Gary Nordholm

Gary Dean Nordholm

Gary Dean Nordholm, 80, of Gaston, OR, passed away on April 13, 2026, at OHSU Hospital in Portland.

Born on May 27, 1945, in Forest Grove, OR, Gary was the son of the late Paul Kenneth Nordholm and Anna Margaret Nordholm (Halverson). He was raised in Banks, OR, and attended Banks High School.

Gary met Barbara Jean Sandstrom in middle school and they dated throughout high school. They married on June 25, 1965, at the First Baptist Church in Forest Grove, right after graduation. They were married for over 60 wonderful years and remained deeply devoted to each other throughout their marriage. In 1968 they built their home on Sandstrom Road in Gaston, where they lived until his death.

They shared a lifelong love of camping and hunting. Gary adopted two children with Barbara — daughter Dana Paula Chaitali from India in 1980 and son Daniel Paul Kim from Korea in 1984. The family spent many happy years camping together at various spots around Oregon. After retirement, the couple traveled extensively in their RV, visiting Minnesota, Oklahoma, Alaska (via the Alaska Highway), Yellowstone, the Painted Hills, Jerome, Arizona, Deadwood, and Sturgis. One of the highlights of Gary’s life was bear hunting on Vancouver Island; he proudly displayed the bear hide on the wall in their living room. Only special guests received the honor of a mixed drink stirred with his prized bear swizzle stick.

In his later years, Gary served as a camp host each summer at Spruce Run Park on the Nehalem River. For 36 years he worked as a machinist at Wade Rain, building irrigation systems. While it may not have been his greatest passion, the job provided for his family and allowed him to spend time doing what he loved most — being with family and friends.

People loved being around Gary. He was anything but quiet and was the most loyal friend one could ask for. He would always tell you the truth, even if you didn’t want to hear it, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for those he cared about. He built lifelong friendships, some dating back to middle school and others through the Elks Lodge. If you were his friend, you knew it — he always made you feel important.

Gary had a deep voice and a tough-looking exterior, but he was actually very gentle with those he loved. He had a special place in his heart for children. When his own children were young, he took them to large group campouts with hundreds of adopted children from around the world. He dedicated many years to coaching young people in shooting and firearm safety with the Timber Beast Shooting Club and taught concealed carry classes. His number one philosophy was that everyone should know how to handle a firearm safely.

He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Jean Nordholm (Sandstrom) of Gaston; his daughter, Dana Paula Chaitali Oldham and husband David Oldham of Tulsa, OK; his son, Daniel Paul Kim Nordholm; and his grandchildren, Nakaria and Nylah (from Dana) and Sophia and Gary (from Daniel). He was preceded in death by his siblings, JoAnne Margaret Nordholm and Donald Allan Nordholm.

A Life Celebration will be held on June 27, 2026, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Elks Lodge #2440 in Forest Grove.