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Steffen, George William Saturday, 07 Jan 2006
George William Steffen died early Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006, after suffering a massive stroke.
His family (wife Maryam, and sons Alex, Joseph, Benyamin, and Eli) was with him as he died.
A small burial service was Sunday at Vashon cemetery.
For George, teaching was a way of life. His years as a teacher at Foss High School in Tacoma brought him great joy, as did his involvement in various Vashon activities, from birding to the food bank to inter-generational communication.
A memorial celebration is planned on Vashon in mid-February.
The next youth-adult dialogue on Feb. 7 will honor Mr. Steffen’s love of life and commitment to the well-being of all people.
Smith, Raymond E. Saturday, 07 Jan 2006
Raymond “Ray” E. Smith, an Islander for more than 40 years, died Jan. 7, 2006, at Highline Hospital in Burien.
He was 65 years old.
He was born Feb. 28, 1940, in Watertown, N.Y. to Raymond Eugene and Corine Carter Smith.
After high school, he served in the Coast Guard on the USS Northwind from 1958 through 1961.
Mr. Smith was said to be a jack of all trades.
Before going to work at Kimmco Construction as a heavy equipment operator for 27 years, he owned and operated Ray’s Enco, which later became an Exxon station across the highway from the present-day Sound Food Restaurant and Bakery.
Ray and Joyce Gretten Kimmell were married
Nov. 24, 1989, in Seattle. Together, they built their family home.
He is remembered as a friend to many. The gift of gab was one of his many talents.
He was formerly a member of the Vashon Sportsman’s Club.
He also was an avid stamp collector.
And he was a volunteer firefighter.
Mr. Smith retired at 60 because of declining health issues.
Survivors include his wife Joyce, their children, Brenda Thieme of Adak, Alaska, Donnie and Anabel Smith of Port Orchard, Julie and Duane Didricksen of Vashon, Tom and Paula Kimmel of Pullman, Laurie and Shawn Gateman of Vashon, Greg and Lori Kimmel of Vashon, Jenny and Crist Granum of Vashon, Becky and Archie Jenkins of Port Orchard, Andrew and Dusti Kimmel of Vashon, Rob Smith of Tacoma; mother Corine Ranel of Sheridan, Ore.; father Raymond Smith of San Diego, Calif; a sister Bonnie MacNeil and her husband Rick of San Diego; two brothers, Jim and his wife Julie Smith of Cherry Point, N. C., and Larry Ranel of Sheridan, Ore; 25 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
A brother Roy died earlier.
A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, in the chapel of Island Funeral Service.
The family suggests memorials to the Vashon medics, care of Vashon Island Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 1150, Vashon Island, 98070.
Brown, Todd David Wednesday, 04 Jan 2006
Todd Brown, a loving and devoted son, brother, uncle and friend died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006. He was 41 years old.
Todd was born May 7, 1964, and grew up with his family in Sumner.
He spent many of his summers on Vashon Island at “the beach.”
After graduating from Sumner High School, he attended Washington State University where he joined his brother and cousin in the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity.
Taking a break from WSU he also attended Wenatchee Valley Ski School, but ultimately received his Bachelor of Arts in communications from WSU.
His sense of adventure was reflected in everything he did.
A consummate salesman, he threw himself whole-heartedly into every aspect of his life and work.
Never afraid of hard work or taking a risk, he helped start Turnbull Fine Arts in Sun Valley, Idaho, and them moved on to help start Sun Valley Watersports.
He traveled many times to Maui to help set up Turnbull Fine Arts there and also spent many hours building waterfalls and bridges in the outdoor sculpture gardens.
Mr. Brown also spent several years on Vashon Island selling and designing advertising for The Beachcomber.
The last years of his life were spent working for Burien and Auburn Nissan as a salesman and finance manager.
He had a wide range of skills and interests and packed a lifetime of laughs and adventure into his short 41 years.
An avid golfer, skier, boater and Coug fan, he was happiest in the company of his many wonderful friends and family members and was a constant source of amusement for all who knew him.
If, at the end of one’s life a persons’ worth is measured not by the material possessions that one owns, but by the quality and caliber of his friends, Todd would be considered a giant among men, his family says.
He will be deeply missed by those who had the fortune to love, laugh and live in the presence of Todd.
His parents Stew and Sharon Brown and his dog Ruprecht died earlier.
Survivors include his sister Erin Crelling and her husband Tom and children Mike and Dan of Tacoma, his brother Kevin Brown and wife Tracey of Sumner, his sister Stacy Carkonen and her husband Shawn and children Mimi and Wesley of Vashon, stepmother Margie McGinnis of Vashon, his aunt and uncle Susie and Doug Brown and cousins Roland Brown, Eline Mervis and Kristin Jaquish.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, at the Sumner Presbyterian Church.
Donations can be made in Todd’s name to the Stew Brown Scholarship Fund, Washington State University Athletic Foundation, P.O. Box 641602, Pullman, Wash. 99164-1602.
Trotter, Tomie L. Wednesday, 04 Jan 2006
Tomie Lester Trotter, a retired U.S. Naval Reserve commander, died Jan. 4, 2006, in Seattle following a brief battle with cancer.
He was 82 years old.
He was born March 3, 1923 in Augusta, Kan. to Lester and Cretia Gilliand Trotter.
Mr. Trotter attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. and later entered military service during World War II as a Navy ensign and served with distinction in the Pacific. After the war he graduated from the University of Washington in 1950 with an industrial engineering degree.
Shortly thereafter he returned to active duty in the Navy and served during the Korean War.
After returning to civilian life he worked at Boeing for 18 years, later spent time as a shipboard engineer in the Merchant Marine, and worked 23 years in NOAA retiring as a chief engineer.
Mr. Trotter also was a long time naval reservist, during which time he was called to active duty in 1961 during the Berlin crisis.
He retired from the Navy with more than 30 years on active and reserve duty.
Friends and family say Mr. Trotter will be remembered for his love of boats and airplanes of all sizes.
He owned and flew several airplanes, and as a lifelong boater was a member of the Totem Yacht Club in Tacoma and Quartermaster Yacht Club on Vashon Island.
He and Paula enjoyed flying, and boating.
He loved to travel the world with his wife and friends, and recently returned from a trip to Europe.
He was a member of Vashon Island Golf and Country Club, The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #3144 and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2826.
Survivors include his wife Paula Trotter of Vashon, sons Tomie Jr. and his wife Judith Trotter of Seattle, Larry and his wife Betty Trotter of Tacoma, Chris and his wife Lynn Trotter of Puyallup, Brad and his wife Trina Trimmer of Oak Harbor, and Ron Trotter of Auburn.
Survivors include 14 grandchildren including Shawn, Colby, Mark and Alyson Trotter, Dominique, Kirsten, Bryan, Benjamin, and Cameron Trimmer, Karen Shiley, Joy and Alan Hood, Faith and Kevin Amundson; eight great grandchildren; sisters Della Caputo of Anaheim, Calif., Carolyn Sullivan of Salem, Ore., Patsy Black of Lake Elsinore, Calif., and brother Jim Trotter of Huntington, Calif.
Two brothers, Bob and Dick Trotter, and grandson Aaron Trotter died earlier.
A celebration of his life will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, at the Vashon Island Golf and Country Club.
Donations are suggested to VFW Post 2826, P.O. Box 162, Vashon, Wash. 98070.
Burial will be in Tahoma National cemetery.
Groh, Delphine Rose (Dolly) Wednesday, 28 Dec 2005
Delphine Rose (Dolly) Groh, nee Larson, died Dec. 15, 2005. She was 77 years old. She was born on July 14, 1928, in Benson, Mont.
Following a degree in medical technology at the University of Minnesota, she moved to Seattle where she met her husband, Lawrence Groh.
The couple settled on Vashon where Dr. Groh had a family practice in medicine.
After raising four children on the Island, Dolly and Larry worked and traveled extensively in New Guinea, Europe and Asia.
They retired to Lake Oswego, Ore., in 1994.
Dolly continued to travel abroad following her husband’s death in 1997.
She worked as a volunteer at Meridian Park Hospital, and she was very active in the Lake Oswego Adult Community Center.
Dolly greatly enjoyed hiking, according to friends, gourmet cooking, study of the French language, cultural events and coffee with friends.
Survivors include: daughter Holly Bell and Randy Greb of Portland, Ore.; son Dr. Brandt Groh and wife Julie of Hershey, Pa.; son Scott Groh and wife Simone of Seattle; sisters Harriet and Anne of Minnesota; brothers Lawrence and Roy, of Minnesota; and 13 grandchildren.
A gathering of family and friends is planned for mid-February in Seattle.
Remembrances may be made to the American Diabetes Association, the Lake Oswego Adult Community Center or charities of choice.
Martin, Joseph Plana Saturday, 03 Dec 2005
Joseph Plana Martin of Poulsbo, formerly of Vashon, died Saturday Dec. 3, 2005, after a four-week battle in the Intensive Care Unit at Harrison Hospital in Kitsap County.
He was surrounded by his family when he died.
He was 79 years old.
Mr. Martin was born June 14, 1926, in Chico, Calif., the youngest of 14 children.
His parents had immigrated to the United States from Spain.
In 1965, he moved to Washington and met his wife Joan on Vashon.
They married
in 1967.
They raised four children on Vashon and then moved to Poulsbo in 1997.
He worked at Lockheed and retired from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
He loved to garden, cook, play solitaire, read western books, speak Spanish to his grandkids and be with his family.
Survivors include his wife Joan of 38 years, his daughters, Debbie Wilbur and partner Bill of Poulsbo, Cindy Snaza and husband Curt of Poulsbo, Suanne Martin-Smith and partner Kelly of Port Orchard, and Lori Bozzo and husband Steve of Sacramento, sons John Kranjcevich and wife Becky of Olalla and Joseph Martin and partner Ben of Sacramento, his sisters, Clara and Isabel of California and brother Vince of California, 16 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren and a large extended family.
A memorial met at the family beach house in Poulsbo, Saturday Dec. 10.
Memorials can be made to a food bank in your community.
