Marshall Saran died in the early morning hours of Jan. 15, 2010, with his wife Dorothy by his side. He was the patriarch of the family and will be dearly missed.

He was born in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 13, 1921, to Jack and Leona Saran. His father, Jack Saran was a window washer who was always looking for greener pastures. The family moved to Kansas City, Mo., then San Francisco, Calif., and finally settled in Seattle.

Marshall grew up during the Depression, often not having much food on the dinner table. He was determined to ensure that his children grew up with a better life than he had during his younger years. By 15, Marshall was working alongside his father, who had a commercial window-cleaning route in downtown Seattle, and going to school at the same time. He graduated from Garfield High School in 1939.

Shortly after that, he considered himself extremely lucky to meet the love of his life, Dorothy Konick, the woman he married and was fortunate to spend the next 69 years with. Their marriage was interrupted by Marshall’s service in World War II.

He fought in Europe, in an armored cavalry unit, part of Gen. George Patton’s Third Army. He was in the Battle of the Bulge and later, while serving in a scouting unit, was one of the first GIs to cross the Rhine into Germany. One of his lasting memories of that time was his participation in the liberating of Nazi labor camps. He was eligible for a Purple Heart decoration, but was in such a hurry to leave the service he didn’t wait around to receive it. He was reticent to talk about those times, never wanting to glorify war for his children. It was only when his children and grandchildren were older that he could talk about some of the grim experiences he faced during that time.

Upon his return from the war, he founded a business, Superior Home Services, that did insurance-claims work in fire and water damage restoration.

During the next few years, he and Dorothy had three sons, and he worked extremely hard, for long hours, to see his firm continue to grow. It became one the largest and most successful businesses of its kind in the Seattle area, with branches in both Tacoma and Everett. Two of his three sons continued running the family business until it was sold in 1994.

Starting when his sons were young, he and Dorothy took them camping at different Washington state parks almost every weekend during the summer. He decided that it was time to buy a piece of property for a summer home. He purchased a lot with a large trailer on Lake Goodwin, and then proceeded to build an outside bunkhouse and bathhouse for his kids and their friends. The family spent many years enjoying swimming on the beach, waterskiing, boating, evenings around the campfire and having friends and family come to spend time with them.

Marshall retired early and spent the next 25 years with Dorothy on their seven-acre property and home in Freeland on Whidbey Island.

Marshall spent many pleasurable hours tending and making repairs to his property. Their home on Holmes Harbor became a gathering place for friends, relatives, children and grandchildren. Many family events and holiday meals were enjoyed there. They were both active in politics and community activities.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother Fred.

He is survived by his loving wife Dorothy; his sons Michael Saran (Gayle) and their daughter Jennifer Waller (Jason) and their children Griffin and Truman; Craig Saran (Joani), Craig’s sons Ian Saran, Kyle Saran, Adam Diskin (Hilary) and their children Hannah and Jolie, Lee Diskin (Lori) and their children Carly, Jack and Eli, and Matt Diskin; Mark Saran and his children Annie Sitzenstock (Chris), Joshua Saran, Ian Boushey, Joe Mick-Hager (Chasidy) and their daughter Desiree, Carney Fletcher (Dave) and their daughter Ava; foster daughter Marilyn Jorgenson (Marc) and her daughters Jessica and Lia, sister-in-law, Fern Klatsker Saran, brother-in-law Willis Konick, and three nieces, Lisa Konick, Lara Konick, Barbara Saran and one nephew, Philip Saran.

He and Dorothy were longtime members of Temple De Hirsch-Sinai.

Donations may be made to any Haitian earthquake relief fund.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, at the Summit at First Hill, 1200 University St., Seattle.

A shiva minyan will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, at the home of Craig and Joani Saran.