Ivene Pittam

April 8, 1916 – March 12, 2017

A celebration of life service will be held for Ivene E. (Johannesen) Pittam, 100, of North Bend, at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 18th, at the Faith Lutheran Church, 2741 Sherman Ave., in North Bend, with Pastor Israel Jurich presiding. A reception will follow the service at the church. A private family graveside committal will be held at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Coos Bay.

Ivene was born April 8, 1916 in Empire, Ore., in the homestead where her Swedish grandparents, the John Wicklunds, had settled more than 100 years ago. She was born to parents, Iver Johannesen and Alpha (Wicklund) Johannesen. She passed away peacefully at her home in North Bend March 12, 2017.

Ivene attended school in Empire, graduated from North Bend High School and attended Oregon State College. She was employed by the Empire Development Company, whose two main officers were rejuvenating old historic Empire. The land sales around Empire and down to Charleston involved mostly dust bowl refugees who later became prominent residents of the area. Growing up in Empire and playing around the old waterfront buildings, as well as her later association with L.J. Simpson gave her a strong sense of historical significance. One of her favorite structures was the old Tower home, which the John Peterson family acquired in 1920 and which their family members lived in. When she acquired this home in 1980, she started the process to have it declared a historical landmark. This was accomplished, and to preserve it as such, she deeded it to the Coos Historical Society.

Ivene married her husband, Robert D. Pittam in 1937, in Coos Bay, and they lived in an apartment in North Bend on Virginia Avenue. Bob was operating the Pittam Transfer Company, which later became the North Bend Bus Company. Ivene was very supportive of her husband in his many civic activities including when Bob became postmaster of North Bend in 1940. During this time, Ivene and her neighbor, Agnes Flaxel, undertook making North Bend a cleaner city by promoting regulations removing ash and cinders that covered the streets and homes of North Bend each morning. After several trips to Portland and Salem, where they appeared before EPA, they were successful in having the mill install cinder control devices.

Ivene belonged to the Young Women’s Civic Club, as well as the Coos Democratic Committee, which she served as chairperson. She worked on a committee which established the Coos County Senior Activity Center. She also was active in celebrating Norway’s Independence Day on May 17, by organizing traditional Norwegian lunches. She was affiliated with the Girl and Boy Scouts of America and Job’s Daughters, and participated in their functions with her children.

Ivene was a charter member of the Faith Lutheran Church in North Bend and worked for it’s establishment and the construction of the church building.

Ivene had lived in her current residence in North Bend since 1942. Her hobbies include gardening, traveling, going to the beach, being at the cabin near Scottsburg and, of course, spending time with family and friends. Bob, her husband, emphatically believed their greatest achievement was raising four caring and successful children.

Ivene is survived by her daughter, Judith Hunt; daughter, Beth Quick (David); son, Robert W. Pittam (Mary); 10 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

Ivene was preceded in death by her parents, Iver and Alpha Johannesen; her husband of 63 years, Robert D. Pittam; and her daughter, Marjorie Cowling Wall.

Memorial contributions may be made in Ivene’s name to the North Bend Community Scholarship Fund or to the Faith Lutheran Church, 2741 Sherman Ave., North Bend, OR 97459.

Arrangements are under the care of North Bend Chapel, 541-756-0440.

Friends and family are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.coosbayareafunerals.com and www.theworldlink.com.

 Service Information