08/23/2024
Archie's Memorial at the Grange, 10:30 am Saturday, 24th.
(Obituary, expanded version)
Archie Koenig, long-time resident of Talent (and Ashland) passed away in his home on May 20, 2024. An avid member of the Bellview Grange for well over a decade and Vice President of the Board of Directors for Ashland Community Theatre (now Ashland Contemporary Theatre) since 2004, Archie channelled his enthusiasm for environmental and social justice causes into playwriting.
His creative repertoire consisted of over two dozen plays, mostly comedic ten-minute works, intended to illuminate the absurdities of contemporary corporatocracy, for example: a Big Ag chemical salesman trying to sell tiny robotic pollinator drones to an almond farmer now that pesticides have killed all his bees. Many of Archie’s plays were presented through the Ashland Playwright Atelier and Ashland Contemporary Theatre. As an actor, Archie appeared with ACT, Livia Genise Productions, Barnstormers Theatre in Grants Pass, and Camelot Theatre.
Archie learned his craft studying drama and creative writing in college, although he chose to complete his bachelor’s degree in behavioral psychology from California State University at Chico. Archie taught acting to youth, wrote children’s stories, and even dabbled in stand-up comedy in Chico. He was proud to have worked with a group called the Prometheus Psychodrama Workshop through Stanford, a program that blended his love of theatre with his psychology training. He also created communications workshops for The Living Institute for Earth based in San Francisco. Before and soon after serving in the army during Vietnam, Archie held a wide range of jobs, including packing and driving a truck for the Circus for some time—an occupation combining a magical ethos with grunt labor that would not surprise his friends as appealing to Archie.
Helicopter mechanic Archie Koenig didn’t see combat in Vietnam, but his noble service was rewarded with the G.I. Bill, and all the creative endeavors subsequent to that education. About ten years ago Archie began working for Harry & David, not too long after having heart surgery, mainly because he was never one to just sit around. Archie enjoyed and respected work and he liked the camaraderie. In addition to his madcap sense of humor, Archie’s defining characteristic was his service to others, whether it was the unglamorous chore of loading equipment to set up a play, filming others’ writing for the Atelier, volunteering with the Bellview Grange, or lending a hand (or a buck) to numerous people who were less fortunate.
Archie was something of tinkerer: he could rebuild a windows based computer and program it, or he could figure out most small machines. He drew deep satisfaction from fixing what was broken no matter the context. It was rare to hear Archie express more than a brief personal gripe in passing, even when he lost everything in the catastrophic Almeda Fire of 2020. He reserved his barbs for drama infused take-downs of society’s daily corruptions, and, in order to be more comprehensive, Archie recently transitioned to screenplays to make his points.
Archie Frederich Koenig was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 18, 1945 to Clarissa and Henry Koenig, who was a policeman. When Archie was three the family moved to Orland, California. In midlife, Archie put down roots in Oregon, where he lived a long life, and died at home in his sleep in May 2024, the same month as his eldest sister Marjorie, and several years after sister Janet, who was his parent’s middle child. He is survived by two nieces and five nephews and their many children. Archie Koenig was truly one of kind. He shall be dearly missed.
