Joe Orem

Joe Orem, age 74, died on November 5, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born in Nevada to Clifton and Lola Orem. He married the love of his life, Margie, in the summer of 1966. After graduating from the University of Washington, Joe and Margie moved back to Bellingham to raise their family and to help run the family business, Bellingham Sash & Door, later known as Builders Alliance. Joe loved to give back to his community. There are buildings and organizations around town that have benefited from his quiet generosity. He strongly believed that education and hard work was the best way to improve yourself and the community around you. During Joe's fifty years in Bellingham, while running the family business, he served as President of the Bellingham Sunrise Rotary Club and Western Building Material Association. Joe helped to start Bank Northwest, he served on the Work Force Development Advisory Board and he was Commodore of the Bellingham Yacht Club. Joe was an avid boater and sailor; he and Margie explored the waters from Prince William Sound, AK to La Paz, Mexico. Joe was passionate about continuous improvement and self-enrichment for himself and those around him. He is survived by his wife Margie, son Drew (Karen) daughters Tassie (Scott) and Teresa (Mike), grandchildren Audrey, Carly, Jeffery, Andy, Natalie, Baden and Savannah, sister in-law and brother in-law Brent and Cherie and his niece Regan (Gerald) and nephew Trevor (Nikki) and a large extended family. Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Bellingham Technical College Foundation's general scholarship fund ( www.btc.edu/donate ) and the Bellingham Sailing Foundation, with funds going towards the youth sailors of Whatcom County. Bellingham Sailing Foundation 2625 Harbor Loop Drive Bellingham, WA 98225-2000 Bellingham Technical College Foundation 3028 Lindbergh Ave. Bellingham WA 98225