Cliff Zentz passed away on July 14, 2008 at his home, embraced by his wife and children whom he dearly loved. He lived a long and productive life. Born July 25, 1918 to Will and Clara Zentz, Cliff was the eldest of five children. He grew up on the family homestead near Cando, North Dakota and there acquired his love of the land, agriculture and especially horses. As a young man, Cliff traveled west and worked for a time on construction of the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington. He joined the Marine Corp in June of 1941 and served in the South Pacific for four years during World War II. After the war he returned to the States to marry the love of his life, Sybil Mae Dehrer, to whom he was wed for 64 years. Cliff and Sybil raised a family of five children, two sons and three daughters. They moved to Montana from North Dakota in 1949 and after moving around a bit in the Yellowstone River Valley settled and raised wheat and cattle for 35 years on their Duck Creek ranch, southwest of Billings, Montana. After retiring and traveling the country, they chose Anacortes, Washington as their final home. Cliff endeared himself in many ways to family and friends. He will be remembered fondly for his many talents, strong work ethic and quiet manner. His mind was sharp and he had a discerning eye coupled with facile hands. He believed that, "If a guy can think something, he ought to be able to make it." He drew his entire life. Several drawings he did as a child on scrap wallboard are family treasures and wonderful documents of North Dakota farm life just prior to the Great Depression. He maintained an interest in art throughout his life. He loved C.M. Russell's paintings of the early west and was fascinated as well by the ever-changing developments of the contemporary world as expressed through visual art. His love and careful observation of horses enabled him to easily entertain others by grabbing a pencil and producing sketches of these animals in all manner of tasks. Cliff was frugal, as are many of his generation, and he threw very little away. His considerable ability as a mechanic enabled him to fix his own farm equipment and he was often busy working on things his neighbors dropped by for repair. Tools were sacred--they allow you to make and fix things--and he took great care of them. They were always kept in their original boxes, some dating back to the 40's. After watching his grandfather, who had been a homestead era blacksmith, Cliff would invent and fabricate tools himself when pressed by an especially difficult or interesting mechanical problem. When he was a boy, Cliff often made his own toys. One of the most remarkable is a scale model "Dakota style" hip roofed barn accompanied by a delightful menagerie of hand-painted farm animals. All of this was made from wood salvaged from discarded fruit crates. When he had children of his own, Cliff continued his toy making by supplying them with complete miniature sets of household furniture, stick horses, and most memorably a hand-made pedal tractor with attached hay wagon. Toys like this were not available commercially until many years later. The care taken in making these things is attested to by the fact that his great grandchildren enjoy them today. He had a great appreciation of quality, valued education highly and encouraged everyone to learn continually. Cliff set a good model. Cliff was a loyal husband, proud father and adoring grandfather. He was preceded in death by his young son Jeffrey in 1954, his parents, brothers Lloyd and John Zentz, and sister Janice Linnihan. At his passing he left behind his wife Sybil Dehrer Zentz , son Patrick Zentz (Suzie) and daughters Debra Doyle (Lowell), Marlene Zentz, Christene Noll (Ted), as well as three grandsons, four granddaughters, and six great grandchildren. He also left his sister, Doris Berg, who resides in Cando, North Dakota. Cliff was respected and loved, and will be forever missed by them all. The family requests that memorials be directed to Skagit Hospice to whom they are deeply grateful for the compassionate care and support they provided in Cliff's final days. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 pm, Saturday, September 20, 2008 at Fernhill Cemetery in Anacortes. Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands. To share memories of Cliff, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.