Theodore Lane Jansen

Theodore “Ted” Jansen, 87 of Ferndale, WA, passed away on March 21, 2024, with family by his side. He was born on April 11, 1936, in Bellingham, WA where he grew up on Sunset Drive during the Depression and World War II. As a kid, Dad did everything from picking up bottles for deposit money, picking fruits and vegetables, to paper routes. He attended the old Roosevelt primary school, Whatcom Junior High, and graduated from Bellingham High School in 1954. Ted enlisted and served in the Army from 1954 to 1957 at Eielson Radar Station in Fairbanks, AK. After his time in the service, Dad worked as a draftsman at Boeing’s Renton plant. While at Boeing, he met a young lady named Judy Edgell, fresh off the bus from South St. Paul, MN. She was in charge of tracking and assigning new drawing numbers. Apparently, Dad needed a large quantity of new drawing numbers! A friendship blossomed into a romance, and they were married in May of 1958. Ted and Judy eventually settled down in Kent, WA and soon started their family of 3 boys: Dan, Rick and Scott. Dad had an opportunity to move back to the Bellingham area in 1967 with the opening of the aluminum plant Intalco, where he retired in 1989. In retirement, Ted and Judy were able to enjoy many cruises, family camping trips and road trips to Minnesota and southern California to visit Mom’s mom Grandma Clara and her sister Carol’s family. He enjoyed golf at Grandview with his many friends in the Whatcom Seniors golf club, fishing, gardening, tinkering, and working on small projects around the house. Dad was a jack of all trades. He could fix just about anything. He enjoyed time with his family in the big back yards on Sunset and on Paradise Road, whether hitting golf balls or the annual 4th of July Jansen barbecue. Ted is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Judy Jansen, his sons Rick (wife Elisabeth) and Scott Jansen (wife Tracy), daughter in-law Jill Jansen, his grandsons Russell (& wife Amanda), Victor, Cooper (& wife Kiersten), Ryan, Andrew, and Brett Jansen, his granddaughters Tamara (& husband Elliot), Emily, Carly and Claire Jansen, and his great-granddaughter Alannah Jansen. He was preceded in death by his father Theodore Jansen, mother Anna Jansen, sister Patricia Fitzgerald, sister Nettie Raber, and son Daniel Jansen. Ted was a loving husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and friend who will be missed by all and forever in our hearts. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Whatcom Hospice.

Theodore Lane Jansen

April 11, 1936 - March 21, 2024