On November 25, 1931 in Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska, Jack C. Fredrickson was born as the youngest of five siblings to Alpha and Ed Fredrickson. Jack lived in the small fishing village until 1942 when he and his family moved to Seattle, WA. Jack graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1950. He married Erma Bjerkness on March 15, 1958. In 1959, Jack was hired at Standard Oil, which later became Chevron Gas, at Point Wells in Edmonds. He worked there for 34 years as a Longshoreman, and when he retired, all that he brought home was his fishing pole and tackle box.

Jack and Erma had four children: Keith, Jana, Kris, and Jack. Island life keeps calling as all four children live on Pacific Islands: Keith and his wife Linda, Kris and her husband Adam, and Jack all live in Sitka, AK; and Jana lives with her husband Chris in Hawaii. Jack and Erma also share 9 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, who referred to him as Grandpa-dear.

All that knew Jack knew of his love for and skill in gardening. His green house was filled with an assortment of plants and cuttings. He also cross-pollinated and grew his own rhododendrons, those being his favorite. His property was filled with rhodies, and his old blue truck carried the bumper sticker "I brake for rhododendrons." Jack loved fishing: he enjoyed smelt raking in Washington and he also enjoyed taking the ferry north to Sitka and fishing with his sons. He loved sports and followed Washington sports his whole life. Jack enjoyed a good joke and a favorite was tag-lining the infamous Clem Kadiddlehopper for any forgotten name or person to blame.

Jack passed quietly on the morning of December 8 at Josephine Sunset Home in Stanwood. His legacy continues with the humor, hard work, and love of nature and gardening shared by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service in Sitka, Alaska.

(written by his granddaughter: Karli Fredrickson)