Family, friends and those who worked alongside Chehalis Mayor Pro Tem Daryl Lund in his many endeavors are now mourning his loss following his death on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 7, at the St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma’s intensive care unit (ICU).

He had been in St. Joseph’s ICU since Nov. 30 after being diagnosed with septic shock.

He was taken there after initially going to St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood on Nov. 27 after having a “very serious health condition,” according to his cousin, Julie Lund, who has been updating friends and family as to Daryl’s condition on Facebook.

“Today, Daryl Lund's life journey ended in an unusual and fitting way. His Christmas wishes for the residents and City of Chehalis were on display on his vintage fire truck, as it was driven through town in the Santa Parade. Daryl Lund loved Chehalis, its history and traditions. Daryl passed away early this morning in St. Joseph hospital in Tacoma after a hard-fought battle,” Julie said in a Dec. 7 Facebook post. “The outpouring of support during his illness was very touching. Daryl attracted some ferociously dedicated friends and fans … which has been deeply touching to experience during the past couple of weeks. THANK YOU to all who have reached out to Daryl … your wishes were shared with him. Clearly, it is hard to say goodbye to such a big soul such as Daryl Lund.”

Septic shock is a life threatening condition triggered when a person’s immune system has an extreme reaction to an infection, triggering dangerously low blood pressure, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

It is the most severe form of sepsis and can be caused by viral, bacterial or fungal infections, and, in serious cases, it can cause lung, kidney or heart failure, leading to death.

A former firefighter and a 1979 W.F. West High School graduate who recently turned 63, Daryl Lund was a long-serving member on the Chehalis City Council along with being the owner of a Minuteman Press franchise in Chehalis, which opened in January this year.

He was initially elected to the Chehalis City Council during the 1980s but lost his council seat to the now-retired Dr. Isaac Pope in 1987, according to Chehalis Mayor Tony Ketchum, who spoke with The Chronicle on Saturday.

Though Daryl lost the 1987 election, he moved to a different district in Chehalis and was eventually reelected to the council in 2004. He served in the role ever since.

Daryl was selected to serve as mayor pro tem by his colleagues on the council at the beginning of this year.

Daryl also served as a Port of Chehalis commissioner and was a board member for the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce. He also worked with the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum and many other community groups and organizations.

“The citizens of Chehalis lost a giant today. He had a heart bigger than anyone I ever met. The only thing he worried about was the people of the City of Chehalis and what he could do for them,” Ketchum said. “He worked for over 20 years serving them, trying to make this place a better place for us. He will be truly missed by everybody that he met and touched. I’m sorry he’s gone.”

Along with having been the owner of the Minuteman Press in Chehalis, Daryl at one time was also the owner of the Chehalis Theater — now known as McFiler’s Chehalis Theater — where he would frequently hold movie screenings for residents. He also owned the theater inside the Yard Birds Shopping Center.

He purchased the shuttered Chehalis theater in 1994. It was originally constructed as a car dealership in the late 1920s before being converted into the Pix Theater in 1938, according to cinematreasures.org, with the first film being screened at the theater being Bob Hope’s “The Big Broadcast of 1938."

It was renovated again in 1958 and renamed the Chehalis Theater and remained open until 1984 when it was closed and converted into a videotape rental store.

Daryl purchased it after the videotape rental store folded.

Having grown up in Chehalis and frequenting the theater, it was a labor of love for him to restore it. In fact, not only did he frequent it, but he worked as a ticket taker for the theater during his high school days.

Daryl spent years restoring the theater to its former glory, even reinstalling the original Art Deco light chandeliers he found in the attic.

He also installed brand new seats, a new bar area, a new projector and lamphouse and a digital sound system.

Daryl then repaired and restored the neon light marquee outside the theater and reopened it to the public before eventually having to close it himself in 2008 after a new multiplex theater opened nearby. He sold it in 2016.

“Both of my parents helped me run it,” Daryl said to The Chronicle in 2016 when he sold the theater. “I have so many fond memories there.”

As for Minuteman Press, Daryl had no intention of opening a print store until he heard the owner of the former Carroll’s Printing wanted to retire. He opened his franchise in November 2023 and took the clients of Carroll’s Printing, still operating out of the Lewis County Mall.