Gary L. JURGENSEN

1945 - 2018

JURGENSEN, Gary L. (Age 73) Gary was born in 1945 in Davenport, Washington to Lumarion "Luby" and Lenore "Pete" Jurgensen and with his loving family by his side, passed away on December 20th, 2018 from an aggressive form of prostate cancer. He felt he had an idyllic childhood raised by loving parents, along with his three sisters, and the village of caring relatives in Davenport. Other than not having been able to take swimming lessons because he was working in the hay fields, Gary thought it perfect. He attended Davenport High School, graduating in 1963. He was very involved in school serving as student body president, playing football, running track and having lots of fun. He made the National Honor Society, and attended Boys State. His classmates remained lifelong friends. His cousin, Gene Stuckle, forever inspired Gary, teaching him everything he knew about car restoration and instilling in him his love for antique and classic cars. Gary's first restoration at 15 years of age, was a 1926 Model T Roadster, which he kept and drove for the rest of his life. After high school, he attended WSU joining the AGR fraternity, where he made lasting friendships with his fraternity brothers and had many adventures with them over the years. His summers were spent primarily working on the farm for his uncle, Herman Reinbold. He graduated in 1967 with a degree in Agricultural Economics and then worked in Pullman in the finance department of the College of Agriculture. He received an MBA from EWU in 1969 and moved to Indiana working with the JI Case Co. After two years, Gary returned to the Pacific Northwest, working for more than 20 years with the Spokane Bank for Cooperatives dealing with financing agricultural co-ops in the Northwest and Alaska. He was recognized multiple times for his achievements, but he was most proud of the relationships he built with his customers and co-workers. In 1994, he joined Sterling Bank, working with commercial loans for the agricultural industry, retiring in 2009. He was active with the Ag Bureau, Ag Expo, the Junior Livestock Farm Forum and served on the Boards for Riverview Nursing Home and St. Joseph Family Care Center. He married his true love and veterinarian, Linda Wood, in 2005 and often joked his motive was to reduce his veterinary bills. While that did not work out, the marriage did, and they loved each other for the next 13 years touring in Gary's model Ts, As, and his '68 Firebird, riding Linda's horses, and fishing at their cabin at Twin Lakes, WA. He was an avid runner finishing Bloomsday 31 times, most of those finishes in under an hour. He loved his family, old cars, skiing, camping, fishing, elk camp, hunting, and dachshunds. Gary was a kind, decent, loyal man with a great work ethic, a quick wit and lots of funny sayings. The friends he made along life's journey remained his friends throughout his entire life. He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved sister, Sherry. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his sisters Beverly Strate (Greg) and Vicky VanWaverin; brother-in-law Jim Sorensen; cousins Grant and Gordon Jurgensen, his many other cousins and nieces and nephews who all meant so much to him. Special thanks to the medical community of Spokane - doctors and staff alike, and especially the Providence Health Care System that provided the excellent care that enabled Gary to overcome obstacles that otherwise he could not have. Specific thanks to Dr. Jeff Collins, Dr. Michael Kwasman, and Dr. Srivalli Gopaluni. A celebration of the life of Gary will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations could be directed to the Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health at WSU or to Hospice of Spokane. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stratefuneralhome.com for the Jurgensen family. STRATE FUNERAL HOME, Davenport, WA is serving the family. And last, and not least, Gary would say...."Go Cougs"!