Obituaries


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  • Longtime resident Ron Kagee dies at 86

    Nov 30, 2022

    Ronald D. Kagee passed away Nov. 17 at the Wrangell Medical Center. Burial is planned for 1 p.m. on Dec. 6 at the Sunset Gardens Cemetery. No reception is planned. Ron was born to Bill and Toney Kagee on March 14, 1936, in Longview, Washington. He joined the U.S. Army shortly after graduating from high school in Castle Rock, Washington. He spent two years in the military in Germany and played the bugle. He then worked as a cutter in logging, working in Washington and Oregon before coming to Alas...

  • Former real estate broker John L. Tullis Sr. dies at 99

    Oct 19, 2022

    Former Wrangell real estate broker John L. Tullis Sr., 99, passed away peacefully with his two daughters present on Sept. 28 in Camas, Washington. Tullis was born on Jan. 16, 1923, in Pendleton, Oregon. He was raised on a ranch, caring for animals, pitching hay, building fences, cleaning the barn and cooking with his mom. He was one of six kids, second from the bottom. He drove a Model T Ford to high school and later sold it for $25. Serving in the Navy during World War II took him to the...

  • William Gregory Aalbertsberg dies at 74

    Oct 5, 2022

    William Gregory Aalbertsberg dies at 74 William "Will" Gregory Aalbertsberg, 74, passed away on July 30. He had lived in Wrangell since 2009. William was born on July 29, 1948, in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. As a young man, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as soon as he could. "He loved telling the tale of how he celebrated his 17th birthday in boot camp," his family wrote. Will was proud of his service, and a lifelong love of the shooting sports and weaponry took hold as he earned his M14...

  • Former resident Dylan Wyatt Kirschner dies at 26

    Sep 14, 2022

    Dylan Wyatt Kirschner, 26, passed away on Aug. 26 "after a brief but courageous battle with cancer," his family wrote. Dylan was born on Feb. 16, 1996, in Wrangell and moved to the Yakima, Washington, area with his parents and younger brother Dawson in 2001. Dylan was an avid video gamer and music lover who played the guitar and ukulele. He played as much as his free time allowed. "We will all miss hearing him play," his family wrote. "Though Dylan moved from Alaska when he was very young, he re...

  • Karen Martin-Webster dies at 69

    Sep 14, 2022

    Karen Martin-Webster "Bubbles," 69, passed away on Aug. 26. Karen was born March 11, 1953. She moved to Wrangell in the late 1970s and lived there through the 1980s, when she decided to move to Petersburg to work at Petersburg Fisheries. She and husband, Darrell Webster, moved south for a few years to be near her mom and then moved back to Wrangell in 2015. They lived in Wrangell until January 2022. Karen worked as a bartender, dogcatcher, dispatcher, worked pulling lumber on the green chain in...

  • Fisherman, veteran Arnold Bakke dies at 91

    Sep 7, 2022

    Arnold Elmer "Cappy" Bakke, 91, passed away surrounded by family at his side on Aug. 30 in Wrangell. Graveside services will be held at noon Friday, Sept. 9, with a reception to follow at the Elks Hall. Donations of food for the reception will be appreciated by the family. Contact Tammy at 907-305-0270. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wrangell Fire Department or the Wrangell Mariners' Memorial. Arnold was born to Orlando Bakke and Marguret Gunyah on Oct. 25, 1930. He had four si...

  • Fisherman John Paul Feller Jr. dies at 73

    Aug 24, 2022

    John Paul Feller Jr. passed into the "happy hunting grounds" on Aug. 10 in Wrangell after a hard battle with cancer, his family wrote. "He will be greatly missed." A celebration of life will be held at a later time. John was born on Dec. 29, 1948, to John Paul Feller Sr. and Carol Alice (James) Feller Brady in Wrangell. The oldest of five children, John was someone who everyone looked up to and was a friend to all, his family wrote. John started fishing with his dad at a young age and his love...

  • Air Force veteran Ron Winters dies at 81

    Aug 24, 2022

    Ron Winters, 81, of Wrangell, passed away peacefully on Aug. 14 from complications of diabetes and heart disease. He was born in Astoria, Oregon, in 1940 and went to high school in Forest Grove. He served in the U.S. Air Force. He had been in Alaska for more than 50 years, living in Anchorage, Homer, Cordova and Wrangell. He worked on the North Slope as a welder for several years and owned his own machine and welding shop in Homer, where he met his wife. They spent 20 years owning, operating...

  • Former resident Leatha Vada Aitken dies at 90

    Aug 10, 2022

    Former Wrangell resident Leatha Vada Aitken "went home to her Lord" on July 19, in Juneau surrounded by family. Vada, as she was known, was born Nov. 12, 1931, to James Virgil and Maude Briscoe in Healdton, Oklahoma, and grew up in nearby Fox. The farm life was not easy, but Vada had happy times, her family wrote, especially with cousins Judy and JoAnn. Vada had two daughters with first husband, George Vaughan: Vicki, born in California, and Sandi, born in Juneau. After divorcing, Vada met and m...

  • Mel Bjorge dies at 53

    Jun 29, 2022

    Melville "Mel" John Bjorge, 53, of Wrangell, passed away on Sept. 12, 2021, from natural causes, the family said. Mel was born June 25, 1968, at Bishop Rowe Hospital. He was the last baby born at Bishop Rowe before the new Wrangell hospital opened. He was a 20-year employee of the hospital. "He was loved by all at the hospital, especially the long-term care residents," his family wrote. "He will be missed by all." He is survived by his father, Melville B "Bucky" Bjorge, and his mother, Carol...

  • Veteran Richard Wiederspohn dies at 72

    Jun 29, 2022

    Richard “Rick” Wiederspohn, 72, of Wrangell, passed away on May 27. Rick moved to Wrangell in 1966. He was a Vietnam veteran with the U.S. Army and a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge. Rick had a brief battle of pneumonia. He was surrounded by loved ones, his family said. No celebration is planned....

  • Volunteer fireman Robert Wickman dies at 76

    Jun 22, 2022

    Robert "Bob" Wickman, 76, of Wrangell, passed away on Jan. 13. A celebration of life and potluck picnic will be held at 11 a.m. July 6 at Shoemaker Park. Bob was born in Ketchikan to Robert Wickman Sr. and Helen Gross Barr on March 3, 1945. The family moved to Wrangell shortly afterward. He went to Wrangell High School. Bob fished many years, worked as a longshoreman and worked in construction around town and on the North Slope. The jobs he most enjoyed were working for Campbell Towing and...

  • Former Wrangell minister Terry Whittlesey dies at 81

    Jun 22, 2022

    Terry Whittlesey, 81, "a man of great faith, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior" on June 6 in Spanaway, Washington. He had served as pastor at Harbor Light Church in Wrangell from 1979 to 1990. "He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. He had an unconditional love for his family, and leaves behind a lasting legacy with many cherished memories," his family wrote. He served more than 50 years as a minister and teacher, bringing him great fulfillment. Terry and his fami...

  • Services July 6 for Rosemary Pagano (Kalkins)

    Jun 22, 2022

    A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. July 6 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church for Rosemary Pagano (Kalkins), who passed away at the age of 87 on Nov. 7, 2021, in Anchorage, leaving behind two children and four grandchildren. Rosemary graduated from Wrangell High School and was a cheerleader for the Wrangell basketball team when they won the 1952 state championship. After graduating in 1955, she attended college in Corpus Christi, Texas. She then became a flight attendant for Pan American...

  • Glenda Gillen dies at 79; helped bring Head Start to town

    Jun 1, 2022

    Glenda L. Gillen, 79, passed away in her home surrounded by her husband and children "and lots of love" on May 18 in Wrangell. Glenda's family will hold a private church service for her. Glenda was born to Harriet and Alton McAllister in Ketchikan on Nov. 6, 1942. She lived several years in Kasaan with her family and loved spending as much time as she could with her grandfather James Peele. She is the granddaughter of Chief Son-I-Hat of the Whale house of the Yaada tribe. She is Haida eagle of...

  • Rose May Offley Shilts Sundberg dies at 92

    May 4, 2022

    Rose May Offley Shilts Sundberg, 92, passed away on Jan. 4, 2022, in Wrangell. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Rose was born in Vargas, Minnesota, on May 31, 1929. She moved to Wrangell in May 1962 with her husband Earl Shilts and their five children and never regretted the move. "Rose loved Alaska and seemed to fit right in," her family wrote. Rose worked for several years at Wrangell Seafoods and at the Wrangell General Hospital. She was a member of the Emblem Club and Red...

  • Former resident Mary Hoyt dies at 84 in Arizona

    Mar 30, 2022

    Former Wrangell resident Mary Delia Hoyt, 84, died Jan. 11, 2022, at her home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. She was born March 19, 1937, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Sabina and John Weber, one of five children. “Mary met the love of her life, Herb Hoyt, while attending Marquette University,” her family wrote. They were married in 1956 and later camped their way across the country “like gypsies,” the family wrote, finally settling in Ketchikan. Together they raised seven children. “Mary always claimed her father’s family were Romanian gypsies, an...

  • Former Wrangell teacher Carroll Merritt dies at 86

    Wrangell Sentinel|Mar 23, 2022

    Former Wrangell resident Carroll Merritt, 86, died July 21, 2021, in Fort Benton, Montana. He was born in 1935, the first child of Bonnie and Ves Merritt, of Sturgis, South Dakota. During elementary school the family lived a short time in Deadwood, S.D., but most years were in Sturgis, where both sets of grandparents and other family were close. Carroll Merritt lived in Wrangell about 20 years, from the late 1960s to late 1980s, working as a teacher, said his widow, Agnes Merritt. They were married 51 years. He excelled in sports in high school...

  • Commercial fisherman Randy Maygard dies at 68

    Wrangell Sentinel|Mar 23, 2022

    Former Wrangell resident Randy Charles Maygard, 68, died March 2. He was born Sept. 14, 1953, to Charles and Nancy Maygard, of Seattle. Randy grew up part of his life in Seattle, where he attended Jane Adams Junior High, then Nathan Hale High School. The family moved to Wrangell, where he completed his schooling. Randy spent his life working in the sawmill and commercial fishing industry. He started out in commercial fishing with his grandfather on the KED, and ended up owning his own boat, the...

  • Celebration of life for Craig William Campbell on May 7

    Mar 16, 2022

    A celebration of life for former Wrangell resident Craig William Campbell will be held May 7 at the Wrangell Elks Club. He died Jan. 23 in Oregon. Craig was born on April 26, 1945, in Pierre, South Dakota. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Seaside, Aloha and other Oregon communities, where his father, John Campbell, could find more opportunities for logging work. At 3 years old, Craig was joined by younger sister Carolyn (Cari). They lived next to a grade school in Aloha, where Craig...

  • Services Saturday for former mayor Dave Jack

    Mar 2, 2022

    Dave Jack, 78, died Feb. 23 at home in Wrangell. Services will be held at noon Saturday, March 5, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, followed by a graveside vigil at 1 p.m. at Sunset Gardens Cemetery. He was born Oct. 10, 1943, to Jesse David Jack and Mae Dell Wagoner in Manassa, Colorado. "In his younger years he followed the usual boyhood pursuits of hunting and fishing, and anything outdoor related." His family wrote. The Jack family moved around following work, eventually...

  • Memorial gathering for David Matelski March 19

    Mar 2, 2022

    A memorial gathering for David "Dave" James Matelski will be held 2 p.m. March 19 at the pavilion in Coffman Cove. He died in his home June 20, 2021. David was born in Petersburg on July 16, 1969. He and his family lived in Wrangell before moving to Palmer. David graduated from Palmer High School in 1987. He was a member of the Palmer swim team. After graduating, David moved to Denver to attend a school for small engines. While there, he enjoyed skiing, his family wrote. Meanwhile, back on...

  • Billie Foust known for her years on KSTK

    Jan 20, 2022

    Billie Foust, 65, died Jan. 14 in Ketchikan, where she had lived the past couple of years. She was born April 1956 in Arcata, California, to Ethel Miller and Bill Foust. Billie spent most of her life in Wrangell. She went to high school in Wrangell, then left town for a short time in Hoopa, California, and Shelton, Washington, before returning in her 20s to Wrangell. "Candy, or 'Babe' as she was called, leaves behind many friends and family who will remember her as the voice of KSTK, where her...

  • Willy Eyon, who helped build Wrangell, dies at 91

    Jan 13, 2022

    Willy Eyon passed away on Oct. 31, 2021, at the Wrangell Medical Center long-term care facility at the age of 91. Born in Wrangell on Sept. 27, 1930, Willy would go on to graduate from Wrangell High School before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1950. He spent two years of active duty at the Elmendorf hospital in Anchorage as a clerk typist. Willy eventually returned home, where he was employed by Wrangell Farwest Fish Co., working onboard fish packers, and running the Eloise, picking up gill...

  • Native leader Gilbert Gunderson dies at 91

    Jan 6, 2022

    Gilbert Gunderson passed away on Dec. 22, 2021. He was born June 24, 1930, in Wrangell on Shakes Island, as was his sister Nellie Torgramsen, to Margaret Shakes and Gunnar Gunderson. Their grandparents, Chief George and Mary Shakes, cared for Gilbert and Nellie until Gilbert was 5 years old, at which time Mary passed away. From there they were sent to Juneau, where their dad worked at the AJ Mine. There Gilbert started school, which didn't go well because he couldn't speak English, only Native...

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