GLADYS L. PAULSON
Gladys Lucille Paulson, 93, died Fri., Nov. 15, 2002.
Although a longtime resident of Vancouver, WA, she had been liv-ing at Josephine Sunset Home in Stanwood for over a year, where she made many new friends and care givers.
She was born Gladys L. Chase in La Crosse, Wisconsin on Feb. 24, 1909. She grew up, graduated from Central High School and mar-ried Ingolf Utrick Paulson, before moving to Vancouver in 1942. In Vancouver she worked as a secretary in the Naval Administra-tive Offices of Kaiser Shipyards; as secretary for the City of Vancouver; as office manager for Paulson Construction; secretary to a Real Estate broker; and as secretary to the Dean of Clark Community College.
Her volunteer activities were centered around helping others: The Friend-to-Friend Program; SW Washington Hospital Guild; the American Tinnitus Association; and when her children were in school, president of the PTA. Gladys was a member of The Sons of Norway; Toastmistresses Club; Vancouver Choraleers; the Book and Drama Club; and was involved in activities of the First United Methodist Church for many years.
Gladys was preceded in death by her 25-year-old, son Richard Thomas; her husband of 58 years, Richard U.; and seven siblings. She is survived by two daughters, Susan L. Paulson of Mount Vernon; Patricia Daggett of Portland, OR; grandsons Adam S. Kramer of Portland and Paul Matthew Kramer of Seattle. We miss you already! A memorial will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Vancouver, WA at a later date.
A very special "thank you" to all the staff at Josephine who so lovingly cared for Gladys in her last year of life. Remembrances may be made to the Josephine Scholarship Fund, 9901 272nd Pl. NW, Stanwood, WA 98292.
MARTHA F. GOMPPER
Martha Frieda Gompper, nee Payk, went to be with the Lord Nov. 20, 2002, one month before her 100th birthday.
Martha was born December 1902 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1927. She and her husband, Carl, lived in New York City and in San Diego, and moved to Camano Island in 1987. Martha was a resident at the Josephine Sunset Home since 1993. Martha is survived by sons Carl Edzart Gompper of Escondido, CA, and Edzart Gompper of Valley Cottage, NY; niece Irene Littek and nephew Ernst Payk of Gelsenkirchen, Germany; and niece Ursula Fabian and nephew Manfred Payk of Lahr, Germany. Her family also includes seven grandsons: David Karl Gompper of Iowa City, IA; Eric Paul Gompper of Escondido, CA; Peter Todd Gompper of Guilford, CT; Hans Christopher Gompper of Escondido, CA; Matthew Edzart Gompper of Columbia, MO; Nicholas Jordan Gompper of Falls Church, VA; and Daniel Bruen Gompper of Milan, MI. She also had seven great-granddaughters: Iona Lee, Eva Rose, Sarah Elizabeth, Lydia Ellison, Isabel Anne, Maya Helen, Tess Ella, and one great-grandson, Alexander Edzart. A memorial service will be held at Josephine Sunset Home Sat., Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Josephine Sunset Home Scholarship Fund.
RICHARD COLQUHOUN
Richard James Colquhoun, a resident of Camano Island, WA, passed away Mon., Nov. 19, 2002, following a valiant battle with cancer.
The oldest of five children, Richard, was born April 9, 1937, in Minneapolis, MN to Carl and Catherine Colquhoun. He is survived by his mother, three sisters and one brother, Diane Danials and Cheryl Colquhoun from Winfield, KS, and Jerry Colquhoun and Susan Kuehn from Salt Lake City, UT.
Richard married Shirley Joan Lowrie, now deceased, on March 20, 1959. They had three children, Tammy, David and Kelly, who all reside in Arkansas City, KS with their spouses Dawn and Bill, along with Richard’s cherished grandchildren, Seth, Nicholas, Courtney, Blythe, Megan, Tim, and great-granddaughter, Hadley Jo.
Richard gained the enjoyment of an extended family with his marriage to Anita Sains in February 1992. Anita's four children, Tim, Rick, Denise and Darrin, all reside in the Washington area, along with their children, Tara, Tyler, Tanner, Tandi, Jamie, Chris, Brianne, Ashley, Brandon, Rachel and Jordon. Richard also leaves behind many friends and family in Florence, AZ, where he and Anita spent their winter months during retirement.
Richard lived in the Minneapolis area until graduation from Anoka High School, after which he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at Sculthorpe AFB, England until his honorable discharge in July 1958. After his discharge, he moved to Arkansas City, KS, where he attended Cowley County Junior College, graduating in business. A long-time resident of Arkansas City, KS, Richard was self-employed for a number of years and also worked for the Santa Fe Railroad until he retired in 1986. After that, he was employed by Boeing in Wichita, KS and later transferred to Everett, WA to work on the 777 program as a manufacturing engineer. He retired from Boeing in March 1999.
Richard enjoyed life and the endless opportunities it presented for travel to numerous parts of the U.S., Europe and China. Always on the go, he loved outdoor activities of fishing and crabbing in the sound, ballooning in Boise, ID and playing golf wherever he traveled.
Memorial services were held Sat., Nov. 23 at Calvary Baptist Church in Everett, and in Arkansas City, KS, Nov. 30 at the First Presbyterian Church. Internment will be at Parker Cemetery in Arkansas City. We love you and miss you ... enjoy your endless golfing.
GARY L. WEDEKIND
Gary L. Wedekind, 62, of Stanwood passed away Nov. 20, 2002, with his children beside him. He was born in Lemmon, SD on May 4, 1941, to John and Bessie Wedekind. Gary was married to Leana Wedekind, who passed away in 1999, for 37 years. Gary has resided in Stanwood since 1985, and leaves behind his sons, Robert, Andy and wife Pam Wedekind; daughter, Ginger Wedekind; four cherished grandsons; Carl, William, Gray and Justin; brothers, Dale Wedekind, Jim and Bev Wedekind and Jack and Billie Wedekind; and so many life-long friends.
We were all very blessed to have Gary in our lives. He was respected by all. Funeral services were held 1 p.m., Mon., Nov. 25, in the chapel of Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood. Concluding services were held in the Anderson Cemetery, Stanwood, with a reception following. Arrangements under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood.
LORELLA BRANDT
1954 Twin City High School Graduate Lorella (Lori) M. (Parker, Christenson) Brandt, 66, of Riverside, WA, was killed Sat., Oct. 19, 2002, in a car accident near her home.
She was born Oct. 8, 1936, at Fruitland, Idaho, at her grandmother Winters' home, to Loren and Estella Parker. Lorella attended Fruitland School until moving with the family to Stanwood during her 3rd grade year in December 1945. The family had a dairy farm in the Cedarhome area. She graduated from Twin City High School in 1954, attended Everett Jr. College and Skagit Valley College.
She married James Christenson of Anacortes, and they had four children while living in Anacortes and Seattle. She later married Frank Brandt of Anacortes, and they had a daughter. The family later moved to Riverside, to be near her parents and other family members, who had moved to the Omak area in Eastern Washington. She attended Wenatchee Valley College North at Omak and received her Practical Nursing Degree. She worked for many years in nursing homes and as a home health care nurse in the Okanogan and Methow Valley. She also was a Stanley Home Products and Watkins dealer. She will be remembered for her caring and generous spirit, as well as her individuality and unique out-look on life.
She is survived by her mother, Estella Parker; sister, Susan Brandt and husband Jack of Omak; her brother, George Parker and wife Donna of Malott; five children, Rhonda Christenson, Richard Christenson and wife Patty, Roy Christenson and wife Kathy of Marysville, Rachael Billings and husband Steve of Kent; Megan (Brandt) Parker and husband Todd of Renton; and 10 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Loren Parker; husbands, James Christenson and Frank Brandt. A memorial service was held at the Omak United Methodist Church Oct. 27, 2002. Donations in her memory can be made to KMBI radio station in Spokane.
BETTY LOU CORSON
Services for Betty Lou Corson will be held Dec. 16, 2 p.m., at Warm Beach Free Methodist Church in Stanwood, not Dec. 17, as previously stated in last week’s edition of the news.
LEO M. HOON
Leo M. Hoon of Merrill Gardens in Stanwood, passed away Oct. 23, 2002. He was born Jan. 17, 1914, to Joseph and Cora Hoon of Stanwood. He worked for Stokley’s as shop foreman in Burlington. He is survived by his cousin, Walter W. Hoon and family of Stanwood.
Cremation under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood. Private memorial service and burial at Anderson Cemetery, Stanwood. A special thanks to Merrill Gardens and Hospice of Skagit Co. during his final days.
MARJORIE L. LIEN
Marjorie L. Lien, 93, passed away Nov. 3, 2002, of natural causes, She is survived by her daughter Susan Burris; son Mike; four grandchildren, Michael and Jennifer Lien, and Portia and Chance Burris. Marjorie was preceded in death by her beloved husband Gordon in 1975. Private inurnment will be held. Arrangements under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood.
CARL P. PEARSON
Carl Peter Pearson died Nov. 2, 2002, at Mira Vista Convalescence Care Center in Mt. Vernon at the age of 84. He was born in White Earth, ND Aug. 8, 1918. In December 1934, he traveled with his mother and dad and the rest of the family to the state of
Washington to seek a better future than North Dakota had to offer at that time. He and his dad and brothers worked at various jobs in the timber industry and other work they could find. In 1937, Carl and his brothers, James and Thor, signed up for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and worked building trails and camping areas around Darrington, and other areas in Western Washington.
In the spring of 1939, he left to seek work in Alaska. He worked at Mabel Gold Mine in Palmer, Alaska for awhile and for Oscar Kertulla, a farmer in the Matnauska Valley, and at the Elmandorf Airfield, Fort Richardson in Anchorage during World War II. In 1942, he enlisted in the Naval Construction Battalion, "Sea Bees, " and was called to active duty in the South Pacific and Australia. He spent three years in the service and was discharged in 1945. He then worked at the Pearson Lumber Mill on his dad's place in Stanwood and continued in that line of work for many years here and in California.
On Christmas Day 1948, he married Doris Williams, his always willing and able helpmate in all his ventures from logging to operating the Scandia Health Food Store in Mt. Vernon from 1969 to 1979. In 1979, they sold the store and built their home in the Stanwood area, where they resided until they sold that place and moved to Mt. Vernon. Carl and Doris joined the Sons of Norway and the Vasa Solidaritet Lodge in Mt. Vernon in 1960, and in 1970, they joined the Harjedalsgillet. They were also members of the Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. They stayed in these and other organizations, until ill health forced Carl to retire.
Carl and Doris enjoyed traveling to Sweden many times to visit cousins and relations, and also traveled throughout the United States and Canada.
Carl is preceded in death by his parents, James and Thilda Pearson, and five brothers: William, James, Thor, Edward and John. His wife, Doris, his sister, Martha Anderson, and many nieces and nephews, survive him. Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Memorials may be made to your favorite charity. Arrangements under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon.
HAZEL M. COSS
Hazel M. Coss, age 85, a long-time resident of the Skagit Valley, passed away Fri., Feb. 14, 2003, at the Skagit Valley Hospital. She was born Feb. 16, 1917 in Milltown, WA, the daughter of Gus and Alma Evenson Vaara. She lived in Milltown with her family and attended Lincoln High School in Stanwood. On Nov. 30, 1941, she married Donald W. Coss in Stanwood. She worked at various restaurants, Weyerhaeuser and Boeing for three and a half years. She also owned and operated Hazel’s Sewing Shop in
Stanwood for 10 years.
In 1946, the couple and their family moved to the Mount Vernon area, living on the Hickox Road for a short time, then moving to Milltown in 1951, where she has resided since.
Survivors are two daughters, Patty and her husband Mike Walbrun of Camano Island, and Bonnie and her husband Harvey Schuch of Forks, WA; two sons, Bill Coss of Milltown and Ken Coss of Bullfrog, UT; two foster daughters, Bea and her husband Clay Waters of Everett, and Doris and her husband Duane Butler of Mount Vernon; and numerous grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald W. Coss; brothers, Harold, Norman and Alvin; sisters, Rena and Lila. A private burial was at the Scandinavian Cemetery Tues., Feb. 18. Memorials may be given to a favorite charity. Arrangements are in the care of the Kern Funeral Home of Mount Vernon.
VERN L. HUFFMAN
Vern L. Huffman, 80, passed away Feb. 17, 2003, at Warm Beach Senior Community in Stanwood. He was born July 4, 1922, in Wenatchee, the son of Charles and Nora Huffman. He earned degrees from McPherson College, Central Washington College and the University of Washington and enjoyed a career as a public school administrator in several Western Washington school districts. Vern was known by those who knew or worked with him as dedicated to children and his work, but also a character with a strong sense of humor, who enjoyed a good story or joke. Vern enjoyed woodworking, travel to Hawaii, and was devoted to his family.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Evelyn; his sister, Lucille Benson of Manchester, IN; brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Jean Huffman of Kent, WA; daughter, Connie Andrews of Anacortes; daughter and son-in-law, Cherry and John Sinema of Anacortes; son, John Huffman of LaConner; son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Nan Huffman of Snohomish; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held Sun., Feb. 23, 2 p.m., in the Beachwood Lounge at Warm Beach Senior Community, Stanwood. The family requests remembrances be directed to the American Heart Association or Warm Beach Senior Community. Arrangements under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood.
ROY L. SUNDBERG
Roy L. Sundberg, 87, of Stanwood, died Feb. 21, 2003. He was born Dec. 15, 1915, in Cedarhome, WA. Preceding him in death were his parents, Albert and Clara Sundberg; brothers, Glenard, William, Oscar; and sisters, Alice Ronnie, Ester Pearson, Evelyn Small and Myrtle Krogstad.
Roy is survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was a WWII veteran, serving from March 1941 to August 1945 in the field artillery department. Roy lived his entire life in the Cedarhome area, retiring from Stokely-VanCamp in Stanwood in 1973. Graveside services will be Feb. 27, 1 p.m., at Cedarhome Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Stanwood Senior Center or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral Home.
L. PEARL WHEELER
Pearl Wheeler passed away unexpectedly at her home in Stanwood. Pearl was born a few miles south of Bowbells ND, Dec. 12, 1913. She attended schools there and became a teacher. After several years of teaching, she met and married Dan Wheeler. They started their married life in North Dakota but moved to Washington in 1943. After Dan's return from WWII, they settled in Stanwood. They raised their family here and in Everett.
Pearl returned to Stanwood after Dan's death in 1980, and lived near her children, grandchildren and later great-grandchildren. She filled her days with flowers and gardening and continued her love of painting. She found many canvases for her painting including wood, rocks, saw blades, as well as traditional canvas. She learned to paint and fire many beautiful china pieces. Her crochet hook was seldom still, and she furnished all the family and many friends with lovely things.
Pearl was active the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, which she loved. She helped with treasurers’ duties for many years, both in Everett and Cedarhome. Pearl is survived by her daughter, Louise and son-in-law David Cheever; son, Len and wife Margaret in Stanwood; and daughter, Nadine Vining in Florida; eight grandchildren, Laura Carpenter, David Cheever, Mariann Faulkner, Sharon Christie, Michele Wheeler, Len Wheeler, Forrest Vining and Ryan Vining; also 12 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Pearl will be deeply missed by all. Memorial services were held at the Cedarhome Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
