Noel Fagerlund

Noel Fagerlund passed away on February 17, 2024 at the age of 82. He was being cared for at his home in Sequim, WA by Sue Fagerlund (his wife of 61 years) and several of their five children. He succumbed to pancreatic cancer, discovered less than two months prior. His final moments were peaceful and precious. 

Noel was born in Hilo, Hawaii two weeks after the attack at Pearl Harbor, where his father Gunnar Fagerlund worked as a horticulturist with the US Navy and Naturalist for the US National Park Service. He spent his early childhood in Hawaii until the age of five when he and his family moved to Port Angeles, WA. Inspired by his father and Noel’s own explorations and adventures throughout the Olympic Peninsula, he fell in love with the outdoors. He came to see life as an adventure. 

When Noel was 14, his parents hired a Seattle architect to design their home. Sitting on the floor, watching his parents review design concepts and drawings with the architect, Noel was fascinated and discovered what he wanted to do with his life: he would be an architect. 

Three years later he met his wife, Sue, while attending the University of Utah. As he realized how in love he was, Noel joined the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were married and sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple when he was 20. At age 25, Noel and Sue traveled to Europe where they spent the next three years to play, explore, work and start a family. 

He joyfully said that architecture “consumed” his life. After receiving his Bachelors of Architecture degree from the University of Utah in 1965, he had a rich and full professional life that took him to Salt Lake City, Frankfurt (Germany), Boston, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Newport Beach and Philadelphia. Through all these transitions Noel and Sue always planned to retire in Sequim, WA. Much of his project involvement was with universities and large corporations related to scientific buildings of different types. He had an incredible talent for drawing, connecting with people, and embracing the design process. His professional rigor, organization and clarity was unmatched. He designed homes for himself, family members and close friends, along with dozens of furniture pieces. His final and most recent project was a small home in Sequim for his son, Preston.

Significant cardiac health events occurred throughout the second half of his life; he survived and often thrived despite them. Throughout his suffering with heart disease, he still found it to be a meaningful contributor to his testimony and faith. 

His level of integrity in all aspects of life was remarkable. He took his responsibilities seriously, yet had a contagious and bright optimism. His presence in a room was hard to ignore. His ability to connect with people, whether one-on-one or to a room of 50, left memorable impressions on colleagues, friends and family. He inspired and cared for those around him. 

He was a faithful and devoted husband. He was a committed and loving father and grandfather. He believed Sue was the most important part of his life. She brought him five children and brought him to the gospel. He found her unflinching support and love his greatest blessing. 

The last two decades of Noel’s life were spent in retirement in Sequim, WA. He served as a temple worker for 13 years in the Seattle Washington Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This necessitated a weekly five-hour round trip from Sequim to Bellevue, WA. He remarked that his time at the temple “were some of the best years of his life”. Simple joys made him smile: the aroma of Douglas fir on a warm summer day, Milk Duds and his Ford Mustang. 

Noel is survived by his wife, Sue Fagerlund, their five children, Hans, Noelle, Christian, Pierre, Preston, his brother Jerry Fagerlund, along with seven grandchildren. He’s proceeded in death by his parents, Gunnar and Frances Fagerlund. 

A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, February 24th, 2024 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse at 815 W Washington Street in Sequim, WA. All family and friends are welcome to attend. A small graveside service and dedication is planned for Tuesday, February 27th, 2024 at 1pm at the Logan Cemetery at 1000 North 1200 East, Logan, UT. 

Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.allenmortuaries.com.