The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

John L. Gragg, age 81, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on December 9, 2022, after a long illness.

John was born in St. Louis, Missouri, November 8, 1941, to Louis and Gracia Gragg.

He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Oregon in 1964. While home in St. Louis during a break from college, John met Barbara Graham Watt at a party hosted by a mutual friend. They married in 1965 and lived in Middletown, Ohio while he earned an MBA from Miami University (Class of 1969).

In the summer of 1969, the family relocated to Portland, Oregon and John took a job with Omark Industries. Later, he moved on to a lengthy career at Tektronix, where he built strong friendships and traveled the world working in marketing for more than 30 years.

In 1990, John and Barbara sold their home in Eastmoreland and fulfilled a longtime dream by moving to Black Butte Ranch year-round, where they continued their careers. Barbara died in 1998.

Soon after, on a sailing trip in the San Juans, John was introduced by mutual friends to Susanne Baumann, with whom he shared a loving partnership for over 25 years. With Susanne's support and an amazing amount of courage and grit, John overcame multiple serious illnesses. He and Susanne split time between Vancouver, Washington and Central Oregon, celebrating the marriages of their children, welcoming six grandchildren, traveling to visit friends and family in Denmark, and attending their grandchildren's sporting events and school activities.

John was consistently active in his community, at times serving on his neighborhood school's Citizens Advisory Committee, as a member of the Oregon State Boundary Commission, and as part of the alumni board and as alumni president for the University of Oregon.

He was an avid reader and skilled writer, a world traveler, a lover of music, a 50-year Duck football season ticket holder, and an athlete who raced bicycles, ran road races, cross-country skied, and climbed many of the Pacific Northwest's tallest peaks.

John is survived by his partner, Susanne Baumann; his children, Chris Gragg (Karen) and Sarah Stascausky; Julia Sarver (Asa) and Moritz Baumann; six grandchildren, Lucy, Zoe, Zac, Grace, Caleb, and Evan; and his brother, Paul Gragg. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Gracia Gragg; and his wife, Barbara Watt Gragg.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Knight Cancer Foundation.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 10 at the home of Susanne Baumann in Sisters. Please contact her at [email protected] for details.