Martin Leland Gustavson

Martin Leland Gustavson, firefighter, sailor, cubmaster, scoutmaster, homebuilder, milkman, RV enthusiast, dancer, real estate agent, service station owner, Washington State ferries deckhand (including the Kalakala), husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and fixer of all things, passed from this Earth on Monday, May 11, 215, at the age of 87. He was born in Seattle on November 8, 1927 to Oscar and Cora Gustavson. Eighteen years later he graduated from Ballard High School, class of 1945, and immediately enlisted in the Navy to join the war effort. He was so successful in this that the war ended a few months later. Having completed that great task he turned his attention to the railroad, then Boeing, and briefly considered a medical career. Instead, on June 4, 1949 he married the love of his life, Joyce Lee Shore. Soon children were part of their lives and his thoughts turned to more mundane items, such as how to keep everyone fed. That concern lead him to apply to the Seattle Fire Department, and so began a career that was the greatest source of pride in his life. Several decades later he retired as a lieutenant, and without so much as a deep breath, began his next career as a real estate agent. After helping to orchestrate the real estate boom of the 1980s he again retired. This time he spent many days at the vacation home he built at Ocean Shores, digging clams and helping the Ocean Shores fire department. He and Joyce were fortunate enough to travel around the country, see the sights and generally lead the good life. In his last years they returned to Ballard and it was there that he died following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He is survived by Joyce, his wife of 67 years; his children Kay Seelig (Russell), Christine Jamison (John), and William Martin Gustavson; grandchildren Amber Bannerjee, Adrienne Smith, Alyss Seelig, Chelsea Jamison, Elliott Gustavson, Angela Gustavson, Janette Duchemin; great grandchildren Alyster Gustavson, Sebastian Jamison and many nieces and nephews. He will be missed by all.