Jon Kennett Moergen

Moergen, Jon Kennett Jon Kennett Moergen was born on February 17, 1949 in Oakland, California. He was the first child born to Ellsworth (Pete) Elbert Moergen (deceased 1974) and Elsa Joanne Kolstad (deceased 1981). Pete was born in O'Fallon, Illinois, and Elsa immigrated from Bergen, Norway to Petaluma, California at the age of five years. Pete and Elsa met on a ski slope in Yosemite. Together they shared their life as a military family, with Pete a career USAF pilot, retiring as Lt. Colonel in 1970. Jon and his parents welcomed three siblings into the family, Susan Dianne Moergen, born in Oakland, California, Lisa Joanne Moergen, born in El Paso, Texas and Jane Ellen (Moergen) Thompson born in Great Falls, Montana. Jon spent most of his elementary school years in Great Falls, Montana, completing Middle School through Ninth grade before the family transferred to Goose Bay, Labrador in 1965. While living on the Goose Jon developed a strong sense of independence and love of nature while skiing and enjoying the outdoors, including rafting on icebergs while floating down the rivers. He attended Goose Bay High School, participating in varsity basketball, soccer, school plays, becoming Senior Class President and King of the Senior Prom. Always deeply creative at heart, Jon enjoyed developing his tremendous abilities as an artist, exploring oil painting, drawing and sculpture. As a classmate he was respected for his friendship to all and his ability to make people laugh. He graduated high school in 1967, and the family transferred to Mather AFB in Sacramento, California. There in 1968, while attending American River College in Sacramento, he met Rebecca Claire Kreth, a creative spirit who shared his enthusiasm for adventure. They were married in 1973, and lived in Fair Oaks, California. Jon and Rebecca welcomed their first child, Eirik Kristofer Moergen, on June 4, 1976 in Sacramento, California. In 1977 the young family moved to Washington State and back to the trees and water that Jon loved so well. In 1979 they welcomed their second child, Emily Melissa Moergen, in Tacoma, Washington. The family resided in Steilacoom, and Jon worked for Camarano Bros Distribution Company, delivering Rainer Beer, he still holds several company records for delivery service around the Tacoma area. The couple divorced in 1984, remaining friends and providing care and support for their children. Jon was a loving father, his friendship, guidance, humor and creativity are deeply cherished by his children. In 1985, Moergen met Dawn Dudzinski, the woman with whom he would spend the rest of his life. Jon and Dawn were together for 31 years, growing and sharing through life's journeys. While living in Gig Harbor, Washington, Moergen and Dawn bought a classic 1940's era Monk power boat. They enjoyed life as "live aboards" at Gig Harbor Marina before settling into their present home. Living close to the Puget Sound reignited a deep and enduring love for the sea and being on the water. He quickly became an avid boatman and enjoyed countless long hours alone rowing his boat across the crisp clear waters of the Puget Sound. It was not uncommon for him to complete circumnavigations of the south sound, often into the dark twilight hours of the morning, navigating by feel and the stars alone. He would continue to foster his enduring love for the sea and all things nautical for the rest of his life. In 1988 Moergen was hired onto the Narrows Bridge Maintenance Crew, undertaking an on-the-job training apprenticeship in high-steel infrastructure maintenance and engineering that would prove a challenging and admirable career. The job continuously required his extremely creative problem solving skills and abstract logistical reasoning, and he quickly rose through the ranks to Lead Tech and eventually Head Supervisor of the Narrows Bridge overseeing all aspects of the bridge maintenance and functioning. He was instrumental to the successful development and implementation of numerous protocols, procedures and projects on the bridge and was personally responsible for inventing and fabricating several new tools and pieces of equipment that are used around the world. His deep knowledge and experience in high-steel engineering has been sought after by many world renowned structural Engineers from Japan and the United States. His skills and understanding of rigging, engineering and design has had a far-reaching impact on millions of commuters throughout the South Sound for over 25 years - chances are, if you crossed the Narrows Bridge within the past 25 years (both the original and the new) and made it on time to work, made an important appointment, a family event, a birthday, or simply your daily commute, it was directly because of Moergen's commitment to keeping the linchpin of Highway 16 open and operating. Moergen is featured in a segment of Evening Magazine on the Narrows Bridge, and mentioned in the books Bridging the Narrows, by Joe Gotchy, and Catastrophe to Triumph Bridges of the Tacoma Narrows, by Richard S. Hobbs. Moergen retired form his work as Supervisor on the Narrows Bridge in 2015 and he never looked back. Rather he looked forward, to spending time at the beach, enjoying each sunrise with his cup of coffee and relishing in the time he got to spend with his family. His only grandchild, Vivienne Rose Miesse was born on November 23, 2014, and she quickly became the light of his life. Jon Moergen leaves his loving wife, Dawn Dudzinski, children Eirik Moergen and Emily (Rob) Miesse, grand daughter, Vivienne Rose Miesse, former wife, Rebecca Kreth, sisters Sue Moergen, Lisa Moergen, Jane (Kirt) Thompson, niece Jennifer (Jason) Blankers, great-nephew Rowan Blankers, niece Tara (Andrew) Bergford, great-nephew Max Bergford, nephews Ian MacLeod, Colin MacLeod, Hunter Thompson and Alex Thompson. Father-in-law John Dudzinski, sister-law-in Kelly Morrison, brothers-in-law James Harman and Jon Harman, and numerous other extended family members. He will be cherished, missed and remembered for his strong spirit, enduring humor, great generosity, deep kindness and brilliant mind by all who knew and loved him.