(Reprinted from the Molalla Pioneer On-Line Obituaries: 08.04.10,  published: 8/3/2010 2:24:05 PM)

Justin Allen Reck, age 24, of Molalla died July 31, 2010 at 7:52 p.m.

The life-long Molallan was born Nov. 26, 1985 at Willamette Falls Hospital. He worked at Interfor Pacific and was an avid Volkswagen hobbyist and loved extreme sports.

He is survived by his fiancé Candice Engelgau and unborn child; parents Vivian Gurule and Jerry Reck; and siblings Sean Reck and Tabitha Williamson.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather Wilbur Reck; and nephews Tyler Reck and Parker Reck.

A viewing will be held Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 13250 S. Hwy 211, followed by services at 10 a.m.

Burial will follow at Adams Cemetery.

(Reprinted from MolallaPioneer.Com, the On-Line Molalla Pioneer, Thursday, August 05, 2010)

Saturday crash kills man and injures woman, both of Molalla

Victim who died on the scene had just learned last week that he would soon be a father

By: Pioneer Staff, Published: 8/1/2010 12:20:00 PM

Last Updated: 8/3/2010 3:49:09 PM

A Molalla man died and a woman was injured in a two-vehicle accident Saturday night on Highway 211 west of Molalla.

Oregon State Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash that killed Justin A. Reck, 24 and injured Jeanie Pauline Burghardt, 64, of Molalla, when their vehicles collided shortly before 8 p.m. on July 31.

According to an OSP press release, Reck was driving a 1994 two-door BMW westbound near milepost 8 when he crossed the center line and crashed head-on into Burghardt’s westbound 1996 Dodge Caravan, sending both vehicles off the highway.

Reck was pronounced dead on the scene, according to OSP. He was wearing a seatbelt and his car’s airbag had deployed.

Burghardt was transported by a Life Flight helicopter to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. She was also wearing a seatbelt and her van’s airbag had deployed.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation, said Lt. Gregg Hastings, public information officer for OSP.

Monitor Fire Department, Clackamas County Medical Examiner and ODOT assisted at the scene of the accident and a section of Highway 211 was closed for three hours following the crash.

Reck grew up in the local area and attended Colton and Molalla schools. He had worked at Interfor Pacific’s Molalla mill for the past three years and was training to be a millwright, said his brother-in-law, Michael Williamson, who Reck lived with in Molalla.

“He was a giver,” Williamson said. “Nine times out of 10, he was cutting himself short to make sure everyone else was taken care of.”

When the accident happened, Reck was headed to Woodburn to pick up his fiancée, Candice Engelgau of Molalla, from work, Williamson said.

“His last text on his way out to get her was, ‘I love you, Wifey,’” Williamson said.

Reck and Engelgau had just learned last Wednesday that she was pregnant with their first child, Williamson said.

Williamson said Reck was a natural with mechanics and had a passion for rebuilding Volkswagen cars — a family tradition he enjoyed with his father and uncles. He purchased his first VW while still in high school.

“Working at Burger King and saving up money, he bought his first VW for $500,” Williamson said.

Now, his relatives have plans to continue working on Reck’s Volkswagen GTI and making it a show quality memorial car in his honor.

Reck’s license was temporarily suspended at the time of the accident, but Williamson said he had an appointment at the DMV to get it back this week.