Merwin Leslie Cederblom | July 1930 – February 2023

February 23, 2023
Merwin Leslie Cederblom | July 1930 – February 2023 Merwin Leslie Cederblom | July 1930 – February 2023

Merwin Leslie Cederblom, 92, passed away Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at Evergreen General Hospital, Kirkland, Washington.

Merwin was born July 31, 1930 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to Leslie Bertle and Hazel Blanche Emmerton Cederblom. He is survived by the love of his life Phyllis Keller, sister Nancy Koller in Mesa, AZ, sister Bonnie Aston in Chelan, WA, son Calin (Lolita) in Kirkland, WA, daughter Wendy in Spokane, WA, grandchildren Michael and Lisa, two great grandsons and numerous nieces and nephews. His parents and brother Conlyn preceded him in death.

The Cederblom family moved to Omak, WA in 1938, where Merwin’s parents owned an ice cream store. He, as well as his brother Conlyn and two sisters Nancy and Bonnie, worked in the store until his graduation from high school in 1948. Merwin served in the 6th Army Division at Fort Ord, CA as Sergeant in Charge of the Special Orders Section from 1953 until his discharge in 1955. He married Patricia McBride in 1954. They divorced in October 1985.

Merwin graduated from Washington State University in 1958 with a degree in Business Administration–Personnel Management. He served on the advisory board for the National Job Corp. program, was chairman of many management-labor apprenticeship programs, was a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, American Society of Association Executives, Spokane Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and served on advisory boards for Spokane Community College, Eastern Washington University and Washington State University.

Merwin was Executive Director for the Inland Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America in Spokane. He retired in 1993 after 27 years and moved to Woodinville. He was a member of the Woodinville Heritage Society and served as treasurer for several years.

Merwin enjoyed fishing and deer hunting with old friends in Spokane. He was an active golfer, tennis player, an amazing wood worker spending hours building dollhouses for granddaughters and most anything else anyone wanted. His woodshop was his “man cave.” He was an avid supporter of the Keller grandkids’ ballgames and never missed a game. Merwin is sorely missed, especially by his adopted family.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Woodinville Heritage Society, PO Box 216, Woodinville, WA.

A celebration of his life will be held later in the spring.