Charles 'Chick' Clayton Bartsch, 72

Chick Bartsch was born Jan. 13,1941, in Billings.

He passed away on March 18, 2013, following a brief illness.

He graduated from high school in Kalispell. After serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Korea, Chick moved to Seattle during the World's Fair in 1962, and attended The Art Institute. He joined Boeing Aircraft Company in 1965. He worked as an illustrator and project planner in both Washington, D.C., and Seattle. He retired from Boeing in 2000.

He was preceded in death by his father Clayton, mother Alma, and wife Janet.

He has a brother, Jerry, living in Kalispell; and two daughters, Tammy Hebert of Nampa, Idaho, and Kristie Bartsch of San Carlos, Calif.

Chick was an avid Unlimited Hydroplane fan, going to many Northwest races in Seattle, Tri-Cities, Wash., and Kelowna, British Columbia. His motor home was where everyone gathered in between heat racing. He crewed on a five liter "limited" hydro for several years and moved up to crew on the unlimited class U-52 Design 360 hydroplane.

In 1990 he joined the Seafair Security Committee in Seattle, where he volunteered for several seasons. He helped with the restoration of Bruce McCaw’s Slo-Mo-Shun V, and got a ride in the famous hydroplane for his efforts. Most recently, Chick was the crew chief for various 1/10th scale R/C hydroplanes, following the R/C circuit for the past seven years.

Funeral services were private.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be made to the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent, Wash.