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J. HAROLD MICHAL
Wasilla resident J. Harold Michal, 99, died Nov. 11, 2010, at home.
No services are planned at this time. His cremated remains will be scattered at Fireweed Mountain in the McCarthy-Kennicott Area.
Mr. Michal was born Oct. 16, 1911, in Millers, Nev. He became an Alaska resident in 1963 and resided in Anchorage and Valdez prior to moving to Wasilla. He was employed by the War Department during World War II at the shipyard in Portland, Ore. He was a journeyman machinist from 1942 to 1945, worked for Southern Pacific Railroad from 1945 to 1948 and for Civil Service at Elmendorf AFB as a DOT Rrght-of-way negotiator.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, was a constant student and enjoyed reading and studying.
Surviving are his wife, Carol; sons, Joseph and Norman Michal; daughter and son-in-law, Esther and Tom Smoot; step-children, Steven, Jerry, Sandra, Alan and Randy; 10 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two grandchildren.
Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory of Wasilla.
Goldie Spindler
Goldie Spindler died Oct. 31, 2010, at her home in Wasilla, following a courageous battle with cancer. Her family is planning a private celebration of life.
Goldie was born on Feb. 5, 1933, at East Lake, Minn., to the late Walter and Ruth Demenge. She made her final move to Alaska in 1974 and soon began her long career as a baker working in various camps during the construction of the Alaska pipeline. Goldie spent the last 30 years working for various companies in Prudhoe Bay and Kuparuk, where she created fantastic desserts. She worked tirelessly to be sure that all holiday dinners were extra special for the camp residents. Goldie was always available for her friends and co-workers and many called her “mom.”
Goldie was a mother first and foremost and was willing to sacrifice anything and everything for her children and grandchildren. Her family was the most important thing in her life and she is deeply missed.
Goldie is survived by her children, Ted and Susan Spindler, Tammy and Rick Winland, Dana and Helen Spindler and Brian Spindler; grandchildren, Jennifer Lamb, Dana Michael Spindler, Tiffany Green and Joseph Spindler; great-grandchildren, Toby Davis and Shelby Green; brothers, Steve Demenge and Winfield Demenge; and sisters Diane Horman, Martha Schleuter and Luella Tinge.
She was preceded in death by her brothers Frank Demenge, Gottlieb Demenge, David Demenge, Daniel Demenge, Richard Demenge, Winnipeg Demenge, Willard Demenge and sisters, Bertha Demenge and Agnus Jabas.
Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory.
Patricia E. Wilkes
Patricia Elaine Wilkes, 69, of Maggie Valley, N.C., died Oct. 26, 2010. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to the late Charles and Mildred Reeves, Patricia was a proud member of the Ladies Auxilliary Post No. 47 of The American Legion.
Surviving are her loving husband of 48 years, Charles Wilkes; son, Christopher (Kim) Wilkes of Asheville, N.C.; daughters, Kelly (Tony) Deese of Cherokee, N.C., and Stacie (Marc) Todino of Palmer; brother, Charles (Gail) Reeves of Escondido, Calif.; sisters, Charlene (Gary) Henderson of Reno, Nev., and Barbara (Donny) Weston of Detroit Lakes, Minn.; and four grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Stroke Association.
Edward S. Irish
Edward Steven Irish, 51, died suddenly Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010, in Big Lake. Ed was born in Stafford Springs, Conn., to George G. Irish Jr., and Inaclare White Irish on Dec. 7, 1958.
He attended schools in Connecticut and Ashland, Maine, and served in the National Guard in Maine after high school. He lived for many years in Rockville and Enfield, Conn., and worked for Rex Lumber in South Windsor, Conn., for 17 years before moving to Alaska to be near his mom and dad, James and Ina Emery.
He was employed in Wasilla at the Meta Rose Square as a maintenance person for eight years, at various area restaurants as a cook, and for the Anchorage Daily News delivering papers in the Mat-Su Valley.
Ed was an excellent cook and baker and loved the simple pleasures of the great outdoors, fishing woodworking and the Red Sox. He also enjoyed his extensive pig figurine collection and was a great daddy to his three cats.
Ed is survived by his five children, Edward Irish, Jr., of Fairbanks; Steven Crowley and Tabatha Bulgajewski of Enfield, Conn.; Rebecca Crowley of Palm Coast, Fla. and Brandy Eastman of Fort Fairfield, Maine; and 13 grandchildren.
Ed also leaves behind his brothers, George Irish III of Sandy Springs, Ga., Richard Hagberg of Columbia, S.C., Kendall Robinson of Masardis, Maine, and Andrew Irish of Connecticut; sisters, Linda Baldwin of Middlefield, Conn., and Stephanie Brown of Connecticut; a beloved sister-in-law, Lynn Egbert of Aiken, S.C.; several nieces and nephews in Alaska, Maine and South Carolina; and his three cats.
He is also survived by his father, George Irish, Jr., of Somers, Conn., and his mom and dad, James and Ina Emery of Canaan, N.H.
At the time of his passing, Ed was fulfilling his lifelong dream of building his own cabin on his lot in Big Lake.
Services will be held in the spring at the convenience of his family.
Hayden R. Martin
Lifelong Alaska resident Hayden Riley Martin, 6, died Nov. 3, 2010, at home in Wasilla.
A service is at 1 p.m. Friday at Janssen’s Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Anchorage. A second service is at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 13 at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory in Wasilla.
Hayden was born Oct. 29, 2004, in Anchorage. He lived most of his life in Nome with his mother, Lavone Martin Giang, and father, David Giang.
The family moved to Soldotna in November 2005 and lived there until October 2006, when the family moved back to Nome.
In March of 2010, Hayden moved to Wasilla to live with his dad, John Joseph, and grandparents, Tony and Zina Joseph. He attended Shaw Elementary in Wasilla.
Hayden loved to play video games. He loved swimming and going on snowmachine and 4-wheeler rides. He loved to play outside and go fishing with his father, David, and his brother, Levi.
Hayden had a beautiful smile and big blue eyes. He loved taking care of his brother, Levi, and sister, Melody. He was very protective of them both. He enjoyed visiting with his great-grandma Laura, spending the night and making homemade bread.
Hayden is survived by his mother, Lavone Giang; father, David Giang; brother, Levi; sister, Melody; great-grandmother, Laura Martin; grandmother, Monica Giang; grandfather, Duc Giang; uncle, Michael Giang; great-uncle, Frankie Martin; and aunt, Joan Miller, all of Nome. He also is survived by his dad, John Joseph; grandfather, Tony Joseph; grandmother, Zina Joseph; and sister, Andrea, all of Wasilla; aunt, Melissa Beckmeyer; and uncle, Kendall Hamilton; grandma, Annette Spivey; great-aunt, Sharon Martin; aunt, Cricket Beans; uncle, Derek Giang, all of Anchorage; great-aunt, Jane Martin of Palmer and great-uncle, Chief Gary Harrison of Chickaloon; great-grandma, Geraldine Hutchison; and aunt, Christine Spencer of Kenai; grandpa, Randall Spencer Sr.; grandma, Linda Spencer; uncle, Joseph Spencer; aunt, Marlena Spencer; aunt, Susannah Karella; and aunt, Naomi Green, all of Soldotna; aunt, Lisa Spencer, currently in the Navy and stationed on the Abraham Lincoln; and aunt, Audrey Spencer of Bend, Ore.; and by many cousins and extended family in Alaska and across the United States.
Hayden was preceded in death by his great-aunt, Gail Martin; great-aunt, Teresa Martin; and namesake cousin, Joey Riley Martin.
Arrangements are with Janssen’s Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Anchorage and Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory in Wasilla.
Antone ‘Buitch’ Azevedo Simas III
Antone “Butch” Azevedo Simas III died Nov. 9, 2010. He was 43.
Antone was born Nov. 3, 1967, in Steamboat Springs, Colo., and came to Alaska in June 1984. He was well-liked by everyone he met. He was always helping his friends and family.
He loved Alaska, and his favorite pastimes included fishing and camping in the summer and snowmachining in the winter.
He is survived by a brother, Joseph A. Simas of Missouri, and a sister, Shamarita (Brian) Dalgatty of Idaho. He is also survived by his mother, Sharon Rollins, who lives in Wasilla, as do his three sons, Steven M. Simas, Justin R. (Clair) Simas and Dexter B. Simas and significant other Barbara Walker. Antone is also survived by his grandparents, Gilbert and Elsie Tipton of Idaho; aunts and uncles, Beverly and Rex Conway of Wasilla, Matt and Rhonda of Big Lake, Darla and Glen Butcha of Anchorage, Donny and Patty Darrah, Ronald and Roxie Tipton, and Geneva Graham, all of Idaho, and Melvin and Jean Laird of California; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Stanley Carter
Stanley M. Carter, 77, died Nov. 10, 2010, at home after a long battle with cancer.
Services for Stanley will be held Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. at the Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary Chapel with a burial to follow at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery with military honors.
Stanley was born Dec. 11, 1932, to James and Edna in Salina, Kan. After a year of college, he joined the military and served three years with the Marine Corps. Following his service with the Marines, Stan worked in the oilfields across the Midwest. In Alaska, he was able to get into the construction field through the laborer’s union.
Stan loved fishing, hunting and gold mining. He found Alaska the perfect place to enjoy these pastimes. In March 1966, he made his way up to Alaska, living in Anchorage for 10 years before moving to the Butte area of Palmer. Stan was affiliated with St. John’s Lutheran Church and the NRA.
His family says he was, “Always friendly, helpful and there for everyone. Stanley always had a joke for everyone.”
Stanley is survived by his wife, Shirley; son Timothy Carter of Palmer; daughter, Loraine Carter of Anchorage; grandson, Jonathon Carter of Anchorage; brothers, Max Carter of Springfield, Mo., and Russell and Jerry Carter of Salina; sisters, Betty Bryant of Houston, Texas, Patricia Shea of Albuquerque, N.M., Barbara Nelson of Oklahoma and Nancy Gluth of Anchorage. He was preceded in death by his son, Richard Carter; brother, James Carter; and sisters, Jean Henley and Wanda Berner.
The family is asking memorial donations be made to a charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.
Arrangements are with Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary.
John R. Martinson
Former Alaska resident John R. “Jack” Martinson, 62, died Nov. 3, 2010.
A service was held in Gabbs, Nev., on Nov. 5.
Jack was born March 30, 1948, in Ashland, Wisc., to John H. and Eleanor E. Martinson.
He married shortly after high school and had six children — David, Daniel, Collene, Samantha, John and Paul.
When he was 34, Jack met his wife, Paula “Jane” Toothman, through their parents. Six months later, they were on the road again on their way to Alaska, where they married and had two sons, Jedidiah and Jacob. His son John lived with them and was an important part of their family.
Jack, Jane and the boys traveled between Alaska and Arizona for many years. In Alaska, Jack loved to gather up a bunch of kids in dogsleds and ride snowmachines on the lakes. In Arizona, he would take his kids and their friends out camping in the desert and cook them breakfast over the campfire. He loved God.
Jack worked as a logger, miner and heavy equipment mechanic in Alaska, Arizona, Oregon and Nevada. He loved to travel and tell stories.
Jack learned he had lung cancer in October 2008. He fought hard and lived 13 months cancer-free.
He is survived by his wife, Jane; daughter-in-law Dee Martinson-Bush and her son of Arizona; son and daughter-in-law John and Jill Martinson and their children of Wasilla; son and daughter-in-law Jed and Mercedes Martinson and their children of Nevada; sons Jake of Texas, and Dan and Paul of Oregon; daughters Collene Martinson of New Mexico and Samantha Hatfield of Oregon; mother Eleanor; sisters Collene and Eleanor Kay; brothers Ken and Dan; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, numerous other grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his son, David, and his father.
Dr. Sharon Lee Willoughby-Blake
Sharon Lee Willoughby-Blake, DVM, D.C., 63, died Nov. 10, 2010, at her Palmer residence, from complications of cancer.
Sharon was born Dec. 1, 1946, in Battle Creek, Mich. to Sammy and Edna Willoughby. She graduated from Michigan State University in 1970, with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and later with a Doctor of Chiropractic in 1986 from Palmer College of Chiropractic, in Davenport, Iowa. In 1986, Sharon founded Options for Animals, a college of animal chiropractics in Illinois. She was a founding member of Sindorf Equestrian Educational Center. As a lifetime member of ACVA, Sharon received the first annual AVCA Animal Chiropractor of the year in 2000. Other awards that Sharon received were Distinguished Veterinary Alumnus Award, 2001 from Michigan State University, Large Animal Clinic Award 1970 from Michigan State University, and Professor of the year in 1989 from Palmer College of Chiropractic.
Sharon enjoyed spending time with and loving Truman, family, friends, all animals, building miniature dollhouses and teaching. Her family states, “All of the animals are lining up in Heaven: Dr. Sharon is in.”
She is survived by her husband Truman Blake of Wasilla; son Jason Jakubas of Michigan; father Sammy Willoughby of Michigan; brother Keith Willoughby of Florida; and sister Jan Eccles of Michigan.
In addition to her mother, Edna Mae Leeth, Sharon was preceded in death by, grandfather, Francis Conway; and grandmother, Ruby Conway.
Arrangements were by Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory of Wasilla.
Dana W. Wilson
Dana W. Wilson, 47, died Nov. 13, 2010.
Dana was born May 27, 1963, and raised in Alaska, residing in the Valley close to family and friends. He was a loner with a pioneer and ever-restless gypsy spirit. He was brilliant and always thirsting for knowledge, enlightenment and new things to learn.
He loved the outdoors, hunting, “4-bying” up mountains, glaciers and across rivers, and was always up for the next road-trip with family and friends. He was a Local 302 operator, commercial truck driver, mechanic extraordinaire and a real ladies’ man. Charismatic and entertaining, he always regaled all with the latest tale.
Dana had troubles in this world, but hung on and overcame them. It was important to him to pass on the knowledge and wisdom he had gained from the fiery trials he walked through. He was purposeful and exuberant about giving counsel to those who would listen and who he could keep from the same trials.
“Family, friends, their wellbeing, love and joy in life were important to him, ” his family wrote. “He was taken from us too early at 47 — just when he could begin to express his deep, heartfelt love and appreciation for those around him. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered for his contribution to our lives.”
He is survived by two brothers, Pete and Larkin; two sisters, Debbie and Patti-Ann; nieces, Atlantis, Jennye, Isabella and Autumn; uncle, Phil Plack; aunt, Phyllis Wilson; the Ed Carney family of Washington state; and his good friends, who made the most difference at the greatest time in his life.
A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m., Nov. 27 at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, 1015 South Check Street, Wasilla.
