Paul James Baumgaertner

On Sunday, April 10, 2022, Paul James Baumgaertner, loving and dedicated husband and father, passed away at the age of 84. He was born July 14, 1937, to Rev. A.C. Baumgaertner and Lillian Charlotte Halvorsen Baumgaertner in Phillips, Wisconsin. He was the oldest of four children, Ruth, Charles, and Philip. They later moved to idyllic Door Peninsula, Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, where he started school before moving on to Montana and eventually Spokane, Washington where he graduated from high school.

Since his father was a pastor and his parents had busy church commitments, they let Paul grow to be his own man. He started his 35-year career at Boeing in 1960 after earning his degree in Aeronautical Engineering from University of Washington. He had a very satisfying career of accomplishments and fun, spending 25 years on engineering studies for aircraft improvements and 10 years in Boeing Marine Systems in marketing of the Boeing hydrofoil, the Jetfoil. He gave presentations to corporate vice presidents, Alaska state senators, and the governor of Alaska, and was involved in sales campaigns, particularly in Europe. He also co-authored a patent application for a wing leading edge flap device with a Boeing aerodynamicist, for which Paul developed the mechanics. They were awarded the patent in 1973.

During his adult life, he was actively involved in church activities, was the water/sewer district commissioner for 13 years in a suburban King County area, was involved in directing boy scout hikes and bike events, and built a cabin with his father-in-law on Lake Cushman. He married Marjorie Ann Stangeland of Portland, Oregon in 1962. They had 3 children, Mark, David (who died as a toddler), and Lynn. Their loving marriage provided many wonderful rewards and memories of major family events and achievements.

In 1995, Paul retired from Boeing and immediately took up kayaking. He had the opportunity to paddle on 81 different waterways in the western US and Canada. He also made house and cabin improvements, hiked, biked, wrote, read, and traveled, particularly in his van, which he outfitted as a RV and carried his kayaks on top of it. Marj and he had a great time traveling around the country.

In 2009, he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and Parkinson’s disease which impacted him for the rest of his life as well as other complications.

Paul was preceded in death by his father, Adelbert; his mother, Lillian; his son, David; his sister, Ruth; and his nephew, Jimmy. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; son Mark (Linda); daughter Lynn (Jason); 3 grandchildren, Lyle, Aidan and Keira; 1 great grandchild, Ella; brother Charles (Ann); brother Philip (Sherry) and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 1pm, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 1015 Veneta Ave, Bremerton, WA 98337.

In memory of Paul, donations can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society www.lls.org