Alan Joseph Bluechel
Born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1924. Passed away at home in Bellevue, WA August 20, 2013 surrounded by family. He was predeceased by his parents Joseph Harold and Edith Bluechel as well as his sister June Savikko. Alan loved to travel and spend time in the mountains. He was an avid hiker and skier starting from a very young age and continuing into his 80's. Alan graduated from the University of British Columbia with degrees in Electrical Engineering and General Studies. After graduation his love of travel sent him hitchhiking across Canada and then on to a tramp steamer to spend a year traveling in Europe. Upon his return he came home and started working for his father's wood products company, Loctwall, which had moved to Seattle by then.
In the early 1960's Alan combined his love of the mountains and the construction business as an original partner of CM Development and Silver Skis Inc. which built a number of buildings at Crystal Mountain ski area. Later that decade he decided to enter politics by running for the state House of Representatives. This started a career that spanned 28 years in both the House and state Senate. Over the years Alan focused on education, trade, the environment and parks. He led the acquisition of St. Edwards state park from the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, and was the lead negotiator for the Republicans on issues such as the Puget Sound Water Quality Act and the annual Capital Budget. His proudest achievement was the creation of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region and he was its first president from 1991 to 1997. As a progressive, pro-choice, pro-environment, pro-business Republican he always strove to find middle ground and avoid partisanship.
Alan is survived by the love of his life for the past 32 years, Jeanne Ehrlichman Bluechel, two sons from his first marriage, Gordon and his wife Rebecca of Redmond and Turner and his wife Elizabeth of Seattle, grandchildren Talbot, Geoffrey, Laurel and Callaghan. He is also survived by Jeanne's children Peter and Debbie Ehrlichman, Jan Ehrlichman and Mark Mayer, Jody and Paul Pineda, Sheryl Ehrlichman, Tom Ehrlichman, and Robert Ehrlichman and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be held on Friday Sept 6th at noon at the Overlake Golf Club 8000 NE 16th Street Medina, WA 98039. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust.
http://mtsgreenway.org/donate
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Published in The Seattle Times from Aug. 26 to Aug. 27, 2013
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