Cecil M. “Cec” Monson
Cecil Martin “Cec” Monson, age 103, of Bush Point, died at Careage of Whidbey on June 11, 2013. Cec was best known on Whidbey Island for his monthly columns, “Do You Remember,” which appeared as part of the Senior News’ monthly newspaper until 2008. He was also known to be an eager dance partner at the Bayview Senior Center’s Friday Fun Band dances and summer Concerts on the Cove.
Cec was born on a farm near Wiota, Wisconsin on October 19, 1909 to Martin and Clara (Brenum) Monson. He was a proud graduate of The University of Wisconsin, Madison.
In 1937, Cec married his lifelong sweetheart, Alyce Burmeister, and settled in Wauwatosa, Wis. Cec’s and Alyce’s 72 love-filled years of marriage were blessed with one son (John) and two daughters (Mary Alice and Martha). Cec worked as an accountant for Wisconsin Electric Power Company from 1936 until retiring in 1973 as chief accountant of the company.
After retirement, he and Alyce moved to Bush Point on Whidbey Island after falling in love with the island during a visit.
With a life that spanned the 20th Century and beyond, Cec lived through and bore witness to amazing transformations in life as he knew it. He traveled all 50 states and was a keen observer of life. He recorded his life and the times in which he lived in three volumes, My Life as I Saw It; Essays About Practically Everything; and Do You Remember.
In addition to being an avid writer and explorer, Cec’s life was filled with service. He was most proud of his role in developing the Senior Services Foundation, which supported the growth of Senior Services of Whidbey Island.
He was active in the Boy Scouts and Explorers, served as an adult literacy volunteer, volunteered as treasurer of many charitable organizations, and, in his final years, participated in the Boston University Medical School’s Centenarian Research Project. Cec was also active in the Coupeville United Methodist Church and the Coupeville Lions Club, and the United Methodist churches to which he belonged in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa.
In his last years of life, Cec shared his home, life and stories with three generations of Monson women: his daughter and loving caregiver, Mary Alice Kois; his granddaughter, Lisa Kois; and his great granddaughter, Aaliyah Kois Jacob. Cec and Aaliyah (age 7) shared a special bond, a passion for storytelling and a love of dessert.
Cec was preceded in death by his wife, Alyce Monson, his sister, Lucile Bisegger, and his brother, Paul Monson, both of rural Wisconsin. He is survived by son John (Lillian) of Castle Rock, Colo.; daughters Mary Alice Kois of Bush Point, and Martha (Vern) Olsen of Coupeville. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Paul (Linda, deceased) Monson of Colorado, Anita (Dave) Steele of Tennessee, and Kari Monson of Colorado; Randi (Jim) Hanvey of New York and Lisa Kois of Washington; Dori (Shawn) Hoose of California and Jesse (Kim) Olsen of Washington; and eleven great grandchildren, Abby, Hannah and David Monson; Natalie Turner, Mikal, Grace, Matthew and Joseph Steele; Will and Jack Hanvey, and Aaliyah Kois Jacob. One grandchild, Nels Arne Olsen, died in infancy.
A community celebration of the lives of Cecil and Alyce Monson will be held 2-4 p.m. Saturday, July 20 at the South Whidbey Senior Center.
Please join the family for music, memories and dessert! Memorial gifts in Cecil’s name may be made to the Coupeville United Methodist Church, the Senior Services Foundation of Whidbey Island, or Whidbey Camano Land Trust.
