Huge Marriages Search Engine!
Bruce H. Simon
New Hampshire resident Bruce H. Simon died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass. He was 55.
At Mr. Simon's request, services will be private.
He was born in Newburyport, Mass., on Oct. 9, 1945, and graduated from Newburyport High School in 1963. He received four bronze stars during his service in the Vietnam War. He was a draftsman by profession, recently retiring from Lucent Technologies after 30 years of service. His interests were drag racing and motorcycles, and he was a great lover of cats.
Mr. Simon is survived by his parents Earl and Eleanor (Hamilton) Simon; daughter, Shannon Simon, of Merrimac, Mass.; sisters and brothers-in-law Jane and David Nock of Amesbury, Mass., and Nancy and James Ziehler of Soldotna; nephews Jeff Ziehler of Anchorage and Erik Nock of Salisbury, Mass.; and niece, Terry Ziehler, of Oregon.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Merrimak River Feline Rescue Society Inc., P.O. Box 1176, Newburyport, MA 01950.
Arrangements were made by Paul C. Rogers and Sons in Amesbury.
James C. 'Jim' Johnson
Nikiski resident James C. "Jim" Johnson died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. He was 53.
Memorial services were held Jan. 13, 2001, at North Star United Methodist Church in Nikiski. Pastor John Henry officiated.
Mr. Johnson was born Dec. 1, 1947, in Sacramento, Calif., where he was raised and educated. He had worked as a route driver, truck driver and security officer for delivery services. He moved to Alaska in July 2000. While in Alaska, he worked at Big Kmart and as a security officer for Agrium.
Mr. Johnson was a member of the Methodist faith. He was a championship pool player and professional trumpet player. He enjoyed GTO race cars and playing pool.
Mr. Johnson is survived by brothers Vaughn of Nikiski and Carl of Sacramento; and nephews Vaughn and Jake.
Memorial donations may be made to North Star United Methodist Church in Nikiski.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Charles "Chuck" J. Kunz
Homer resident Charles "Chuck" J. Kunz died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001, at his home. He was 77.
A celebration of his life will be held in the spring with the time to be announced at a later date.
Mr. Kunz was born Dec. 18, 1923, in Kellogg, Idaho. He attended Fresno State College in California. He graduated with a bachelor's degree and magna cum laude status. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was honorably discharged.
Mr. Kunz moved to Alaska in 1946 and worked for the Alaska Railroad from 1946 to 1950. From 1955 to 1964, he was a rancher on his Homer homestead.
He then worked as a commercial fisherman in Kodiak from 1965 to 1968. After working in Kodiak, he then worked as a high school history and English teacher from 1971 to 1974. After working as a teacher, he worked from 1975 to 1983, for the Afognak Logging Company.
He enjoyed beachcombing, rock collecting, reading, outdoor life and driving across the United States.
"His friends and neighbors will remember his willingness to help with many projects, his keen sense of humor and especially his kindness to animals. He especially enjoyed reading and challenging his mind. His daughters will treasure his dedication to his family, especially his grandchildren. All who knew him were inspired by his example of honesty and goodness towards others, " his family said.
Mr. Kunz is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Jocelyn and Jay McCollum, of Kenai, and Claudia and Peter Richter, of Escondido, Calif.; grandchildren, Jordan and Cole McCollum and Kristen and Monica Richter; brother and sister-in-law John and Verna Kunz of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; and nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Homer Animal Shelter at 4060 Heath Street, Homer, AK 99603.
Arrangements were made by the Homer Funeral Home.
Terrence 'Terry' 'J.R.' Sunnyboy Jr.
Terrence "Terry" "J.R." Sunnyboy Jr. died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001, in Fairbanks. He was 31.
A memorial celebration will be held Tuesday at Kenai Peninsula College from 1 to 5 p.m. in room 114. Friends are encouraged to bring stories and memories to share. Funeral services were held in Fairbanks and Nenana.
Mr. Sunnyboy was born in Fairbanks on Oct. 6, 1969. He was raised in the North Pole and Fairbanks areas and attended North Pole High School. He most recently was a junior at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, majoring in business and focusing on tourism, and was a former Kenai Peninsula College student.
He was employed by Doyon Ltd. as a security guard and during summers he worked at the Kantishna Roadhouse as a tour guide, taking up the slack in many other areas whenever help was needed.
"J.R. loved life and it was reflected in the wonderful smile that he gave freely to everyone he knew. He was always eager to learn, giving freely and lovingly when involved in work or daily life. He was happiest working with people, and especially when he was with friends and family, " family and friends said.
"He took pride in being a giving person and gave as much as he possibly could with love in his heart. He had great pride in his heritage, education and work, which was expressed by his long, beautiful, brown hair, appearance and character. He will be remembered in many hearts as a gentle, kind and loving person. J.R. had a smile for everyone and that will be a lasting and precious memory."
He was preceded in death by his aunt Wilma Ketzler; cousins Yara Sunnyboy, Gilbert Ketzler and Don Ketzler; grandparents Dan Ketzler, Robert Sunnyboy Sr., and Elizabeth and Victor Merrifield; and other friends.
He is survived by his father and mother, Terry and Sharon Sunnyboy of North Pole; brothers Mike and Curtis Sunnyboy, both of North Pole; sister Tammy Monzulla of North Pole; grandmother Stella Ketzler of North Pole; nephews Kyle Pitka of Beaver and Wayne DeWilde-Brower of Idaho; nieces Kari Monzulla and Amelia DeWilde-Sunnyboy, both of North Pole; and many other aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Arrangements were made by Fairbanks Funeral Home.
Jose Bravo Sr.
Kenai resident Jose Bravo Sr. died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2000, in a traffic accident on the Seward Highway. He was 75.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Garrett James Ross
Garrett James Ross, formerly of Anchorage and Nikiski, died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, in West Jordan, Utah. He was 23.
Services were held on Friday at the Christ United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mr. Ross was born July 4, 1977, in Anchorage to Gary and Dawn Ross. He grew up in Alaska and Salt Lake City. He attended elementary school in Anchorage and high school in Nikiski. He graduated from high school in Salt Lake City and from Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix, Ariz. He was employed by Alpha Transport Inc. in Salt Lake City. His family said, "He loved to fish and play football. His love for sports led him into coaching little league football."
He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Dawn and Michael Norton, of West Jordan; brother, Dale Norton of West Jordan; father and stepmother, Gary and Becky Ross of Anchorage; stepbrother and sister, Traeger and Kristin Anderson, of Anchorage; maternal grandparents, Don and Jackie Armstrong, of Thayne, Wyo.; paternal grandparents, George and Lola Dean Ross, of Stilwell, Okla.; uncles Scott Armstrong of Greensboro, N.C., Larry Ross of Stilwell, David Ross and wife Mari of Houston, Texas; aunt and uncle, Jana Dean and Donivan Hudgins, of Siloam Springs, Ark.; cousins Gralon, Hollan and Donivan Hudgins, Brittany, and Chelsea and Nicole Ross; and many friends in Alaska and Utah.
A memorial fund has been set up in honor of Mr. Ross to assist his little league football players in acquiring new uniforms and covering league dues. Donations may be made to the Garrett James Ross Memorial Fund, at Wells Fargo Bank account number 2001946862.
Arrangements were made by Holbrook Mortuary in Salt Lake City.
Vera Ivora Johnson
Former Nikiski resident Vera Ivora Johnson died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2001, in Medford, Ore. She was 87.
Mrs. Johnson was born on April 15, 1913, in LaClede, Idaho, to Albert Orville and Bernice Ann Whorral Nowlin.
She married Percy W. Johnson on March 7, 1945, in Superior, Mont.
The couple moved to Alaska in 1957, with their three daughters to homestead in Nikiski.
Through the years, they traveled the Alaska Highway more than 40 times, visiting and living in other places.
"Vera had such an adventurous nature and willing traveling companion, Percy, that the family referred to them as gypsies, " the family said.
"Vera was a loving mother to her children and was very greatly loved and respected by all of her family. Her daughters will always be thankful for the values and good character she imparted to them, " the family added.
She is survived by her husband, Percy Johnson, of Medford; brothers Albert Nowlin of Idaho and Jack Nowlin of Washington; sisters Catherine Cooper and Betty Blowin of Washington, Fern Dahler of Idaho and Margie Morrow of Hawaii; daughters Bernice Miller of Oregon, Wanda Hektner of Montana, Donna McGahan of Nikiski, Crystal McGahan of Chico, Calif., Ann Hart of Soldotna and Darlene Andherst of Idaho; and grandchildren Dennis, Ward, Kurt, Victoria, Michael, Cary, Gene Paul, Karen, Corinne, Crystal, Per, Denise, Stacy, Emily, William, Ronald, Angela, Pete, Daniel, Linda, Susie, Jeff, Becky, Heidi and Andrew. She also had many great- and great-great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Central Valley Cremation and Funeral Care in Central Point, Ore.
Helen E. Hatch-Jones
Alaska native Helen E. Hatch-Jones of Seward died Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001, at the Wesley Rehabilitation and Care Center in Seward. She was 80.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday at the Wesley Rehabilitation and Care Center. Sanna Levan will officiate. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Her ashes also will be spread in Hope at a later date.
Mrs. Jones was born on Aug. 15, 1920, in Unalaska. She was a resident of the Jesse Lee Orphanage and attended the William H. Seward Public School. She resided in Hope from 1970 to 1981, and Portland, Ore., with her second husband, Dick Jones, from 1962 to 1970.
She worked in a salmon cannery and as a cook and waitress in Seldovia. She was co-owner of the Seward Steam Laundry and Dry Cleaners with her first husband, Bill Bern, and worked as a commercial fisher with her father and mother, Peter and Annie Hatch, at the Niskiska Beach setnet site. She also was a taxi cab dispatcher for Legion Cab in Seward.
Mrs. Jones was an avid reader, she taught her daughter to love books, embroidery, gardening and raising canaries. She was an avid hiker and enjoyed skiing and snowshoeing.
"She was a gifted cook; she made the best bread I ever tasted. Mom had a special knack for timing meals so everything was done at the same time. She loved to feed people. She had many good works, which included the Disabled Vets and St. Joseph's Indian School.
"She was proud of her Aleut heritage. She loved music and dancing. She had a special style, whether in jeans or suits. She put her daughter Ruby in a wooden frame pack board on her back and hiked all over the Seward area, including Mount Marathon, " a family member said.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Bill Bern, and her second husband, Richard Jones; granddaughter, Shawn; brother, Jesse Lee Hatch; sister, Florence Jones; and several stepchildren and grandchildren.
Mrs. Jones is survived by her mother, Annie Hatch, of Seward; brother and sister-in-law, Ralph and Anne Hatch of Seward; sister and brother-in-law, Julia and Bob Reefe of Puyallup, Wash.; daughters Ruby Sundberg of Seward and Margaret Dettman of Whidbey Island, Wash.; grandchildren Michael, Donald, Denise, Charles, Kenneth, Bill and Debbie; and great-grandchildren Erin, Bobbie Ann, Adam and Alan.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Funeral Home of Seward.
Linda M. Thebaut
Longtime Alaska and Nikiski resident Linda M. Thebaut died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2001, in a Las Vegas, Nev., hospital. She was 68.
Mrs. Thebaut was born Aug. 25, 1932, in Coldwater, Mich. She retired as a bookkeeper and moved to Las Vegas four years ago.
Her family said, "Linda loved people, animals, traveling and especially Alaska. She loved life and lived it to the fullest, laughing often. Linda was dearly loved and we will miss her deeply."
She is survived by her husband, James; son, Mick Adams, of Romulus, N.Y.; brother, Bertrand Sibley, of Greendale, Wis.; two grandchildren; and many friends.
James A. McDowell
Homer resident James A. McDowell died at his home on Sunday, March 11, 2001, of heart disease. He was 86. Memorial services will be held at a later date. His ashes will be inurned at the Hickerson Memorial Cemetery, in Homer, also at a later date.
Mr. McDowell was born in Anacortes, Wash., on Jan. 12, 1914. He moved to Alaska in 1933 and lived in Moose Horn, Kenai, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Chugiak and Homer over the years. He worked as a merchant seaman, journalist, photographer, taxi driver and with the Chugiak Fire Department. His interests included politics, Alaska Native culture and history.
"Jim always had his dreams, " his family said. "He was educated by the 'school of life.'"
Mr. McDowell was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Church; son, Bruce; parents, Clare and Jessie McDowell; and sister, Grace Carter. He is is survived by his sister, Isabel W. Stuber; brother, Clare "Bud" McDowell; niece, Linnie Griffin; nephews Jim Breece, David Nelson, Les Nelson and Charles Carter, all of Washington State; sister-in-law, Jane Church; niece, Carol Egner and her husband, Henry, and their children Jamie Egner, Kimberly and Nicholas Burns; nieces Nancy McNulty and Janet Minnich; nephew, Jim Church; and many great nieces and nephews, all of Ketchikan; and his "adopted" daughters, Barb Andon, Darlene Rich and Dorothea Adams, all of Fort Yukon.
Arrangements were made by Homer Funeral Home.
