Kim Michele Vachter's Obituary
Kim Michele Vachter (Zuercher) of Gladstone, Oregon born in Portland on January 16, 1959, gently passed on God’s Day Sunday June 4th, 2023, at Providence Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. She was surrounded and supported by her loving Husband Daryl Vachter, daughter-in-law Julie Zuercher and her two adult kids Angelia Sjaastad and Jeremy Zuercher as she ascended into heaven. She has two stepchildren named Candice Vachter and Shane Vachter who live in Idaho, who she thought of as her own. She has Ten grandchildren named Jade Sjaastad, Sarah Sullivan, Velouria Roberts, Jazmin Sjaastad, Ethan Zuercher, Amelia Zuercher Damien Rackham, Paige Rackham, Hunter Rackham and Trevor Vachter. She had one great grandson named Asher Sullivan. She adored her grandchildren and spoiled them rotten. She also leaves behind her brother Richard Zuercher and sister Kerry Wrenn who she both adored.
Kim met her soul mate and future husband Daryl Vachter while learning country line dancing at the Spinning Wheel in Canby, Oregon. They dated for a while before getting married on July 22nd, 1995 (27 years). She lived a very happy life with Daryl who supported her in every respect. Daryl always went out of his way to take care of her in her times of illness and loved her as much as she loved him. It was a perfect union.
As a child Kim grew up in Beavercreek, Oregon living the country life. She was a proud Schuebel School Alumni and then went to Oregon City High School where she graduated. She took some college in graphic design. Kim was a great designer. She loved to decorate her homes’ and loved to use flowers, ducks, geese, butterflies, and various paintings with vibrant colors. Christmas was her favorite time of year, and she would spend hours creating her Christmas village display. Over the years she continued to add to her Christmas scenery, and it was a sight to see!
Kim began working for the West Linn School District as a custodian at West Linn High School. She was a hard worker and was proud of her work. She would say that she easily walked ten miles every day at work. She always went the extra mile to make sure her work area was perfect. Although her job was physically demanding she never complained. She loved her job and created friendships with her co-workers, teachers and students that she worked with. She remained with West Linn High School until she retired Seventeen years later.
As an adult she lived in Oregon City before buying her first house in Canby, Oregon. She accomplished this amazing feat while being a single parent. She later moved back to Oregon City before moving to Clackamas then Beavercreek and Finally Gladstone Oregon. While in Beavercreek she enjoyed working with her white and brown palomino named Tamika and taking trail rides with her friend Wendy. She decided to move closer to her mother Ilene Doris Zuercher (deceased) in Gladstone. Kim continued to live in the same mobile home park after her mother’s passing. She made many friends and was a “spitfire” as some of her friends have said. She made lasting friendships wherever she went.
Kim loved animals and would often bring home cats and dogs unbeknownst to her husband Daryl. She had a Pomeranian named Bear who she derived great happiness from. After Bear passed, she had difficulty letting go and tried out several replacements. She finally realized that Bear could never be replaced.
She lived for others and was happy just to make others happy. She had a sense of responsibility to make sure that those who she loved were safe. She worried about those she loved thereby often putting others needs before her own. She was courageous and generous and always was willing to help others in their time of need. She always wanted the best for everyone. She always made others feel important and loved doing things that expressed her love, like throwing a birthday party without it being anyone’s birthday or taking the family to Oaks Park Amusement or the county fair on a moment’s notice. Kim’s kindness, generosity, devotion and giant heart will be missed by all who were lucky enough to be part of her life.
Services will be held on June 15th, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Holman-Hankins-Bowker & Waud Funeral Service in Oregon City, OR.
715 7th St
Oregon City, OR 97045
At 1:00 PM we will travel to the Willamette National Cemetery for Burial
11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd.
Portland, OR 97086-6937
Please join us for the celebration of life party immediately afterward. We will be having a barbecue dinner and sharing stories to honor Kim.
Two Rivers Mobile Home Park Clubhouse
19605 River Rd.
Gladstone, OR 97027
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly — that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” - Unknown
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