Gregory A. Blonden

We are heartbroken to announce the unexpected death of Gregory, who passed away suddenly from a spinal stroke in Bellingham on April 24, 2023.
Gregory Blonden, tall, handsome, and always with a smile on his face, was the eldest son of Mollie and Kenneth Blonden, born July 30, 1948. Older brother to Steve, Tom and Kenny, the Blonden brothers were a fun-loving bunch with many friends. His mother, a nurse, enjoyed having the house full of kids and hosting the many fun events at the family home. Greg's dad was a carpenter and built the house they lived in for many years on Puget Street in Bellingham.
In high school, Greg was active in the wrestling team and was an excellent archer, eventually becoming an archery instructor. He was also an avid swimmer, beginning in grade school and continuing throughout his life. After graduating in 1966 from Bellingham High School, he went on to Skagit Community College. Greg was an avid car enthusiast, focusing on Chevrolets and Corvettes. He and his buddies were wheeling and dealing with the hot cars all young guys go for. He worked in a gas station as a teen and was given the opportunity to work at Georgia Pacific West, which about the same time he married his first wife Patty. A couple of years later they had their son, Dana.
Life went on as Greg used his many skills to start building, remodeling, fixing, and completing a never-ending list of handyman projects. He really enjoyed all types of projects and was a skilled MacGyver at carpentry work, coming up with ingenious ways to repair most anything. Besides his own projects, he helped numerous friends and family with theirs. Always an avid car guy, Greg belonged to several car clubs over the years such as Corvettes Unlimited and, more recently, Gearheads. He was especially proud of his beautiful red ‘64 in mint condition, a real head turner.
Greg and Kathie first met on a blind date on February 19, 1994, after he answered an ad she placed in a local paper. The catcher for her was that he called himself the "Quintessential Handyman". They met at the Lakeway Best Western for coffee and the rest is history. Greg and Kathie were married July 22, 1995 and honeymooned on the Big Island of Hawaii, returning to Hawaii many times for vacations.
One of the most fun places Greg and Kathie like to stay was Kathie's cabin (formerly belonging to her family) on Lake Samish. They lived at the cabin in the summer for most of their married life. In 2008, Greg and Kathie worked together to totally remodel the cabin. You name it, Greg had the expertise to replace it. Greg's amazing handyman skills are in every corner, inside and out. One winter when he was laid off from Snelson, Greg built the most incredible deck that you have ever seen. They like to swim, kayak, and enjoy summer lake life.
They took the Corvette up to Whistler for a convention, and drove it down to Cannon Beach, OR for a vacation. Greg and Kathie took several trips to Florida, California, and all over Washington state. One of the favorite places was the south end of Whidbey Island, and they stayed many times at the Saratoga Inn. Other favorites include Harrison Hot Springs, where they attended the spectacularly formal Turn of the Century Party at Harrison to ring in 2000, and a once in a lifetime trip through the Panama Canal in 2013. They also enjoyed their time in Mexico, including Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Loreto and Cancun where Greg and Kathie enjoyed time in the sun. Unfortunately, Greg paid the price with pre-skin cancer for many years.
Greg had numerous projects including building a garage and garden building in the backyard that matched the house. He built Kathie a potting bench and Adirondack chair with a matching table. He laid numerous floors. With all of his hard work he wore out his body, having 4 major joint replacements and numerous other surgeries. He also had spinal surgery and, as of late, his cervical spine was just worn out. It caused him to eventually have a stroke in his spine, severely damaging his spinal cord.
In 2000, Greg's son Dana married Laurie and, after a few years, blessed Greg with his only grandson, Braden. A very special and beloved little guy who is now a grown young man. Laurie had a sweet little girl, Ashley, is Braden's older sister and Greg's step-granddaughter.
Greg was an amazing, skilled, talented, happy, smiley man of high integrity, honesty, caring and loving that anyone would be fortunate to know.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Steven, Thomas, and Kenneth Blonden.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Kathleen “Kathie” English; son, Dana Blonden; grandson, Braden Blonden; step-granddaughter, Ashley Lortz; and cousin, Claudia Fisher.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 17 at 11:00am at Westford Funeral Home followed by a reception at Broadway Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Whatcom Humane Society. https://www.whatcomhumane.org/donate/#tribute