Longtime Grays Harbor resident Herb Tegelberg, age 94, died on Veterans Day 2021 at his home in Montesano. Herb was born in 1927 in Everett, Washington to Herb and Selma (Hokanson) Tegelberg. Herb is preceded in death by his wife Diane and his son David and his sister Alice who died at an early age. Herb is survived by two sons, Arnold and Allan (Margaret) and grandchildren Devin and Anna.
Herb graduated from Everett High School in 1945 and served in the Navy at the end of WWII on the battleship South Dakota. He was also stationed at the Kodiak Naval Air Station. After the war, Herb attended Everett Community College and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in fisheries.
Herb first met the love of his life, Diane Lenahan, at a dance club in Everett, and many years later in Grays Harbor, they would rediscover each other at the D and R Theatre. They got married in 1955 and raised three boys.
Herb was always an outdoorsman. As a kid; hitch-hiking to Lake Stevens to rent boats in the summer or ice skating in the fields in winter. One Christmas break in high school, Herb and friends bagged over 100 ducks on Ebey Slough with the agreement that mom and dad do the cleaning and cooking. Despite having polio, Herb joined the Everett Junior College golf team and played in consecutive state championships. He once won a hole-in-one competition and was awarded a fly rod that he used for sea run cutthroat. Herb cherished Grays Harbor and the Olympic Peninsula for its outdoor opportunities; he was an avid fisherman, hunter and clam digger. He bagged the No. 1 blacktail deer twice and caught the largest steelhead five times in annual Poggie club contests.
Herb worked in Grays Harbor as a marine biologist with the State of Washington and was responsible for management of coastal razor clams, Dungeness crab and ocean pink shrimp. He edited and published several scientific papers on shellfish and made trips to Japan for seed oyster inspections.
Herb belonged to many organizations including American Institute of Fisheries Biologist, the Central Park Lions Club, Aberdeen Elks, Ducks Unlimited and Grays Harbor Poggie club holding the position of “Chief Poggie.”
Herb and Diane spent many years playing bridge with close friends, many nights dancing at the Elks club and many memorable winters in Mexico and Arizona in their travel trailer. After 66 years of marriage, they ended their journeys surrounded by friends and family at Country Estates in Montesano.
In respect of Herb’s wishes, there will not be a funeral. Herb will be interred at Wynoochee Cemetery alongside Diane and David at the family plot.
