Allan Al Willard Hoss

Allan W. Hoss – husband, son, brother, step-father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and our beloved uncle, died Thursday May 14, 2015. Born in Seattle on April 29, 1936 to Amos W. and Julia M. Hoss, Allan was one of four children. The eldest of three brothers, Lawrence R. Hoss (wife Jani) of Seattle, and Robert W. Hoss (wife Merrilou) of Phoenix Arizona, and was preceded in death by his only sister Carol Adolfson, of Arlington, Texas. A lifelong Seattleite Al attended Bryant Elementary, Nathan Eckstein Middle School and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1954.

Al died at his home in Lynnwood, WA that he shared with his wife of 32 years, Bonita Lynn, whom he married on the 6th of August 1983. Second only to his wife Bonnie, the love of his life was his family business, A.W. Hoss and Son, Seattle’s oldest furniture manufacturing company – started by his grandfather, Wesley Zionchek, in 1929 as Olympic Upholstery, and would eventually become a Seattle institution. As a third generation proprietor, along with his brother Larry, Al went on to furnish homes, businesses, and public institutions of the greater Seattle area with pride for the next 50 years. A.W. Hoss and Son is still operated by the Hoss family in Maple Leaf, not 10 minutes from the Wedgwood home he grew up in on 25th NE. Driving around town Al could tell you what color sofa was in the living room of at least half of Seattle’s homes, where their kids went school, and how long their neighbors were married, if you wanted to know anything – you’d ask Al. Only days into his six month retirement you could still find him sneaking into the office from time to time, “I’m supposed to be at Fred Meyer,” he’d say, as he walked in the door. Al never met a rule he wanted to follow, a chair he didn’t have room in the rafters for, or a customer he forgot.

Throughout his life he enjoyed summers at the Hoss family home in Useless Bay on Whidbey Island, playing endless card games, picking blackberries, and telling stories around the bonfire. A quintessential family man he spent his days working alongside his brother Larry and nephews Larry Hoss Jr. and Richard “Ritch” Hoss, and niece Susie Hoss. Enjoyed nights and weekends spent with Bonnie and his step-children Mark and wife Kathy, and Michelle and her husband Bob, enjoying his grandchildren Chelsea and Robert (Michelle and Bob) and Damon, Catherine, Charlie, and Jack (Mark and Kathy) and their ever-growing families, along with a large extended family and many close friends. A yearly trip to Hawaii led to lifelong friendships and something he looked forward to every Fall.

A true patriarch Al had a big job keeping his large family connected, with first cousins Daryl of Bainbridge Island, WA, and Carolyn in California, his niece Laurie Hancock and Nephew Wesley Evans (Carol) in Texas, his nephews Todd Hoss and Rob Hoss in Seattle, his nephew John Hoss, along with his niece Cami Jetvig (Robert) of Fargo ND, with extended family in Chicago, and many relatives his beloved Poland, there was never a shortage of people to visit, Christmas and birthday cards to mail, and stories to tell.

A purveyor of the finest Polish Sausage, homemade sauerkraut, and loyal patron of auction houses everywhere, at 79 he epitomized the fountain of youth, “who was that old man?” he’d ask about the 55 year old walking away. An unapologetic meat and potatoes man he once said, “you know, sometimes people prefer a nice roast,” while enjoying a taco at a family party. Our family doesn’t face this loss alone – Monarch Vodka mourns the loss of their only customer, the Schweppes family will never again find anyone to buy diet tonic water and, citrus farmers everywhere already have overgrown lime trees.

There is a saying in the furniture world, ‘Old Upholsterers Never Die, They Always Recover’ – wherever Al is, two things are certain: he’s raising his glass, and saving us all seats.

Sto Lat, Unc!

In Memoriam donations may be made in Al's honor to Seattle's Polish Hall, or Sight Connection.