James Robert Venner

Jim Venner 72 of Bend OR passed away suddenly while skiing on Mt. Bachelor on what was a gorgeous Central Oregon day doing something that he loved.
He was born April 3, 1952, in Portland, OR to Robert James Venner and Arlene Marie Barrett both of Portland. He spent his youth in Portland, then Cherry Hill, NJ and later attended high school in Vienna, Austria at the American International School. When his parents and four younger siblings returned to the states in 1972, they bought East Odell Lake Lodge on Hwy 58 and began running the resort as a year-round business introducing cross country skiing to Willamette Pass. Jim took over the business and he and his wife were married there on April 5, 1980. Then came two daughters, Nanette in 1981 and Angela in 1983. They stayed at the lodge until 1986 and then moved to Bend.
As they settled down in Bend, Jim began to help his sister and brother-in-law with their company Oregon Log Homes in Sisters, OR. He helped them develop their export business sending kit log homes to Japan and Korea. Later he worked for other companies in Bend doing office management and accounting. During those years he spent ten seasons coaching Girls Little League Softball. He was also a volunteer tax preparer at the Bend downtown library helping many people meet the April deadline. He and his wife spent several years building their own house in East Bend where they have lived since 1989. He spent his last years before retirement, working at Home Depot helping people find what they needed for their DIY projects.
He is survived by his wife Gail Eskie Venner from Dearborn, MI an Oregonian since 1972, daughter Nanette and son-in-law Mitchell Madsen, daughter Angela and son-in-law David Fassett and two grandsons Carson and Ryder Fassett. His younger surviving siblings are Laura Neary of Newport, OR Julie Copley of Rockaway, OR Marlane Venner of Vancouver, WA and Richard Venner of Crabtree, OR along with many nieces and nephews, and several grand nieces and nephews.
Jim was known amongst his family and friends as a kind and giving person. He loved 'of course' skiing, traveling, building and fixing things with his hands, gardening, kayaking, eating good food with a beer and his malamute dogs. There will be a Celebration of Life this summer for Jim at Odell Lake Lodge cabin #12 now called NW Territory, on August 10, 11 and 12.
In lieu of flowers people can give to the Play Forever Fund on Mt. Bachelor's website. This fund works in partnership with the Oregon Community Foundation, OCF. Through May 31, 2025, every dollar donated to the Play Forever Fund will go to Oregon Adaptive Sports. OAS is a local nonprofit dedicated to creating access to high-quality outdoor recreation experiences for individuals with disabilities. Mt. Bachelor will match guest donations to OAS up to $10,000.
https://shop.mtbachelor.com/s/hidden/p/play-forever-fund-donation