Jon Gunnar Martin, 51, a longtime Sedro-Woolley resident, passed away at his home on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 of natural causes.
Gunnar was born on August 10, 1956 in Bellingham, Washington, the son of Jon & Beverly Lentz Hagen. When Gunnar was 6, Beverly married Edwin Martin and he took the Martin family name.
Gunnar was raised in Sedro-Woolley until moving to Georgia in 1962, returning to Sedro-Woolley in 1970 where he was raised and attended high school, graduating from S-WHS in 1974. He then attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Technical school in Bellingham and Skagit Valley College.
Gunnar worked in construction and as a painting contractor in the Skagit Valley for over 25 years with his painting company, Avalon Painting.
His passion was music; he enjoyed playing the piano and guitar and jamming with friends and playing his bass guitar with several bands in the area for over the past 30 years. He attended the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles to improve his music skills. He also enjoyed boating, fishing, three-wheeling, playing Frisbee, traveling to Hawaii, late night movies and t.v. and just cruising in his truck listening to music, but his love was his family and friends, all of who will greatly miss him.
Gunnar is survived by his children, Gunnar Martin of Birdsview, Miranda Dietrich and her husband, Aaron of Bothell. An ‘adopted’ daughter, Jena King and her companion, Jacob Rothschild. His mother and step-father, Beverly & Nathan Smiley of Whittier, CA. 3 sisters and their husbands, Kimberly & Kevin Windsor of Coeur d’ Alene, ID, Edie Martin-Plumlee of Sedro-Woolley and Denise & Mark VanZandt of Burlington. 2 granddaughters, Tiahna Hayes and Jade King. An uncle, Wally Lentz of Albuquerque, NM; 3 nephews, Jesse Siedel, David Plumlee & Ethan Martin-Shelley and 1 niece, Grace VanZandt. A half-sister, Christina Hagen and a half-brother, John Hagen, Jr.
Memorial services for Gunnar will be held on Sunday, December 23, 2007 at 1:00 PM at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley. A fellowship will follow at the Sedro-Woolley Eagles.
