Jeffrey Van Gaver

Jeffrey Francis Van Gaver, 81, passed away on October 18th, 2024 in Kent, Washington. Son to Marilyn and Francis Van Gaver, Jeff was born on November 29th, 1942 at Madison Street Hospital in Seattle. He was the eldest of seven children.
Jeff grew up on Beacon Hill in Seattle and attended Saint George School, O'Dea High School, and Cleveland High School where he graduated in 1959. After a brief stint in the Marines, Jeff worked at Lake Union Drydock until his retirement in 2006.
Jeff met and married the love of his life, Patricia Murphy, on April 27th, 1963. They raised four children together on the corner white house with an immaculate lawn on Beacon Hill. Many memories were made there, as it was a popular place for kids to hang out, shooting hoops in the driveway, playing baseball on the street, or swimming in the pool on a nice, hot summer day.
Jeff loved sports, both as a participant and as a spectator. He enjoyed playing golf, which ironically was the only sport where you kept score with a pencil with no eraser on it. That contributed to some of his best rounds. Those of you who golfed with him will understand and appreciate this.
He also loved the Green Bay Packers, especially when they were coached by his second best coach of all time, Vince Lombardi. His favorite coach of course was the great Mike Foley.
Jeff enjoyed attending all his grandkids' sporting events. There was rarely a game that a grandkid was playing in, that he didn't attend. He was a fixture in the stands and all the parents, players and sometimes even the Referees/Umpires knew who he was. He was always cheering his grandkids on with that gravelly voice that filled the stands. He was proud that his grandkids shared the same passion for sports as he did.
Whether sipping on the morning's first hot cup of coffee or enjoying an early evening rum and diet coke, Jeff had many life experiences and stories to share. He was a great storyteller, and we were all fortunate he shared those stories with us.
Jeff is preceded in death by his parents Franny and Marilyn, wife Patricia, daughter Tia, brothers Greg and Steve, brother in law Jim Bianchi and nephew Mark.
He is survived by his daughter Bambi, son in law Raul, son Franny (Paula), daughter Jennifer (Reynaldo), sisters Pam, Melanie (Joe), and Debbie (Mike), and brother Kevin (Elizabeth) and sisters-in-law, Valerie and Kate. He is also survived by five grandkids, Alexandria, Zachary, Madeline, Drew, and Jalen. He leaves behind many nieces and nephews and many friends that will miss him.
October 18th, 2024 was a very sad day but great memories of Jeff will turn the sadness to appreciation as we all shared time with this truly one of a kind, wonderful man.
A memorial mass will be held at Saint George Catholic Church in Seattle on Saturday, November 2nd at 10:30 am. A lunch reception will follow at the Saint George School Hall.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center at www.fredhutch.org [fredhutch.org]