Sandness, John Norman

John was born in Duluth, MN to Norman and Sparling Sandness; graduating from Duluth East in 1956.  He earned his B.S. in Biology in 1960 from the University of Minnesota, Duluth on a full Hunt Scholarship.  Drawn by stories of big fish and big mule deer in Outdoor Life Magazine, John moved west to teach biology in Colville WA.  A National Science Foundation Fellowship led him to Oregon State University, where he earned his M.S. in Aquatic Biology in one year.  He taught in Oregon for two years until tales of larger fish and deer pulled him North to Princeton, where he taught Biology for 8 years.  He returned to Duluth and completed a B.S. in Industrial Arts, again in one year.  He concluded his teaching career in Princeton teaching shop and arts courses until his retirement in 1981.

In retirement, he started his own Custom Trout Fly business in Princeton, having outlets from Rock Creek to Princeton to Anaheim Lake. He loved the outdoors and would frequent local lakes and wooded areas hunting and fishing, being especially fond of Dry Lake and Darcy Mountain.   John drove a Community Services Bus for several years, enjoying conversation with community members.  John was also a 40-year+ charter member of the Princeton Lions Club, having a special interest in the collection of eyeglasses for third-world countries, and of course, the Lion’s Club Fishing Derby.  He was active in the arts community for many years, as a prolific painter, photographer, wood carver and Fall Fair participant.  John assisted in the artistic design of the Bridge of Dreams over the Tulameen River in Princeton.  He mentored youth in tying fishing flies, and was a freelance columnist for the Similkameen Spotlight, writing a weekly column on what else, fishing and the outdoors.  His stories culminated in the publication of his book “Trout Talk” in 2004.  He was a long-time member of St. Paul’s United Church in Princeton. He lived in Princeton for almost 50 years.

John also did a lot of oral histories with local Princeton residents which can be heard in the Audio section of the website here.

Obituary John Norman Sandness