David Jack Klingensmith

David Jack “DJ” Klingensmith, age 88, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2024, with his family by his side.

David was born September 17, 1936, in Bellingham to parents Frank and Bessie Klingensmith. He graduated from Bellingham High School in 1955.

David served a one-year enlistment in the Air National Guard following high school. He and his friends joined because they were concerned their buddy was going to be drafted. 

David attended Western Washington College of Education for a brief period while working as a mechanic at Standard Oil until he went to work for Puget Sound Pulp and Timber, which later became Georgia Pacific, where he worked for 43½ years before retiring in 1999. 

When he wasn’t working at GP, you would find him doing projects in his beloved garage or around the neighborhood of his Lake Samish home fixing lawn mowers, boats, cars, hot tubs, and plumbing. You name it, he helped fix it.

David was a 25-year member of the Lake Samish Volunteer Fire Department which he joined by being commandeered by Chief Wibbens when investigating the flames from the dump fire in 1964. 

He loved living on Lake Samish and spending time with his family and friends on the water skiing and fishing. He was also an avid snow skier. He loved skiing with friends and family and going on ski vacations. When his body wouldn’t allow him to ski any longer, he loved going to garage sales with his friends, where he was sure to make many more friends. He was a very kind and generous person; he would give the shirt off his back to a stranger and tell a funny story while doing it. 

David is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Bessie, his sister, Patricia (Patrick) Thon, and niece, Trisha Thon. 

He is survived by his children, Marni (Mike) Murk and Jeff (Morgan) Klingensmith, grandson, Mason Murk, and nephews, David, William, and Daniel Thon.

He will forever be missed. Love you, dad!

An open house memorial will be held on Saturday October 12th, from 2:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. at VFW Post 1585, 625 N. State St. Bellingham, WA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local Humane Society in his honor.