Obituary of David Shaw Egge

David Shaw Egge was born November 17, 1952 to George A. Egge Jr., and Elizabeth (Betty) Egge in Sacramento, California. He died January 20, 2010 at his home after a 5 year battle with cancer. David lived in the Olympia area since 1959 and attended McKinley school, Washington Jr. High, and Olympia High, graduating in 1972.A Lutheran all his life, he was baptized December 21, 1952 at Bethel Lutheran church in North Sacramento, and was confirmed May 25, 1969 at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (LCGS) in Tumwater, where he continued as a member for 50 years. He met Linda Reeves while attending Centralia Community College, and on December 7, 1973, they were married at LCGS by Pastor Bob Keller. David was a career state employee for 30 years, working as a journeyman printer in the Department of Printing for many of those years. In 2003 he retired from the Department of Natural Resources as a Warehouse Supervisor. David enjoyed many outdoor activities. In his teens he began sailing with his Dad and brother Eric, and went on to crew for other local racing sailors on their larger boats. He was also an avid and skilled downhill skier. When his sons, Christopher and Brain, were in their teens, David was active with the Olympia Ski School as a certified ski instructor. He enjoyed many seasons skiing with his family and friends at Crystal Mountain, Mt Bachelor, Whistler, and Tahoe ski areas. He loved traveling and camping with his family; first with a tent trailer and then with their motor home. In 1997 they started what became an annual family tradition – the Egge extended family campout at Riffe Lake Park – always fun, rain or shine. In their ‘post motor home’ years David and Linda made many trips together – three times to Hawaii, a trip to the East Coast states, trips to Las Vegas and Tahoe, and around the Northwest, including interior British Columbia. He also enjoyed making road trips by motorcycle with friends, and riding his motorcycle around town when the weather permitted. David was successfully active and involved in AA for the past eleven years. He was sponsored by others in this group, and sponsored many others in his turn. It was a rewarding and life changing experience for him and his family. David survived a serious bout with cancer as an infant (a neuroblastoma) yet had been in good health for about 50 years before his next cancer fight began in 2005, this time with a rare liposarcoma. He endured several surgeries, chemo, radiation, and many complications from his treatments and surgeries. His struggle ended at 12:15 a.m. January 20, 2010, in his home. (Note to friends: when he left his house the final time, he was wearing a favorite Hawaiian shirt and gray sweats). Survivors are his wife of 36 years, Linda; sons Christopher (Amanda) Egge, Shoreline, and Brian Egge (fiancée Ceann Knox), Bellingham; his parents George and Betty Egge, Olympia; and his brother Eric (LeeAnne) Egge, Olympia. Others include an uncle, Christian (Rita) Zurschmiede; aunts Arleen Loewen, Marilyn (Keith) Fluegel and Audrey (Ken) Riis; and eleven cousins, who were all good friends as well. David’s wide circle of friends will also miss him. Gone before are his very dear grand parents, his Aunt Serene Zurschmiede, Uncle Lee Loewen and his yappy little dog, Niles, who was a friend and comforter for 15 years. Instead of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to: Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center For Sarcoma Research P.O. Box 19024, J5-200 Seattle Washington 98109 http://www.fhcrc.org/donating/donate_now.html Or Harmony Hill Cancer Retreat Center 7362 E. State Route 106 Union, Washington 98592 http://www.harmonyhill.org/contribute/donate.html You may leave memories and condolences to his family and friends by clicking on "View Guestbook" below.