Gerry Eugene Myklebust Jr., of Tukwila, who served for 35 years in the Tukwila Police Department, collapsed and died May 2 while visiting his family farm off the coast of Norway.
A service is planned for early afternoon June 17 (an exact time hasn’t been set yet) at the Criminal Justice Training Center, 19010 First Ave. S., Burien.
Mr. Myklebust, 65, is survived by his wife Sharon of Tukwila and sons Domenic and Daniel Baker, both of Lake Stevens, and two grandchildren.
A gofundme account online has been set up by friends to help with expenses. It has raised about $9,500.
“His love for life was contagious and his heart was made of gold. He gave his life to his community and never slowed down,” wroted Tina Moeller, a friend and former co-worker, in setting up the account.
“He honorably served our country with the U.S. Army and dedicated his life to the Tukwila Police Department where he retired from just a few years ago,” she wrote.
He was the city’s first K-9 officer for the department and became a security officer at Safeco Field. He loved baseball, traveling, ham radio, hunting and photography
In an interview with the Tukwila Reporter when he retired, he said he has seen the many changing faces of the city.
“Tukwila is a small town with big-town problems,” Myklebust said. “The attitude the public had toward the police was we were like Mayberry, but on the other hand we dealt with the same criminals as Seattle, and to some extent it is the same today.”
