Albert Mack

Albert E. Mack entered his much-needed rest on November 13, 2023. He was the third son of eight children born to Albert P. and Karlee D. Mack. Albert was born an hour after his twin brother, Victor, on April 3, 1955. This was his Uncle Victor’s birthday, so the twins were named for their father and uncle. His birth set the pattern for his life. He was caught up under our mother’s ribs and needed to be pulled out, and he fought the entire time—so stubborn and single minded! True to his namesake, Albert was the most like our father. Like a loaf of sour dough bread, he was hard and crusty on the outside but tender and giving on the inside. Albert was honest to a fault when speaking his mind, but he was always gentle and kind with his grandkids. He attended Ephrata schools and was very athletic in several sports, excelling in baseball, football, and track. He was very intelligent. A photographic memory served him well in college. It frustrated the rest of us who had to study our brains out to get the same grades he did with little effort. Albert attended Central Washington University for his pre-med classes to become a doctor, but life got in the way. He dropped out in his junior year to work. It was one of his greatest regrets. We remaining siblings remember going to the farm, Easter egg hunts, our grandpa bonking us on the head, Christmases that were feast-or-famine, standing on furniture and playing American Bandstand, the water fights outside, and hide-and-seek in the late summer nights on D Street SW. One Christmas while our dad was working in Arizona and mom was absent, Albert and his brothers went down to the Christmas tree lot on Basin and were given the last Charlie Brown Christmas tree. They brought it home Christmas Eve and decorated it so that our youngest siblings could have a Christmas. We shoveled sidewalks and went to Sprouse Reitz and bought little trinkets for them to open on Christmas morning. That was my brother. He would never admit it, but he loved hard, and we younger siblings knew that he was always there for us. Classmates remember a sarcastic jokester always testing his limits. In elementary school Albert and his twin brother Victor would change shirts and go to each other’s classes. Victor would always get into trouble and then change shirts back with Albert who would then end up paying the price! This started the love/hate relationship that would last them their whole lives. They were totally devoted to each other but would bicker back and forth like two old ladies! Oh, how they made us laugh! They didn’t think they were funny but the rest of us were highly entertained. Albert was also a master debater, a Mack family trait. He was always up for a good story, or long discussion of politics or religion, or just recalling our very tumultuous life as children. I could never write this obituary and not include a guy named Harley Davidson! My brother loved, loved, loved his Harley! He was a biker through and through. He loved the open road, loved that lifestyle, and was well suited to it. We will remember his leather jacket and his kids will always remember riding with him on that bike! He met the love of his life, Laureen Vreeman at Lamb-Weston in Quincy. They fell in love and were married on March 25, 1986. Laureen brought three children with her into the Mack fold that he loved and doted on. They had two more children together before divorcing in the late 1990s. They remained friends and he stayed in contact with his children throughout their lives. Albert may not have been a lot of things, but he was a wonderful, wonderful dad—not just a father, but a dad to his kids. Hard on his boys, and doted on his girls, they all know he loved them to the end. Albert is survived by his 5 children, Erik Mack of Ferndale, Jaimee Mack (Matt) Haugness of Lynden, Stacey Carroll Erickson of Wenatchee, Alesha (Kevin) Judkins of Ephrata, Gary Carroll of Moses Lake, his most beloved grandchildren, Hayley and Kyzer Judkins, Quinn, Lauryn and Brody Erickson, Avery and Savannah Haugness, Cassidy Carroll, Preston and Ezri St Germain. Four remaining siblings, Peggy (Ken) Long of Forks, Ted Mack of Soap Lake, David Mack of Ephrata, and Karl Mack of Post Falls, ID. Sisters-in-law who are more like our sisters, Roxanne Mack of Ephrata, Laureen Tolsma of Ferndale, and Patty Walker of Ephrata, nieces, and nephews, Diane Alvarez of Montana, Daniel (Melissa) Long of Richland, Kerry Long of Forks, Jared Mack (Karinne) of Soap Lake, Jacob (Kayci), Jeremiah (Sara), and Jesse Van Velkinburgh (Jeri) of Ephrata, Nathan (Jennifer), Aaron, and Phillip Mack of Ephrata, Matt (Jessica) Vreeman of Puyallup, Lisa (Aaron) Riggs of Ephrata, Terrah (Steve) Bicondova of Ephrata, Nicky (Tyler) Krost of Twisp, numerous in-laws and out-laws and great nieces and nephews, cousins, and the list goes on and on. He was preceded in death by his father Albert P. Mack, his mother Karlee Brown, his brothers John and Victor, and his sister Paula. There will be a celebration of life later this spring for family and friends to share memories. We pray you are at rest and peace at last our dear brother. We love you, and I will remember you as my protector, my truth teller, and my big brother. God’s peace upon you! Until we meet again, I love you more.

Tributes

Albert Mack

April 3, 1955 - November 13, 2023