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Herbert 'Herbie' Baker
Heritage Place resident Herbert "Herbie" Baker died Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2001, in Soldotna. He was 84.
A memorial service was held Jan. 5, 2002, at Heritage Place. A military service and burial will be held at the Berlin Corner Cemetery in Berlin, Vt., at a later date.
Mr. Baker was born May 7, 1917, in St. Johnsbury, Vt., to Orville Willard and Effie Adalaide (Thompson) Baker. He grew up in Concord, Vt., where he graduated from Concord High School in 1935. Mr. Baker attended Lyndon Institute in Lyndonville, Vt., for a year before going to Norwich University in Northfield, Vt. He graduated from Norwich University in 1941.
Mr. Baker served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1941 to 1945. He served in Europe and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was honorably discharged with the rank of 1st Lt. at Ft. Devens, Mass.
On March 28, 1942, he married Phyllis Alma Hoare of Montpelier, Vt. The couple raised a daughter and three sons. Mr. Baker worked in direct sales for several years prior to becoming a right-of-way appraiser for the state of Vermont.
On Sept. 3, 1972, he married Frances Merrill in St. Johnsbury, Vt.
Mr. Baker was a member of the Methodist Church of Concord, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Central Vermont Boating Club.
He enjoyed being in the water, canoeing and sailing and learned to water ski when he was 50. Riding a snowmachine was a favorite winter pastime.
Music was very much a part of his life. He played the piano in a variety of styles, "by ear."
Mr. Baker moved to Alaska in May 1997, where he lived with his daughter Phoebe-Jane and her family in Sterling. He also lived in Homer and Kasilof.
Mr. Baker was preceded in death by brothers Alban and Willard.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Phoebe-Jane and Rick Abbott of Sterling; son and daughter-in-law, Thomas J. and Charolette Baker of Soldotna; sons Alan T. and John E. Baker of Montpelier, Vt.; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and his former wife and lifelong friend, Phyllis A. Baker.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice. Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Barbara (Anselem) Foster
Kasilof resident Barbara (Anselem) Foster died Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2002, at Heritage Place in Soldotna. She was 83.
A private family service will be held at a later date in Lucerne, Calif. Her ashes will rest in Lake County, Calif.
Mrs. Foster was born June 6, 1918, in Lawtell, La. She was a homemaker and lived in Lucerne and Woodville, Texas, before moving to Kasilof in 1998.
Mrs. Foster was a member of First Baptist Church in Lucerne. She enjoyed raising flowers, especially roses.
"Barbara's good cheer, keen sense of humor and kind heart will be missed by her whole family, " her family said.
Mrs. Foster is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Loraine Larsen and Robert Le Blanc of Kasilof; grandson, Ted Larsen and his wife, Jenni, of Kasilof; great-granddaughter, Jade Larsen of Kasilof; sisters Eunice and Lucille Derouen and Joyce Miller of Lake Charles, La., Gladys Smith and Edna Anselem of Woodville; brother, Archie Anselem of Bell City, La.; nephews Rodney Derouen of Woodville and Maxroy Foster of Pineville, La.; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
John Patrick McDonald
Soldotna resident John Patrick McDonald died Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna of natural causes. He was 86.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at noon Tuesday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Soldotna. Father Richard Tero will officiate. Mr. McDonald's ashes will be buried in the Fort Richardson National Cemetery near Anchorage.
Mr. McDonald was born June 15, 1915, in Cloquet, Minn., and attended St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minn. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and received the purple heart for wounds received in the Philippines. He served as a Pvt. 1st Class in the 63rd Infantry Division.
Mr. McDonald moved to Alaska in 1980 and lived in Kodiak for five years and in Soldotna. He was an illustrative photographer. He was known for staying in the bush for extended periods of time taking photographs of the nature that surrounded him. He also volunteered with the Alaska State Parks Department in Kodiak and at the Soldotna Senior Center. Mr. McDonald enjoyed outdoor photography, card games, music, books and the occasional political discussion.
"John was a lifelong Catholic devoted to attending Mass daily. He believed that our Lord and his blessed mother Mary were faithful to him throughout his life. He shared the belief that faith, hope and, above all, love, was the way to accept others. Through this
commitment in faith, John greatly influenced the lives of others as a 'grandfather, ' a proud American, a strong Democrat and a humble human being. He shared his love of the Lord, his fine intellect, books, music and his love of the outdoors with those he met, " his family said.
Mr. McDonald was preceded in death by his parents, John William McDonald and Katherine Kavanaugh of Minnesota. He is survived by his many friends from the Catholic Church and the community, and his family, Sabrina, Kiana and Ashlyn, whom he loved very much.
Arrangements were made by the Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Amelia F. Pfuhlman
Soldotna resident Amelia F. Pfuhlman died Friday, Jan. 25, 2002, at the Heritage Place in Soldotna of natural causes. She was 103.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Heritage Place. Pastor Jim Pearson will officiate. She will be buried in Bagley, Minn., in the spring.
Mrs. Pfuhlman was born on Aug. 15, 1898, in Minneapolis. After her parents died in 1935, she moved to northern Minnesota and married Jacob Pfuhlman. In 1994 she moved to Soldotna to be closer to her daughter. She was a member of the Lutheran faith.
"Mom enjoyed singing her favorite hymns in both English and German and is now singing with the angels, " her family said.
Mrs. Pfuhlman is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Prince of Soldotna; granddaughter, Valarie Phillips of Anchorage; grandsons Darryn Prince of California, Devery Prince of Anchorage and Ryan Prince of Wisconsin; and nine great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Robert F. Ashley
Seward resident Robert F. Ashley died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2002, at the Wesley Rehab Center in Seward of natural causes. He was 80.
No services were held, but a celebration of life for family and friends was held Thursday at the Harbor Dinner Club in Seward. In the spring, Mr. Ashley's ashes will be scattered in the Falls Inn waterfall.
Mr. Ashley was born in Rock Creek, Ohio, on Dec. 4, 1921. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor. He was retired from the Navy and the state of Alaska. He moved to Alaska in 1965, living in Juneau before moving to Seward in 1971.
Mr. Ashley was a charter member of the Resurrection Bay Lions Club in Seward. He was a Melvin Jones Fellow and lifetime member of the Lions. He held many offices locally and in District 49-A and earned many awards for his dedicated service over the years. He was affectionately known as the "mint king" for his long-standing work selling Lions mints to raise club funds. He also was instrumental in setting up the Lions scholarship awarded annually at Seward High School.
His hobbies included coin collecting and hand feeding jays and squirrels from his deck.
"He had a smile and a kind word for everyone and was especially fond of dogs around town, always carrying special treats for them in his jacket pocket. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him, " his family said.
Mr. Ashley is survived by his wife, Jane Ashley of Seward; daughters Linda Ashley of Seward, April Gray of Oregon and Roberta Leiker of Illinois; sons James Ashley of Fairbanks and Robert Ashley Jr. of Oregon; sisters Miriam and Cleo of Ohio; 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Alicia Heath
UAA student Alicia Marie Heath died Jan. 20, 2002, at Providence Medical Center as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident. She was 20.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Ms. Heath was born Dec. 24, 1981, in Fairbanks. She graduated from Kenai Central High School in 2000. She attended Central Queensland University in Australia and was a student at UAA at the time of her death.
She lived in Fairbanks from 1981 until 1983, when she moved to Kenai, where she lived until 2000, when she moved to Anchorage. She was a teacher in the 3-year-old class at Klever Kids from 2001 until 2002. She also worked at Kenai River Raven Bed and Breakfast during the summers of 2000 and 2001, and at the Kenai Peninsula Blood Bank in Soldotna from 1998 to 2000.
She was a member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Kenai and received two scholarships for foreign study in Australia and France.
Her family said, "Alicia was a beautiful, bright young woman who joyfully embraced life. She was always a very giving person and a natural helper. Alicia demonstrated this spirit throughout her life in so many ways -- by teaching her class of 3-year-olds, tutoring younger students throughout her high school years and helping family and friends in any way she could. Even in death, she gave the gift of a better life to numerous recipients through organ donation. All who knew and loved Alicia remember her great sense of humor, thoughtfulness toward others and her zest and eagerness to experience life. She will be missed more than words can say."
Ms. Heath is survived by her parents, Bill and Monica; siblings Patrick, Elizabeth and Hannah Heath of Kenai; grandparents Paul Hurd of Vermont and Bob and Molly Heath of Texas; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends from around the world.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother Toni Hurd.
At the family's request, memorial donations can be made to the Alicia Heath Memorial Fund at Key Bank, P.O. Box 100420, Anchorage, Alaska, 99510-0420, Attn: Jana.
Arrangements were by Witzleben Family Funeral Homes and Crematory.
Hayward John Wik Sr.
Nikiski resident Hayward John Wik Sr. died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002, after a struggle with stroke complications. He was 60.
No services will be held, in accordance with Mr. Wik's wishes. There will be a family memorial at a later date.
Mr. Wik was born March 5, 1941, in Kenai and was a lifelong Alaska resident. He learned early in life the skills of a Native: commercial fishing, hunting and trapping.
"He was an avid sports fisherman, " his family said, "and some of his most enjoyable moments were spent on the banks of the Swanson River."
Mr. Wik was a member of the Inlet Boatman's Union. He retired in 1996 after a 32-year career as a longshoreman.
Mr. Wik was preceded in death by his mother, Susan Dalton, his father, Alfred Wik, and his brother Jordon Wik.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Dolores; his son, Hayward Jr.; son and daughter-in-law, Gus and Colleen Wik; six grandchildren Beau, Joshua, Danielle, Bobby, Jesse and Haley; brother Harold Wik; and sisters Norma Johnson and Betty Ann Kirschner; many nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Harvey Elwood Buzzell
Kenai resident Harvey Elwood Buzzell died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002, of congestive heart failure at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. He was 79.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai, with a reception to follow. Missionary Tommy Thompson will officiate. A memorial service and burial in the Glenside Cemetery will be held in Winthrop, Maine, in the spring with the time to be announced.
Mr. Buzzell was born June 2, 1922, in Wayne, Maine. He attended school in Winthrop. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater. He married JoAn Lenfest Snow in 1948.
Mr. Buzzell worked the family farm and later his own farm in Maine. He also worked at the Carlton Woolen Mill, the U.S. Post Office, in logging and at the lace factory in Winthrop. Following an injury and broken back in 1968, Mr. Buzzell attended heating and refrigeration schools in Auburn, Maine. He became a master plumber and bought HH Harriman Plumbing. He moved to Kenai in 1977, where he later became the maintenance supervisor at Salamatof Seafoods. He retired in 2000.
"He will be remembered as a hard-working man who loved his family and friends. He particularly enjoyed woodworking, fishing and golfing, " his family said.
Mr. Buzzell was preceded in death by his parents, Elwood and Mildred; his twin brother, Harold, and another brother, Carroll.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, JoAn of Kenai; daughter and son-in-law, Billie and Joe Hardy of Soldotna; son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Debbie of Wayne; sisters and brothers-in-law Lorna and Walter Lach of Hartford, Conn., Helen and Stanley Kotkosky of Windsor, Conn., and Marion Pinkham of Paxton, Mass.; brother, Elwood of Winthrop; sister-in-law, Phyllis Buzzell of Leeds, Maine; grandchildren and grandchildren-in-law Scott and Pamela Hardy of Bremerton, Wash., and Shanon and Eldon Hamrick of Soldotna; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel and Roberts Funeral Home of Winthrop.
Jimmy W. Deal
Former Alaska resident, Jimmy W. Deal died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001, at his home in Missouri. He was 75.
Services were held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001, at the Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville, Mo., and a visitation was held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2001, at the funeral home. Burial was at Viney Creek Cemetery in Golden, Mo.
Mr. Deal was born Oct. 16, 1926, in Throckmorton, Texas, to James R. and Laura M. Deal. He was married to Mildred M. Meyers on Aug. 6, 1977.
He work in the Alaska oil fields of Cook Inlet and the North Slope for many years before retiring and moving to Missouri in 1983. Mr. Deal served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict.
"He loved and missed Alaska very much, " his family wrote.
Preceding him in death was his wife, Mildred, and son, Andy Deal.
Mr. Deal is survived by daughter, Sharon K. Grosman of California; sons James Deal of Mano, Mo., David and Kenneth Deal both of Butterfield, Mo., and Jerry Deal of Seward; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.
