John Everett Oman
November 28, 1944 - February 13, 2023
Obituary
John Everett Oman was born November 28, 1944 at Boscobel, Wisconsin to Everett Carl Oman and Elizabeth F. (Goetzinger) Oman. He passed away in Seattle, Washington February 13, 2023.
John graduated from Boscobel High School where he sang in the boys chorus, participated in track and played varsity basketball and football. He was a member of the Lettermen’s Club.
John’s father took over management and ownership of the local Oman Lumber Company which sold building, plumbing and electrical supplies for the community as well as tools and equipment for local farmers. John received the practical education that comes with a family-owned business and small farming operation.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Always passionate about learning, he went on to a lifetime in computer technology and industrial automation. This opened opportunities for interesting employment at oil fields in Nigeria, Venezuela and Texas where he engaged his mechanical aptitudes and technical knowledge. In later years, he started his own business, Process Control Engineering, and put his industrial automation expertise to work as a contractor for Boeing programming cranes for the airplane assembly line.
From his father, John developed a love for boating and sailing. He told stories of his experiences sailing in the Atlantic and the Caribbean, including an emergency stop in Castro’s Cuba to repair damage from a severe storm. He and his buddy managed to convince the authorities they harbored no ill intent. After John and his buddy repaired the boat, the officials released them back to the sea.
In the early 1990’s, John purchased the 60 ft racing sailboat “Duracell” in which the famed Mike Plant had twice solo circumnavigated the planet. John re-christened the Duracell the “Northwest Spirit”. In 1994 he entered the Pan-Pacific Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Osaka commemorating the opening of the Kansai International Airport at Osaka. Out of 120 participants, John set a new 32 day record for the crossing, winning the first place trophy. He sailed the “Northwest Spirit” solo on his return to Seattle.
Next he set about preparing the vessel for a solo circumnavigation of his own. In 1995 he set out. One night about 1,000 miles southwest of San Diego, he collided obliquely with a Liberian freighter, breaking his mast. In the darkness, he donned his wet suit, swam below to inspect the hull and using a bolt cutter he managed to cut loose the cables, letting the mast sink into the depths. Fortunately, he had enough diesel fuel on board to motor to safety at Turtle Bay in Baja California. The mishap ended his dream.
On November 18, 2005, John and Bo Ping He were married in Seattle, Washington and John adopted Bo Ping’s daughter Qing Rou Deng who immigrated from China with her mother. The happiness John, Bo Ping and Qing Rou now shared meant there would be no more longing for solo circumnavigation.
In following years, with his 32 ft yacht “See Ya” John enjoyed taking friends, family and guests cruising the beautiful San Juan Islands. In 2018 he fulfilled a long-held wish to cruise the inland passage from Fidalgo Island and Deception Pass to Petersburg, Alaska taking with him his daughter Qing Rou and her friend, Meejin Moon, as well as two cousins. There he spent 10 days at the Petersburg Fishery updating computer software and hardware for the fish processing equipment he had installed 10 years earlier.
John’s love for technology came to the fore in 2019 when, as trustee for his father’s estate, John directed a portion of that year’s funding to support the Robotics program at the Anacortes high school.
In the latter part of 2022, John designed and managed the construction of a new floating dock at the family’s Yokeko Point vacation home. He loved design work. Because of his failing health, this project turned out to be his finale. It will be a reminder to his family, relatives and friends of his love for all things marine.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Susan (Oman) Glasbrenner. John is survived by his wife Bo Ping He and daughter Qing Rou Deng.
John is also survived by the following Glasbrenner nieces and nephews: Jason, Weston, Hallie, Carrie, Nathan, Losunie, Lassanah, Emmett, Blay, Rebecca, Elizabeth and Elves and by brother-in-law Leon Glasbrenner.
John was a quiet, calm, generous man. He deeply loved his wife and daughter. He took great joy in hosting and participating in weekend gatherings of friends and cousins. He shared his homes. As a well-informed man, he promoted education and encouraged learning in others. Trees and wildlife of all kinds were safe in his domain. In his last hours, he asked for “more people” to gather in the room. The largeness of his personality will live on with his family and all who knew him.
Wow! What a life.
Knowing John (my uncle) and his family was the best thing to ever happen to me. He was truly an amazing person, and very kind.
Worked with John in Nigeria for several months in 78 and later in Ecuador for one month in 81. Enjoyed knowing him and working with him. Regret losing touch with him. Sorry about his passing.