JERRY LUKE GRASER

JERRY LUKE GRASER
1953 ˜ 2023

Jerry Luke Graser passed away on March 1, 2023, at his beloved cabin in Republic, WA. The youngest of three children, Jerry was born in 1953 to Wallace and Janet Graser in Portland, OR. He attended Fort Vancouver High School and graduated from The Evergreen State College with a BS degree in Energy Studies. In 1982, he became a licensed electrician in Washington state and founded Trout Creek Company, designing and installing solar, wind and water projects in and around Republic. Jerry also worked for larger solar companies installing off-grid systems in multiple states and outside the USA. Some of his solar projects included lighting the dome at the Washington State Capitol building in Olympia, and installing large solar arrays near Washington, DC and in Montreal, Canada.
He climbed mountains, played the guitar, backcountry skied, raced motocross, spoke passable Spanish and (thanks to Cathy) learned to swing dance. His love of travel took him to countries in South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He climbed Mt. Aconcagua, in Argentina, the tallest mountain in the western hemisphere and he climbed all the major volcanoes in the Cascade Range.
Cathy Dark and Jerry met in 1988. Friends for 27 years, they were married in 2015 on Mary’s Peak, near Corvallis, OR where Cathy was a dance instructor at Oregon State University. They traveled and trekked to many places including hiking nearly all of the Pacific Crest Trail, and a successful climb to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. In 2020, they completed the Camino de Santiago, walking 500 miles across Spain.
Jerry said to Cathy recently: “I’ve had a great life, wonderful children and many adventures. If I die tomorrow, I’ll die a happy man.” His passing was simply too soon for the rest of us.
Jerry was predeceased by his parents and brother John Graser. He is survived by his wife, Cathy (daughter Mimi); brother, Larry (Linda) Graser; daughter, Claire; son, Dylan; stepdaughter, Christine; and many much loved relatives and friends.
A celebration of life will be held in Republic, WA in June.
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