John O. “Jack” Strom, age 84, died on Aug. 22, 2017, at his home in Aberdeen. He was born in Aberdeen on Aug. 12, 1933, to parents John Oscar and Vienna Marie (Riippa) Strom.

Jack worked at Quimby and Wilson Colonial Maple Shop for many years. He started working there upon his high school graduation in 1951. He continued to work there until it closed and then worked at Shoenfeld Furniture in Hoquiam until his retirement.

He was in the U.S. Army from 1956-1957 and was stationed in Kingston, Wash. at the Nike Missile Site during the Cold War. After serving in the Army, he returned home to Hoquiam. Jack lived in Hoquiam until moving to Aberdeen five years ago.

He and his wife Donna who passed away last year, traveled in Europe and spent time in Germany traveling with his close cousin Lon as they did sightseeing throughout the country. Their travels also took Jack and Donna to Hawaii, Alaska and Canada and much of The United States.

Jack was known for his love of photography. He seldom was without a camera everywhere he went. Always looking for the perfect picture, he was often chided about how many pictures he could take of water falls and sunsets. His response was always the same “The lighting is different with every picture”.

Jack had a passion for hiking in the Olympics with his son Mike. He has an abundance of pictures from those mountain trails. Those were special times he shared with Mike.

Jack was also known for his skill in woodworking and made several cabinets and hutches over the years. He had a love for flowers and the small finches and other birds that came to his flower garden.

Jack was a member of the Hoquiam Lions Club for 55 years, and had served in nearly every capacity including zone chairman, treasurer for 21 years, president in 1966-1967, Lion of the year in 1966 and 2005 and had been a recipient of the highest Lions honor, the Melvin Jones Award. He sold buttons at Loggers Playday, volunteered at the salmon barbecues and fireworks stands, sold Rain Derby Tickets, and seldom missed any meetings. There isn’t anyone in the Lions Club or in the community who did not regard him very highly, enjoyed his sense of humor, and felt energized by his presence and permanent twinkle in his eye. He was truly a good man and will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Surviving relatives include his son, Jeffrey Strom of Aberdeen; step-daughters, Cindy Wakefield, Diane Snell and Molly Sattler; step-sons, Rick Strom, Mark Thomlinson and Jeff Thomlinson; grandchildren Joe and Jack Strom; step-grandchildren, Fritz, Betsy, Duke, Jennifer, Lara, Sadie, Leila and Ananda Jacob, Alta, Nick, Crystal and sisters, Barbara Baker, Joanne Shay and Kay Edgebert. In addition to his wife, Donna, Jack was preceded in death by a son, Mike Strom.

A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Aberdeen.

Cremation arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary.

Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on-line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.