John Roderick Sewell Sr.

John R. "Rod" Sewell Sr., 82, of Stanwood, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday, July 22, 2014.He was born on June 17th, 1932 in Mount Vernon, WA to Clarence and Gladys Sewell. He graduated from Mount Vernon Union High School in June of 1950 and joined the Air Force in May 1952.Rod's first job was at Kern Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. He soon found that his sympathy, love and compassion for the bereaved families were his passion and job goal.He later attended the California College of Mortuary Science where he earned his Washington State Funeral Directors License and his Embalmers License in 1965.He met and married Catherine Neisinger while apprenticing in Monroe, WA in 1953 and were married for over 60 years. They had two boys, John (Carolyn) and Jim (Jan). From John and Carolyn, he had a granddaughter, Kirsten, whom he had so many hours of fun and making jokes with, and great grandson, Cameron. Rod also gained two more loveable Granddaughters, Jessica and Amanda, when Jim and Jan married, and later three more great grandchildren Jayden, Maxwell and Spencer. He really counted himself blessed.He was a member of Camano Chapel and loved them dearly. Later he attended Cedarhome Baptist Church where he really felt at home.He participated in a number of organizations and was active in all of them, which includes the Stanwood Fire Department and the Stanwood Dispatch and Ambulance, for many years.For 35 years, Rod worked at Gilbertson Funeral Home in Stanwood, with Jerry and Norma Gilbertson, John Mjoen and David Brandt and had a wonderful relationship with all of them.At the family's request there will be no formal funeral service; a private family service has been requested.In lieu of flowers please make contributions to the Cedarhome Baptist Church Building Fund, 29000 68th Ave., Stanwood, WA 98292.Arrangements under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood