Death of Dr. Howard Kaliher, former missionary in Turkey

Death of Dr. Howard Kaliher, former missionary in Turkey

Global Ministries is saddened to hear of the death of former missionary, Dr. Howard Kaliher, who passed away on August 10, 2008. He was a missionary in Turkey from 1973 – 1975.

Dr. Howard Kaliher was born Feb. 16, 1918, in Swanville, Minn., to Earl and Lula (Tidd) Kaliher and passed away Aug. 10, 2008, in Portland, at the age of 90.

Dr. Kaliher grew up and attended Swanville High School. He earned his bachelor of science degree from McCallister College and his medical degree from University of Minnesota in 1944. He was married to Muriel “Sherm” Schermer on Nov. 26, 1942, in Minnesota.

Dr. Kaliher entered his first family practice in Foley, Minn. Then practiced in Pelican Rapids, Minn., where he owned the hospital and often flew his private airplane to make house calls to remote farms. In 1950 he and his family settled in Tillamook, where he practiced medicine for 36years. He was a member of the American Academy of Family Practice.

While in Tillamook, Dr. Kaliher received the Tillamook Junior First Citizen Award; he was a member of the Oregon Medical Association and was very active in Lyons Club and in promoting the Tillamook YMCA.

Dr. Kaliher served as the team physician for Tillamook High School for years, seldom missing a game. He volunteered for public blood drives, school physical clinics and immunization campaigns and provided medical support to the Coast Guard and FAA as well as coroner services to the county.

The Kalihers also hosted exchange students from Germany, Iceland, Holland, Haiti, the Congo, Uruguay and Japan. These students and their families became part of the Kaliher extended family.

In 1973, Dr. and Mrs. Kaliher left Tillamook to work for three years in a mission hospital in Gazientep, Turkey. Upon returning to Tillamook, Dr. Kaliher took the position of public health physician as well as resuming his practice at 6th and Pacific.

Dr. Kaliher retired from his practice in 1986 and lived with his wife in a house overlooking Oceanside before moving to Portland in 2003. His wife predeceased him in 2006.

Dr. Kaliher is survived by three children, Patty Kaliher and her husband, John Kirby, Larkin Kaliher, and Teri Kaliher and her husband, Ron Swick; three grandchildren, Vicki, Lisa and Lori Chamberlain; and five great grandchildren, Kendra, Amy, Austin and Sarah Lancaster and Caitlyn Kaliher.

Memorial contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders or the Tillamook YMCA.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, at 1 p.m. at Waud’s Funeral Home in Tillamook.

Please sign the online guest book at www.oregonlive.com/obits