James "Jim" Michael Bland

Jim Bland, age 80, passed away at Harborview Medical Center on April 5, 2024 following a fall in his home. Jim was born on July 1, 1943 in Bellingham to Clyde and Juliet (Willoughby) Bland. As a youngster, Jim delivered newspapers door to door in his neighborhood. After graduating from high school he worked on the grounds crew at Bellingham Golf and Country Club. In 1963 Jim and his brother enlisted in the Army National Guard. As Guardsmen they and two others received the Soldier’s Medal for rescuing a family trapped in a burning car. He joined his mother and brother at Georgia Pacific Paper Mill in 1965 and worked on the printers. A few years later Jim and his father were hired by the Parks Department for grounds maintenance on the newly built Lake Padden Golf Course. Later he became Facilities Manager of the Civic Field Complex.

Jim was an active sportsman all his life; he loved racketball, slow pitch baseball, golf, and motorcycling. His claim to fame was a “hole in one” at Dakota Creek Golf Course on Hole #15, Par 4, 246 yards. As an avid UW Husky fan, he and a friend attended many home and bowl games, collecting memories and memorabilia.

Jim was a kind, generous man with a great sense of humor who loved to engage people and share his one liners from old movies. He delighted in “stooging” his good friends and would go to extreme lengths to carry out a practical joke.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother. Jim will be dearly missed by his sister-in-law Pat, nephew Tory, relatives, and friends.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.