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Joyce H. Janota
Former Soldotna resident Joyce H. Janota died, Wednesday, May 22, 2002, at Alaska Regional Medical Center after a short battle with cancer. She was 71.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Her ashes will be scattered over the Ochoco National Forest in Oregon where she loved to deer hunt.
Mrs. Janota was born July 18, 1930, in Grant, Neb. She moved to Anchorage in 1973 where she lived until 1979 when she moved to Soldotna. She was a bartender in numerous places in Anchorage and Soldotna. Then in 1988, she bought the J-Bar-B Club in Soldotna. She owned and operated it for eight years before selling it in 1995 when she retired.
Some of her hobbies included reading, gardening, camping, fishing, clam digging, cooking for family members and traveling down to the lower 48 to visit.
Mrs. Janota loved the outdoors. When living in Oregon she loved to camp and deer hunt. Then when coming to Alaska she still camped, loved to dig for clams and fish. One of her favorite things about Alaska was the mountains. She would get up every morning to look in awe at the beautiful landscape.
She had many friends and was loved by all her family. She was a gifted cook and shared her talent with everyone who walked through the door. She had a sense of humor to the very end that will remain with all who came in contact with her.
"She was a very down to earth and loving person, " her family said. "She would give the shirt off her back to anyone who came along needing one."
Mrs. Janota is survived her husband, Sonny Janota of Soldotna; daughter, Renee Janota of Wales, Mich.; daughter and son-in-law, Jerri and Michael Chivers of Kenai; son and daughter-in-law, John and Magaly Janota of Virginia Beach, Va.; sister-in-law, Nell Henderson of Bend, Ore.; sister and brother-in-law, Tiz and Herb Harold of Colville, Wash.; brother and sister-in-law, Norm and Jody Henderson of Salem, Ore.; grandchildren Travis, Trenton and Kellyn Beish of Wales, Mich.; Makayla and Dain Chivers of Kenai; Jared and Jacob Janota of Virginia Beach; great-granddaughter, Melysa Beish of Michigan and numerous nieces and nephews and other family members.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Central Peninsula General Hospital, c/o Kathy Lopeman for Oncology for the Peninsula, 250 Hospital Place, Soldotna, AK 99669 (907)262-0753.
Arrangements were made by Anchorage Funeral Home.
Warren C. Reese
Soldotna resident Warren C. Reese, Sgt. U. S. Air Force, retired, died Sunday, May 26, 2002, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. He was 81.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai. Viewing will be from 1 p.m. to service time at the funeral home. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth, Calif.
Mr. Reese was born Aug. 19, 1920, in High Forest, Minn.
He was educated in the Los Angeles Public Schools. He began his career with the U.S. Air Force in 1946. He served with the Air Force until his retirement on Aug. 1, 1966. He then began working for the Alaska Railroad. He retired from the railroad in August 1982.
Mr. Reese's hobbies and special interests included being with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Mr. Reese is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Reese; sons, Stephen and John and John's wife, Pat; grandchildren, Nicole Baldridge, Jared Reese, Taryn Reese, Chantal Reese, Amanda Jensen; and great-grandchildren, Christian Baldridge and Levi Jack Baldridge.
Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Clajon Miller
Former Kenai resident Clajon Miller died Thursday, May 16, 2002, in Delhi, Texas. He was 20.
Services were Monday at the Delhi Cemetery in Delhi with burial following.
Mr. Miller was born Dec. 6, 1981, in San Marcos, Texas, the son of Marvin and Vicki Lyn Rawlinson Miller. He graduated from Fort Rich Military School in Anchorage. He was a member of the Baptist church, an avid wrestler and fisher and an outdoor enthusiast.
He was preceded in death by a grandmother, Jan Rawlinson.
Mr. Miller is survived by his father, Marvin Miller Jr. of Kenai; mother, Vicki Lyn Miller of La Grange, Texas; brother, Ethan Allen Miller of Luling, Texas; half-brother, David Oglesby of La Grange; grandparents, Marvin and Rosalie Miller Sr. of Angleton, Texas, and John Rawlinson of La Grange; uncles and aunts, Charles and Linda Miller of Angleton, and Greg and Debbie Rawlinson of Lockhart, Texas; and cousins, Josh Miller of Angleton, Cody Rawlinson of McMahan, Texas, Cynthia and Steven McDaniel of Angleton and Crystal and Travis McDaniel of Angleton.
Arrangements were made by McCurdy Funeral Home in Lockhart.
James E. Mosier
Former Soldotna resident James E. Mosier of Manistique, Mich., died Thursday, May 30, 2002, in Ottawa, Ill. He was 43.
Visitation will be at the Messier-Broullire Funeral Home in Manistique from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday. Funeral services will be held at the Messier Broullire Funeral Home at 11 a.m. Tuesday with Rev. Jay Martin officiating. Burial will be in the Hiawatha Township Cemetery in Hiawatha Township, Mich.
Mr. Mosier was born Aug. 5, 1958, in Ottawa, the son of James and Judith (Roe) Mosier. He graduated from the Marseilles High School in Marseilles, Ill., moved to the Manistique area in September 1991, and graduated from the Bay De Noc Community College in Escanaba, Mich.
He was employed in many aspects of the computer industry, including computer-aided design. He was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Fraternity. He was an excellent cook and enjoyed reading and hiking. He loved his children dearly and they were the most important thing to him, his family said.
Mr. Mosier lived in Soldotna from February to August 2001. He worked at a youth center in Kenai and was a member of the Trinity Christian Center in Soldotna.
He is survived by a son and daughter, Andrew James and Samantha Marie of Manistique; parents, James and Judith Mosier of Manistique; three brothers and their wives, Steve and Joni Mosier of Shingleton, Mich., David and Jo Ann Mosier of Trempealeau, Wis., and Allan Mosier of Minneapolis, Minn.; four sisters and their husbands, Patty and Tom Zellers of Utica, Ill., Nora and Kevin Bruster of Manistique, Lisa and Shawn Brinkman of Manistique and Kathy and Tom Mosier-Kampa of Winona, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were made by the Messier-Broullire Funeral Home.
Alta Mae "Georgia" Baker McConnell Bruce
Alta Mae "Georgia" Bruce, a resident of Kenai and Seward, died Wednesday, May 22, 2002, in Oshkosh, Wis. She was 70.
Mrs. Bruce will be cremated and her ashes will be scattered in Alaska. No services are planned at this time.
Mrs. Bruce was born Jan. 16, 1932, in Dupree, S.D., to Harry and Orgena Baker. She attended school in Dupree from 1950-1954 and obtained her pharmacological degree. She married Mr. McConnell and together they had two children. She traveled to the Kenai Peninsula in 1970 and was remarried to Phillip H. Bruce in 1981. She was the pharmacy manager for Carrs Quality Center in Kenai for 30 years.
She was a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary post No. 20, and served in all offices including president of the western district from 1986-87. She was also the bingo manager for the post for eight years.
Mrs. Bruce was a member of the Eagles, Pioneers of Alaska, and the Elks and Moose lodges, and most recently was on the board for the Nikiski Senior Citizens Center.
"She was always on the go and loved the times she spent with Phillip in Seward and at their cabin in Nikiski. She was always willing to help others in need, sometimes before her own. She was a good friend, mother and wife and is greatly loved and will be greatly missed, " her family said.
Mrs. Bruce was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Orgena Baker; her brother, Harry Reese Baker; and her husband, Phillip H. Bruce.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Mike Bennett of Oshkosh, Wis.; son, Christopher McConnell of Anchorage; stepdaughter, Tammy Reeve of Kasilof; stepson and stepdaughter-in-law, Phillip II and Garyann Bruce of Bellingham, Wash.; stepdaughter and stepson-in-law, Erika and Randy Jindra of Anchorage; grandchildren Melissa, Valerie and Chris; and step-grandchildren, Sarah, Shaun and Maria Reeve, Ellie and Laura Bruce and Alayna Jindra; and numerous relatives and friends.
Arrangements were made by Senfeld Family of Funeral Chapels.
Seth D. Wright
Clam Gulch resident Seth D. Wright, a commercial fisher, hunter, trapper and adventurer, died Sunday, May 19, 2002, at his home after a long battle with cancer. He was 62.
A public visitation for friends and family will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday at Peninsula Memorial Chapel. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Spruce Grove Cemetery in Kasilof. Pallbearers are Dean Osmar, Larry Meyer, Bob Toll, Bob Correia, Jerre Wills and Steve Bilben. The honorary pallbearers are Per Osmar and George Pollard.
Mr. Wright was born in Mason City, Wash., on Nov. 8, 1939. He first came to Alaska in 1964 to serve in the U.S. Army at Fort Richardson, where he was stationed until 1967.
Mr. Wright returned to Alaska in 1968 to crew on the F/V Tanglewood for the upper Cook Inlet commercial salmon season. After moving permanently to Alaska in 1969, Mr. Wright commercially fished for salmon with his boats, the F/V Tanner, Mustang and Kyoat, for 33 years. He was also a commercial halibut fisher, first entering the fishery with a skiff, which he fished off the beaches from Kasilof to Homer, and later fishing the F/V Kyoat. Linda Weigel, Mr. Wright's wife of 15 years, and her son, Jesse Burnham, fished with Mr. Wright for approximately 17 years.
In the early '70s, Mr. Wright was an assistant big game guide for brown bear, sheep, goats, and caribou. He also ran a trapline by dog team and snowmobile.
"Seth loved every minute of life, and for him, life was a great adventure. His memory will be cherished, " his family said.
Mr. Wright is survived by his wife, Linda Wright; sons, Joey and Jesse Burnham; stepsons, Brent and Scott Mickey; brother and sister-in-law, David and Shirley Wright; and niece and nephew, Lisl and Brian Wright.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Danny Robert Dally Sr.
Danny Robert Dally Sr. of Filer, Idaho, died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at Bannock Regional Hospital in Pocatello, Idaho, following a sudden illness. He was 58.
A celebration of Mr. Dally's life will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Reynolds Funeral Chapel in Twin Falls, Idaho, with Pastor Dale Metzger officiating. Military rites will be performed by area veterans and auxiliary. Friends may call on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service at the chapel.
Mr. Dally was born Jan. 10, 1944, in Glendale, Calif., the son of Nick Tien and June Lampshire Dally. He grew up in California, graduated from high school at Palmdale and later attended the University of Southern California. He joined the U.S. Army, serving with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. Following his honorable discharge, he moved to St. Ignatius, Mont., before moving to Kenai to live out his lifelong dream of hunting and fishing. He was a member of American Legion Post 20 in Kenai.
On Dec. 21, 1990, he married Shawna Erickson in Palmer. They moved to Twin Falls in 1998 to be with his kids and grandchildren.
Mr. Dally is survived by his wife, Shawna of Filer, Idaho; his children and children-in-law, Branda and Mike Falls of Homedale, Idaho, and Danny Robert Jr. and Shawna Dally of Jerome, Idaho; a stepson and his wife, Brian and Odessa Ruff of Alaska; his brothers and sister-in-law, Jim and Virginia Dally of Montana and Nick Dally of Montana; a sister, Shelley Dally of Montana; his grandchildren, Mathew, Jacob, Jeneca, Nicole and Justen; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and his special friend Will Krieter of Alaska.
Arrangements were made by Reynolds Funeral Chapel in Twin Falls.
Charlie David Weeks Jr.
Soldotna resident Charlie David Weeks Jr., died Thursday, May 30, 2002, in Dutch Harbor. He was 49.
A celebration of his life was conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Soldotna Creek Park.
Mr. Weeks was born Oct. 7, 1952, in Valdosta, Ga. He received a bachelor of science degree in biology, specializing in fisheries, and he served in the U.S. Navy as a Navy Seal.
Mr. Weeks moved to Alaska in 1998, living in Soldotna and working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He was an avid outdoorsman and family man.
"He was a tough man in many ways, but I couldn't ask for a better husband, father and provider and he will be greatly missed by all, " his wife said.
Mr. Weeks is survived by his wife, Cindy, of Soldotna; two daughters, Ivy and Jessica Weeks; son, Ivan Weeks; mother, Laverne Weeks; nephew, Chris May; and three sisters.
Memorials may be made to his family or the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank or a tree can be planted in his honor at Soldotna Creek.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
John Edward Pierson
John Edward Pierson, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died Thursday, May 23, 2002, surrounded by his family. He was 77.
A memorial service for friends and family will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Mr. Pierson was born in Watertown, Minn., on April 7, 1925, to Dr. Linus and Alice Pierson. He attended Watertown High School and graduated in 1943. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 6, 1943. He served as a corpsman at Seattle Naval Hospital and then underwent field medical training at Camp Eliott and Camp Pendelton in California.
Mr. Pierson was deployed to New Caledonia, France, with the 5th Marine Replacement Group and then to Guam, where he joined the 3rd Marine Division. He was wounded in battle while in Guam and received the Purple Heart.
He was honorably discharged from the Navy on March 22, 1946. He then attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., from 1946 to 1950. He served as high school principal at several Minnesota schools between 1950 and 1956.
Mr. Pierson was then employed by Park Davis Company for 10 years as a detail representative. In 1968 he brought his family to Alaska and worked as a school counselor at the Kenai Middle School until he retired in 1983.
Mr. Pierson had a long and loving marriage to Kathryn Burbie. He loved fishing, gardening and spoiling his grandchildren.
"Our dad and grandpa was a loving, caring, gentle and patient man who provided for us, kept us safe and was always there when we needed him. He will be in our hearts forever, " his family said.
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn (Kitty); brother, Bob; daughters, Jonna Encelewski, Kenita Stenroos, Loretta Rees and Jacie Marchetti; sons, Mark Pierson and Shaun Pierson; grandchildren, including Jenessa, Laurina, Derek, Jody, Nicole, Paul, Kristopher, Jesse, Deborah, Hannah, Jacob, Jordan, Olivia, Tyler, Kevin, David, and TJ; great-grandchildren, Stephanie and Rylan; and extended family in Minnesota.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
