. Realistic about life, he was always at the ready, prepared to take on responsibility.

His parents were Erma Genebeth and Kenneth Howard Jaggar. Cal was born in Portland, Oregon and was raised in the Pacific Northwest. He was brought up to be self-confident, honest and dependable. These were traits that would serve him well throughout his life.

Growing up in the Jaggar household was a bit different than most homes. There were good times to be had, but often there was a fair share of challenges as well. However, Cal was able to work through the usual family problems when they appeared, and he was a person who seemed able to keep the stress at bay. Cal was raised with three siblings. He had two older sisters, Cathy and Carleen, and one younger brother, Curtis. Cal was constantly involved in activities with his brothers and sisters. Cal was always consistently loyal to his family.

As a young child, Cal was never someone who needed to be the center of attention. He wasn’t pushy and never forced his way into games or other activities. Cal developed a variety of interests, though, and the things he enjoyed doing he did well. He was always curious about the world around him and was often eager to explore it. Cal took part in basketball. He was an outdoor enthusiast and a huge sports fan. In his spare time he liked fishing and being outdoors. However, what Cal enjoyed most was simply playing and spending time with his friends.

While his teachers and even his friends generally thought of Cal as being a serious person, he managed to have a good time in high school, getting into a little trouble along the way. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite classes in high school were gym class and shop. Cal was proud of finishing high school while in the Marine's and received his diploma from Barstow High. Cal was a very logical person who enjoyed learning. Using his exceptional memory, he was able to learn much through observation.

Always considered to be a solid friend, Cal was fortunate to have numerous acquaintances and several very close friends during his life. Cal was able to see beneath the surface of relationships and became a true friend to those who knew him. He was committed to his friends and valued the trust he placed in them. It was not uncommon for Cal to go beyond the call of duty for others, and friends frequently sought him out for advice because he had a knack for coming up with practical solutions to any type of dilemma. While growing up, some of his best friends included his brother Curtis and his cousins. Later in life, he became best of friends with Dennis Moore.

Compassionate and devoted to Cindy, Cal held endearing, traditional values about marriage and family life. He took the responsibility of marriage to heart, giving it his total commitment. He was a source of strength to Cindy and he worked hard to provide for his family and ensure that they were happy.

Cal brought the same traditional values in his marriage to bear on how he raised his children. He was a good parent to them, always firm yet fair in his dealings. He would always listen carefully and think things through before he acted, even when it was an adverse situation. He was the rock whom everyone leaned on. Cal was blessed with four children, three daughters, Stacy, Kendra and Shauna, and son Ryan. Cal was also blessed with seven grandchildren, Brandon, Dustin, Kade, Owen, Sienna, Josephine, and Payton.

Cal enjoyed what he did for a living. He was a hard worker who expected the same in return from his co-workers. Always able to attend to the task at hand, Cal was excellent at meeting deadlines. He was an efficient worker, one who paid careful attention to detail and was an active member of the Union. In manufacturing, he was employed for 30 years by Johnson Controls. Cal worked hard to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

Cal was proud to be an United States Marine Corps veteran. He served from 1974 to 1980 and was stationed overseas in Okinawa, Japan and stateside in Barstow, California. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Sergeant. A literal thinker who possessed a calm exterior, Cal seemed to enjoy the routines set forth by the military. His results-oriented approach to things made him committed to the job, and he understood well his role in serving his country.

Cal liked to experience things first-hand as well as learn about them. This trait carried over into his hobbies. Since he enjoyed his private time, Cal always tried to allocate a specific time for participating in his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were reading, video games, fishing, camping, rifle hunting and bow hunting for elk. Cal was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but he also thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of others.

Always good with his hands, Cal was a master at woodworking and the quintessential do-it yourselfer. From remodeling the family home, building a clubhouse for his kids, and reroofing a friends house to creating furniture for his family, baby doll cradles, jewelry boxes and a rocking horse for his children, he did it all thoroughly and beautifully. There were no half finished projects. He put all of his effort into what he created and took pride in the finished pieces. He was a mechanic, a plumber, an electrician, a carpenter for his family. After a day of hard work, he would often sit back, drink a Coors Light and take pleasure in knowing he did a job well done.

Cal also found pleasure in sports. Being a person who was comfortable making win/lose decisions throughout life, he could appreciate that athletes made those types of decisions in sports. In high school, Cal played basketball. Later in life, his recreational sports included golf and being a member of a bowling league for many years. He would watch his favorite sporting events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were NFL football (Go Seahawks!) and basketball, but truly enjoyed watching them all.

Cal enjoyed traveling and taking vacations. Since he was an early starter and had a laid back, easy going attitude, traveling with Cal appeared effortless. He enjoyed seeing his loved ones happy and seemed content to be along for the ride. Plus, no matter where he traveled, Cal always had a sense of adventure and thirst for fun. Favorite vacations included family road trips to California and elk hunting in John Day.

Calvin Kenneth Jaggar passed away on September 19, 2010 at his family home in Milwaukie. Cal fought a brave battle against melanoma cancer. He is survived by his wife Cindy; his children Stacy, Kendra, Shauna and Ryan; his grandchildren Brandon, Dustin, Kade, Owen, Sienna, Josephine and Payton. Services were held at Lincoln Memorial Park and Funeral Home. Cal was laid to rest on October 4th in Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.

Commitment is a key word that can be used to describe the life of Calvin Kenneth Jaggar. He was committed to living the life of a good man who was both practical and trustworthy. He was committed to the traditional values that he upheld his entire life. He committed himself to being a hard worker who expected the same effort in return from those around him. Most of all, he was committed to those he knew and loved.