It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Tony Pflanzer has passed away at age 77 in his home in Bellingham, Washington on December 19th, 2025.

Anthony (Tony) Archibald Pflanzer was born on December 6th, 1948 in Cincinnati Ohio to Elizabeth and Archibald Pflanzer. He spent his childhood in the Midwest but moved around the states due to his father’s military career. Tony was drafted in to the Vietnam war in 1970 and was brought to Washington when he was honorably discharged. He spent the remainder of his duty at Fort Lewis and used his GI bill to get his degree in Anthropology at Western Washington University in 1978.

Tony was a friendly face that many recognized in Bellingham, as he spent nearly 30 years in retail at Windsor Plywood and Hardware Sales. He could answer almost any question regarding how to build anything, and what tools or supplies would be needed. He was truly a brilliant man.

Holidays were particularly magical because of Tony – for decades he would create colorful Easter trees for his daughter and grandchildren. Each Christmas since 1987 Tony made handmade ornaments for the cherished people in his life. Though he was a quiet man, his gifts will live on in the hearts of those who were lucky to be close to him.

He is survived in death by his loving partner of 20 years Dawn Lewis, his daughter Austen, and his two grandchildren Hazel and Harvey.