A true Renaissance man passed suddenly on July 4, 2020 (78). Harold Eugene "Satch" Sigler, Jr., died naturally but peacefully with newspaper in hand, just 70 days after the death of his beloved wife Pat. He was born May 15, 1942 in St. Peter, MN shortly before his father's WWII overseas deployment. "Let's go fishing!" were young Harold's first words when his dad returned home from war more than three years later, signaling the importance that the great outdoors would hold throughout his life.

He grew up in Le Sueur, MN where neighborhood friends nicknamed him "Satch" after a character in "The Bowery Boys" TV show. Satch graduated in 1960 from Le Sueur High School where he played trombone, participated in track and basketball, acted in class plays, served on the student council, and was crowned Homecoming King. During his formative years, he spent much time dancing, kayaking, hunting, fishing, bird watching, and working seven summers at the local Green Giant factory. "Outstanding in all he does and he does a lot" charmingly captions his senior yearbook photo and in hindsight, we are challenged to say it any better in application to the rest of his life.

At 16, Satch met a nearby Henderson, MN girl and literally danced his way into Patsy Bielejeski's life. After a five-year courtship, he married her on September 12, 1964 and kept her on a pedestal forevermore. They honeymooned serendipitously at the grand Naniboujou Lodge on the North Shore of Lake Superior, returned to it time and time again, and lovingly christened their sailboat by name in its honor. They humorously but seriously approached their 56-year marriage in five-year cycles with the 'option to renew,' and happily never found reason to part. Satch, like his better half, was void of contempt or complacency. Their energy was sparked by countless mutual interests, never-ending personal development, devoted celebration of unorthodox anniversaries, and profound respect. They would be the first to convey that their fortunate union was at all stages blessed, supported and mirrored by innumerable friends and family of esteemed quality whom they admired as much as each other. Satch and Pat long will be remembered for their creative talents, for their giving of copious handmade items from the heart, and for their innate ability to make everyone in their 'tribe' feel supremely special.

Satch attended Rochester Jr. College and Mankato State College (now Minnesota State University-Mankato) where he was a member of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. In 1965, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English with a history minor. The couple welcomed a daughter, Stephanie, shortly before Satch began teaching high school English, journalism and drama in Fairfax, MN (1965-1967). In 1967 based only on a telephone interview, he was hired to teach in Washington. Relocation included a legendary drive in an old two-ton cherry truck with a VW Bug in tow. Four days and 44 quarts of oil (!) delivered the determined young family to the Northwest where they joined dear Minnesotan friends-for-life, sold the truck, and became environmentally conscious fans of all the region had to offer: forests, trails, mountains, rivers, lakes, Puget Sound, and the Pacific Ocean.

Satch taught reading, 9th grade English and social studies at Lake Stevens Junior High in Lake Stevens, WA (1967-1979), save for a 1975 leave of absence to Bellingham, WA that allowed Pat to finish her teaching degree at Western Washington University. During that time, he worked at Yeager's Sporting Goods and pursued copious sportsman activities.

In 1979, Satch transferred to the new Lake Stevens High School while residing in Edmonds, WA and later, Camano Island, WA. Satch served on many curriculum and staff development committees, was a member of the Washington Education Association, and acted as a Firearm Safety Instructor for the Washington State Hunter Education Program (1973-1983). During his 35-year teaching career, he attained 135 credits more in continuing education courses from Western Washington University, Seattle Pacific University, Central Washington University, and City University. Outside the classroom, his professional experiences included newspaper, speech contest, outdoor skills, and Associated Student Body (ASB) advisor; junior high basketball and track coaching; English department head while at the junior high; assistant coach for trapshooting and a smallbore (.22) rifle team; freshman-to-senior advisor for both the Class of 1986 and Class of 1995; and student-teacher mentor. He was recognized as an Outstanding Educator (1989), with an Apple Award (1992), and in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" (1996). "Mr. Sigler" retired from the Lake Stevens School District in June of 2000.

Our family was especially proud to hear Hollywood actor Chris Pratt, on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers, mention that it was his high school teacher, Mr. Sigler, who taught him bird calls and magic—including the great "Burn 'em" card trick. It was a real kick for Satch to follow Pratt's career and watch him perform it on the talk show circuit while promoting his 2016 films, "The Magnificent Seven," and "Passengers." The feat is still preserved on You Tube ["Chris Pratt Knows The Best Card Trick Ever - The Graham Norton Show" (Dec. 2, 2016)]. The clip has been viewed in excess of 24 million times so vicariously, Satch won more than his 15 minutes of fame. Of course, to his family, friends, and many other students whose warm cards, letters and yearbook sentiments so strongly attest, Satch was famously adored in his own right and will never be forgotten.

Satch was known for being a fantastic, supportive listener and engaging storyteller. He was exceptionally fair-minded, observant, selfless, committed, positive-leaning, curious, kind beyond kind, encouraging and altruistic. He was a lifelong collector of quotes, loving word play, puns, correspondence, books, and facts of all kinds that he could internalize in encyclopedic detail and share with amusement, relevance and intrigue. He gave thoughtful analysis when asked, but rarely unsolicited advice. He was an avid sports fan between his many talents which included building saws in a bottle, juggling while riding a bicycle backwards (even at age 75!), playing the harmonica, and sharing his extensive repertoire of magic tricks, bird calls, and tied knots. The quintessential, self-taught handyman, he loved tools and gadgets; he always left a rental in better condition and sought to improve his surroundings. He enjoyed working with exotic woods, honing skills in his shop, and the opportunities to pass those on to his great-nephew and a neighbor boy. He built home cabinetry and gifted a prolific number of wood projects such as turned bowls, maple rolling pins, and beautiful "Wee Rockers" for 19 children close to him. Satch also loved fly fishing and boats. For 14 summers, he and Pat sailed a 25-foot Tanzer through the San Juan Islands, Puget Sound and the Gulf Islands in British Columbia. Eventually a small Livingston replaced it for crabbing, shrimping, and ice cream runs to neighboring shores from their Camano Island home's community beach. Satch further built two cedar-strip kayaks which, after a decade-plus of use, he chose to donate in 2013 to the Boy Scouts of Camp Pigott on Lake Roesiger in Snohomish County. He and Pat continued to enjoy local fresh and salt waters in their commercial kayaks.

Travel was always a theme: road trips through the United States and Canada in their blue Volkswagen bus magically enhanced Stephanie's childhood during summers off from teaching. In retirement, trips to London, Paris, Mexico and Hawaii were memorable, as were cruises to Alaska and New England. Bird watching trips to Arizona, Florida, Oregon, Mexico, and Costa Rica were also highlights. Volunteering was a common theme whether for Camano Island's Onamac Community board, beach and grounds; the Camano Center's 2nd Chance Thrift Shop; participating in local beach life and bird counts for Island County; or on friends' farms and personal projects. As an ideal father, no words begin to justify his warmth, integrity, unique traits, and legacy of stellar examples. He and wife Pat leave a chasm in many hearts that cannot be filled or duplicated.

Satch is survived by daughter Stephanie Kasper (Richard Nisonger), brother Daniel Sigler, sisters Colleen Wilkes and Maureen Sigler; brothers-in-law Norman Wilkes, Stan Bielejeski, and Dean Dwyer; sisters-in-law Judy Bielejeski and Sharon Sigler; nieces Rachel Mezera (Brian), Angie Ovsak (Gary), Emily Sigler (Chris Gonzalez), Leah Ramzy (Nader); nephews Darren Bielejeski (Brianna), Ross Bielejeski (Nina), Nick Dwyer (Lauren), Nathan Wilkes (Alisha); great nieces Katelin Ovsak, Jaiden Mezera, Allison and Avery Dwyer, Stella, Amelia and Charlie Bielejeski, Nora Gonzalez, Aeva and Falen Wilkes; great nephews Jakob Mezera, Austin Ovsak, Lucas and Jonas Ramzy, Stanley Jack and William Frank Bielejeski.

Satch was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia A. Sigler; his parents, Harold O. and Carol M. (Hearnen) Sigler; mother-in-law Veronica Bielejeski; sisters-in-law Paulette Dwyer and Margo Sigler, and nephew Shawn Sigler.

Services were not held due to the COVID pandemic at time of death. You may enjoy pictures and stories about Satch here, and feel free to contribute your own content:

https://padlet.com/jillsvilar/Satch