Ivan Isaac Bacus, Sr., ‘Goose’, 86, a lifelong Sedro-Woolley area resident, passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at the Life Care Center of Skagit Valley in Sedro-Woolley.
Ivan was born on January 7, 1923 in Skiyou, Washington, just east of Sedro-Woolley, the son of William Fred Bacus and Winifred Gates Woodring Bacus. He was raised and attended grade school there and then attended Sedro-Woolley High School.
At the age of 16, Ivan began working in the timber industry as a tree faller and bucker, working in the woods for about 15 years. He then began working for C & S Construction, clearing roads and sites for several years.
Ivan then worked for the Snelson Company as a labor foreman for over 20 years until his retirement in 1979.
He was united in marriage to Delores Yates in Sedro-Woolley on December 24, 1944. She preceded him in death in 1992 after 48 years of marriage.
Ivan proud of the fact that he brought one of the first gas powered chain saws to the Skagit Valley in his early years of logging. He was also active in the Sedro-Woolley Loggerodeo, winning several sawing contests over the years.
In his retirement years Ivan ‘enjoyed working’ on his farm east of Sedro-Woolley.
Other than losing Delores, one of Ivan’s most devastating losses was losing the family homestead on Bacus Hill to Puget Sound Power & Light under the threat of eminent domain.
Ivan was an avid hunter and enjoyed being outdoors. He was a 60 year member of the Sedro-Woolley Eagles and a 50 year member of the Laborers Union Local 901.
He is survived by three sons, Ivan Bacus, Jr., Wayne Bacus and his wife, Julie and Gene Bacus, all of Sedro-Woolley. His brother, A.E. ‘Turk’ Bacus and his wife, Margaret of Sedro-Woolley. 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides his wife, Delores he was also preceded in death by his parents, three infant children, a son, Charles in 1979; two brothers, W.K. Bacus and Bev Bacus and two sisters, Cecilia Whittle and Evelyn Ellis.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 1:00 PM at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley with Pastor Vic Kline of the Skagit Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. A potluck gathering will follow the services.
We are very sorry for your loss. It was a pleasure and an honor to have met Mr. Bacus and to have him come up to our property on Bacus Hill several years ago. He was legendary.