Albert Anthony Vandecoevering, 88 of Verboort, died April 16 at his home in Verboort surrounded by his family.

Albert was born September 16, 1932 in Roy, OR, the son of William and Delia Vandecoevering. He attended Visitation Catholic School and received the Distinguished Graduate Award in 1998.

He married Lorna Heesacker on May 30, 1960 at St Anthony’s Catholic Church in Forest Grove.

As a young boy he worked for the railroad company as a gandy dancer. He also worked with his father on the family farm.

Albert worked at Hillsboro Implement for 10 years as a mechanic and was known at the “Bailer Mechanic” for Northwest Oregon.

He worked for Tektronix for 21 years in various positions including janitor, finisher and painter. He also worked at Barn Inc. as a finisher. He retired at age 56.

Albert worked on the family hobby farm his entire life. He raised cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, chukars and pheasants. Albert loved game birds and started Al’s Birds. He fed the birds bread donated by the local bakery. He offered the excess bread to members of the Verboort community and parish and became known as the “bread man”.

Albert’s biggest joy was deer, elk, bear and antelope hunting with his brothers, son, son in laws, grandsons and longtime friends. He took his son Joe hunting as a young boy and the tradition continued until Albert retired from hunting in 2015. He was also a member of the Verboort Gun Club and enjoyed trap shooting.

Grandpa Albert loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren and they adored him.

Albert was a lifelong member of Visitation Catholic Church. He attended mass every day and many times stopped by the convent for coffee with the nuns. At the Verboort Sausage & Kraut dinner, you could find Albert in sausage sales greeting guests and talking to customers waiting in line.

He is survived by his wife, Lorna Vandecoevering of Verboort, children and spouses, Jean and Ted Walsh of Forest Grove, Janet and Greg Kirkland of Hillsboro, Kathy Duyck of North Plains, Joe and Dana Vandecoevering of Forest Grove, Carol Kirkland of Scappoose, Myra Norman of Hillsboro, Lois and Thomas of Banks, Sharon Hughes of Verboort, and Chrissy and James Whyte of Oregon City – and 30 grandchildren and 15 great children. Seven siblings; Sister Agnes Marie Vandecoevering SSMO, Sister Claire Vandecoevering SSMO, Sister Anne Vandecoevering SSMO, Mary Stadelman, Harold Vandecoevering, Theresa Mandel and Minnie Krieger.

He is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers; Tom, Vincent, Stephen and Ed Vandecoevering, two sisters; Agnes Coates, Margaret Chmielewski

The family suggests that remembrances in his memory be contributed to the Visitation Catholic Church Roof Repair Fund.