Martin Anthony Kuljis

Martin Kuljis, age 89, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 20, 2016 in Bellingham. He was born September 6, 1926 in Bellingham to Martin and Amanda (Stanovich) Kuljis.

Martin graduated from Bellingham High School in 1944 and served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He married the love of his life, Beverly Whited, on July 12, 1947. Martin was born into a commercial fishing family and began fishing when he was 14 years old. He, his brother Steve, and friend George Costello owned and operated Sea-K Fish in Blaine and Sausalito, CA. After the California herring season, Martin and Beverly enjoyed time in Palm Desert. He was a member of the Bellingham Golf & Country Club for decades and enjoyed his last weekly breakfast there just a few weeks ago. Martin was a lifetime member of Sacred Heart Church. He dearly loved spending time with his entire family.

Martin was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Nick, and his sister-in-law Joyce Eggleston. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Beverly, daughters Kelli Linville (Will Roehl), Kerri Kuljis (Bill Lynch), Kim Newell (Dan), grandchildren Sean (Holly) Linville, Christopher Linville (girlfriend Lindsay McDonald), Skye Petras (Ben), Celeste Bailey, Brandon Newell (Rachel), Adrian Newell (Nickole), Anthony Newell and Jesse (Wanda) Newell, great-grandchildren Hailey, Malia, Logan, Gavin, Savannah, Easton, Fisher, Faith, Kaylee, Zander and Ashden, brother Steve (Betty) Kuljis, sister Mary Ann Mallahan, and many loving relatives and friends.

Memorials may be made to the Whatcom County Commercial Fishermen’s Association at 2605 E. St., Bellingham, WA 98225 or in support of his great-granddaughter Faith, to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at 520 Pike St. #1075, Seattle, WA 98101.

The family would like to thank the Mt. Baker Kidney Center staff and his ICU nurses Jo, Jamie and Amanda at St. Joseph Hospital.

Vigil Service at 7 PM on Tuesday, March 1st at Westford Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 11 AM on Wednesday, March 2nd. Reception following. Final resting place will be Bayview Cemetery. Fr. Joseph Altenhofen will be officiating.