With great sadness, the family of Al Saari share his passing. Born to Toivo and Gertrude Saari, Al grew up on a dairy farm in Rochester, WA. After 4 years in the Air Force, he married Pat Rudig Bianchi on 2/1/1958 and together they raised 5 children. The early years were spent moving around the country as Al attained various field engineering positions. The family settled in Federal Way for 4 years while Al worked for Boeing. When that job ended, Al accepted a position at The Evergreen State College before it opened and spent the next 43 years involved with many capital improvement projects. At his retirement party 5 years ago, co-workers spoke fondly of his years there and the value he provided. They believed Al knew where every cable on campus was buried. Al and Pat moved to Oak Harbor last year to be near their daughter and her family.
Al is survived by Pat who was with him for all the highs and lows during 60 years of marriage; sister Helen Haglund; children Ken (and Sue) Bianchi, Katherine (and Dar) Christopherson, Marlene (and Mark) Biggs and Bruce Saari; grandchildren Lisa (and Aaron), Tony (and Laura), Kit (and Christine), Rochelle (and Adam), Thomas (and Nat), Colin and Austin; and great grandsons Josiah, Joel and Jasper. Al was preceded in death by his parents, sister June Marker, cousin George Nikula, and son and daughter-in-law Steven and Janice Saari.
Al was proud of his Finnish heritage and was involved with the local Finn Club. He was a devoted member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church for all the years he lived in Olympia. A service to celebrate Al’s life will be held at Gloria Dei on January 6th at 2:00 with a reception following. Please come and share your memories of our beloved husband, brother, father, uncle, grandfather and friend. He will be missed, but his kind spirit will live on with those he leaves behind. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church or TESC.
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