Gerald Rodney Magelssen
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Gerald "Jerry" Rodney Magelssen
06/09/1934 - 02/11/2022
Gerald "Jerry" Rodney Magelssen died February 11, 2022 at the age of 87. Jerry was born to Johan and Geraldine Magelssen and grew up on the family farm on Camano Island, Washington. He attended school in Stanwood and graduated from Twin City High School in 1952.
Jerry received his B.A. in Education with a major in Industrial Arts from Western Washington State College. Jerry met his future wife Judy in the college band. They fell in love and married soon after Jerry graduated. Shortly after starting his first teaching assignment, he received his draft notice. He had served four years in the Naval Reserve so went on active duty at Sand Point Naval Air Station. He reported to the USS Mauna Kea in 1957 as the Communications Officer. After being released from active duty in 1960, he continued in the Naval Reserve for twenty-six years, holding the rank of Commander when he retired.
When Jerry returned to civilian life, he taught elementary school and earned his Master of Education degree from Central Washington State College. The family moved to Lynnwood, Washington and he began his career as the first Media Specialist for Shoreline Community College. He developed the Media Center for the college including a film library, television studio, and graphic and photographic production services. During the 1972/73 school year he moved with Judy and their four daughters to Volda, Norway. He served as guest lecturer and started the first audiovisual program for the More og Romsdal Distriktshogskole. Jerry retired from education in 1991, then became manager of Media Services for Microsoft. In July 1994 he retired for the third and last time.
Jerry took full advantage of his retirement years with Judy until her death in 2005. Their travels with friends and family included Norway and Germany, narrowboats in England, and cruises to Alaska with their grandkids.
Jerry married Joyce Wold on September 19, 2009 in Arlington, Washington. Jerry and Joyce were part of a lifelong group of friends from college. During their marriage they were both active in their church and enjoyed going to live theatre, getting together with friends and family, and especially enjoyed traveling together.
Jerry continued to pursue his hobbies of woodworking, pottery, family history and photography. He was especially proud of publishing Barns of Camano Island, which included photos he took beginning in the 1970s. He also published a 400-page Magelssen family history book.
Jerry is remembered with love by his wife Joyce; Jerry and Judy's daughters Diane (Larry) Densmore, Karen (Jeff) Camp, Susan (Mike) Kinnear, Jennifer (Bob) Wanless; honorary daughter Julie Newberry; grandchildren Spencer (Mireille Melki) Camp, Erika (Eli) Ashbaugh, Carissa Camp (David Jaewon Oh), Jonathan Laine (Angie Rivera), Harrison Densmore, Makayla Laine (Mychal Traylor), Tyler Camp; great grandchildren Jonah and Juska Ashbaugh, Emyli Rivera; Joyce's children Leslie (Lani) Chu, Mike (Anne Dykstra) Wold; grandchildren Dylan (Rie) Moore, Calvin (Taylor) Wold, Colten Wold; great grandchildren Luthien and Cyrus Moore, Westley Wold; numerous cousins, relatives and friends worldwide
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 P.M Saturday, March 5, 2022 at the Camano Lutheran Cemetery, Camano Island, WA with a Memorial service held at 2:00 PM at the Camano Lutheran Church Camano Island, WA 98282.
Directing Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood