Jerry A. Bajema, age 73, of the Deming area passed away at his home Tuesday, March 12, 2019.
He was born in Bellingham to parents Samuel and Dorothy Marjorie (Gatjens) Bajema. Jerry graduated from Lynden High School in 1963 and served four years in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He had quite a long history of employment; he was a computer programmer and system analyst, owned and operated his own brick masonry business, did refractory masonry for oil refineries, and owned and operated his organic garden and farm. He raised various organic vegetables and beef and pork, which he marketed to supermarkets and various farmers markets.
Jerry also installed and maintained a passive solar water heating system for his home. He built and maintained a one-acre freshwater pond, culturing rainbow and cutthroat trout. Jerry loved landscaping and he landscaped his four acres with unusual trees, shrubs and special perennials. When he wasn’t working, his hobbies included fishing, hunting, kayaking, hiking and camping.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Bruce Bajema.
Jerry is survived by his sister Karen Gilliam and husband Jerry; nieces Margo Wei and husband Mike and Maya Butterfield and husband Geoff; nephew Bryan Bajema and wife Cindy; and many great-nieces and -nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 30, in the Van Zandt Community Hall, 4106 Highway 9, with a potluck following.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.
Share your thoughts and memories at www.sigsfuneralservices.com.
