Thurston G. ‘Jack’ DeLano of Sedro-Woolley passed away suddenly Sunday, November 17, 2002 at the Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon, WA at the age of 87 years. He was born March 10, 1915 in Norton, Kansas the son of Joseph and Rose Van Notric DeLano. Jack’s childhood years were spent growing up in Kansas, where he was a middleweight champion boxer and went under the title of ‘Kansas Jack’. In 1935, Jack moved to Eastern Washington where he was one of the first men to lay concrete in the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam. Jack also met his wife Doris Hoggatt and they were married in 1937 in Prosser, WA. They then moved to Oregon where Jack owned and operated a mechanical shop. Later he moved to the Kent Valley where he worked at Pacific Car & Foundry in Renton. Jack and Doris moved to the Skagit Valley in 1963 where they settled in Sedro-Woolley and where Jack called home for the last forty years. Jack worked for the Laborers Union #901 where he worked construction for Peter Hewitt at Paine Field. He was dispatched on his last job in 1976 when he then retired from the Union. After retirement, Jack helped his sons Larry and Buzz in the concession business. His hobbies included Hound Hunting and Racing Pigeons. Jack was a member of the Ti-State Hound Hunters Assoc and the North Cascade Invitational Pigeon Club of Washington. He was also known as a witty person who always had a nick name for everyone. Jack was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Rose, his wife of 58 years Doris in 1995, his three sons Larry Neal DeLano, Thurston ‘Bud’ DeLano, and Everett ‘Buzz’ Delano, six brothers and two sisters, and a grandson Bobby DeLano.
Jack is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Faye and Lowell Engberg of Sedro-Woolley. Ten grandchildren Lori DeLano, Cami Hall, Karen Warren, Rocky DeLano, Denny Engberg, Denise Engberg, Thurston Garvin DeLano, Dale DeLano, April Archer, and Clayton DeLano. Sixteen great grandchildren Chene, Blaine, Cassey, Meghan, Steven, Stephanie, Lauren, Cody, Kellen, Kayla, Travis, Thurston Gary, Taryn, Nicholas, Krysten, and Myranda. One great great grandchild Quentin.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Jack’s Care Givers Jeannine Frizzell, Rose Hammingh, Carolyn Hornbeck and Shawna Turcott.
Funeral Services will be Friday, November 22, 2002 at 11:00AM at Lemley Chapel with Pastor Ron Deegen of the Mount Vernon First Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow in the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to your favorite charity. You are invited to sign our online guest book and share your memories of Jack at www.lemleychapel.com.