Robert John Gagoush Obituary (2024)

Robert John Gagoush passed peacefully, on Friday evening, January 26, 2024, at Ohana House Adult Family Home, where he resided. For surviving family and friends, Robert was best known as Dad, Bob, and Papa to all of us, we take solace knowing that he has been greeted in heaven by his wife, Johanna, and his best friend of all, his toy poodle, Sammy, who recently passed before him. We also know he will have the best seat in the stadium to watch his favorite sporting events. Robert "Bob" was born in Cle Elum, Washington, on September 23, 1934, to his father and mother, Louis John Gagoush and Wilma Gagoush Niles, and sister, Louise Marsch, whom have all gone before him. Bob attended high school at Yakima High in Yakima, Washington. He served in the armed forces in Germany and suffered his first broken nose playing Army "leatherhead" football. Then on March 3, 1957, he married the love of his life Johanna Lee Truesdell. They spent several years in Arizona, where Bob began his carpentry apprenticeship. They moved back to Yakima, Washington to settle in and start a family with both their son and daughter being born eight months apart in 1963. As his kids grew up, Bob spent endless hours playing catch, pitching, shooting, coaching, and spectating soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, football, and volleyball through their formative years. His favorite pastime became the Friday night high school scene, where he could be found in the stands with his buddies watching his kids in competition. It was quite the feat when he often had to try to be at two places at one time to see both Jim and Jana, since they both went to Davis and Eisenhower high schools respectively. Bob also always found time (sometimes to his wife, Johannas, irritation) to volunteer several hours to his kids local high school fund raisers and offering up his carpenters skills to friends and associates. Jo always thought he should be home remodeling a bathroom or some similar project. Thanks, Dad! It was great to have you there for us and the bathroom was just fine. He also participated for years with the Yakima Youth Baseball organization. Amongst his favorite things, when his kids were grown was watching his grandkids playing sports. Including hockey, baseball, basketball, football, softball, swimming, and volleyball. He often traveled to Seattle to watch Janas kids compete and he was always spotted locally in the stands watching Jims kids competing. He inspired his grandkids to be avid sports fans and serious competitors. His grandson, Jake, carried that love into collegiate baseball. Last and not least, was his love of all UW Huskies sports teams, of which watching Dawgs football was his true passion. He procured season tickets and traveled regularly to the home games until he could no longer walk the stadium stairs. Surviving Bob is his son, Jim Gagoush (Tammy), daughter, Jana Brady (Jim), grandchildren, Tasha Gagoush and Kevin Ball, Jamie Carbery (James), Jessica Brady and Katie Oder, Jacob Brady, and great-grandchildren, Johnny Carbery and Jasper Carbery. Robert, Bob, Husband, Dad, Papa, we will miss you! We love you and we will always remember the love you shared and the happiness that you gave us all. On behalf of the entire family, we want to give a special thanks to the staff of the Angel House and Ohana House for the comfort, dignity, and care provided to our beloved Bob through the years and in his final days. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, March 29, 2024, at 12:00pm, at Shaw & Sons Funeral Home (201 N. 2nd Street, Yakima, WA). A Graveside Service will follow at Terrace Heights Memorial Park and will conclude with a Reception for family and friends at Shaw & Sons Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a small contribution to your favorite local public or private youth athletic association. Papa would love that. Shaw & Sons Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.shawandsons.com.