A Tacoma-area lineman remembered for his mentorship, humor, and devotion to family has died just days after learning he had melanoma, leaving coworkers and loved ones stunned by how quickly everything unfolded.
Seth Peltola died May 8 after being hospitalized on April 27 with what loved ones described as a sudden and aggressive illness.
“12 days. That’s all the time from sickness to passing,” family friend Diane Buckner wrote in a Facebook tribute.
Peltola worked in the line trade for more than two decades, beginning his career in 2003 and becoming a Journeyman Lineman in 2007, according to fundraiser organizer Chris Thomas.
He later worked as a foreman for AAU and also served with Tacoma Power, where coworkers said he earned widespread respect not only for his work ethic, but for the way he treated people.
“He was the kind of lineman others looked up to,” Thomas wrote in the fundraiser. “Someone who took the time to teach, coach, and support those coming up behind him.”
Thomas said Peltola “led by example,” brought “a steady presence to the crew,” and earned trust through “respect, humility, and a willingness to help wherever he could.”
The fundraiser describes Peltola as, above all else, “a devoted husband and father.” He is survived by his wife, Klaudia, and their children, Mariah, 16, and Seth Jr., 11.
Friends said Peltola loved scuba diving and taking trips to the dunes with his children, but most cherished time spent with family and friends.
“Your goofy laughter will be missed. The giver of the best hugs,” Buckner wrote. “Life is unimaginable without you.”
The loss has deeply shaken members of Washington’s electrical workers community, many of whom described the diagnosis and death as devastatingly sudden.
“This last weekend we lost an IBEW Local 77 brother to a very short fight for his life and cancer won,” Eric Gillespie wrote in a Facebook post. “We knew Seth as a healthy man, a hard-working man and just had a headache here and there. He went to the doctor and days later he was trying to say goodbye to his family before cancer took him.”
IBEW Local 483 also shared condolences online, calling Peltola a former member and former Journeyman Lineman with Tacoma Power. “Our condolences go out to his family and friends during this time,” the union wrote.
A GoFundMe created to support Peltola’s family says donations will help cover medical expenses and ease financial burdens as his loved ones navigate life without him.
Melanoma is considered the deadliest form of skin cancer because it can spread rapidly to other parts of the body if not caught early. The five-year survival rate for melanoma is very high when detected early, but drops significantly once the cancer spreads beyond the skin, according to the American Cancer Society
Warning signs can include new or changing moles, unusual skin discoloration, bleeding or irregular spots, and in some cases symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, or unexplained pain if the disease has already spread.
Health experts encourage regular skin checks and prompt medical attention for suspicious changes.
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