John F. Schertzer, Tireless Fisherman, Traveler

An avid fisherman, John Frederick Schertzer spent his whole life seeking the proverbial elusive whopper.

He reportedly snagged a 50-pound salmon in 1992. But because he already had caught his limit, he gave the fish to a fellow fisherman.

Last year he hooked a 30-pounder in a short season off Westport, Grays Harbor County.

Other trolling, angling and fly-fishing trips turned out much the same, whether off the Washington coast, in Alaskan waters, or in British Columbia.

This quiet adventurer and woodworker usually caught his limit, something to brag about or at least dinner.

"He had his fishing secrets, but he wouldn't tell you what they were," said his daughter Laverne McIntyre of Burien. "He had his sense of humor, but was a very private, independent man."

Mr. Schertzer, of Burien, died of heart failure last Tuesday (Dec. 1). He was 82.

The Seattle native came by his love of fishing in Puget Sound waters. He also learned woodworking.

His grandfather, for whom he was named, co-founded Schertzer Bros., an old Lake Union boat-building firm.

Mr. Schertzer combined his love of fishing and woodworking by building fishing dinghies. But he also turned out totem poles and wooden boxes.

He graduated from Highline High School in 1934. He spent the next 30 years at Boeing. At 50, he took early retirement, and fished commercially in Alaska.

When he retired the second time 10 years later, he and his wife traveled the world, once taking their motorized van via back roads from Vancouver, B.C., to Nova Scotia.

"They also had visited New Zealand, Australia and Japan, and took (trains) from England, through Europe and Siberia clear to China," said McIntyre.

Other survivors include his daughter Carol Ann Simpler of Burien, three grandchildren and a great-grandchild. His wife of 30 years, Grace, died in 1995.

Services have been held. Remembrances may go to the Nick and Kelly Heart Fund, 1321 E. Bayview Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283; or to the Trail Blazers, c/o Brian Curtis, 6911 N.W. Pudding Stone Lane, Silverdale, WA 98383.