ARLINGTON Longtime Arlington resident James Donald Regan passed away Dec. 26 at the age of 83, but he lives on in the memories of his family, friends and community.
Don Regan held many jobs since he was born in Marysville May 12, 1924. The World War II veteran not only served on the Arlington School Board and Arlington City Council, but was also a founding director of the Bank of Arlington, a longtime member of the Frontier Bank Board of Directors, president of the Stillaguamish Senior Center and a past commander of Arlington American Legion Post 76. He was proud of these professions, and of his memberships in the Sunnycrest Grange, Everett Elks, Sons of Norway and Immaculate Conception Parish.
He was just involved, said Dons widow Lorraine.
Don and Lorraine met as 11-year-olds and shared their first kiss outside the Grange hall, near his familys farm south of Marysville. Don served in the Navy from 1943-1947 as part of the V-12 program, and was reunited with Lorraine at the same grange. They announced their engagement April 1, 1947 and married July 26 of that year.
Don went into farming with his father after the war, and bought the farm in 1952 where he and Lorraine would raise four children, as well as peas, corn and dairy and beef cows. At the same time, he worked a second job in the timber industry. Don and Lorraine sold the farm and moved into the city in 1972, and Don retired early from the timber industry, but that simply left his schedule open to volunteer.
Dons children wrote his eulogy, and described him as an approachable man who could always make a friend and tell an entertaining story. At the same time, they characterized him as someone who listened to and respected the opinions of others.
He was supportive, even if the choice you made was not what he thought was best, said Kim Bockenkamp, Dons granddaughter, at his funeral Dec. 31. He was usually right. Don had the ability to make each one of us feel special. His wink made you feel like there was a secret just between the two of you.
Dons children and grandchildren agreed that he never stopped teaching them, citing how all of his children were offered college educations, and all of his grandchildren were supported in the endeavors they chose.
Lorraine remembered the many trips they took with longtime friends, such the Jacobs, Johnson, Kraski and Weller families, to locations ranging from Las Vegas to Canada and Europe. Don was also recalled for his St. Patricks Day celebrations, every year for 23 years, and his fondness for afternoon ice cream breaks, no matter where he was.
Grandson Matt admitted to the dubious distinction of being spanked the most often out of all of Dons children and grandchildren, while son Jerry enjoyed driving Don through local parades in a metallic green dune buggy, when Don ran for state representative as the unpolitician.
Daughter Cindy is grateful to him for building her dream house when he was 60, at the same time he and former Arlington Mayor Bob Kraski built a home in Eagle Ridge.