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Skagit River Journal

of History & Folklore
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The most in-depth, comprehensive site about the Skagit
Covers from British Columbia to Puget Sound. Counties covered: Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Snohomish & BC. An evolving history dedicated to committing random acts of historical kindness

Noel V. Bourasaw, editor

810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284
Home of the Tarheel Stomp

Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug

Gus Tjeerdsma, former 3-term Burlington mayor,
dies of construction injuries

When you study the small Skagit Valley towns such as Burlington and Sedro-Woolley in the 1920s and '30s, you often read about how the funerals of pioneers were events that shut down the town for much of the day, as with Burlington's Dr. Hiram E. Cleveland, on Aug. 21, 1944. The memorial for Gus Tjeerdsma, of Burlington, on March 6, 2010, brings those occasions back to mind.
Back then, the newspaper stories often described how retail and other businesses closed for two hours or for the afternoon in recognition of the deceased's importance town and to let employees attend the funeral and show their respects. Both commerce and recreation took a back seat. That is happening this week for Tjeerdsma, a three-term mayor (through 2006) for the town who is revered. People are still shocked that a vibrant man, only 68, passed away after what turned out to be fatal injuries from a construction accident. We present below two stories, one his obituary and the other an original news story about the cause of his injuries. And we add our regards to those of hundreds of people who turned out for the memorial today, an occasion of such magnitude that it required the high school gymnasium to accommodate the mourners.

Roger "Gus" Allan Tjeerdsma (1941-2010) Skagit Valley Herald, March 3, 2010 Roger "Gus" Allan Tjeerdsma, 68, passed away February 19, 2010, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. On February 4, he had received severe injuries in a construction accident in Mount Vernon, WA, and in spite of valiant efforts, his body eventually succumbed to the trauma.
He was born September 29, 1941, in Mount Vernon, WA, to Ringert and Ruth Neff Tjeerdsma. Gus — the nickname bestowed by his mother — graduated in 1961 from Burlington-Edison High School. He married Mary "Jane" Todd on January 29, 1965, in Everett, WA. Gus began his career as a construction worker right after high school, and he retired as co-owner of T&P Company. Retirement didn't set well with Gus, however, so he went to work for his son Eddie at Hansell Mitzel Homes in Mount Vernon, where he was employed at the time of the accident.
Gus approached life head-on with determination and courage, seldom wavering in his resolve. His work ethic and sense of civic responsibility quickly established him as a pillar of the community. He served with the Burlington Fire Department for thirty-one years, ascending to the rank of Assistant Chief. Gus stepped down from that position to spend twelve years as Burlington's mayor. An active public servant, he sat on the board for the Skagit Council of Governments, Emergency Management Services Commission, Skagit Transit, Association of Washington Cities, Regional Transportation Planning Organization, and the Helping Hands Food Bank, just to name a few. He logged countless volunteer hours atop his backhoe preparing local parks and soccer fields for the community to enjoy.
Forever committed to worthy causes while also enjoying good times, Gus was a member of the Burlington Eagles, the Lions Club, and the Elks Club. Over the years, he and his wife, Jane, hosted approximately 95 foreign exchange students in their home. Gus enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and to Canada, Holland, England, France and Japan.
Those who knew Gus describe him as a down-to-earth guy who never met a stranger. From dancing with the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to visiting school classrooms as mayor-and as "Grandpa" if his grandchildren were among the students-he enjoyed people of all ages. It seems he was always helping someone pour concrete, mend fences, or clear land.
Gus was also an outdoorsman. He spent many years fishing the Skagit River, Lake Shannon, and Baker Lake. He delighted in searching for the biggest geoducks and horse clams on Samish Bay. Gus had a passion for hunting with his sons and friends. He took pride in growing raspberries and corn and selling the produce locally. Mules were his steeds of choice, and he had hoped eventually to utilize them in logging.
Gus was preceded in death by his parents, Ringert and Ruth; sisters, Rita and Patricia; and brothers, Laird and Fred. Survivors include his wife, Jane, of Burlington; sons, Eddie (Rose) Tjeerdsma of Burlington, Larry (Kelli) Bradshaw of Burlington, Lloyd (Jennifer) Tjeerdsma of Burlington, Michael Tjeerdsma of Burlington, Paul "PJ" (Becky Thurston) Tjeerdsma of Burlington; and daughters, Melanie (Cliff) Nederhood of Mount Vernon, and Stephanie (Ted) Siozopoulos of Mount Vernon; sisters, Cleo (Tony) Splane of Sedro-Woolley and Lynn (Doug) Ploeg of Samish Island; 16 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; two aunts and uncles; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews; and friends especially his long-time friend, Mike Radich.
A memorial celebration will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 6 at the BEHS gymnasium with a celebration of life to follow at the Burlington Eagles. Internment will be held privately. Visitation will be at Hulbush Funeral Home on March 3, 4, and 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Arrangements are in the care of Hulbush Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Burlington Firefighters' Association, 350 Sharon Ave. Burlington, WA 98233.
The family reported on its Web page that the Burlington Fire Department will host a blood drive in honor of Tjeerdsma from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on March 13. The drive is limited to 90 donors. To participate, contact Tjeerdsma’s grandson Casey at caseyt@ci.burlington.wa.us.

Former Burlington mayor remains in critical condition Tahlia Ganser, Skagit Valley Herald, Feb. 5, 2010

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Roger "Gus" Tjeerdsma remains in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after being run over by a bulldozer at a job site Thursday, but he has told his family that he is ready to fight for his life, his son said today.
Michael Tjeerdsma said during a phone interview Friday that his feisty, 68-year-old father has undergone surgery and his vital signs were stabilized Thursday afternoon. Michael Tjeerdsma, 30, said his father is conscious and able to recognize his family members, but he is heavily sedated.
A team of at least 10 doctors and nurses are attending to the former Burlington mayor at all time, he said. The younger Tjeerdsma said his family has been touched by the outpouring of support Skagit County has shown.
"Continued prayers and continued support is all we can ask for at this point," he said.
Gus Tjeerdsma was operating a bulldozer on the 2300 block of Freeway Drive on private property between Wal-Mart and Lowe's Thursday morning when the equipment rolled over him, said Mount Vernon Fire Department spokeswoman Erica Work.
At about 7:45 a.m. at the Mount Vernon job site, Tjeerdsma stopped the bulldozer and stood on the tread to tell a coworker something, officials said. When Tjeerdsma tried to get back into the bulldozer cab, he bumped a lever, which made the bulldozer roll backward, Work said.
The tread carried Tjeerdsma with it, pulling him under the bulldozer, Work said. The bulldozer kept moving until another worker jumped in the cab and stopped it, Work said.
Work said Tjeerdsma, 68, suffered severe injuries to his legs and pelvis. He also suffered an injury to his arm. Work said Tjeerdsma was conscious at the scene.
As of Thursday evening, Tjeerdsma was listed in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit of Seattle's Harborview Medical Center.
Mount Vernon Police Lt. Chris Cammock said the incident appears to have been accidental. The state Department of Labor & Industries has opened an investigation into the case, but had no other information about the accident Thursday afternoon.
A spokesman with the agency said Tjeerdsma was working for Hansell Mitzel Homes at the time of the accident.
Tjeerdsma was the mayor of Burlington for 12 years. He left the post in 2008 to go back to working in construction, his lifelong trade.
During his time as mayor, the city created the 51-acre Skagit River Park and built a new city hall, library, fire hall, police station and the Old Highway 99 bridge between Mount Vernon and Burlington. Tjeerdsma was frequently seen alongside construction workers on those projects, jumping on his backhoe to move dirt near the Skagit River.
"He was one of the kinds of guys that was hands-on, get it done," said current Mayor Ed Brunz. "He got a lot of things done in the city through volunteerism, just people he knew. On the other hand, he was willing to help."
Tjeerdsma was a volunteer firefighter for 25 years, working up to assistant chief with the Burlington Fire Department. He has been involved with numerous community organizations, such as the Lions and Eagles clubs. Tjeerdsma's secretary from when he was mayor, Judy Sheahan, said Tjeerdsma was known for being able to sit down with anyone in town to have a conversation about anything.
Tjeerdsma and his wife Jane live in Burlington, where they both were born and raised. They have seven children and many grandchildren.
"He is very popular," Brunz said. "Hopefully, he's going to make it through it."
Tahlia Ganser can be reached at 360-416-2148 or at tganser@skagitpublishing.com. To see more of the Skagit Valley Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.goskagit.com. Copyright 2010, Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, Wash. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

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Skagit River Journal

Gus Tjeerdsma, former 3-term Burlington mayor, dies of construction injuries

Gus Tjeerdsma, former 3-term Burlington mayor,
dies of construction injuries