Obituary of Cyrus T Varnum

Cyrus T Varnum August 3, 1923 – January 5, 2024 

Cy Varnum passed away peacefully on January 5, 2024, in Des Moines, WA.  His 100 years were full of love, laughter and adventure! His last big road trip was on the Alaskan Highway for 3 weeks with Carol and several members of his family. He enjoyed traveling, camping, skiing, climbing mountains with his younger brother, Charles, and spending time with family and friends! 

Cy was born in Jerome, Idaho to Fred and Genevive Varnum.  After graduation from Ronan High School in 1941 he attended a state-run Trade school that prepared people to work in the war effort factories.  After completion he went to work at the Puget Sound Navy yard in Bremerton as an Electrician.  He then joined the Army Air Corps and served as a Navigator in the Far Eastern campaigns.  While attending Montana State College he married Jean Carol Johnson whom he knew from high school.  While there, their daughter, Carol, was born, followed eventually by Pam (Sheridan, Wyoming) and David (Seattle). He served in both WWII and the Korean War. His professional career at Boeing was mostly in the Aero Space Division in support of the effort for a moon landing.  This encompassed moving to Huntsville, AL and Cocoa Beach, FL, where he worked on the lunar module (moon buggy). He was a resident of Des Moines off and on for over 55 years.  He lived at Wesley Terrace for 10 years. 

 After returning to Seattle, he was assigned to the Boeing Flying Boat (Jet Foil) Program that required interfacing with Foreign Government Marine Organizations where the boat was proposed to operate.  This involved more than 35 trips to 14 countries around the world.   After retirement, he built a log cabin on Swan Lake in Montana where they spent their summers. 

Preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Jean; daughter, Pam; son, David; and 5 siblings.  Cy is survived by his daughter, Carol; step granddaughters, Melissa and Vnessa, and 4 great grandchildren; his brother, Charles (Shirley), sister-in-law, Alice and many nephews and nieces, including greats! 

He was loved and will be greatly missed by many. 

Tributes & memories may be sent to the Klontz Funeral Home, Auburn.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Circle of Concern Fund at Wesley Rehab and Medical Center in Des Moines.