Robert Blaine Kragness

Published 8:20 am Monday, August 13, 2018

March 23, 1963 – August 6, 2018

Robert Blaine Kragness was taken from loved ones way too soon, early Monday morning, August 6, 2018, in Bend, Oregon, on Deschutes Market Road in a single vehicle motorcycle accident.

Rodney and Aileen Kragness celebrated the birth of their first born son, Rob, on March 23, 1963, at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eugene, Oregon.

Growing up on a farm in Coburg, there was never a shortage of work to be done- from plowing, planting, harvesting, hauling and burning the fields in preparation for the next year.

If you saw him out in the field with his brother Jim, picking up rocks, you knew they’d gotten in trouble…again!

His life’s mantra began early on: Work hard, play harder.

He lived life full on, pedal to the metal.

Sheldon High School finally saw Rob’s back when he graduated in 1981 and never looked back. Likely due to meeting the love of his life, Carla Cagle, at a Halloween Party in 1982. She was dressed as a devil and he pulled on her tail, introducing himself as a professional farrier. They tied their shoes together and married in 1984.

One of the proudest moments in Rob’s life came in 1986, when his first and only son, Jordan Kragness, was born. Now he had a family to provide for and Rob began the transition from working the farm, to ripping ass down the mountain sides hauling logs, as the Flyin’ Hawaiian. Then he arrived at his true expertise-excavation. He was a master at virtually every piece of construction equipment and was a very gifted operator. In 1990, Rob was blessed with his one and only daughter, Mary, who looked like her mommy but acted just like her daddy.

Songbrook, a family endeavor, saw Rob’s skilled hands in the development of Muriel Pond and in the second phase of development in the community.

He loved to share his talents with those he loved, always the first person willing to lend his hand in any home project albeit site clearing, landscaping and all around home improvement.

And now onto Rob and “Play Harder!”

For those who knew and loved Rob, they knew how much he loved hunting and elk camp, and he had many happy memories of this. He enjoyed cutting a rug, no matter the size and if he took a break from that, you had better hope he didn’t find the microphone-he loved karaoke! If the microphone wasn’t to be had, you might just find him at the poker table. Above all else, he enjoyed outdoor activities like snowmobiling, cliff diving, tree climbing (I’ll race you to the top!), and particularly racing motocross with both his brother and his son.

Rob will be sorely missed. Pre-deceased by his father, Rodney Kragness, he leaves behind his mother, Aileen Kragness Day, brother, Jim Kragness, three sisters, Diane Itzenhauser, Laura Kragness Bristow and Cheryl Kragness Brost. Two children, Jordan Kragness and Mary Kragness Berrien and his newest joy in life, grandson, Liam Berrien. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

He was an all around bad-ass, who marched to the beat of his own drum, making his own rulebook as he went.

Fly free with the angels, our Flying Hawaiian, the wind on your face and a smile in your heart.

The celebration of life will be held Sunday, August 12, at Hayworth Estate Wines, 92075 Powerline Rd., Eugene, OR 97408, at 1:00 pm.