Obituary: Wayne Allan Settje, 67, Hood River
Wayne Allan Settje, 67, of Hood River, Oregon, passed away on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland. He was born February 7, 1959, in Pennsylvania to the late Victor Alvin and Ingrid Elizabeth (Larson) Settje.
Wayne spent his youth moving across the country for his father’s road construction work before the family settled on Wy’East Road in Hood River in the 1960s. He began a lifelong career as a heavy equipment operator and paver in the 1970s with Settje Sons Paving. Wayne later spent over 30 adventurous years in Anchorage, Alaska, working as a dedicated paving foreman and proud member of the IUOE, Local 302. An avid outdoorsman, he loved skiing, hunting, and backpacking the northern wilderness.
In 2011, Wayne returned to Hood River, working for regional companies like Granite Construction, Settje Son’s Paving and Knife River. Known for his boisterous voice, infectious laugh, and deep Christian faith, he found true joy in caring for his mother, operating tractors at Kahler Orchards, and exploring the mountains with his loyal German Shepherd, Lucy.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents and his bonus brother, John M. Curry.
He is survived by his siblings: Victor Settje Jr. (Annie) of Estonia; Connie Fisher (Michael R. Samples) of Reno, NV; Daniel F. Settje of Big Lake, AK; Josephine Davenport (Larry) of Tri-Cities, WA; Katherine Settje-Kahler (Richard) of Odell, OR; Donna A.D. Settje of Portland, OR; Elizabeth Settje-Viavoda (Yani) of Hood River, OR; James E. Settje (Trish) of Estacada, OR; Joseph B. Settje (Bobbi) of Redmond, OR; and Hannah Settje (Lee Kober) of Hood River, OR. He is also survived by his bonus brother, Bradley Berens of Anchorage, AK; 25 nieces and nephews; and a large extended family.
Services were held October 9th at 11:00 a.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church, Hood River. Wayne will be interned next to his parents in Mt. View Cemetery immediately following the church service. Memorial donations may be made to the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Dissection Awareness or the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com
