Don Kumm

On Friday May 31^st, our family bid farewell to our much loved patriarch, Don Kumm. Dad had just recently celebrated his 74^th birthday and had come to the end of his courageous battle with cancer. In death, as in his life, Dad was surrounded by family and friends who offered their love and support.

Dad was born to Roy and Doris Kumm on May 7^th in 1939 in rural Okanogan County near the town of Mazama on the family ranch. Possible future foreshadowing of his ease and control with vehicles, one of Dad’s many early accomplishments was learning to drive the family tractor before the age of 10. Though the many tales he told through the years of mischief and mayhem might lend one to think otherwise, he did indeed manage to survive school and he graduated from Winthrop High School in 1957. Some of his jobs included time working in a gold mine, working in the woods, working at the Twisp mill, and finally the remainder of his career driving truck throughout the Pacific Northwest including the later years spending much time in British Columbia. Dad officially retired from the paycheck crowd eight years ago, but that never slowed him down. I remember asking him once why he chose driving truck as a career and he said he hadn’t, it was just what he was doing until something better came along.

Dad always had a tremendous love for aviation. While we were growing up the house always had a plane or two on the wall and usually one small one that he hoped he could fly (though it never seemed to work out quite right). Whenever or wherever you might be with him, if he heard a plane in the air he would immediately turn his head toward it and could usually identify it for you before it ever came into sight. I recall once, when he was trying for his pilot’s license, going up with him on a flight. Seeing the joy on his face while he was at the controls was so wonderful. I remember being incredibly impressed (and somehow not at all really concerned) when a practice approach to Bellingham Airport turned into a real life issue at the controls. Though I do not recall the exact issue at this time, I remember being impressed at how smooth and calmly he handled the entire thing! After his retirement (and a few thousand episodes of Judge Judy and some botched laundry attempts) Dad was able to realize one of his biggest dreams by volunteering at the Bellingham Heritage Flight Museum. I always loved hearing all of his stories as he told me what they worked on, or what new piece of equipment or plane had come in. Another bucket accomplishment took place in July of 2004 when he was allowed to take the controls and fly a Stearman Bi-Plane in Mesa, AZ. I don’t think that grin came off of his face for a month!

His greatest adventures seemed to come post retirement, as he and the love of his life, Leslie/Mom, found joy in their rolling home. Until her retirement a few years ago, each summer would find Dad on the last day of school parked in the school parking lot waiting for her to finish her shift. Much like the eager boy waiting his vacation, Dad always had the motor home ready to roll and off they would go on to the next destination. When Mom retired the next destination simply came, as Wilfred Brimley so eloquently states it, pretty much wherever they wanted. Generally speaking, the routes included visiting aircraft museums (Dad’s goal seemed to be to see every single one in the country, no matter how small or out of the way), light houses, and as many of the natural wonders as they could. Even in illness, whenever permitted Dad never stayed still, traveling south when he was able or at least heading to the ocean to take in the air.

Though he loved to travel and enjoyed his adventures with Mom, Dad’s greatest joy always came when visiting with friends and especially family. You could always see the twinkle in his eye and the joy in his heart when it came to the time he spent with us. Even in their adventures they always managed to find their way to visit with family. With nine children, and so many grandchildren and great-grandchildren it isn’t easy to make sure they all feel included, but Dad always managed to. No matter what was happening, he always made you feel like you were the most important thing at that moment. I loved watching him at family functions or especially the family reunion and seeing him truly enjoy himself.

Dad is survived by his heart’s joy, Leslie/Mom, his sister, Leanna Melton, eight of his nine children (John, Theresa, Johnice, Corey, Janelle, James, Kristina and myself); their spouses Sherri, Manny, Raven, Paul, Jason and Sherrie; grandchildren Barbara, Shannon, Amy, Chris, Tiffi Lynne, Cheyenne, Chace, Colton, Sara, Nikki, Tony, Talisha, Ricky, Brett, Shayla, Jamie, Gabe; great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Katie, Jay, Austin, Landon, Harper; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son Calvino. Dad’s kind spirit and gentle strength touched the lives of countless acquaintances, co-workers, and friends.

In closing I ask that we all remember this quote that spoke so much to Dad from the aviation community called Gone West – “not alone into the sunset but in the company of friends who have gone before”