Ulbe “Soap” Balster passed away quietly on March 21, 2007. Ulbe Balster was born Nov. 30, 1920 to Johannes and Altje (Van Dijk) Balster, immigrants from Holland, on the plains in Redcliff, Alberta, Canada. Later, the Balster family followed the trail of other Dutch immigrants and settled in Oak Harbor.

Ulbe graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1942. With the onset of World War II, he was drafted into the Army. He was trained as a lab technician, and later stationed in England during D-Day, serving in a hospital. In 1946, he was officially discharged from the Army. Following the war, Ulbe returned to Oak Harbor and soon afterward married Myrtle Lampers. They raised five children: John, Fred, Jeri, Rhonda and Richard.

As a youth, Soap worked on the Dykers’ farm and fished in Alaska with Frank Green. After his marriage and time in the service, Ulbe worked in a grocery store for a while, and then turned to his lifetime profession, carpentry. Many homes and buildings were built by Soap. He worked for both local contractors, Charlie Reisdorf and Roger Christensen, and was known as a perfectionist with his craft.

As a father and community member, Ulbe valued education. He helped build the Oak Harbor Christian School and served as a board member for many years. He was a lifetime member of the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church, serving in many leadership capacities. Soap organized the church’s first Boys Club, taking youth on camping trips and building projects. He taught Sunday School at the Dewey Beach and Oak Harbor Christian Reformed churches. The church and his faith was the center of his life.

He will be remembered for his willingness to help friends, family and those in need. Soap was an active member of the American Legion. He loved his country and took pride in celebrating veterans’ sacrifices. Every year, Ulbe participated in putting flags on veterans’ gravesites on Memorial Day.

In his later years, he took on small construction jobs and drove the disabled/elderly to appointments. A lover of the outdoors, Soap fished in many of Whidbey’s lakes, dug clams, and became an excellent wildlife and plant photographer.

Ulbe leaves behind his son John with wife Bonnie Balster, Oak Harbor; son, Frederick Balster and his wife Alicia of Murphy, Texas; daughter, Jeri Goebel of Port Angeles; daughter, Rhonda Wallace and husband, Rick, of Oak Harbor; and son Richard and wife, Marlene of Auburn.

He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Wendi Vivoli with husband Chad, Sheri Matz with husband Eric, Erika Arvizu with husband Richard, Zander Balster, Kari and Kristi Goebel, Kendra Wallace, Chad Wallace with wife Kristy, Amy Martinez with husband Andy and Jack Balster; and three great grandchildren, Ashlyn, Blake and Maceon Martinez.

He also leaves behind a sister, Johanna Mostovoy of Crescent City, Calif., and her sons Phillip, James and Ron; and a sister-in-law, Gertrude Balster and her daughter, Alice Sorenson with husband, Donald of Burlington.

One of his favorite adages was, “Anything worth going to, is worth getting to on-time.” Ulbe Balster left this world to be with his Heavenly Father on the first day of spring, the season of re-birth and renewal. He left this world “right on-time.”

A service to celebrate the life of Ulbe “Soap” Balster will be held Friday, March 30, at noon at the Christian Reformed Church and will be preceded by a private family graveside service at Maple Leaf Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Oak Harbor Christian School in his memory. Arrangements were entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel.