You might remember him as a graduate of Clover Park High School, radio personality for KMO, car and drag racing enthusiast, photojournalist for Drag News Magazine, Mortgage Banker, or a member of the Street Rodding community.
Jim was all of those things. He was always fully engaged in his careers, hobbies, and life.
As the saying goes, his journey was not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body. Rather, his desire was to skid in sideways totally worn out, shouting "Holy shit...what a ride!"
Jim was born on August 19, 1941, at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Washington. He was the adopted, or "chosen" son (his mother explained to him), of Edward J. and Mary W. Cooper. He was raised as if he had always belonged. Jim grew up on Steilacoom Lake, attending Park Lodge Elementary School, Navy Base Middle School, and graduating from Clover Park High School in 1960. His sports at the time were football and wrestling, and he survived Bulbar Polio at age 17. It forever changed his focus on life. He lived as if he were on borrowed time.
Early in high school, he developed his passion for cars, and the people involved with cars. That passion would forever be a common theme; involving him with the sport of drag racing, being a photojournalist for Drag News, and having his own talk radio show called "Pit Pass."
He followed his father into the mortgage business in his early 20s. That choice led him to a successful career in mortgage banking, where he held several designations to include AMP President, Director, Lifetime Director of Puget Sound Mortgage Lenders, Director of Seattle Mortgage Bankers, and selected speaker of numerous seminars and clinics related to mortgage banking. More importantly, many of the people he worked with throughout the years became lifelong friends.
Retirement enabled him to pursue his desire of building his First Street Rod --- supported and encouraged by his best friend, Al Swindahl. Five years later, with the completion of his '34 Ford Coup, he went back to work at Puget Sound Title Company. This afforded him the ability to build a second car, a '56 Chevy Bel Air. Both cars were award winners at numerous events up and down the west coast. His last car, the '32 Roadster, was built just for fun. The sport of Street Rodding allowed him to meet and enjoy a phenomenal group of people along the way.
Jim leaves bahind his wife, Glenda; brother Ric; sons Jim (Fran), Mitch, Kent (Gretchen), CI; and the memory of his son, Steve, who preceded him in death.
https://www.newtacoma.com/obits. Publicly announced by New Tacoma Cemeteries. Funeral Home and Crematory in University Place, WA. The most recent obituary and service information is available at the New Tacoma Cemeteries, Funeral Home and Crematory website.
Publish by Legacy on June 2, 2023
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CARL FYNBOE Following is the formal obituary for Mr. Fynboe, as he has always been known to those of us over whom he presided as vice principal. Mr. Fynboe has, over the years, remained a friend of our class. He has attended all of our class reunion dinners. Considering all of the thousands of students who passed through Clover Park High School, Mr. Fynboe never failed to amaze with his recollections of people and events. Throughout his life, he remained a person of the highest standards and impeccable character. We are proud to have had him as our vice principal and as a close friend to the class of 1960. He will be missed.
OBITUARY
Carl T. Fynboe A champion for education in Washington State and a wonderful Christian man, died on November 8, 2012. His life was about relationships and how he connected with people, touching the lives of many. His grandchildren were often impressed by his interest in their friends and how they were doing. Family and faith were the center of his life and he was surrounded by his family and his pastor when he died.
Carl was born in Decorah, Iowa on February 13, 1927. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, C. S. and Adelaide Fynboe, and his only sister Elizabeth Hanson. Carl is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ingrid; daughters, Karen (William Oltman), Kathy (Scott Buser), and son, Chris (Karie Hamilton); grand-children, Kirsten (Isaac), Andrea (Bryan), James (Mary), Nicholas, Katie, Jonathan, Alexis; and great grand-children, Justice, Selah, Jude, James David, and Hallie. Carl began his educational career, which he considered a calling, at Clover Park High School in 1950, as a chemistry and German teacher. At 25 years of age he was appointed Vice Principal at Clover Park High School. Carl was elected and served as President of the Washington Education Association in 1958. In 1961 he was named Principal of Clover Park High School. His next calling in 1971 was to become Headmaster at Annie Wright School. In 1974, he was hired by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to the newly created position of Director of Private/Independent Schools. After retiring from public education in 1982, he became President and CEO of the Washington Federation of Independent Schools until 1992. During his tenure with the Washington Federation of Independent Schools, Carl shepherded the Homeschool Law through the State Legislature and became the Administrative Advisor and a Founder of the Washington Homeschool Organization. On June 26, 2012 at 85 years of age, Carl received a Doctor of Divinity from the Covenant Bible Seminary and ordained as a Minister of Christ by the Covenant Bible Fellowship. Carl's other passions included serving on numerous boards, the first being the Board of Regents at Pacific Lutheran University and Board of Trustees at Charles Wright Academy. In the 1970's Carl was President of Lutheran Community Services, which led to the building of the Tacoma Lutheran Home and Nursing Center. Later, he was a Director on the Stewardship Foundation Board for seventeen years, which he considered the greatest joy for Christian outreach. A member of Rotary International since 1960, Carl has been a member of the Lakewood Rotary, Tacoma #8, Olympia, and Gig Harbor Rotary Clubs. One of Carl's loves was music and singing. He began his singing career at the age of five singing a solo on the Omaha Radio station. He sang in the Choir of the West at Pacific Lutheran College as a high school student and later as college student and soloist. Carl continued singing with the Normanna Men's Chorus and many church choirs until the time of his death. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church at 12115 Park Avenue S., Tacoma, WA 98444 on Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 2 PM with a reception following at the Pacific Lutheran University Scandinavian Cultural Center at 4 PM. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Carl T. Fynboe Memorial Scholarship Fund at Mount Rainier Lutheran High School in Tacoma. Burial arrangements provided by Mountain View Funeral Home. Published in News Tribune (Tacoma) on November 14, 2012 |
Bob Beecroft was born to Venora (Bates) Beecroft and Christopher Beecroft on November 23, 1941 in La Junta, CO.
Bob moved to Lakewood, WA in 1943. He went to grade school in Lakewood and graduated from Clover Park High School in 1960.
He lived at Lake Cle Elum and Ronald, WA where he worked as a wrangler at a dud ranch and as a choker setter in the logging industry. Bob moved to Springfield, OR in 1967, and worked in a sawmill for several years. In 1975 Bob and family moved to Selah, WA where he worked in construction for numerous years. He retired from Monson Fruit in 2014.
Bob joined the Washington National Guard in 1964 and was transferred to the Oregon Army Reserve in 1968. He worked with disabled veterans. He was honorably discharged in 1970.
He enjoyed being in the outdoors hunting and fishing, especially with his grandchildren. Bob enjoyed spending time with his familly and going to the grandchildren's various sporting events. He loved both the Seahawks and the Mariners. He also idolized John Wayne.
Bob leaves behand his son Rick (Rhonda) Beecroft, daughter Suki (Allen) Covell, five grandchildren: Ryan, Drew, Bo, Chloe, and Chad; a sister Lauradel Ross of Lacey; and numerous nieces andn nephews and numerous great-nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, mother, brother, Bill, and his nephew Justin Beecroft.
Memories may be made to www. shawandsons.com.
Published: Yakima Herald - Jan. 16, 2018 (Somewhat shortened.)
Susan Rose (Rayley) Suhre was born May 1, 1942 and passed on December 17, 2021 in Tacoma after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She was preceded in death by her mother Elaine Parks and father Donald Rayley. Susan was born in Tacoma and raised in the Lakewood area where she lived and raised her family. She gradated from Clover Park High School. She met her loving husband Edwin Suhre while working at Madigan. They were married for 55 years until his death in 2015. She leaves behind two children Steven (Priscilla) and Stacie (Dan), four grandchildren Joshua, Courtnie, Ashly, and Christopher, as well as six great grandchildren. She also leaves behind one brother Michael Hoffman (Debbie).
Susan worked for Clover Park School District for over 30 years. One of her greatest joys was seeing former students while out in the community. They loved her and she loved them! She was caring and giving, always putting others first. Shee will be missed beyond measure. (From - Mountainview Funeral Home obituaries.)