Obituary for James William Senff
James (Jim) William Senff
3/20/1929 – 5/7/2023
James (Jim) William Senff
3/20/1929 – 5/7/2023
James (Jim) William Senff March 20,1929 through May 7,2023. Jim passed away in his sleep on the morning of Sunday, May 7th at Olympic Place Assisted Living by Bonaventure in Arlington, Washington at the age of 94.
Jim was born in Anacortes, Washington on March 20, 1929, to Ethel and Orin Harry Senff. He grew up going between Arlington and Anacortes where his father did shingle weaving and his mother played the piano at church events. Jim spent most of his childhood stuck to his bed due to severe illnesses, but fully recovered in his sixth-grade year. Jim graduated from Arlington High School in 1948. As a boy, Jim would play with friends around town and eventually meet his sweetie- Nadene Smith while living in Anacortes, Washington. After many letters and outings around Deception Pass, the two fell in love and were married June 5, 1954, in Anacortes. As a newly married man, Jim found himself working various jobs around the Anacortes area. He was then hired in Arlington to help manage the hardware store and the family moved to Arlington, where the couple raised 4 kids- Gordon, Gary, Janell, and Richard. In the 1970s Jim was also on the city council and was an airport commissioner for Arlington. By the 1990s Jim had retired from the hardware store and public service but did assist his son Richard with his store and created a side job- locksmithing to the surrounding community and also took several trips with friends and his wife around the country.
Jim was a businessman, grandpa, father, uncle, and believer. If he was not walking around town looking for money left behind, he was preaching the Gospel to anyone who would listen and sing his Gospel songs. He was known for his witty sayings that will never be forgotten. There was never a stranger in the Senff house. Nadene and Jim welcomed several exchange students including Cynthia from Mexico, a beloved friend. The couple were married 67 years until Nadene passed away in 2022. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Nadene Senff of Arlington; father Orin Harry Senff of Anacortes and his mother Ethel Senff Evans of Anacortes; his brothers Eugene Senff of Anacortes, David Senff of Klamath Falls, Oregon.
He leaves behind his children Gordon Senff (Janie) of Silver Lake, Washington; Gary Senff(Julieann) of Pahrump, Nevada; Janell Gamlen(Paul) of Springfield, Missouri and Richard Senff(Karen) of Arlington, Washington; grandchildren Tami Senff of Sultan, Washington; Tonya Senff of Silver Lake, Washington; Michael Senff(Cara) of Shoreline, Washington; Rochelle Huckaby(Quinton) of Springfield, Missouri; Nathan Senff of Arlington, Washington; Shantell Gamlen of Springfield, Missouri and Natalie Senff-Runyon(Tristan) of Marysville, Washington; two great grandchildren Levi Huckaby and Maple Huckaby of Springfield, Missouri, nephews Marvin, John, Robert and Ross Senff.
The Senff family would like to thank the staff at Olympic Place by Bonaventure in Arlington for their dedication to keeping Jim comfortable this past year. Another thank you to the hospice nurses at Continuum Hospice Service and Palliative Care for their services as well.
A Memorial Service is planned for Wednesday, May 31st at 11 a.m. at Atonement Free Lutheran in Arlington, Washington.
In lieu of flowers the Senff family would appreciate donations to Jim’s favorite mission Engage Ministry at Giving.Ag.org Account #224259.
3/20/1929 – 5/7/2023
James (Jim) William Senff
3/20/1929 – 5/7/2023
James (Jim) William Senff March 20,1929 through May 7,2023. Jim passed away in his sleep on the morning of Sunday, May 7th at Olympic Place Assisted Living by Bonaventure in Arlington, Washington at the age of 94.
Jim was born in Anacortes, Washington on March 20, 1929, to Ethel and Orin Harry Senff. He grew up going between Arlington and Anacortes where his father did shingle weaving and his mother played the piano at church events. Jim spent most of his childhood stuck to his bed due to severe illnesses, but fully recovered in his sixth-grade year. Jim graduated from Arlington High School in 1948. As a boy, Jim would play with friends around town and eventually meet his sweetie- Nadene Smith while living in Anacortes, Washington. After many letters and outings around Deception Pass, the two fell in love and were married June 5, 1954, in Anacortes. As a newly married man, Jim found himself working various jobs around the Anacortes area. He was then hired in Arlington to help manage the hardware store and the family moved to Arlington, where the couple raised 4 kids- Gordon, Gary, Janell, and Richard. In the 1970s Jim was also on the city council and was an airport commissioner for Arlington. By the 1990s Jim had retired from the hardware store and public service but did assist his son Richard with his store and created a side job- locksmithing to the surrounding community and also took several trips with friends and his wife around the country.
Jim was a businessman, grandpa, father, uncle, and believer. If he was not walking around town looking for money left behind, he was preaching the Gospel to anyone who would listen and sing his Gospel songs. He was known for his witty sayings that will never be forgotten. There was never a stranger in the Senff house. Nadene and Jim welcomed several exchange students including Cynthia from Mexico, a beloved friend. The couple were married 67 years until Nadene passed away in 2022. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Nadene Senff of Arlington; father Orin Harry Senff of Anacortes and his mother Ethel Senff Evans of Anacortes; his brothers Eugene Senff of Anacortes, David Senff of Klamath Falls, Oregon.
He leaves behind his children Gordon Senff (Janie) of Silver Lake, Washington; Gary Senff(Julieann) of Pahrump, Nevada; Janell Gamlen(Paul) of Springfield, Missouri and Richard Senff(Karen) of Arlington, Washington; grandchildren Tami Senff of Sultan, Washington; Tonya Senff of Silver Lake, Washington; Michael Senff(Cara) of Shoreline, Washington; Rochelle Huckaby(Quinton) of Springfield, Missouri; Nathan Senff of Arlington, Washington; Shantell Gamlen of Springfield, Missouri and Natalie Senff-Runyon(Tristan) of Marysville, Washington; two great grandchildren Levi Huckaby and Maple Huckaby of Springfield, Missouri, nephews Marvin, John, Robert and Ross Senff.
The Senff family would like to thank the staff at Olympic Place by Bonaventure in Arlington for their dedication to keeping Jim comfortable this past year. Another thank you to the hospice nurses at Continuum Hospice Service and Palliative Care for their services as well.
A Memorial Service is planned for Wednesday, May 31st at 11 a.m. at Atonement Free Lutheran in Arlington, Washington.
In lieu of flowers the Senff family would appreciate donations to Jim’s favorite mission Engage Ministry at Giving.Ag.org Account #224259.