Harry "Poppy" J. Mckaig

Harry J. McKaig, Sr., age 61, of La Grande, died October 9,2013. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, October 18, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. at Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande. A potluck dinner will follow at the Seventh-day Adventist Fellowship Hall.

Harry was born September 23, 1952 to Paul and Hilda McKaig in Jersey City, New Jersey. He attended Edison High School. In 1968 he joined the US Army and served in the Vietnam War. He married his high school sweetheart, Roxanna Deffenbach in 1972 and later moved to Texas. Harry and Roxanna later returned to New Jersey where he was the owner of Harox Catering and Harox Deli. In 1991 they moved to La Grande, Oregon. Harry was a manager at the Flying J Truck Stop. Harry thought he would bring a little East Coast to La Grande by opening the Original "Poppy's Tastee Dogs", which he owned and operated until his health forced him to sell. Many locals knew him as "Poppy". Later he bought the Imbler Cafe. Due to his health he was only able to operate the cafe for a short time.

His love for his wife, Roxanna< and his family was most important to him. He enjoyed Sumpter Flea Market, Hog Wild Days and all the local craft shows. Harry also enjoyed rides through the country with his wife. He grew to call Oregon his home. He will truly be missed by all those who knew his soft nature.

Harry is survived by his wife, Roxanna McKaig of La Grande; son Joe McKaig of La Grande; daughter, Lisa and her husband, Brian Blisard of Westampton, New Jersey; father, Paul McKaig of Edison, New Jersey; brother, Paul and his wife, Dyan McKaig of Summerville, Oregon; sister, Colleen and her husband, George Haring of Pen Argyle, Pennsylvania; brother, Patrick and his wife Irene McKaig of Edison, New Jersey; sister-in-law, Margaret and her husband, Arthur Bokor of Robbinsville, New Jersey; sister-in-law, Erna and her husband, Michael Luster of Jackson, New Jersey; grandchildren, Michael, Katy and CJ McKaig of La Grande and Danielle and Carlynna Blisard of Westampton, New Jersey; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his mother, Hilda McKaig of Edison, New Jersey; brother-in-law, Emerson Deffenbach of Browns Mills, New Jersey; mother-in-law, Mary Deffenbach of Edison, New Jersey and niece, Jennifer McKaig of Summerville, Oregon.

Those who wish may make contributions in his memory to the Grande Ronde Hospital Foundation or the GRH Hospice. A fund to help Roxanna is set up at the US Bank.

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