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Richard Ellis Forsgren
Richard Ellis Forsgren, 87, died March 19, 2010, at the Pioneer Home in Palmer. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the American Legion in Wasilla, Mile 46 Parks Highway.
Dick was born Dec. 20, 1922, to Ellis and Goldie Forsgren in Portland, Ore.
Dick joined the Army Air Corps in 1944, became a fighter pilot and was assigned to teach instrument flying. He received orders to deploy to Europe, but the war was over before he was scheduled to go. He was recalled for the Korean War and flew F-84s out of RAF Manston in England and Korea.
After the war he returned to Oregon and applied for work in Alaska. He was hired by the CAA as a flight service communicator in 1956 and assigned to Galena. He moved to Cordova in 1962, to Cape Yakataga in 1965 and to McGrath in 1966. He was the first mayor of McGrath. He had a cabin in Ophir where he spent lots of time. He held an annual moose hunt there with Dave Ronaldson, Ed Jones and Popo Richardson for many years.
He retired from the FAA in 1983 with 32 years of federal service and moved to Long Lake in Willow. He was a bush pilot, hunter, sport fisherman and a trapper, along with being a partier extraordinaire.
Dick was also very involved with the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race. He was at his cabin in Ophir for the first race. It became a regular checkpoint after that. He helped put the trail in between McGrath and Poorman for the Iditarod for many years and was a member of the board of directors.
Dick and Audra enjoyed taking the camper out for trips on the Denali Highway for berry picking and to Deep Creek at Ninilchik for fishing. They were married for 62 years.
Dick is survived by his wife, Audra; children and their spouses, Keith and Cathy Forsgren, Connie and Bill Woolard, Denise and Doug Hisey; grandchildren Sheri and Kyle Forsgren, Adrian Woolard, Shawna Hytry, Michelle and David Hisey; and four great-grandchildren. His sister, Betty Gayden of Portland, Ore., also survives Dick. Boarding students DeeDee Carlo and Gail Matthews are like daughters.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Iditarod Trail Committee or to charity of choice.
Freeda Adams
Longtime Houston resident Freeda Adams was swept into the arms of angels on March 17, 2010, at the age of 48 due to complications from Multiple Sclerosis.
She was born on Aug. 21, 1961, in Fayetteville, N.C.
Freeda had a strong will and a big heart. She had a unique spice for life and a very competitive nature. Some of her favorite things were watching her husband rodeo, a boat trip down the Little Su, old Western movies, playing with her dogs (especially dalmatians), vacations to Las Vegas, all types of athletics (especially softball) and shopping of any kind.
Freeda will be forever remembered for her infectious laugh, sharp wit and sarcastic humor. To know Freeda was to love her.
Freeda is survived by her husband, Jay Adams; her mother and father, Freelon and Elloyse Stanberry; her brothers and their wives, Alan and Dawn Stanberry and David and Kathy Stanberry; brothers-in-law, Anthony and Richard Adams, Lance Vallo; sister-in-law, June Hatten; nieces and nephews, Devon Thomas, David “Bo” Stanberry, Kevin Stanberry, Megan Adams, Cory Adams, Carol Hatten, Wayne Hatten, Jacob Adams, Alyssa Adams, and Alexandria Adams; and her beloved caregiver and best friend, Henrietta Provost.
A memorial service will be held at Church on the Rock, 3571 Machen Road, in Wasilla on Friday at 2 p.m. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Houston Lodge, 16966 W. Parks Hwy., in Houston. An open mic will be available for the sharing of stories about Freeda. All are invited to attend.
The family welcomes cards. In lieu of sending flowers, the family requests that you make a donation in Freeda’s honor to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 511 W. 41st Ave. No. 101, Anchorage, AK 99503-6643.
Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.
Joann Unrein
Joann Unrein, 74, of Wasilla, passed with peace March 15, 2010, after her battle with respiratory complications. She had been under the attentive care of family and staff at Mat-Su Regional Hospital.
In honor of her wishes, there will be no public services.
Joann was born Aug. 23, 1935, in Washington, Pa., to George and Martha McBratney.
She married her second husband Eric Unrein on Dec. 31, 1981.
During her employment years she worked on Elmendorf AFB as a warehouse worker and forklift operator for 21 years with the Army Air Force Exchange Service. After her retirement she found enjoyment crafting with stamps and scrapbooking memories, while always having a good stock of homemade salsa and jams.
Her family wrote, “She was a most loving wife and companion to her husband. Family was her main focus in life and her presence will be greatly missed.”
Survivors include her husband, Eric; three children, Wendy K. (Drabeck) Johnson, Colo. Springs, Colo., Robert S. Drabeck II, Bisbee, Ariz., and William M. Drabeck, St. George, Utah; two brothers, Norton Gough and Robert McBratney, both of Washington, Pa.; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is now reunited with parents George and Martha McBratney, and sisters Delores Hatfield and Helen Bauer, whom preceded her in death.
Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.
Mary Inez Ahmii Maasuk Atoruk
A funeral for Palmer resident Mary Inez Ahmii Maasuk Atoruk, 29, will be at 11 a.m. on Friday at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, 1015 S. Check St., in Wasilla. A visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Burial will be at a later date at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.
Mary died March 20, 2010, at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. She was born in Barrow on Feb. 7, 1981, and has been a lifelong Alaskan. She was a 2003 graduate of Colony High School. She attended church with her guardians and foster parents.
She loved listening to music, socializing with people, eating and shopping. She especially enjoyed having her hair brushed and massages.
According to her guardians, “Mary was a joy to many people. She touched so many people’s lives with her infectious smile and unconditional love. Though she had many physical limitations, she had no limits on her heart. She will be missed by many and was loved by all who knew her.”
She is survived by her guardian, Kathy McKelvey and family; her foster mother, Lianne Schwartz and family; and her other foster mother, Diane Wirtanen and family; and the countless caregivers in her life.
Arrangements were entrusted to Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel & Crematory in Wasilla,
Wade Thomas Weitzel
On March 16, 2010, surrounded by his loving family, Wade passed gently and peacefully away after fighting a lengthy illness.
Wade Thomas Weitzel was born Aug. 12, 1957 in Lander, Wyo.
He will be forever remembered as a loving husband; father, brother, uncle and grandparent. Wade loved being with family and playing with his grandchildren. A man with a huge heart, who took his dog Misty home in his shirt pocket and bottle fed from the day she was born. Wade brought love and laughter to all around him and that legacy will continue on in his memory.
Wade first came to Alaska in 1957 and became a lifelong Alaskan. Growing up in Alaska, he loved the adventures. An avid hunter and fisher who loved to ride snowmachines and motorcycles in 1960s Alaska, Wade got his first motorcycle, a Honda 70, at age 10. Traveling all around the state during the summers with his family as a child, he watched his father help construct the roads of Alaska. Wade had countless adventures growing up riding around on construction equipment. An Army veteran and a master mechanic, he liked to have bonfires and family barbecues in his backyard. His hero was John Wayne and he loved old Western movies. Wade was loved by family and friends alike who all will miss his smile and zest for life and family.
Wade was survived by his wife Mary McCarter, sisters Regina Weitzel, Gayle (Paul) Schroeder; his children Thomas (Lisa) Weitzel, Stacey (Robert) Valdez, Wade Jr. (Marlu) Weitzel, nephews Jamie, Jason and Jeremiah Brewington; nieces Sherri and Jennifer Schroeder; and step-mother Earleen Weitzel; 10 grandchildren and many great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother Dorine Frary Weitzel and father Evert “Vern” Weitzel and his sister Millie Weitzel.
Arrangements for the funeral and a celebration of life for Wade will be held on Thursday at 1:30 p.m., at Ft. Richardson National Cemetery. Anyone planning on attending please meet at the gate by 1:15 p.m. There will be a Celebration of Life to follow the graveside services at 3 p.m., at Palmer Elk’s Lodge, 2600 N. Barry’s Resort Drive in Wasilla.
Donations for the family can be made to Valley Food Bank in Wade’s name.
Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla.
Elizabeth Scheall
Trapper Creek resident Elizabeth “Eddie-Girl” Scheall, 56, died March 6, 2008, at St. Elias Specialty Hospital in Anchorage after a lengthy illness. A celebration of her life was held March 15 at Cache Creek Lodge. Chuck Smeltzer officiated.
Scheall was born May 24, 1951, in Castine, Maine, to Velma and Ernest Hutchinson. She came to Alaska with her mother and stepfather when she was 18 and fell in love with the state. She made it her home for many years off and on, living the better part of her life in Seward.
She worked several different bartending jobs, which led her to her husband, Joe Schaell. That’s when her adventures truly began. Her travels led her to many different states, finally ending up in Trapper Creek, where she started the first free newsletter there called “Up The Creek News.”
Her family wrote she “loved to cook and feed everybody. You could always go to her house and grocery shop. She cooked and delivered food to people until her own illness wouldn’t allow. Her motto was ‘I’ve life every day like it is your last or until the money and credit cards run out.’”
Scheall is survived by her husband of 20 years, Joe Scheall; daughters Shannon (Ryan) Benson and Christina (Jeff) Garcia; grandchildren Jacob, Ka’la, Hayle, Kyle, Allison, Faith, Morgan, Lana and Lexi; former son-in-law Jason (Lisa) Mann; stepson Brandon (Jamie) Allpress; brother-in-law Andy Schaell; sisters-in-law Tomi Mann, Wendy Lacroix and Nelli Fox; adopted brother Dave (Jill) Lorenzen; niece Cindy Murphy; aunts and uncles Margie and Marlie Richardson and Merna and Fred Hutchison; special cousins Arlene and Norma Joyce, Alice and Richard Spencer, David Hutchinson, Melvin and Janet Hutchinson; and all her friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother Velma Lister; grandmother Gladys Leo; stepfather David Lister; and mother-in-law Gyna Scheall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Heart and Lung Association or the charity of one’s choice.
George Milton Campbell Jr.
George Milton Campbell Jr., 73, passed away Feb. 27, 2010, in Lakewood, Wash., after a courageous battle with lung cancer. His loving wife was by his side.
Mr. Campbell was born Aug. 4, 1936, in Palmer to George Campbell Sr. and Onabel Mayhew.
After high school he joined the Army Reserves and then joined the Marine Corps. He married his high school sweetheart, June Fancher, in 1960, and remained in Alaska. George and June made Wasilla their home.
George was an avid gun collector and enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing, time on the water, flying and had a passion for history.
His family wrote: “George always had a smile and a joke for all, he loved the company of his loving wife, family and friends. He especially enjoyed time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be missed greatly by his family and everyone who knew him.”
Mr. Campbell is preceded in death by his father, George Milton Campbell Sr.; his mother, Onabel Mayhew and his brother Donald Campbell.
Mr. Campbell is survived by his wife, June Campbell; daughters, Rita Galzerano, Cheri Campbell and Tina Campbell; son, George (Spike) Campbell; daughters-in-law, Maribel Campbell and Joy Campbell; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and three brothers.
A private service will be held in Sherwood, Ore., with a full military service to follow later this year.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family asks any donations be made in the memory of George Milton Campbell Jr. to The American Lung Association.
Richard O. Pearson
Wasilla resident Richard (Dick) O. Pearson, 59, died Feb. 17, 2010, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.
A celebration of life will be held at the AM Vets Post 9 Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. There will also be a service at O’Brien-Straatmann Funeral Home in Kearney, Neb., on March 6 at 10 a.m. His cremated remains will be interred at Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege, Neb.
Dick Pearson was born on Aug. 18, 1950, in Holdrege, Neb.
Dick served in the Army from June 1970 to January 1972 and was stationed in Korea. He was a life member of the AM Vets Post 9, the American Legion and a founding member of Valley ABATE.
He enjoyed trucking, motorcycles, NASCAR and reading.
According to Dick’s family, “Dick was loved by many and will be missed by all for his kindness, his generosity and his great sense of humor. Those who knew him well have been blessed by having him in our lives, though too short of a time. Dick was a terrific support for Sammy Brady and took him in the truck for a day of work. This is how Sammy will remember him.”
He is survived by his wife, Carol Mills of Wasilla; mother, Beverly Pearson of Kearney; mother in-law, Jean Mills of North Platte, Neb.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim and Jane Pearson of Tabor, S.D., Jeff and Norm Pearson of Overtone, Neb., Stacey Pearson of Grand Island, Neb.; sister and brother in-law, Julie and Nick Keogh of Kearney; uncles and aunts, Bruce and Mary Ann Johnson of Littleton, Colo., Gary and Merry Johnson of Holdrege; step-daughter and husband, Brandi and Chad MacKenzie; stepson and companion, Ryan Horn and Alexandra Giatras of Edwards, Colo.; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Pearson was preceded in death by his father, Nelse Pearson; father in-law, Dale Mills; and his grandparents.
The family has requested in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be directed to Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union, account No. 129589.
Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements in Alaska and O’Brian-Straatmann Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements in Nebraska.
COLA JANELLE ELLIOTT
Cola Janelle Elliott, 82, died Jan. 31 at her Wasilla residence. She had fallen in the parking lot of her home and hit her head when returning from playing bingo.
No public services are planned.
Janelle was born Feb. 5, 1927 in Nashville, Tenn. She was a graduate of Greenbrier High School. She retired in 1965 from Dupont, where she had been employed as a payroll clerk. She came to Wasilla in April of 2008. She enjoyed bingo, traveling and the ocean.
Her family said, “She was the world’s best mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Eddie H. and Hazel Hall Cook; son, Hugh Edward Elliott; and brothers, Hoyt Cook, Jimmy cook and O’Neal Cook.
She is survived by her son, Richard Cook of Wasilla; daughter, Elaine Murphy of Springfield, Tenn.; brother, Malcolm Cook of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; granddaughters, Lisa Stanley of Wasilla and Julie Murphy of Springfield, Tenn.; grandson, Justin Murphy and six great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel & Crematory, Wasilla.
