Aksel Barka

Aksel Barka, 88, of Grants Pass, died Friday, September 15, 2006 at Three Rivers Community Hospital.

A memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at Calvary Lutheran Church with Pastor Don Carlson officiating. Southern Oregon Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to Elks Lodge (Children’s Christmas Party Fund), 207 SW K Street, Grants Pass OR 97526.

Aksel was born March 3, 1918 in Stavanger, Norway. In 1929 he moved from Norway to the United States where he lived in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Chicago schools and in 1939 his team won the city soccer championship. On December 14, 1940 in Chicago he married Sylvia Madsen. In 1989 he moved from Santa Maria, California to Grants Pass.

His memberships included the Shriners, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, Sons of Norway and Calvary Lutheran Church. He volunteered as a driver for cancer patients.

He especially enjoyed singing in the choir, glee clubs, golf, soccer, and bowling.

In addition to his wife, Sylvia Barka of Grants Pass; survivors include a son, Olav Barka of Simi Valley, California; three daughters, Marta Terranova of Tigard, Oregon; Barbara Whitehead of Grants Pass; and Joanne Long of Woodland Hills, California; nine grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters and a brother.