John Samuel Priedeman

John Samuel Priedeman February 15, 1933 – October 8, 2013 John was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, and Oakridge Tennessee, where he sold newspapers during the war. He spent six wonderful years at Cornell University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with Distinction, a Master of Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration with Distinction. While at Cornell he rowed on the crew team, was a member of Sigma Nu, and met his wife Maryellen and many longtime friends. For two years following school he wrote case studies in Switzerland for a European business school, with weekends spent enjoying the Alps. In 1959, he and Maryellen settled in University Place to raise their family. He worked for Concrete Technology Corporation for nearly 30 years, followed by 10 years of private consulting. Co-workers appreciated his keen mind for analysis and strategies for production. He thrived professionally, most satisfied when working through engineering construction challenges. John’s passion was building: projects with his grandchildren ranging from marble games to kayak building; helping to build his home with his children (dipping all exterior siding in a homemade trough); joining others to help design, build and remodel his church and chapel; and many other building projects including Habitat for Humanity, 10 home building mission trips to Mexico with Constructores Para Cristo, and, as a trustee, the Girls Scouts’ camp facilities. John’s pastimes were creative and energetic – math problems and mind games, gardening, hiking, camping, skiing, traveling, boating and other adventures. He valued family, community and helping others. An active member of University Place Presbyterian Church for over 40 years, John served as an elder and offered his support to numerous projects. He enjoyed an archeological dig in Israel and a school build in Guatemala. Surviving John are his wife of 57 years, Maryellen; four daughters and their families – Kathryn, David, Sam, Dan, and Joe Melin of University Place; Laura, Tom, Aaron, John, and Lydia Crane of Ann Arbor, MI; Martha, Jeff, Amelia, Lucy, and Frances Skiles of Chapel Hill, NC; Rachel, Neal, Jack, and Leslie Homan of Portland, OR – brother Dan Priedeman of Columbus, OH and sister Nancy Warner of Oxford, MS; cousins Mary Schwartz Oakley and Janet Oakley, Gordon Priedeman and Anne Priedeman Southcott; and a large extended family and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Kathryn Priedeman. A memorial service will be held at University Place Presbyterian Church November 23, 2013 at 2pm. If you’d like to make a gift in John’s honor please consider the Palmer Scholars [www.palmerscholars.org, 253-572-9008], TPC Habitat for Humanity [www.tpc-habitat.org, 253-627-5626], or a charity of your choice.