James Morris “Jim” Sakshaug, age 76, passed away May 8, 2021, in Albany, Oregon. He was born November 26, 1944, in Sedro-Woolley, Washington to James Morris Sakshaug Sr. and Pola Pressentin (maiden name, Janicki).
Jim was raised in Deming, Wa; graduating from Mt. Baker High School. As an adult Jim lived in Seattle, Kent, Alaska and ultimately settled in the Skagit Valley, where he raised his four children in Sedro-Woolley, and then Marblemount.
Jim was a hard worker for most of his life. At a young age, he began working with the farm animals at the family homestead, milking cows, feeding steer, collecting eggs and cleaning the barn. Jim worked in the family shake mill from age 12-18, packing and bundling shakes, competing with the other packers, loading them on the flatbed truck to be taken to the railroad boxcar for shipment. When the market went bad for shakes, the mill was closed down, and he went to work with Janicki Logging Company, working with his Uncle Stan, logging, and on the road crew. In his early twenties, Jim worked at Boeing where he was a chem-mill worker. From there, Alaska was his next job where he was a driller for explosives for a while. He then went back to logging at which point he suffered a neck fracture during a logging incident. Jim then pursued a certification in alcohol and chemical dependance treatment and rehabilitation counseling, which was a career he lead proudly in Mount Vernon, Wa for many years while he raised his four children.
Jim enjoyed woodworking, carving, and dabbled in furniture making. He spent many years carving, polishing and assembling beautiful rosaries of various types of wood, even sending one to Pope John Paul II who sent back a letter granting the apostolic blessing.
At an early age, Jim enjoyed baseball and basketball. In high school he played track, specifically discus and shot-put; he received quite a few ribbons for placing against other schools in track meets.
As an adult, Jim enjoyed encouraging his kids in their sports interests, including spending many hours with them, throwing the football, playing catch with a baseball and mitt, shooting guns, riding quads, hiking and camping.
Jim was born and raised Catholic and spent many years involved in the Catholic Church. Later in his adult life, he enjoyed the spiritual teachings of Prem Rawat of whom he enjoyed listening to and traveling to see.
Throughout his life, Jim always had a great sense of humor, often joking about the ironies of life. He would easily bring a smile and laugh to those around him. Jim raised four successful children, who all treasure the time they had together with him and will continue on with sharing his memories with the future generations.
Jim is survived by his children, Joseph Walter Sakshaug, Nola Mary Richards and her husband, Corbett Richards, Nena Marie Shellum and her husband, Michael Shellum, Avery James Sakshaug and his wife, Bobbi Jo Sakshaug; grandchildren, Abigail Richards, CJ Richards, Clayton Richards, Gavin Sakshaug, and Alden Sakshaug; siblings, Don Sakshaug, and Mark Sakshaug; nephews and niece, Doug Sakshaug, Donna Kneeland, Fred Sakshaug, Tom Sakshaug, Eric Sakshaug, and numerous cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Sakshaug Sr. and Pola Pressentin; grandparents, Alfred Sakshaug, Amanda (Johnson) Sakshaug, Stanley Janicki Sr., Hedwig (Kurek) Janicki.
A Graveside Inurnment will be held at 10:00, Saturday, August 21, 2021, at Union Cemetery, Sedro-Woolley, Father Jim Dalton celebrating. Share your memories of Jim and sign the online guest register.
I will not be able to make the memorial. Wanted to express the pleasure of having known Jim and his family for all these years. I will always remember his laugh.