Ahlstrom, Margaret - Sunday, 08 Feb 2004
Margaret Ahlstrom died Feb. 8, 2004, at Oak Harbor Retirement Center, Oak Harbor. She was born in Pomeroy Sept. 26, 1916, to Simon and Theresa (Kramer) Schaaf. She was raised in Colfax. Following high school, Margaret attended business school for two years and then began work as a secretary for Washington Water and Power in Spokane.
Margaret moved to Seattle and was employed by the Corps of Army Engineers. While there she met Archie Ahlstrom, one of the engineers. Archie was transferred to Vicksburg, Miss., and Margaret followed him. They were married in Vicksburg Feb. 22, 1946. Archie had three children from a previous marriage and Margaret accepted his children as her own.
Archie was transferred to the Panama Canal Zone in 1946. While stationed in Panama, sons Michael and Kenneth were born. In 1949, they left Panama for Kodiak, Alaska, where daughter Kathy was born. Archie accepted a position at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in 1956 and the family moved to Oak Harbor and then on to Coupeville. In 1967, Margaret and Archie moved to Lacey and in 1976, they returned to Coupeville.
Margaret was a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church of Oak Harbor. She had been a very active member of the church for many years. She enjoyed gardening, reading and travel. Her children said she lived every day as if it was her last day on earth.
Margaret is survived by six children and their spouses: Michael Ahlstrom of Olalla; Kenneth and Karen Ahlstrom of Lynnwood; Kathy Boaz of Oak Harbor; Karin Dickinson of Naples, Fla., Harlow Ahlstrom of Maple Valley and Kirsten Larson of Mukilteo. Four sisters, Angeline Schaaf, Isabelle Schaaf and Agnes Mullen, all of Spokane and Louise Ayers of Woodinville and one brother Ray Schaaf of Bothell, and 15 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews also survive. Her husband Archie and two brothers Oscar and Lawrence Schaaf preceded her in death.
Services of remembrance for Margaret H. Ahlstrom will be held Saturday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m., at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church with Rev. Carol Harlacher officiating. Cremation was held with private family inurnment at Sunnyside Cemetery, Coupeville.
Memorials may be made to Skagit Hospice, 2031 A. Hospital Drive, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98221. Arrangements are by Burley Funeral Chapel.
Baan, Retta - Thursday, 22 Apr 2004
Retta Baan, 82, longtime resident of Oak Harbor, died at Oak Harbor Retirement Community Thursday, April 22, 2004.
Mrs. Baan was born Henrietta Vande Werfhorst to Gysbert Vande Werfhorst and Alberdina (Roelofs) Vande Werfhorst in Haywarden, Iowa, June 4, 1921. She moved with her parents to Oak Harbor in 1933. Retta graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1938 and attended the Kulshan Beauty School in Mt. Vernon. Feb. 2, 1942, Retta married Albert Baan. They made their home in Lynden, and then later moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1959. In 1981 they moved to Hemet, and then back to Oak Harbor in 1986. Retta was preceded in death by her husband Albert in 1987. She moved to Grapevine, Texas, in 1994, to be near family, returning to Oak Harbor in 1997.
Retta loved music, and sang in church choirs from 1935 until 1986. She held active memberships in the following congregations: First Baptist Church, Mount Vernon; First Reformed Church, Lynden; First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, Colo.; First Presbyterian Church, Hemet, Calif.; as well as First Reformed Church, Oak Harbor.
Retta is survived by three children, Dale H. Baan and wife Barbara of Flower Mound, Texas, Bruce D. Baan and wife Debbie of Grapevine, Texas, and Diane F. Lewis and husband Les of Pueblo, CO; five grandchildren; five siblings, Gerry Atwood, Jo Ernst and husband Chris, Janet Fikse and husband Gerald, Frank Vande Werfhorst and wife Katherine, and Marie Van Dyk, all of Oak Harbor; also, numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be Monday, April 26, 2004, at 1 p.m., at Burley Funeral Chapel, Pastor Jon Brown officiating. Private inurnment will be at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First Reformed Church of Oak Harbor. Arrangements and cremation under direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.
Burnham, Louise Doris - Thursday, 22 Apr 2004
Louise Doris Burnham, 82, 22-year resident of Coupeville, died at Careage of Whidbey Thursday, April 22, 2004.
Mrs. Burnham was born April 7, 1922, in Long Beach, Calif., to Arthur Rhodes and Mae Eugenia (Routt) Rhodes. As an infant, Louise’s father died suddenly in an oil derrick accident. She was raised by Clyde Hawk and her mother in Los Angeles County. She graduated from Lincoln High School in Los Angeles. Louise was married to True Bertram “Bert” Burnham Nov. 2, 1940, at the Alhambra, Calif., First Presbyterian Church. During World War II, the couple resided at the cabins at Lake Erie, Mr. Burnham having been among the first to be stationed at the then-new Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.
Following the war, they moved back to California, residing in El Monte, Azusa and Temple City. From 1951 to 1957, they lived in Mount Vernon and Puyallup, after which they returned to Southern California, taking up residence in Azusa. During this time, Louise was employed as a secretary to the principal at Azusa High School and Gladstone High School, both in the Azusa Public Schools. Following retirement, they moved to Coupeville in 1981, where they have since resided. Louise was a member of the Elks Lodge No. 2362.
Louise is survived by her husband Bert at home; two children, Janice Inman and husband Carl of Shelton and Thomas J. Burnham and wife Barbara of Tucson, Ariz.; five grandchildren, Judy Carr of Newport Beach, Calif., Bob Solem of Everett, Donna Melampy of Seattle, and Scot and Dan Burnham, both of Tucson, Ariz.; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Clyde Hawk, in 2000.
A graveside service will be Monday, April 26, 2004, at 10 a.m. at Sunnyside Cemetery, Chaplain Mary Kearns officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Jo Balda, Treasurer, P.O. Box 1594, Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Arrangements under direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.
twins, Janssen - Wednesday, 21 Apr 2004
Stacy Ann Janssen and Taylor Marie Janssen, infant twin daughters of Petty Officer Christopher David Janssen and Melissa Jean (Kissell) Janssen of Denver, died Wednesday, April 21, 2004, at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Hospital.
In addition to their parents, the girls are survived by grandparents, Joe and Jan Kissell, Cindy Kissell and Sandra Janssen, all of Denver; great-grandparents Don and Kay Mortensen, Leo and Rosemarie Kissell and Kenneth and Xyla Wagner, all of Denver; aunts and uncles Starr and Casey Janssen, Amanda, Caleb, Joey and Jake Kissell, all of Denver.
A graveside service will be Tuesday, April 27, at 2 p.m., at Maple Leaf Cemetery, with Lt. Alfred V. Pena, CHC, USN, officiating. Arrangements under direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.
They’re loved very much and will be missed! May our little angels be blessed!
Setzer, June Margaret - Monday, 19 Apr 2004
June Margaret Setzer, 81, died April 19, 2004, at Whidbey General Hospital, following a short illness. She was born May 15, 1922, in Brisbane, Australia, to George and Ruby (Andrews) Ross.
June came to the U.S. during World War II. She was married and worked at the University of Illinois for a time. Her husband was an overseas correspondent and they were soon sent to Jerusalem, Europe, Tel Aviv, and Asia. She was eventually divorced and returned to the states.
June settled in Washington, D.C., where she met a young naval officer from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station who was temporarily assigned duty in Washington. On Aug. 9, 1955, she and Andrew Ragland Setzer were married at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
The Setzers traveled the world following Andrew’s career. Mr. Setzer was a military intelligence officer and was assigned to offices in Japan, Korea and Germany. The Setzer family was stationed in Germany and witnessed the raising of the Berlin Wall. Following retirement from the military, the family lived in Carmel, Calif. In 1980, they moved to Whidbey Island, settling in Penn Cove for a time and finally in Coupeville.
Mrs. Setzer was most proud of her children and her grandchildren. She enjoyed music, talking books, writing and her garden.
Mrs. Setzer is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Lisa and G. N. "Jug" Bernhardt of Coupeville and Andrea and David Simon of Birmingham, Ala. Five grandchildren, Sarah Rose Bernhardt, Peter Thomas Bernhardt and Fiona MacKenzie Bernhardt, all of Coupeville and Ross Simon and Evan Simon, all of Birmingham, Ala., also survive. Her husband Andrew preceded her in death in 1993.
Cremation was held with private family inurnment and a memorial service to follow at a later date. Memorials may be made to San de Fuca Community Chapel.
Chapman Jr., Warner B. “Chappie” - Monday, 19 Apr 2004
Warner B. “Chappie” Chapman Jr., 82, of Bennington Wood Court, Columbus, Ohio, died April 19, 2004, at Riverside Hospital. He was born Oct. 9, 1921, in Akron, Ohio, to Warner Bliss Chapman St. and Irene Noble. He served in World War II and Korea.
He retired from the Navy at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in 1959. He owned and operated Suncrest Motel from 1959 until 1965. After leaving Oak Harbor in 1967, Chappie entered into real estate management in various states. Ohio was his home since 1972 where he was a real estate property manager for Property One and Matthews Click Bauman, Inc. He was a life member at the Institute of Real Estate Management, Columbus, Ohio.
Chappie is survived by wife Rebecca Lynn (Henry) Chapman; son, Thomas (Kathy) Chapman, Bloomingdale, Ill.; daughters, Linda (John) Meyer of Oak Harbor and Sue Kline of Ottawa, Canada; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brothers, Thomas (Jan) Chapman of Canton, Ohio, and James (Pat) Chapman of Sutton Bay, Mich. He was preceded in death by first wife Dorma Chapman and brother Robert Chapman. Funeral services were held April 22, at Denzer-Farison-Hottinger Funeral Home in Marion, Ohio. Rev. William Maki officiated. Burial was in the Marion Cemetery. Military rites at graveside were given by Marion County United Veterans Council.
Huber, Alice - Saturday, 17 Apr 2004
Alice M. Huber, formerly of Oak Harbor, passed away April 17, 2004 at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon. She was 82 years old. Alice was a proud veteran of World War II, having served in the US Coast Guard Spars as a radioman first class. She was stationed at Port Angeles and Seattle.
Alice moved to Whidbey Island after her retirement in 1980. In 2000, she moved to Anacortes in order to live near her family.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Betty and James Tartas of Anacortes; a daughter, Debbie Miller of Sitka, Alaska; a son Robert Huber of Everett; and a granddaughter and two great grandchildren, Jennifer, Derrick and Ericka Nebert of Juneau, Alaska.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to all those who have been so caring, patient and supportive this past year, with a special thanks to the staff at Life Care Center of Skagit Valley in Sedro-Woolley, and to Janis and David Jacobsen at A Golden Rule in Mount Vernon. Following Alice’s wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service. Personal memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
Metivier, James Willard - Friday, 16 Apr 2004
James Willard Metivier, 41, went home to be with Jesus April 16, 2004, following a courageous battle with colon cancer. He was born in Orange, Calif., June 8, 1962, to Donald W. and Patricia J. (Mitchell) Metivier.
James was raised in Orange, Calif. He graduated from Saddleback High School in 1981. He was an avid surfer, skateboarder and loved the outdoors. Following high school, he was employed as a shipping clerk for the 3M Company. He eventually moved to Michigan for a time and was married to Jennifer Bowen on May 16, 1991, in Spring Lake, Mich.
James and Jennifer began their own home construction company from 1991 to 1993. They closed their company and Jim began work for Johnson Controls as a mechanical engineer, manufacturing automotive parts. He moved on to Micron Computers and eventually to Interstate Brands, continuing his career as a mechanical engineer. With the discovery of his cancer, Jim and his wife moved their family to Oak Harbor to be with family. Jim attended New Covenant Fellowship in Oak Harbor.
James Metivier loved to hunt, fish, hike, and camp, skateboard and play with his kids. He was very proud of his three beautiful children and the six-point deer he shot in the Glens Ferry area in Idaho.
Jim Metivier is survived by his wife Jennifer and three children, Jessica, Jim “Jimbo” and Jeremiah, all at the family home; and his parents, Don and Pat Metivier of Bishop, Calif. He is also survived by three sisters and their spouses: Michelle and Phil McClain of Michigan; Bonnie and Jesse Raymond of Oak Harbor; and Nannette Kuhl of California. Four brothers, Dan and Ortensia Metivier of California, Patrick Metivier of California; Thomas Metivier of California and Paul and wife Kristin Metivier of Seattle and numerous nieces and nephews also survive. One brother Joseph preceded him in death.
Memorial services for James W. Metivier were held April 19 at New Covenant Church, Oak Harbor with Pastor Ron Eerkes officiating. A second memorial service will be held at Treasure Valley Worship Center, Meridian, Idaho, Saturday, April 24, with Pastor Gordon Slyter officiating. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to follow at a later date.
Davis, George - Friday, 16 Apr 2004
George J. Davis, 15-year resident of Coupeville, entered into rest on April 16, 2004, at the age of 77, with his wife at his side.
George is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Margaret Davis at the family home; a beloved son, Bryan Davis, granddaughters Eric and Destiny of Maple Valley; a step-daughter, Carla Gerring and her husband Rick, and grand children, Matthew and Ashley of Lopez Island; and sister, Rose Duarte and her husband Tony of Hemet, Calif. Private services at the family’s request.
Wheeler, Sara G. - Wednesday, 14 Apr 2004
Sara G. Wheeler, 86, passed away April 14, 2004 in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Bellingham after suffering a massive heart attack on Easter Sunday.
She was born June 23, 1917, in Charlotte, N.C., to Laura Estelle (Crenshaw) Griggs and Clarence Herbert Griggs. She graduated from Paw Creek High School, Class of 1934. Afterwards she worked as a clerk in the Chadwick Mill. In 1942 she joined the WAVES and except for basic training at Hunter College in New York she spent her entire time doing communications in the Washington, D.C., area.
She was honorably discharged in November 1945 and returned to Charlotte where she worked at the Adjutant General’s Records Branch. When that office moved to St. Louis, Mo., a year later she returned to the D.C. area again in communications as a civil service employee.
There she met and married W.O. Roy G. Wheeler Jr. from Ferndale. She shared two tours of duty with him in Japan. When he retired in 1969 they came to Oak Harbor to make their home. She was a devoted wife, loving sister and a wonderful friend. In addition to people Sara loved birds, flowers, books and animals. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by a sister, Nelda G. Knight of Charlotte, N.C., a nephew Steven A. Knight of Wilmington, N.C., and a niece Sherry K. Carlson of Fremont, Mich.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Oak Harbor where a memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, with the Rev. David Lura officiating. This particular time was selected because Sara was a member of the Wednesday morning church newsletter folding crew. She loved to see the dogwood trees in bloom and we find it fitting she depart this life at this special time of the year.
Graveside services will be held in the family plot at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Charlotte, N.C., at a later date. Memorials may be made to the church charity or organization of the donor’s choice.
Merritt, Iola - Tuesday, 13 Apr 2004
Iola M. Merritt of Coupeville died April 13, 2004, in Athens, Ga., after a long battle with cancer. She was born Nov. 26. 1919, in Seattle. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharlene Shapiro. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law Sharon and Jim Smith of Georgia; son and daughter-in-law Ralph and Carol Hogan of Buckley; a sister, Helen Hibbs of Seattle; six grandchildren and a niece and a nephew.
Ms. Merritt was retired from the U.S. Postal Service in California and had made her home in Coupeville since 1988. She was a member of Whidbey Evangelical Free Church.
A memorial will be held at her church Tuesday, May 11, at 7 p.m. Memorials may be made to Whidbey Evangelical Free Church, 874 Plantation Drive, Greenbank WA 98253.
