September 25, 1946-February 4, 2025

Van Strom (Arthur Van Waters Strom) was born in Seattle on September 25, 1946. He was raised on a 60 acre “hobby farm” in Redmond, WA. He attended Lake Washington High School and Brentwood College in British Columbia. In 1971 he bought a farmhouse and 21 acres in Carnation where he lived for 50 years.

Van was an owner of Strom’s Custom Cleaners, the largest drycleaning establishment in the greater Seattle area. Later, he dabbled in real estate buying, remodeling, and selling commercial buildings and 3 mobile home parks. In 1987 Van bought a small company out of receivership which he transformed into American Design & Mfg. – this company eventually had 42 employees and grossed 4M a year.

In the early 1970’s until mid 1980’s Van was a volunteer fireman in Fall City, where he rose to the rank of Captain and Training Officer. He was an EMT, and the first volunteer in King County to defibrillate someone in the field.

In 2000 he retired to his farm in Carnation, where he devoted his time to working with and for the farmers in Snoqualmie Valley. He repaired farm equipment for them, baled hay, and, in general, enjoyed the country life. During this same period, he served on the Board of Directors of MOHAI – the Museum of History and Industry – in Seattle and served on the Board of the Northwest Train Museum in Snoqualmie. Van sold his farm in 2021, bought an RV, and he and his wife Nancy and their dog Molly toured the US, looking for the next best place to live. After one year on the road, they settled in Quail Creek, Green Valley, AZ.

On February 4, 2025, Van died of cardiac arrest at home, with his wife Nancy and sister Sue at his side. He is survived by wife Nancy, and his sisters Bobbi Baumueller of Indianola WA, Suzanne Strom Reed of Bellevue WA, Gretchen Pickett of Mount Vernon, WA, Mary Strom of Whidbey Island, WA, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and grandnieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 27th at 2:00 pm at Jubilee Farm in Carnation. In lieu of flowers please send any donations to the American Heart Association, or the Animal League of Green Valley, Az, a dog and cat rescue mission.