James Earl Tenbrook

Tenbrook, James Earl - Age 76, of Sutherlin, Oregon, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 3, 2011, at home with his loving family at his side. He was born June 16, 1935, in Cherokee, Kansas, to Ralph Lee Tenbrook and Ethel Lucille (Doty) Tenbrook. He moved with his family to Petaluma, California, when he was nine years old and approximately a year later they settled in Oregon. He met and then married Joanne Alice (Whittaker) Tenbrook on August 25, 1957. "Jim" worked at Martin Brothers Box Co. and Nordic Plywood until retiring in 1977. "Jim", a man of few words, spoke highly of his life-long friend and best man, Bob Scott, and of the activities they shared as young adults such as water skiing, roller skating, fishing trips and "horsing" around. "Jim" also enjoyed ocean and freshwater fishing, boating, diving, "picking" his guitar, gardening and canning. He especially enjoyed his semi-annual extended fishing trips to Lemola Lake (his home away from home). As for his family, they were naturally included in his favorite activities and he treasured family time that included long bike rides, blackberry picking, baseball games in the yard, swimming, pine-cone picking, indoor table games and rough-housing with the kids. He even involved them in the "easier tasks" when rebuilding the family home. He had a natural talent for working with wood and in addition to building and remodeling his home, built several beautiful pieces of furniture with precision and sturdiness, such as dressers, desks, bookshelves and more. He also enjoyed time in his workshop "tinkering" where he was a "jack of all trades". James is survived by his former spouse, Joanne Tenbrook of Sutherlin, who had been by his side until his passing; daughters, Debra Bates of Sutherlin, Lisa Tenbrook of Glide, Oregon; Rita Tenbrook of Oakland, Oregon; son, Mark Tenbrook and wife, Melinda of Oakland; grandchildren, Joe Tenbrook, Rena Bjerke, Chrissy Alexander, Reno Goddard, Erik Goddard, Tyler Tenbrook, Aurora Tenbrook, Sherry Stinnett, Angela Cook, Jennifer Cherico, Keggan Tenbrook, Will Tenbrook, Curtis Tenbrook, Christopher Allen and Metzka Tenbrook; great-grandchildren, Andrew Smith, Anthony Smith, Arik Smith, Ashton Bjerke, Aurora Bjerke, Makayla Alexander, Christopher Hawk, Conner Hawk, Corbin Hawk, Michael Cunningham, Cheyanne Cunningham, Kolbi Stinnett, Jesse Oesterreich, Meagan Oesterreich, Anessa Cook, Aspin Atterbury, Dawson Cherico, and Brayden Allen; sister, Coleen Penninger and husband, Jim of Grants Pass, Oregon; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. James is also survived by an uncle, Eddy Doty. James was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Ethel Tenbrook; daughter, Sharon Atterbury; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leonard and Bessie Whittaker; and son-in-law, Robert "Bobby" Bates, Jr. Memorial service will be held at the Sutherlin Community Building on Sunday, July 10, 2011, at 2 p.m. A potluck will follow the memorial service - all are welcome. Please share your memories and stories of Jim; they will be greatly treasured. James will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at the Fair Oaks Cemetery, Sutherlin, Oregon. In lieu of flowers, "donations" can be made by spending time with your own family engaged in a favorite activity or pastime.