May 16, 1942 - May 31, 2021

My beloved husband, Fred Tenoll, passed away Memorial Day, May 31, 2021, age 79, in our home under the care of Hospice. He had been a kidney dialysis patient nearly three years, and was also suffering from other health complications.

Fred's life began May 16, 1942, in Everett, Washington, the firstborn of Arthur Tenoll and Ada (Kunkel) Tenoll. As a youngster Fred began displaying his entrepreneur tendencies as evidenced by establishing a printing business with a school buddy while in Junior High. In high school he began a small door-to-door business repairing TV sets. He spent one year of high school at Concordia Lutheran in Portland and graduated from Ballard High School in 1960.

After a period of time working at the King County assessor's office in Seattle, his independent entrepreneur spirit was again stirred, and when the opportunity arose to buy a truck load of shoes he rented a store front and bought the shoes. To gain more knowledge in running a business, he attended Western Washington University in Bellingham for two years. Convinced the liquidation business was the direction for the rest of his life's work, he established a business which he named “The Salvage Broker,” with his first store in Lynnwood, Washington and later on Aurora Avenue in Seattle. He owned and operated this business for over 30 years selling office supplies, gift items, clothing, greeting cards, etc. He retired in 2010.

When I learned of this unique store that carried office supplies at a good price, I began shopping there. The two of us became acquainted, initiated with a conversation of shared ancestry: German mothers and Norwegian fathers. A romance blossomed, and after a few years of dating, Fred and I were married in December 2001.

After living the first year in his Mill Creek, WA home, we purchased another in Mill Creek and eleven years later moved to our current home in Mount Vernon, WA. Our marriage has been blessed by many special times with friends. Music has always been something he loved, particularly organ and accordion music, the latter which he played in his younger life. Our days were also marked by continuous involvement in the life of the Lutheran Church, currently at Anacortes Lutheran Church. We also loved attending the bimonthly hymn sing, the Full Gospel Business Men's meetings, and monthly events at the Austria Vancouver (BC) Club.

As Fred had always enjoyed ballroom dancing, and I had done a fair amount of travel, I one day presented the idea of attending the wintertime Vienna Ball Season. Before long tickets were purchased, suitcases, tux and gown were packed, and we took the first of several trips there. We also extended our time to visit other countries in Europe, and particularly enjoyed the Christmas Markets Down the Rhine River Cruises from Holland to Switzerland.

Fred is survived by his wife, Marilyn (Bakken) Tenoll, two sisters, Carol (Chuck) Worst and Susan Tenoll from Phoenix, a nephew, Shawn (Angelica), and two great-nephews, Calvin and Hayden Worst, from California.

Fred's greatest enjoyment was people, and he will be remembered as an ambitious guy, fun to be around, exhibiting humor, kindness and generosity, and his consistent trust in Jesus, his Lord and Savior. He weathered his health difficulties without complaint, always the optimist. I can surely say that life with my dear Fred has been so good, and for Fred it is now the ultimate life in Heaven.

FUNERAL INFORMATION

A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, June 21, 2021 at 2:00 P.M., at the Philadelphia Church in Seattle (7704 NW 24th Ave. in Ballard). They request we wear masks upon entering the building.

DONATIONS

If you wish to make a donation on Fred's behalf, he requested it be made to the Lutheran Hour at LHM.org a radio program that had meant much to him over the years.