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John Welch
Nikiski resident John Welch died Sunday, July 18, 2004, at the Homer Boat Harbor of heart failure. He was 65.
His family is planning a private service to honor him.
Mr. Welch was born Nov. 21, 1938, in Petersburg, Texas.
He graduated from high school and attended the University of Texas in Arlington.
He also served honorably in the U.S. Air Force for four years.
Prior to moving to Alaska, he worked for Summit Airlines for 14 years and was the owner of Milo Sport Shop for two years.
In 1988, he moved to Soldotna and was a pilot for SouthCentral Air.
He retired from there in 1995.
Mr. Welch enjoyed pigeon racing, stock car racing, fishing, hunting and poker.
"John was a warm-hearted, no-nonsense man who traveled through America searching for the best that life could give for his family and himself.
To his many friends in Texas, Washington, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Florida and Alaska, he was a jokester and storyteller, a generous man, but also a fiercely competitive pigeon racer and poker player, " his family said.
"He loved to fly and carried thousands of passengers safely to their destinations in harsh weather or blue skies.
Staying well clear of cities and highways when he could, his best hours were spent fishing on quiet rivers or grilling by the lakeside with a beer in his hand.
Never afraid to speak his mind, he always stood up for his friends and his country, right or wrong.
He enjoyed having a good time but never stopped wondering about the meaning of life and his place in the world.
We all miss him dearly and will never forget him."
Mr. Welch was preceded in death by his parents, Julia and Brown Welch.
He is survived by his wife, Frances A. Welch of Nikiski; sons, Jon D. Welch of Berkeley, Calif., and Michael Welch of Soldotna; brother, David Welch of Kamiah, Idaho, and Brown Welch and his wife, Libby, of Fort Worth, Texas; and sister, Jolene Mershon and her husband, Jim, of Mansfield, Texas.
Memorial donations may be given in Mr. Welch's name to the charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Russell M. Odd
Ninilchik-Clam Gulch area resident Russell M. Odd died Nov. 15, 2003.
There will be a celebration of his life at his residence in Clam Gulch from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 24.
Mr. Odd's wife, Joann; daughters, Michelle, Holly and Sharon; son, Russell; and daughter-in-law, Diane, invite friends to stop by for barbecue, beverages and salads and to share memories or photos of Russell and the family.
For directions, call 262-4590.
A free tree seedling will be offered to each visitor to be planted at a favorite spot in his memory.
Mr. Odd was a retired, disabled veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Duncan Wilsak
Longtime Nikiski resident Duncan Wilsak died Saturday, July 24, 2004, at his home with his family by his side.
He was 73.
Arrangements are pending with Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Kimiko Aase
Soldotna resident Kimiko Aase died Saturday, July 24, 2004, at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage of a brain aneurysm.
She was 73.
No services are planned.
Her ashes will be scattered at the Kenai River.
Mrs. Aase was born Oct. 8, 1930, in Japan.
She moved to Alaska in 1961.
She enjoyed fishing, gardening and raising Chinese pugs.
Her family said she had a love of life.
She enjoyed horse races, gambling in Nevada and traveling.
She is survived by her husband, Don Aase; stepson, Scott Aase; and a brother, nieces and nephews in Japan.
Arrangements were made by Kehl's Forest Lawn Mortuary and Crematory in Anchorage.
KellyAnne Elizabeth Williams
Kasilof resident KellyAnne Elizabeth Williams died Monday, July 19, 2004, after the vehicle she was in became submerged in the Kenai River.
She was 16.
A memorial-wake service will be held at a family friend's home.
Ms. Williams was born Jan. 22, 1988, in Port Angeles, Wash.
She moved to Alaska on July 31, 1994, residing in Kasilof.
She obtained her GED on May 4, 2004, and was attending Kenai Peninsula College in order to obtain the credits she needed to join the U.S. Marine Corps.
"Kelly loved to fish. She hated to eat fish, but loved to catch them.
She was kind and loving.
She had been through so much, but was finally starting to pull it together.
She is our butterfly and will be deeply missed," her family said.
Ms. Williams was preceded in death by family friend, Butch Poissant, and her auntie, Katie.
She is survived by her mother and father, Jerri and Calvin Williams of Kasilof; brothers, Calvin Williams II of Kasilof and Ben Dotson of Sequim, Wash.; and a sister, Mary Dotson of Port Angeles.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
David L. Eaddy
David L. Eaddy died Monday, June 28, 2004, at Providence Hospital Intensive Care Unit in Anchorage of a heart attack.
He was 48.
He will be cremated, per his request.
Mr. Eaddy was born Dec. 12, 1955, in North Carolina.
He got his GED and a degree in computer auto mechanics.
He moved to Alaska in January 2004 and lived in Kenai.
From March until his death, he lived at the Angelica Assisted Living Home in Anchorage.
He was a self-employed finishing carpenter, a vehicle mechanic and maintenance worker.
Mr. Eaddy attended Nazarene and baptist churches.
His hobbies included wood working.
"David was a special person - very caring.
Life was precious to him.
He sacrificed his own health in order to care for our mother in her time of need.
She was gravely ill, and he stayed by her side until the end.
For that, we are eternally grateful, " his family said.
Mr. Eaddy was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy A. Ellerbee; and brother, Joseph (Joe) A. Eaddy.
He is survived by his sisters, Mary J. (Jennifer) Eaddy-Peter of Kenai and Karen S. Eaddy of Whiting, Ind.; and half brothers, John A. Ellerbee and Derek E. Ellerbee, both of Orlando, Fla.
Memorial donations may be sent to Mary J. (Jennifer) Eaddy-Peter at 1502 Cottonwood Circle, Kenai, AK 99661.
Christopher Gene Copple
Kenai resident Christopher Gene Copple died Friday, July 30, 2004, from injuries sustained in a airplane accident near Kustatan.
He was 43.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Kenai.
Mr. Copple was born Aug. 1, 1960, in Vancouver, Wash.
In 1978, he began traveling to Alaska, where he fished and also helped build his aunt and uncle's house.
He became a resident of Kenai in 1984.
After moving to Kenai, he worked for Agrium at the Nikiski plant.
He was a plant supervisor at the time of his death.
Mr. Copple was a member of the Catholic Church.
He also enjoyed hunting, flying, fishing, landscaping, spending time with his family and attending his children's sporting events.
"Love of family and life best describes Chris.
I know of no one with more heart or desire to make the lives of those around him more enjoyable and fulfilling.
The love he has for his family is unmeasurable and never ending.
It is my hope that all of us in some way will take a piece of our memories and experiences of Chris to make our lives better.
We love you and miss you, " his brother, Mathew, said.
Mr. Copple was preceded in death by a brother, Benjamin Copple.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Mary Copple of Kenai; son, John Ryan Copple of Kenai; daughters, Devon and Molly Copple of Kenai; his parents, George M. and Rebecca Copple of Ariel, Wash.; sisters, Margaret Doughty of Vancouver, Wash., and Linda Jewell of San Francisco; brothers, George A. Copple of Ariel, Douglas Copple of Portland, Ore., Mathew Copple of Kenai, and Ryan Copple of Vancouver; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would prefer that memorial donations be made to an educational fund set up for the children at Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, account No. 1158727.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
