Torgeir Kateraas, Nov. 14, 1925–July 19, 2018

On July 9, 2018, a kind, gentle soul winged its way to heaven. Born in the family home in Åmli, Norway to Tarjei Kateraas and Helga Tveit Kateraas, Torgeir was the second of seven children. He grew up on that family farm.

After completing his schooling, he became active in the highly effective Norwegian underground resisting the Nazis, who were very active in Norway. In 1946 Torgeir went to sea with the norwegian Merchant Marine. In 1951 he joined the U.S. Army and served in the infantery during the Korean War.

After serving this country in the Army, he joined the U.S Merchant Marine. His home base became San Francisco, California, and he became a U.S. citizen in 1955. When retired, he moved to Crescent City, California, in 1991 and then to Brookings, where he bought a beautiful little home from which he had a great view of the Pacific Ocean and where he recieved many visits, including sisters and nieces from Norway.

He also bought a boat and spent many hours fishing int the Pacific. An annual camping and fishing trip to Howard Prairie Lake near Ashland was also looked forward to.

He served as a volunteer driver taking many people to medical appointments out of the area, sometimes as far as Portland, using his own private vehicle.

Torgeir is survived by one sibling, his sister Signe Kateraas in Arendal, Norway, along with many nieces and nephews.

He was truly a gentleman, kind and ethical to all. He was a good friend and he is missed. his physical remains will be laid to rest in the Pacific Ocean, where he spent a great deal of his life, with military honors by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. No public services are planned at this time.