John Fremming

John Fremming, 74, died at his home after a brief battle with lung cancer on March 22, 2007.

Surviving John is his wife of 52 years, Donna Fremming; daughters Karen Fremming, Cynthia McHugh; sister Laurene Jungers and cousin Dave Fremming. John was a beloved husband, father, brother, cousin, uncle, brother-in-law and friend to many.

John was born in Spokane on March 17, 1933, and moved to Seattle with his mother and sister in 1942. John attended Hamilton Junior High and Lincoln High School; after he returned from the Navy he graduated from Edison Technical School with straight A’s.

Prior to being in the Navy, John sailed as a crew member aboard a federally operated “health” boat that traveled to Alaskan towns such as Kodiak and Nome, administering much needed medical and dental care to the Alaska native population. John developed his love of photography at this time.

When John was a boy he belonged to the Boy Scouts of America and was very proud of his sash full of badges that he had earned. John was also very proud to have been in the Custom Club in Seattle with his very good friend Jack Wilskey.

John took his training for the Navy in California then was stationed in Norfolk, Va., and from there he traveled to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the French Rivera, Dublin, Ireland, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York. He was taking pictures all the while. When he came home from the Navy he married his childhood sweetheart Donna and began another chapter in his life.

Through the years John had been involved with Toastmaster Club and Sales Training Incorporated, which launched his very successful 32-year career in sales. John embraced life and enjoyed talking to everyone he encountered.

John was also involved as a planning commissioner for the city of Redmond and pursued his love of steelhead fishing and photography.

John won the “Picture Perfect Washington” photo contest, which gave him the prize of a Volkswagen Rabbit, a television and a weekend in Vancouver, Canada, all presented to him by then-Governor Dixie Lee Ray. He sold the car and that became the nest egg to purchase their dream property at Scatchet Head.

Here on Whidbey Island, John was on the board of trustees at Scatchet Head, was a water commissioner, a volunteer for the Citizen’s Patrol of the Island County Sheriff’s Office and a driver for Good Cheer Thrift Store and Food Bank.

In between all of this he and his wife traveled the United States in their motor home.

He was very proud to be a life member of the NRA.

John had so many interests that they are too numerous to mention. John loved life and will be missed.

There will be a celebration of John’s life at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 14, in the Scatchet Head Community Club.