Robert Kandra, Sr.

Robert William Kandra Sr.

(1940- 2023)

Robert William Kandra, Sr.,83, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, who was cordially known as Bob, to the basin community, passed away peacefully at a quarter to midnight on September 30, 2023. Bob’s full life led him to be a respected leader and organizer in many facets of the small town of Tulelake, California. His spirit to roll up his sleeves and pitch-in took him from a volunteer baseball coach of peewees, minors and major teams to a Kiwanis Club President, an organizer on the Tulelake 4th of July Committee, and a volunteer firefighter for the town.

Bob was born in Merrill, Oregon on March 26, 1940, to the second generation of the Tulelake farming family of William Valentine Kandra, his wife Betty Jane (Bagent) Kandra, and a 2-year older sister Carol Ann Kandra. The Kandra’s’ were part of the historic Great Immigration, to America, during (1870-1920), where over one million citizens of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, migrated to the United States, in search of agricultural lands, to replace the ones they were losing in the “Old County.”

Some of Bob’s early years from 1944 to 1946, as a boy of 4 to 6 years old, were pivotal moments in our US History. Bob would talk story of how he would ride along with his father William to Camp Tulelake, where they housed 800 German POWs, that the Tulelake Grower’s Association petitioned the US Government to send, to help with local farming. These German Soldiers were allowed to travel in the area freely, so Bob, with his father, would go to the camp every morning, to pick up the soldiers, to help the Kandra’s during the harvest season.

Bob became a true sportsman as a young teenager and developed his love of hunting and fishing with the help of his mother Betty. Bob would often share how, “back in the day” his father would be so busy farming, that it was his mother that was his hunting partner. When reminiscing, Bob would describe his mother as beautiful, brave, bold and always the life, love and laughter of the Kandra home. There was always a tear in Bob’s eye, with the memory of his mother’s passing, when he was only 18 years of age.

In 1960, at the age of twenty, Bob married Carol Gordon. They shared 15 years together and gave life to 4 children and together they were blessed with 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. It gave Bob great joy to watch his children and grandchildren excel in sports. Bob tried to attend as many games and practices as he could. Bob also was a great athlete himself. He loved baseball, golfing, could cut a rug with his dance moves and was well known for his bowling tournament three hundred game scores, which came with a ring, a jacket, and a great bowling reputation.

Growing up in Tulelake gave Bob the knowledge of agriculture. His employment was always centered around working outdoors and working in supportive farming positions with companies such as Ezell Fuel and LK Produce. Bob’s love for the outdoors and gardening predicated his final maintenance position, with the Klamath Falls Fairgrounds, from which he retired.

Bob is survived by his daughter Dorothy (Kandra) Nygren of Keno, Oregon, son Robert Kandra Jr. of Kihei, Hawaii, son David Kandra of Klamath Falls, Oregon, daughter Karen (Kandra) Ross of Chilcoot, California, his twelve grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, nephew Bill Greer, nieces Betty Greer and Eloise Solus. He was predeceased by his parents William and Betty and his sister Carol Ann (Kandra) Vandeburgh and his beloved Labrador, Tule. A graveside service will be held in honor of Bob, on Friday, November 3, 2023,at 2:00pm, at Klamath Falls Memorial Park, located at 2860 Memorial Drive Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Tulelake Fairgrounds C/O David Kandra, for the placement of a memorial bench dedicated to the life and memory of Bob.