Lance Frederick Ertel, 73, of Anacortes, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. Lance was born on July 21, 1951, at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, to Frederick and Jean Ertel. During his childhood Lance lived in Washington, Maryland, Florida and California, but spent most of his youth in Ballard.  As a child he loved playing with his brother Bruce and taking summer road trips to visit family and enjoy German food in Wisconsin. It was also in his youth that Lance developed a lifelong love of history, the Wild West and baseball.

Lance made lifelong friends at Ballard High School, a gift his son was also blessed with one generation later.  Lance attended some community college before going to work for Northwest Airlines. After a few years he moved to California to work for Catalina Airlines where he described his job as "everything except flying the plane." He moved back to Washington and after a stint at a furniture manufacturer, got into the electrical business in 1979, where he spent the remainder of his career. Lance worked for most of his career at Trig Electric in Seattle, later purchasing the business with a partner. It was also in the electrical business that he met the love of his life, Patti Dotson. Lance and Patti married in October of 1981, and had one son, Cory Ertel in 1984. Lance and Patti were married 43 years and loved vacationing. Lance and Patti were thrilled to finally make it to Hawaii in 2024 and cherished their annual trips to the Ellensburg Rodeo as well as their bi-annual trips to their timeshare in Indio, CA where Lance could always be found working on his tan, enjoying a cold beverage by the pool, and reading two or three of the local newspapers.

Lance played softball until he was 45 and had many fond memories of camping with his family at his softball tournaments. Lance also coached many of his son's baseball teams. Lance shared his love of baseball with his son Cory by taking him to countless Mariners games, and on several trips to visit different baseball stadiums throughout the country. In total, Lance and Cory visited 18 Major League Baseball stadiums as well as the Field of Dreams in Iowa and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

In retirement Lance and Patti moved from their home of nearly 40-years in Seattle up to Anacortes to live near their son Cory, daughter-in-law Naomi, and grandchildren Natalie, Wyatt and Wade, to whom he was affectionately known as "Opa." In retirement Lance was a veracious reader, and enjoyed mowing the yard on his John Deere, spending time with his family and friends, and traveling with his wife Patti.

Lance is survived by his wife of 43 years, Patti; his son Cory (Naomi); and his three beloved grandchildren Natalie, Wyatt and Wade. He is preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Jean, his brother Bruce and his sister Nancy. Lance cherished the decades-long friendships he made from growing up in Ballard, all the friends he made throughout his career in the electrical industry, and the Canadian friends he made while vacationing in Indio.  Lance was a loving husband, father, Opa, and father-figure to several of his son Cory's best friends. He was loved by many. Lance's legacy was one of loving life, "keeping my side of the street as clean as possible," taking care of his family, humility, understated generosity, and he would encourage all who loved him to "be true to yourself," just as Lance always was.