Early Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, surrounded by his family, Junious Eugene Hägglund of Everett slipped away in his sleep to join the faithful. He was just 16 days away from his 84th birthday.

Dad was born Jan. 20, 1929, to Erick Albin and Eugenia Erikson Hagglund near Maxwelton on Whidbey Island. He attended schools on Whidbey Island and in Fobes and Lake Stevens. He graduated from Lake Stevens High School in 1947.

As a youngster Dad aspired to work on the ferries that cross Puget Sound. He started his career on the water in 1945 working as a watchman on the ferry Kitsap for the Puget Sound Navigation Company.

Dad took a two-year break to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was stationed in the United States with the 31st Infantry Division (the “Dixie Division”) before he was sent to Europe.

By the time Dad finished his Army service and resumed his career on the water, most of the ferry routes on Puget Sound were under new ownership — the state of Washington.

In 1957, he was licensed by the US Coast Guard as a mate and pilot for the ferry routes. In May 1967 he was licensed as a master of vessels of any size on bays, sounds and lakes other than the Great Lakes.

Dad’s “home” route was the Mukilteo to Columbia Beach run. For several years he was the “A-watch” captain of the ferry Kulshan on the Mukilteo run. During the summer months he often worked in the San Juan Islands. His favorite boats were the “steel-electric” ferries featured in the logo for Washington State Ferries — the Klickitat, Nisqually, Illahee and Quinault.

Dad finished his full-time career as the chief relief captain for Washington State Ferries, a job that took him to every ferry route on Puget Sound.

After Dad retired in 1979 he worked several more summer seasons on the ferries. His last job on the water was on the Snohomish River Queen plying the waterways of the Snohomish River delta.

His family remembers many car trip adventures to Texas, British Columbia and Eastern Washington. And it was always a big treat to make a trip with Dad when he was working on a ferry. In later years we enjoyed listening to his stories about life and his days on the water.

Dad is also remembered as the videographer for many family events, including the annual family reunion held on Whidbey Island since 1948.

He was a member of the Maple Park Church; the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots; the American Legion (Post 181, Lake Stevens); and the Retired Public Employees Council of Washington.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; his parents; his brothers Levoy, Roy, and Alfred; and his sister Mildred Anderson.

He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Herman and Ann Hagglund; his three sons and their wives, Jim and Lauri Hagglund, Dale and Debbie Hagglund and Andrew and Kim Hagglund; six grandsons (A.J., Michael, Paul, Cory, Chandler and Julian); three great grandchildren; step-son Donald and Pat Hagglund; step-daughter Helen and Orlin Griggs; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dad, we love you and miss you!

A time of visitation was held Thursday, Jan. 10, and the memorial service was held Jan. 11 at Evergreen Funeral Home and Cemetery, 4504 Broadway, Everett.

Donations may be made to the Meals on Wheels program run by Senior Services of Snohomish County.