CLIFFORD HAMILTON "KICK" WEIGEL

Clifford "Kick" Hamilton Weigel, 85, of Guemes Island, Washington died Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at his home. He was born in Seattle, WA, the son of Clifford and Dessie (Hamilton) Weigel.

Kick was raised in Seattle and while still a teenager enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II where he flew 35 missions over Germany as a B-17 tailgunner.

After the war he became a teacher with the Mercer Island School District and stayed there for 30 years teaching, coaching, and counseling.

In 1952 Kick married Janice Joy Gates and they enjoyed 51 wonderful years of marriage until Janice's death in 2003. Kick and his family spent 13 memorable summers at Mount Rainier National Park where he worked as a Park Ranger.

Kick and Janice retired to Guemes Island in 1984 where he took up vegetable gardening. His vegetables soon became known island-wide for their size and quality.

Kick's other pastimes included spending time on the beach with his children, grandchildren and extended family, clamming, crabbing, and brightening the day of everyone around him. His smile, laugh, and zest for life will be greatly missed by countless friends and family.

Kick is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Jill Weigel of Boise, ID; daughters and son-in-law, Tina Weigel of Guemes Island and Tami and Joe Clark of Marysville; grandchildren and spouses, Ron Lastufka, C.J. and Will Hawley, Ian Clark, Thaddeus Weigel, and Dessie Weigel; and special friend, Marguie Kivett.

Private family interment will be at Eden Cemetery on Guemes Island. A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 19, 2011 at the Guemes Island Community Church.

Memorials may be made to the Guemes Island Community Church, 7611 Guemes Island Road, Anacortes, WA, 98221 or Hospice of the Northwest, 819 South 13th Street, Mount Vernon, WA, 98273.

Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.

To share memories of Clifford, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.