In addition to the all-consuming work of growing the company and its reputation, more transitions were on the way. In the summer of 1980, Steve and Denise had a son, Chad. Then, just six months later, Steve faced another major life change. One day as he was playing golf with his dad and grandfather in Maui, something they all loved to do together, Jim Sr. suddenly collapsed. He'd had a heart attack, and they were unable to revive him. In the coming weeks, he and his family traveled to Wenatchee and joined together with employees, family members, and people in the community who had known and loved Jim Sr. During this time, as he held his young son in his arms, Steve was reminded anew of the tremendous legacy of goodwill that his grandfather had left behind. He had so many good memories, like Jim Sr.’s brilliant idea to go halves with him on an unfinished canoe when he was just six years old, requiring them to spend countless winter hours side by side, one drinking hot chocolate and the other tea.

Jim Sr. treasured this leather engraving made and given to him by project engineer, Dan Zack.