Bart Wesley Ekren

December 28, 1951 - September 21, 2017

Bart Ekren, 65, passed away on Sept. 21, 2017 with his family by his side. Sunday evening, Sept. 17th, Bart suffered a massive stroke when a vegetation on his mitral valve broke away and blocked his left carotid artery. The vegetation was initially found when he was diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis two months ago. Bart will be missed by all who knew him. Bart was born on December 28, 1951 in Grand Junction, Colorado. Growing up in Colorado gave him an excellent opportunity to exercise his passion for the outdoors. He was an avid fly fisherman, tying his own flies in his teens. He loved to cross country ski in the winter and hike in the summer. Bart would use any excuse to journey into Nature’s glory. After graduating from Arvada High School in 1970, Bart attended college at Colorado State University in Fort Collins where he earned a B.S. in Microbiology. It was in his college years that he married his high school sweetheart, Margie Schuckmann in 1973. They had two children, Clint and Katy. Bart worked for Coors Brewing Company for one year before entering dental school at the University of Colorado Dental School. He practiced general dentistry in Julesburg, Colorado for four years. Although he enjoyed his dental practice, he decided to specialize in orthodontics and moved his family to Portland where he completed the Orthodontic Specialty program at OHSU. He opened his Portland orthodontic practice in 1986. He took over a second practice in Warrenton five years ago. At the time of his death Bart was working at both of his private practices as well as part time for Willamette Dental in Beaverton. Bart indulged himself in many hobbies. He was an avid bird watcher, photographer, fisherman, wood craftsman, amateur astronomer, inventor, and most recently, refurbishing old shop tools. Bart is survived by his life-long love, Margie, son, Clint, granddaughter, Emma, grandson, Milo, father, Einar Bartlett (94), sisters, Nancy, Sally and Anita, and nieces, Lindsey and Heidi. He was preceded in death by his mother, daughter and grandson. His passing has left a hole in all of our lives. A celebration of Bart’s life will be held 2:00 PM, Saturday, September 30th at Attrell’s Newberg Funeral Chapel. Memorial donations may be made to The Dougy Center, a charity that has meant so much to Bart’s family, at www.Dougy.org