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Harold R. 'Andy' Andersen
Former Alaska bush pilot Harold R. "Andy" Andersen died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2003, in Port Angeles, Wash. He was 78.
Mr. Andersen was born April 23, 1925, in Bothell, Wash., to Chris and Elsie Nelson Andersen. He married Donna Coleen LeClair in Reno, Nev., on Oct. 11, 1981. A World War II veteran, he served as a staff sergeant in the 207th U.S. Army Air Force in central Europe.
Mr. Andersen was owner-operator of Andy's Flying Service in Kenai from the 1950s through the mid 1970s. He came to Alaska before the Alaska Statehood Act with a one-way ticket for a season of fishing and hunting and never had the money or desire to leave.
He worked as a hunting and fishing guide and provided air and support services to many of the homesteaders and villagers in remote areas on the west side of Cook Inlet. Mr. Andersen also provided much of the air transportation needed to build Union Oil's Trading Bay Facility at West Forelands. He provided the main flying support for the mapping and construction of Cook Inlet Pipe Line's Drift River Terminal and pipeline facility on the west side of Cook Inlet.
For many years following the completion of the oil production and shipping facilities, Andy's Flying Service continued to provide much of the air transportation for crew changes and the air support needed to maintain those operations for the oil companies.
Mr. Andersen is survived by his wife, Donna Coleen Andersen of Port Angeles and her three children; and his sisters, Helen McMahon of Woodinville, Wash., and Edith Gossan of Bothell.
Lonnie Lee Lindgren
Former Kenai resident Lonnie Lee Lindgren died Friday, Jan. 23, 2004, in Rome, Ga., as the result of an accident. He was 30.
Services were held in Rome.
Mr. Lindgren was born in Anchorage on Nov. 7, 1973, and attended Kenai Central High School.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Louise Hubert of Anchorage and Billie and Shirley Hubert of Taft, Calif.
Mr. Lindgren is survived by his infant son, William Wendell Payne Lindgren; his son's mother, April Beach of Sacramento, Calif.; parents, Sue Godwin of Rome and James Lindgren of Kenai; sisters, Monica Lindgren of Rome, Lori Anderson and her husband, Mark, of Fayetteville, N.C., and Gina Gallagher and her husband, Jesse, of Sutton; brothers, Gerry Lindgren of St. Gallen, Switzerland, Lance Lindgren of Mekoryuk; stepmother, Lillian Shavings of Mekoryuk; paternal grandparents, Herman and Sarah Lindgren of Kenai; aunts and uncles, Jeanie and Mark Gulch of Michigan, Ed and Fran Hubert of Anchorage, Perry Hubert of Anchorage, Ron and Marcia Dolchok of Kenai, Katherine Juliussen of Kenai, Phillis Garrett of Fairbanks, Madrona Lindgren of Soldotna; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to a fund established for Mr. Lindgren's son, William Wendell Payne Lindgren, care of James Lindgren, P.O. Box 3260, Kenai, AK 99611.
Donald 'Donnie' Felix Plucker
Anchorage resident Donald "Donnie" Felix Plucker died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at Providence Extended Care in Anchorage after a long battle with cancer. He was 69.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9 at the Dimond Boulevard Baptist Church in Anchorage. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Dindot-Klusmann Funeral Home in Lennox, S.D. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m.
Mr. Plucker was born March 19, 1934, in Chancellor, S.D., to Enno and Ruby (Reck) Plucker. He grew up in the Chancellor area and attended the Stanford District 87 country school. He graduated from Chancellor High School in 1952.
He spent four years in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the aircraft carriers Essex and Wasp. While in the service, he received the United Nations, Korean service, China service and National Defense medals. After his honorable discharge from the military in 1956, he worked in the computer field in California.
In 1973, he and his family moved to Anchorage, where he installed computer systems on the Alaska pipeline. In 1985, he moved to Sterling, where he owned and operated his own business. Mr. Plucker retired in 1999 and moved back to Anchorage.
"He was a faithful member of the Dimond Boulevard Baptist Church. His faith in God, reading his Bible, prayer and Pastor Andy and the people of his church were a great comfort to him. He had a passion for reading and doing crossword puzzles, " his family said.
His other hobbies included hunting, fishing and traveling. He loved to travel and he had been to 49 of the 50 states.
Mr. Plucker was preceded in death by his parents, Enno and Ruby (Reck) Plucker, and his sister, Joyce Plucker Horton.
He is survived by his son, Michael of Anchorage, his wife, Cheryl, and their children, Kenneth, Kristan and Alyssa; son, Alan of Vinton, Va., wife, Tanya, and their son, Michael Alan; brothers, Dennis Plucker of Murdock, Minn., and Gene R. Plucker of Canistota, S.D.; sisters, Carol Wilts of Lago Vista, Texas, and Jane Wilts of Broomfield, Colo.; and aunts, Audrey Kromminga of Centerville, S.D., and Eleanor Plucker of Lennox, S.D.
Arrangements were made by Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Anchorage.
Elta Ione Smith
Kenai resident Elta Ione Smith died Monday, March 15, 2004, at Heritage Place in Soldotna. She was 87.
A remembrance of life for family and friends will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 21, at 1310 Kiana Lane in Kenai. Please call 283-6632 for information and ask for Rose.
Mrs. Smith's ashes will be buried with her husband in the Union Cemetery in Bakersfield, Calif.
Mrs. Smith was born Sept. 11, 1916, in Bakersfield. She attended and graduated from Kern County Union High School in 1934. She retired from the Bohemian District in Bakersfield in 1962.
She moved to Alaska in June 1997, and lived with her son in Kenai. She enjoyed crocheting, needle point and traveling.
"Ione enjoyed traveling and being with family and friends. Her most memorable trip after retirement was her trip to Mexico. She was known to many people as 'Nana, ' and all that knew her loved her. She will be missed by all of her family and friends, " her family said. "The family hopes to see her in Jehovah's promised paradise to come, where death will be no more. (Rev. 21:4) We love you, Nana."
Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Smith.
She is survived by her son, William P.L. "Bill" Smith and his wife, Patsy, of Kenai; grandchildren and their spouses, Kathleen Towns and husband of Wasilla, Karen Brenner and husband of Anchorage, Katrina Boag and husband of Everett, Wash., Karol Garrett and her husband of Kent, Wash., and Kathy Piatt and her husband, Rose Wilhusen and her husband, and Joseph Luze and his wife, all of Kenai; 24 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Ronald "Fiji" Pinnell of Belize.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the family at 1304 Kiana Lane, Kenai, AK 99611.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Steven Jerrald Smith
Lifelong Nikiski resident Steven Jerrald Smith died Tuesday, March 16, 2004, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. He was 51.
A celebration of his life will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Nikiski Senior Citizens Center. Pastor Harold Lewis will officiate.
Mr. Smith was born Sept. 5, 1952, in Anchorage. He attended school in Kenai and graduated in 1970. While he was a teenager, he commercially fished. After graduating from high school, he joined the labor union. Many local crews used his concrete expertise. He retired from the Laborer's Union Local 341 in September 2002.
"Steve was a loving brother, uncle and friend. He was also a loving companion and a father figure. He was an honest and compassionate man. He liked fishing, camping and walking on the beach. He also liked all kinds of music, but especially The Grateful Dead, " his family said.
Mr. Smith is survived by his sisters, Terry Williamson of Anchorage, Lee McCaughey and Sue Jureo, both of Nikiski, and Merry Smith of Kenai; brothers, Jeff and Nick Smith, both of Nikiski; nephew, Brian Williamson of Kasilof; nieces, Jennifer Williamson of Anchorage and Colleen Smith, Elisha Smith and Erin, Erica and Faith Smith, all of Kenai; and his longtime companion, Becky Langston of Kenai, her sons, Jammie and Josiah Matthews, and her grandchildren, Fayth and Christian, all of Nikiski.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to the charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Charles Leon Shaver
Longtime North Road resident Charles Leon Shaver died Saturday, March 6, 2004, in Reno, Nev. He was 78.
His family and close friends, James and Rita Goff, participated in a bedside service dedicating Mr. Shaver's life to God shortly before his death.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Arrangements were made by Affordable Cremation and Burial Service in Las Vegas.
David Yancey
David Yancey died Thursday, March 18, 2004, in Marysville, Calif. He was 82.
Services were held Friday, March 19, in El Cerrito, Calif. Thomas Plant officiated, and Emron Yancey, Kieron Yancey, Kirk Yancey, Donnie Yancey, Randy Yancey and Dewayne Yancey served as pallbearers.
Mr. Yancey was born April 31, 1921, in Groveland, Idaho, to Emron and Elizabeth Yancey.
He was a retired plumber and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
He was an avid fisher, who spent almost every summer on the Kenai Peninsula with family and friends. He also enjoyed hunting and gardening.
Mr. Yancey was preceded in death by his parents; 15 brothers and sisters; and one son.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth Yancey of Marysville; sons, Emron Yancey of Utah, Kieron Yancey of California and Kirk Yancey of Oregon; daughter, Ina Sabah of California; three sisters; two brothers; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Ullrey Memorial Chapel in Yuba, Calif.
Jack Austin III
Ninilchik resident Jack Austin III died Monday, March 29, 2004, at his home in Ninilchik. He was 46.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, April 2, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Kenai Chapel, 609 Forest Lane. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral. Bishop Garth Reid will officiate. Burial will be in Kenai City Cemetery. Pallbearers include Eric Billman, Earl Jay, Manuel Tumulak Jr., Rave Greenhatgh, Shannon Bentley, Steven Vanck and Ignagius Keyes.
Mr. Austin was born Aug. 20, 1957, in Juneau to Jack Jr. and Evelyn (Martin) Austin. He lived in Juneau for many years, as well as Sitka, Soldotna and Kenai before eventually settling in Ninilchik. He was a proud Kaagwaantaan of Klukwan and a child of the Wooshkeetaan.
He loved basketball, baseball, fishing and carving in traditional Tlingit style, which he also taught to anyone willing to learn.
"Jack was a loving father and a good husband. He was very caring and a proud Tlingit man. He had a strong belief in keeping the traditions of all cultures alive, so they are not forgotten. We will remember him for that and will do our best to keep his wishes, " his family said.
Mr. Austin was preceded in death by his parents, Jack Jr. and Evelyn Austin; brothers, James and Allen Austin; grandparents, Jack Austin Sr., Lucille Dick and Sam Martin Sr.; uncles, Wilmer and Gene Austin and Sam Martin Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Marion Austin; son, Jack Austin IV; daughters, Evelyn and Raven Austin; sister, Charlotte St. Clair; sister and brother-in-law, Beverly and Art Austin-Orr; brothers, Donald and Clifford Austin; brother and sister-in-law, Manuel Sr. and Hazel Tumulak; aunts, Marie Shodda, Gertrude Peters and May George; uncle, Sam Hanlon; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, who he considered his brothers and sisters.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Joseph Arthur Kurtz
Joseph Arthur Kurtz died Friday, Aug. 29, 2003, at Providence Alaska Medical Center of natural causes. He was 93.
A visitation will be held at 9 a.m. today at Kehl's Forest Lawn Chapel in Anchorage. A service will follow at 11 a.m. A graveside service will be held in Seldovia at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Seldovia Cemetery.
Mr. Kurtz was born Oct. 31, 1909, in Monico, Wis., to Joseph and Ella Orth Kurtz. He completed high school.
Mr. Kurtz moved to Alaska in the late 1930s and was a resident of Seldovia and Anchorage.
He was an avid reader, a trapper and a miner.
"Upon reading Jack London's book, 'The Call of the Wild, ' Mr. Kurtz was inspired to venture to Alaska. Arriving in the late '30s, Joe initially worked at Lucky Shot Mine. He also trapped in the Yukon with his brother, Erwin, and Crockett Metcalfe. He worked construction on the White Alice project and helped to build Fort Richardson. Mr. Kurtz then started commercial fishing with his brother, Erwin, and brother-in-law, Jack Lewis, in the late '40s. He fished salmon, halibut and finally king crab, before retiring from the Bering Sea fishery in the '90s, " his family wrote.
"Mr. Kurtz was a very generous person who enjoyed good physical and mental health. He maintained a home and a boat in Seldovia, where he lived and worked out of for the past 50 years. He also kept homes in Anchorage and Seattle. He exemplified the true Alaska pioneer spirit in his independence and character."
Mr. Kurtz was preceded in death by his sister, Genie Lewis; brother-in-law, Jack Lewis; and brother, Erwin Kurtz.
He is survived by his wife, Olivia Kurtz; stepdaughters, Cheryl, Diane and Beverley Davis; sister-in-law, Vivian Kurtz of Anchorage; and nephews and nieces, Steve and Barbara and Jason Lewis of Kenai, Dan Kurtz and family of Seattle and Art, Becky and Richard Kurtz and their families, all of Anchorage.
Arrangements were made by Kehl's Forest Lawn Mortuary in Anchorage.
