Clifford Arthur Bartells

On April 27, 2015, Clifford Arthur Bartells passed away peacefully of natural causes in his home on Mercer Island. He was born on October 14, 1908 in the Proctor area of Tacoma to Gustav L. Bartells and Louise K. (Sipple) Bartells. He spent many summers at his grandfather, William Sipple’s home on Filucy Bay in Longbranch, played on the wharves of Old Town, Tacoma and sold papers underneath the 11th St. Bridge to Mosquito Fleet customers. He attended Sherman Elementary, Central School, and Lincoln High School; and he graduated from Stadium High School in 1926. He then attended University of Washington, where he met wife Ruth C. Nunan and graduated in Engineering in 1930. His graduate school was M.I.T. (Cambridge, MA). While at UW he was commissioned as Lieutenant in the Coast Guard Auxiliary serving at Ft. Worden in the 30’s.

His career of over 40 years with American Can Company began as factory clean up boy to support schooling and went on to become Manager of Manufacturing and Supervisor of the Pacific Northwest Region. His work took him and family from Seattle to San Francisco, Hamilton, Ontario, Chicago, back to San Francisco, and finally back to Seattle where he lived on Mercer Island since 1964.

Cliff was a true Husky fan. He was the oldest member of the Washington Athletic Club and an honorary member of both the Women’s University Club and P.E.O. Chapter FH because of his many service contributions to their organizations while his wife Ruth was alive.

Family always came first so the family learned and shared his many interests including old cars, gardening (especially roses and begonias), tinkering and craftsmanship, camping and hiking, swimming, fishing, sailing and world travel. His music interests ranged from Swan Lake to the Maple Leaf Rag. He loved playing “My Wild Irish Rose” and old favorites on his home organ as late as February 2015. He was a humble, loving, private, curious, literate, intelligent, humorous, concerned, conservative American gentleman.

Clifford was predeceased by his dear wife of 60+ years, Ruth and granddaughter Cheri Gindroz. Survivors are daughters: Ann Martin (John) of Tacoma and Jenny Downing of Santa Rosa, CA; grandchildren Susan Blake, Tacoma and Michael Gindroz (Laura) of Maple Valley; great grandchildren Zachary Blake, Sidney and Claire Gindroz, and “adopted daughter” Karen Atkins (Len) of Black Butte, OR.

The family gives many thanks and gratitude to his full time caregivers for the last six months and support from Evergreen Hospice.

Private gravesite burials at Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery and Longbranch Cemetery will be held by the family. Donations may be made to the P.E.O. Foundation, the Ruth C. Bartells Memorial Fund. Please no flowers.