John Kimball King

John King

John Kimball King of Redmond, Washington, peacefully left this earth to be with our Lord in Heaven on Friday, August 20th, 2021. “Jack” as he was known, courageously battled Non-Hodgkins lymphoma for ten years. Unfortunately, although he was vaccinated, his cancer treatments left him vulnerable as he was immunocompromised and unable to fight off the COVID-19 virus.

Jack was born on July 10, 1946 in Evanston, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his father Dr. Joseph Ernest King, his mother Mary Frances Larsen King Meer, and his grandson Francis Edwin King who was stillborn in May 2021.

Jack is survived by his loving wife Barbara and their three children, Elise (Mike) Liptack of Monroe, WA, Kimberlee (Stephen) Koplan of Duvall, WA and Joseph (Valery) King of Seattle, WA. Jack is also survived by his sister Susann Harris of Bellevue, WA, his seven grandchildren, Connor, Hailey, Kyla, Emma, Ellie, Anton & Hudson, and four great-grandchildren, Greta, Gunnar, Wren & Wesley.

Jack was raised in the Chicago area until the family moved to Bellevue in 1963 where he graduated from Bellevue High School in 1964. Jack then joined the United States Air Force and while stationed in Michigan, he met and married the love of his life, Barbara. Jack was assigned to the Hof Air Station in West Germany where he and Barbara spent the better part of four years living near the border of East Germany and Czechoslovakia (the Iron Curtain) in Bavaria. Living there, they explored and enjoyed much of Europe while forging life-long friendships.

After discharging from the service, Jack and Barbara moved to Bellevue where Jack began studies at the University of Washington, graduating in 1973 with a BA in Business Administration, followed by earning his CPA license. He worked at public accounting firms Arthur Anderson and Meyers and Martin in Seattle. In 1980, Jack joined Maskell Robbins Inc. as their CFO where he worked until his retirement. During his retirement years, Jack decided to return to his accounting work by hanging up his own shingle which he enjoyed until his passing.

Jack lived a full life and had many interests, hobbies and passions over 75 years. He was intensely curious and an avid reader across diverse subjects spanning history, nature, and economics. Jack enjoyed playing golf, hunting, fishing, traveling, gardening and bridge. A lover of music, he enjoyed classical, big band, the fifties and sixties, and especially The Beatles. Jack was a loyal sports fan and season ticket holder for many years of the UW Huskies and Seattle Mariners.

Above all, Jack found pleasure in watching his family grow. He was exceptionally proud of his children and thrilled to become a grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved his family more than anything, including his beloved rescue dog Buddy Boy. On September 28th, the King family held a private service at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.

Donations can be made in Jack’s name at University of Washington’s Foster School of Business or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.