Harry Louis Aalmo

Harry Louis Aalmo of Puyallup, Washington returned home to Jesus on March 21, 2021, after a short but courageous fight against cancer. Harry died the way he lived, quietly, without fuss, and surrounded by his family. He was 83 years old.  

Harry was born June 23, 1937 in Mt. Vernon, raised on Camano Island, and was a resident of the Orting/Puyallup area for over 48 years. A heavy-machine operator by trade, Harry was a member of the Operating Engineers Union for 45 years and ten years with the Labor Union. Harry later owned and operated his own backhoe business, Aalmo's Backhoe Service, for 15 years. While Harry was a consummate professional with an incredible work ethic, he was, first and foremost, a family man. Harry met the love of his life, Janice, in 1957 on a double date and the pair wed on May 22, 1958. Harry and Janice shared their hearts and home with six children; Randy, Robin, Kris, Kevin, Johnny, and Kenny. The couple also fostered 13 babies.

A true Pacific Northwesterner, Harry was, in a word, an outdoorsman. He spent nearly all of his personal and professional life outside, whether in the woods camping and hunting or on the water fishing. As a young buck, he raced Toyota 4X4 Jeeps with the Cascade 4x4 Racing Club and was the first to be awarded Sportsman of the Year by the Pacific Northwest 4X4 Association. He could also pull off a flannel shirt and jeans for any occasion, formal or informal. 

Retiring at age 62, Harry spent the last 21 years traveling the world with his beautiful bride, either by cruise boat (Alaska, Panama Canal, the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii), to name a few, or hitting the open road in his motor home. Harry has been from sea to shining sea three times and visited all 50 states. Harry and Janice joined Berean Baptist Church in 2009 and became heavily involved in the church community. Harry was never one to relax, always keeping his hands busy; he spent his leisure hours helping his kids with house projects, fixing things around the church, working in the garage, fishing, crabbing, or clam digging with his family. An accomplished woodworker and craftsman, many of his family members and church friends, have his one-of-a-kind creations in their homes. One design he was particularly proud of was his unique twist on the Fast Track game board. A favorite game of the family and played by Harry until his final days. Harry's Fast Track boards are played throughout the world today, including two boards in Dublin, Ireland. 

Harry leaves behind his wife of 62 years. The couple would have celebrated 63 years of wedded bliss in May of this year. Harry also leaves behind his six children and their spouses, as well as 26 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

While Harry may have left the physical world, his generosity, kindness, crude sense of humor, and adventurous spirit will live on in his children and grandchildren. Harry's memory is forever preserved in a tapestry of memories that has been woven across his large family over the decades of a full and well-lived life. Harry, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa will forever be remembered.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, March 31, at 11:30 a.m. at Orting Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Berean Baptist Church, bbcsouthhill.com. 

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