Steven Earl Griswold

Steve E. Griswold, died Monday, November 29, 2021, peacefully, at home, after a courageous 32-year battle with cancer. He was 78. Born in Chehalis, WA, he spent the first few years of his life living with his mother, Ursula, on his grandparents’ 40-acre farm, near Oakville, WA while his father served during WWII. After returning from the war, they moved to the Lake City area of North Seattle.

He graduated from Lincoln High School and attended Everett Community College for 2 years, before joining the U.S. Marine Corp. He spent time at Camp Lejeune, NC, served in Cuba and later was a physical fitness instructor in Quantico, VA. When he left the Marine Corp, he returned to Seattle and worked for the Austin Construction Company. He met and married his beautiful wife Kathryn Frost-Harding and daughter Bridget Harding. He returned to school at the University of Washington where he received a B.A. in International Business.

After graduating, he accepted a position with Weyerhaeuser in Klamath Falls, OR. Later in his career, he worked at Weyerhaeuser Head Quarters and their Research & Development division before retiring after 32 years, due to health reasons. Upon retirement, Steve & Kate enjoyed time in Kauai and their family property on Hood Canal where they made wonderful memories with family and friends. They loved spending time with their children and grandchildren!

Steve was a dedicated father to his four children. He coached several of their basketball teams and was scout leader for many years. He also enjoyed woodworking and building things in his workshop. As his disabilities progressed, he used those skills to create new tools that would help him adapt to the different stages of his health journey.

Steve was a parishioner at Saint Leo’s Catholic Church in Tacoma, WA and was dedicated to his family and their Catholic faith. He was a loving son to his mother and her well-being through the end of her 96 years, despite the constraints of his disabilities.

He has had an everlasting impact on family and friends and made a positive difference in the lives of those who knew him. Many were inspired by his strength and ability to overcome the many challenges throughout the 32-year battle with several cancers and a rare form of muscular dystrophy. We are grateful to his health care team over those 32 years, especially Dr. Frank Senecal who was Steve’s trusted doctor, advisor, and friend. We also thank his care givers Jim, Allie and Pam who gave him compassionate care during the extra challenges of this last year.

A loving family man, he was preceded in death by his mother Ursula Griswold and father Earl Griswold. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kate Frost-Griswold; two daughters, Bridget Olsen and her husband Nils, and Rosemary Smith and her husband Kelly; two sons Garth Griswold and his wife Gail, and Ryan Griswold and his wife Janie; and 9 grandchildren; Emily, Grace, Megan, Neal, Gretchen, Grady, Oliver, Tyler and Max, whom he was so proud of and loved dearly.

Visitation will take place at 7pm on Monday, December 20th at the Gaffney Funeral Home 1002 S. Yakima Ave, Tacoma, WA. Mass will take place at 10am on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Tacoma WA. Interment will follow at 2pm at the Oakville Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cure IBM foundation (Inclusion Body Myostis, a rare for of muscular dystrophy). https://wustl.advancementform.com/campaign/medicine/give?other_designation_description=Cure%20IBM%20Research%20Fund&sc=NG

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