Gene Alec Grenstad died July 22, 2017, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after suffering a brain trauma injury from a fall. He was 81.

He was born Dec. 2, 1935, in Seattle, to Margaret and Arvid Grenstad. He graduated from Kent-Meridian High School in Kent and attended North Seattle Community College. After three years in the Air Force, stationed in Tucson, Arizona, he went to barber college in Seattle. He was a barber in Kent until he joined the Kent Fire Department in January 1967. He served with the department for 32 years, ending his career in 1998. While with the department, he was a diver with the King County Sheriff’s Office dive team. He was named Firefighter of the Year by his colleagues in 1994.

He married DeAnne in 1981 and they spent 36 years together. After retirement, they enjoyed traveling in their motor home and eventually bought a winter home in Yuma, Arizona. He enjoyed gardening, reading, woodcarving, shooting and relaxing in the sun in Arizona with his retired firefighter friends. He recently became a member of The Sons of Norway.

He is survived by his wife, Dee Grenstad; daughters Renee Reese and Kristina Baker; stepson Jeff DeVore; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son James Grenstad.

A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Aug. 2 at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, with a reception to follow at Fire Station 75, 15635 S.E. 272nd St., Kent.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority “Cares Unit,” 24611 116th Ave. S.E. Kent, Washington 98030.