Irwin J. LeCocq passed away peacefully on March 14, 2019, at the age of 94, surrounded by the love and affection of his closest family members and in the comfort of his own home in Bellingham.
Irwin was one of the “greatest generation” — an independent, strong and compassionate man who led his life with honesty and integrity in everything he did. He was loyal and true to his family, fun and fun-loving, a great mentor to many and a wonderful friend to all of us.
He was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 1925 and with his father, Irwin LeCocq, and his mother, Mary DeBeer, he traveled west to settle in Lynden in 1929.
Irwin was a child of the Great Depression and this left an indelible mark on his personality for the rest of his life, giving him a strong work ethic, compassion for the less fortunate, and an appreciation for the blessings in his own life.
In 1942, World War II ensued and Irwin enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he served honorably in the South Pacific, which included Manila and Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands.
In 1947 he married the stunningly beautiful Frances Mabry and in 1952 joined his father, Irwin LeCocq, at Peoples State Bank, where he spent the rest of his career.
Irwin had a clear understanding of his priorities in life. His wife Frances and his family came first; he placed great value on his friendships, he loved his business, Peoples Bank; and finally he loved his community, where he donated hundreds of hours of leadership, volunteer work and resources to support those who were less fortunate.
Irwin believed in individual responsibility to the community and served a number of state and local organizations, including: trustee of Western Washington University, board member of the WWU Foundation, board member and treasurer of St. Joseph Hospital, founding board member of the Bellingham Festival of Music, director of the Washington Bankers Association, state representative of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, board member of the Whatcom Art Museum, Mt. Baker Theater, YMCA and NW Concert. He was a member of the Government Relations Council for the American Bankers Association, a member the Governor’s Task Force for the Arts, board member and treasurer of the Mt. Baker Kidney Center, board member of the Whatcom Chamber of Commerce, twice president of the Lynden Chamber of Commerce, chairman and board member of the Lynden Planning Commission, board member of the Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation, president of the American Legion and president and board member of the Whatcom Development Council.
Irwin was also the proud recipient of numerous community awards including Western Washington University’s Presidents Award and the Whatcom County Lifetime Business Achievement Award from Business Pulse Magazine.
We will miss Irwin’s love of art, music and books, and his insatiable curiosity about nearly everything.
We will miss that slight grin and that mischievous twinkle in his eye, his wonderful sense of humor, and his quick wit.
And although we have lost his physical presence, we know he is with his wife, Frances, his extended family, and we know he is with God as he continues to surround us with compassion, affection and love.
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