Former Whidbey resident Angelo Michael Lenzie passed away Aug. 9, 2006, at home in North Pole, Alaska, with his loving companion and friend, Leslie Dunehew by his side.

Angelo was born in Seattle on Aug. 26, 1914, the youngest of five children born to Mario and Isola Lenzie, who emigrated from Italy to Seattle.

Upon graduation from West Seattle High School he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps helping to build roads and trails on Mount Rainier. Following this service, Angelo worked as a driver for United Parcel Service serving the Greater Seattle area.

On Nov. 4, 1939, Angelo married Dorothy Nelson whom he had known as “the girl next door.”

In 1948, Angelo, Dorothy and their two daughters moved to Freeland where they made many friends and became active in the community. They were charter members of Trinity Lutheran Church and Angelo was instrumental in the construction of the original church building.

Angelo had a long and successful career on Whidbey Island as a builder/contractor. Beginning in 1951, Angelo periodically went to Alaska to work on different construction projects including Dew Line installations at Pt. Barrow, buildings on the University of Alaska campus, and finally on the pipeline.

After retiring in his late ‘60s, he started a glass installation business that kept him very active until his second retirement at the age of 78.

Angelo was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and cherished the time spent with his family.

In 1993, after his wife of 53 years passed away, Angelo moved to Alaska where his three sisters lived. He enjoyed the long Alaska summer days – camping, fishing and working in his garden.

What he enjoyed the most however, was building and remodeling, which he continued into his 90s. Each fall and winter he spent a month visiting family in Washington where he amazed them with his carpentry abilities on their various building projects as well as with his shrewdness as a poker player.

Angelo was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by his friends and family, which include Leslie Dunehew; daughters and sons-in-law Mary Lou and Donald Hansen of Port Angeles, and Karen and Bill Neumeister of Edmonds; his grandsons Jeff Neumeister, Mike Neumeister, and Eric Hansen; his granddaughters Sherry Whitmore and Heidi Hansen; and eight great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22 at Cypress Lawn in Everett.

Memorial donations may be made to the Interior Alaska Cancer Association, PO Box 80063, Fairbanks, AK 99708 or to the charity of your choice.