May 2006

Not-so-secret garden open again for Mother's Day

PowellsWood may be hidden, but it's no secret garden.

"We have 2,500 people on our mailing list now," said Monte Powell, the garden's creator.

Tucked into a ravine below South Dash Point Road, the 3-acre private garden has cultivated interest by regularly inviting the public to take a peek. An annual highlight is the garden's Mother's Day celebration, which showcases the beauty of PowellsWood in full spring glory.

Visitors can see for themselves from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Category

George A. Broell

George A. Broell, 101. Passed away April 29, 2006, in Huntington Beach, California. Born October 20, 1904, in Dubuque, Iowa. Survived by son John and his wife Nancy of Atlanta and daughter Kay Sullivan and her husband Dave of Huntington Beach. Five grandchildren, three great grandchildren also survive. George was a 65-year resident of Seattle and a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Internment at Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Holy Rosary Church, 4139 42nd Ave S.W. Seattle, Washington 98116.

John Wilson Finnie

Age, 92, died at home April 26, 2006 after a brief illness. He was a lifelong resident of West Seattle; attended Gatewood Elementary and West Seattle High School. During WWII he served in the local coast guard reserve. He worked at Westinghouse Electric Supply Co. until retirement and then enjoyed jobs with Avis, and Sunset West Condominiums.

Patricia Ann Gordon

Patricia was born February 14, 1934 in Spencer, Iowa passing away unexpectedly March 25, 2006.

She moved to the Seattle area in 1957. On October 18, 1958, she married the love of her life, Seattle native Bill Gordon at Fauntleroy Church.

TADEUSZ VICTOR MOLENDA

Longtime West Seattle resident, Tadeusz Victor Molenda, known as "Tad" died peacefully in his home on May 3rd at the age of 90.

Born in Lwow, Poland on January 12th 1916, Tad was the youngest child of Jozef and Wanda Molenda. Tad loved his hometown with its rich history and classic architecture. Unfortunately, his childhood home became a battle over borders at the end of WWII, and he never returned. He was able to visit his parents and surviving sister in the then communist Poland.

Tad was a veteran of WWII serving in the Polish army.

Gertrude Kinsman Osterberg

Gertrude Kinsman Osterberg passed away peacefully on May 1, 2006 while staying at Belmont Terrace, Bremerton, Washington, where she has resided since having a stroke on Christmas Day 2000. She was born October 17, 1914 in Seattle, Washington and lived there most of her life. She met and married her husband Waldemar Osterberg in 1947. They moved into their home in the Riverview neighborhood of West Seattle where they resided together until his death in 1991.

Robert Strain

Robert Antone "Tony" Strain, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, May 1st after a long illness. Tony served four years in the United States Marine Corps. He retired from Sears after twenty years of service. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Charles Strain and Thelma LaMoyne Strain, as well as his stepfather, Norm Hamilton.

Michael Robert GAIDOSH

Michael was born May 24, 1920 in Tacoma, WA. He passed away peacefully at the Washington State Veterans Home in Retsil, WA on April 28, 2006 at the age of 85. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Harriet, son Clifford and step-son Michael Lee.

He was on PT Boat 459 during the WWII invasion at Normandy. He married and had four sons. Later he joined the Coast Guard. In 1958 he married Harriet, moved to South Seattle and had two daughters. The last few years, while in the Coast Guard he set the buoys for the Seafair Hydroplane races.

By Sara Loken

Man sets house on fire,

then shoots self in head

A 54-year-old man was found shot inside a burning house in Des Moines on April 26.

His brother arrived at the house in the 900 block of South 194th Street shortly before 9 a.m., saw the house burning and called the fire department.

The man was taken to Harborview Medical Center where he died from what a medical examiner said was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

King County Fire Investigators ruled the fire was intentionally set.