Henry Kalmin

Henry A. Kalmin ( Hank the Tank), 79, of Yakima went to be with the Lord after a difficult year of battling several health issues. He passed away at Harborview Hospital in Seattle with several of his loving family members by his side. He was born January 2, 1935 to John and Emily Kalmin in Gleason WI. He attended Merrill High School and learned the value of hard work at his family's dairy farm. Hank met the love of his life, Lucille L. Allen, at a USO dance when he was on leave from Larson Air Base (Moses Lake, WA). They were married December 13th, 1953 -sixty years this past December! Hank and Lucille were blessed with three daughters, Vicki, Jan and Sandy. He was a man of many talents, in his family's eyes he could do anything he felt like tackling - especially if it involved WD-40, duct tape or a chainsaw! Hank had a colorful work history - in his youth he was a bar bouncer. His art of not knowing a stranger was a gift as he spent many years in auto and appliance sales. He ended his working career after twenty five years at Bemis Appliance in Yakima. He had a great love of the outdoors and the activities that came with each season. He became a member of the World's First Jeep Club, Yakima Ridgerunners, in 1958. He had recently re-joined as an active member in 2012 trying to recapture his youth! When the call of the water came he joined the Yakima Valley Boat Club and had many enjoyable trips with family and friends in the San Juan Islands. When the snow began to fly he enjoyed snowmobile trips as a member of the Yakima Ski Benders. His family holds dear all the memories of dirt from the hills and fresh crab from the San Juan Islands. He was a proud member of St. Paul's Church in Yakima. He enjoyed his dear friends at the Saturday evening Mass. Surviving family include his loving wife of 60+ years, Lucille of Yakima; daughters, Vicki (Dave) Mills of Selah, Jan (Randy) McKinney of Yakima, and Sandy (Mike) Duerre of Yakima; grandchildren, Chad McKinney of Cody, Wyoming, Brett McKinney of Lacey, WA, Kyle Mills of Yakima, Brean Clark of Yakima, Relley Duerre of Yakima, and Regan Duerre of Yakima; and 9 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Emily Kalmin and his two siblings, Segreta Swan and John Kalmin, Jr. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Northstar Lodge or the Yakima Humane Society. A special thanks to the Dr. Albert Brady, and the wonderful staff at Yakima Valley Memorial and Harborview Hospital for their care and compassion Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 on Friday, April 4, 2014 at St. Pauls Cathedral. Tributes can be left for the family at www.valleyhillsfh.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Henry Kalmin, please visit our flower store.