Jim Stennett's Obituary
James “Jim” Stennett, 76, passed away peacefully surrounded by immediate family at his home in Tacoma, Washington on June 1, 2023. A life-long Washingtonian, Jim was born October 30, 1946 in Spokane, WA to Edith Stock. While growing up, his early years were spent in the Key Peninsula region, Steilacoom, and Tacoma where he later attended Lincoln High School.
Jim married and started a family in his early 20s. He worked as a welder for Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. and at Boeing for a short-time manufacturing airplanes; however, his primary career path was in forestry where he spent 40+ years operating heavy machinery for his own companies (S&S Logging and JDS Dozing) as well as for Vaughn Bay Lumber Co.
Outside of work, Jim was a well-known amateur drag racer and engine builder among his peers in the Tacoma-Seattle area since the 1960s. Spending considerable hours with the racing communities at Puyallup Dragway, Seattle International Raceway (now Pacific Raceway) and Bremerton Raceway.
Jim kept busy with many other hobbies including:
-Many years coaching kids sports at the Eastside Boys and Girls Club in Tacoma, WA: Football, Basketball and Baseball
-Water skiing in the summertime at American Lake and Lawrence Lake. As well as snow skiing in the winter months at Snoqualmie Pass and Crystal Mountain
-A Mason County Volunteer Firefighter (Victor Station)
-Several years in bowling leagues at different times in his life at Pacific Lanes and Tower Lanes in Tacoma, Washington
-Boating; ski boats and drag/jet boats in the 1970s. And fishing throughout the Puget Sound on his Bayliner in the late 1970s through mid-1980s
-Amateur Astronomy: Summer nights stargazing from the backyard with his children viewing the Moon and all the planets in our solar system
-Dirt bike riding and poker run races at Capitol Forest (Olympia) ORV Park, Tahuya ORV Park, Orting Evans Creek ORV Park, and Fort Lewis
-Video production in the mid to late 1980s. Including; video recording of many sporting events and rock concerts (band interviews) at the Tacoma Dome
Jim is survived by his two sons, James Stennett Jr. and David Stennett; partner and companion Nancy Boren (and son Justin); three grandchildren Madeline Stennett, Stella Stennett and Addison Stennett; three siblings Charlene Stennett, Jacque (and husband Mike) Clother and Joan Runyan; and additional extended family members throughout the Pacific Northwest.
A private memorial service for Jim will be hosted by immediate family on June 16, 2023 in Tacoma WA. A more informal tribute will be held later this Summer (August 2023) by sons James and David. In lieu of sending flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jim’s honor to the Tacoma Humane Society at https://www.thehumanesociety.org/donate/ .
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