Kenneth Ray “Kenny” Bostain, 75, passed away in Puyallup, WA on April 23rd, 2019. He was a thoughtful and caring father who loved his family and all the simple things in life…. A true Islander needless to say. He was born and raised on Vashon Island by his parents Homer and Nellie Bostain. He went to the small Vashon elementary school off Wax Orchard Road and graduated from Vashon High in 1962. An avid High School baseball player for the school, he also enjoyed rebuilding old cars and driving them through the woods by the “ole garbage dump” just a few blocks from his childhood home off Cemetery Road. That was in between working for the Mukai Packing Company. Just after high school, he joined the United States Navy where he attended basic training and remained stationed in San Diego. He served as an Aviation Machinist Mate working on reciprocating type engines until his end of obligated service in 1967. Returning to Vashon to raise a family that would eventually become a wife, 5 boys and 1 dog!, Kenny worked for K2 and the Vashon Fire & Medic station until starting a career with Rohr Industries in Auburn as an Machinist. He had a passion for his job building and maintaining Boeing aircraft engines. He started his career in the Boeing historic Red Barn and medically retired in 1996.
Kenny had many talents and they showed in his hobbies such as toy car model building, general carpentry, drinking milk, auto mechanics, but especially his attention to detail while refurbishing old furniture. He was very meticulous with his work and every piece came out better than brand new. He was even known to find old pieces near the dumpster somewhere and restore it without any thought regarding time or the attention needed. He loved long car trips, the ocean and Mt Rainier where family vacations occurred throughout the years. But, his love and memories of Vashon were always at the front of his mind. He spoke about old friends and shared many stories about the island. One would think he was a Vashon historian or the like.
No matter where Kenny lived, he always made friends with neighbors or associates. His skin was tough but his heart was soft and that showed more and more as the years came to pass. “ I suppose….!”, was his staple statement and it’s a reminder that he was letting everyone know things are ok and not to worry so much. Always thinking about others, he was.
Kenny is survived by five sons: Anthony, Kenneth Richard, Michael, Gene and Christopher who have 11 grandchildren combined. His sister-in-law, Sally Bostain, his nieces Rita, Jody, Jennifer, Claudette Von Derahe, and his nephews Michael, Stephen and Alex Bostain. Plus a distinguished amount of great nieces and nephews.
Friends and family will gather at the Vashon Island Funeral home on May 18th, at 1 p.m. followed by a military flag burial ceremony at Vashon Cemetery starting at approximately 3:30 pm.
