John Brian Saffell

John “Joby” Brian Saffell, 69, passed away on Monday, December 5, 2016 peacefully at his home in Olympia, with his wife by his side. He was born April 7, 1947 in West Palm Beach, Florida, to John and Virginia Saffell. John grew up in a military family and traveled throughout the United States and abroad to Japan and Bermuda. His family settled in Lakewood, Washington, where he graduated from Clover Park High School in 1965. He attended WSU until being called into the military. He enlisted in the US Army and served from 1967 to 1970 as a medic, serving 18 months in Korea. John returned to college earning a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He worked for the Parks Department, FAA, State Patrol and retired in 2004 after 30 years of service from DSHS as a Safety Consultant. He always enjoyed the outdoors, hiking Mount Rainier, canoeing, fishing, golfing (well most of the time), gardening, and spending time with his family and poodles, Shadow, Katie, Velvet and Morton. John touched the lives of countless individuals, providing lifesaving assistance as a Medic, Combat Medic in Korea, EMT, and often times a good Samaritan, providing CPR to strangers in need. For over 20 years, he was a faithful blood and apheresis donor, and was honored to have had the opportunity to donate bone marrow. Due to his unusual blood type, he was selected to donate blood to critical infant children through the Ecmo program at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. John felt blessed for the opportunities he had to possibly make a difference in someone’s life through his life-saving efforts. He loved serving others and was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he held many cherished callings. On October 21, 2000, he married Sandra Renee Lyons, who survives him. He is also survived by his sisters, Sandra K. Saffell, and Leslie Saffell Nisbet (Ross); two stepchildren, Adam Nelson and Amber Dupuis; and five grandchildren. Please leave memories of John or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.