James Robert Teman

He married Marlene Martin on April 9, 1943 in Anacortes, WA. They celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary. They settled in Burien where they raised their 3 childrem. He then went on to spend 35 years working for the Boeing Co in their military defense division before retiring as an Aeronautical Engineer in 1978.

He worked on such military aircraft as the B-17, B-29, B-47, B-52, and many modern day military jets as well as national defense systems involving the Awacs, rockets and minuteman missiles. A lot of the details of James’s work were to be held in the highest degree of secrecy. The family just recently learned of his designing a reinforced cockpit in the B-29 Bombers to up the pilots chances for survival after they dropped the Atomic Bombs to conclude WWII. Although never a veteran, through his work there is no doubt he helped save American lives.

After he retired from Boeing, he went on to lend a hand at his daughter and son-in-law’s excavating company which turned into every day, lead mechanic except between 12 to 1pm for “All My Children”. James enjoyed the project, seeing to a fix when a problem arouse or learning a new skill to solve a problem. He was one who could fix anything even if all that was available where duct tape and bailing wire.

James enjoyed spending many summer days with his grandkids and friends at the cabin he built on Summit Lake near Olympia. James loved camping, fishing and traveling in his camper and later in his travel trailer along the west coast from Alaska to Mexico with Quartzite, AZ and Kino Bay, Mexico being two of favorite spots in his later years.

They moved from their home in Burien to Yakima in 1991 to join other family members living there. They spent some of the best years of their lives there having developed wonderful friendships with the neighbors and enjoying many trips around the world with these friends and family.

In 2005, they moved to Soap Lake to be closer to their daughter and then finally to East Wenatchee. He spent the last years there in independent living at Hearthstone Cottage.

The family will miss his keen mind and resourcefulness. To the end his mind was as sharp as a tack but his body was failing him and pneumonia finally took him from us. Thank you for those wonderful years.

James is survived by his beautiful wife Marlene; daughter Marianne (Dennis) McGhan; son Robert (Claudia) Teman; sister Mary Lou Shook; grandchildren Bobby Teman, Stephanie Teman, Heidi (Rick) Melcher, Michelle Teman, Holly (Randy) Bowman, Kevin Teman and numerous great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by son Richard Teman and sister Shirley Teman.

Graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday, July 31, 2015 at West Hills Memorial Park.

Keith & Keith Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.