George M. Sandstrom, 89, Greenbank, died Feb. 18, 2003, at Whidbey General Hospital after a lengthy illness.

He was born in Seattle and was raised in Ballard. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1935. For years he was active in Seattle First United Methodist Church. He enjoyed singing in the choir and male quartet, where he frequently served as a bass soloist and narrator.

Following more than 35 years as office manager and agent for the Seattle office of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance, he retired to Whidbey Island full-time in 1985.

He was an avid salmon fisherman, subscribing to the theory posted in each cabin of his favorite fishing resort that “Allah does not deduct from the allotted time of man those hours spent in fishing.”

Part of a group who purchased Don’s Cottage Grove Resort on Holmes Harbor in the early 1960s, he was secretary-treasurer and unofficial groundskeeper of the renamed Harbor Grove Association for several decades.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Arta, of Greenbank; a daughter, Karen Pasewark and her husband, Richard, of Oak Harbor; a son, Greg Sandstrom, and his wife, Paula, of Shoreline; and three grandsons, Eric and Troy Sandstrom and Michael Pasewark.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Langley United Methodist Church, Third and Anthes. A 9 a.m. viewing at Visser Funeral Home, 432 Third St., Langley, will precede the service.

Memorials may be made to the Langley United Methodist Church Music Fund, P.O. Box 374, Langley, WA 98260, or to the Swedish Cancer Institute, 747 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122.