Whidbey Sculptor Henry Deposit Dies at 79

Henry Deposit, a Whidbey Island artist who spent five decades carving old fir lumber into intricate sculptures, died at his home on Oct. 3, 2026. He was 79. His death followed a short period on hospice care.

Born in 1947, Deposit grew up on the island where his mother, Ester Louise, was one of twelve children. He recalled swimming in Deer Lake and harvesting peaches from family fields. As a teenager, he achieved local fame in 1962 when he and three friends completed a 150-mile walk of the island coastline in under six days.

Deposit studied sculpture at the University of Washington, graduating in 1987 after working multiple jobs to fund his education. He also worked for the university custodial department for 31 years, retiring as assistant director of custodial services. In 1976, he married Janine Ipsen, a fellow student he met in a bronze casting class. They converted their basement into a wood shop where he produced his work for 50 years.

His artistic style shifted over time. Early pieces featured dark, sinister machines on wheels made from two-by-fours. Later, he incorporated bright primary colors and combined geometric and organic elements. He also created three realistic table-size dollhouse dioramas. In 1996, he won the 18th Annual Betty Bowen Memorial Award for emerging artists, associated with the Seattle Art Museum. The museum purchased one of his pieces following an interview in The Seattle Times.

Deposit and his wife enjoyed canoeing on Lake Ozette and traveling across the country by Amtrak. He was a familiar sight in his neighborhood, which he called 'The Hood,' where he walked to check on things and collect dropped pennies. He described his neighborhood as a beloved fixture with 50 years of stories.

He is survived by his wife Janine, brother Richard Deposit, sister CD Deposit, brother-in-law Brad Ipsen, sister-in-law Connie Ayers, and several nieces, nephews, and grandnieces. His parents and brother Bill Deposit preceded him in death. He expressed gratitude to his oncology team at Fred Hutch for their care.

No formal service will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fred Hutch Cancer Center or a charity of the donor's choice. His work is available for viewing at henrydeposit.com.