Rodney Gene Nass, 56, died Oct. 5, 2003, after a lengthy illness.p After spending the last 20 years as a South Whidbey resident, he had moved recently to Portland, Ore., so he could be near his family as his health failed.p He was born Oct. 13, 1946, in Brookings, S.D. He made the Pacific Northwest his home after graduating from high school in 1963. He joined the Army, was stationed at Fort Lewis and served a tour in Vietnam. After military service he lived in Tacoma, where he met Nancy. They married 1979 and moved to Whidbey in 1983, where they raised their children, Matthew and Elizabeth.p Mr. Nass worked grounds maintenance for many years at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station until he was forced to retire due to his illness. He was a lifetime member and a past commander of VFW Post 7482 in Clinton.p He is survived by his wife, Nancy; a son, Matthew, and a daughter, Elizabeth, all of Portland, Ore.; two brothers, Jim and Donald; and three sisters, Judy Cunningham, Linda Archaletta and Rindine Nass.p Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 11 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeland.p The family suggests memorials to Operation Uplink, a program sponsored by the VFW to provide calling cards for servicemen overseas, online at www.

operationuplink.com or mailed to VFW National Headquarters, 406 W. 34th St., Suite 718, Kansas City, MO 64111.