Longtime resident Alice Bakke dies at 90

Alice Bakke, 90, passed away on Oct. 31, 2023. A graveside service will be held at the Sunset Garden Cemetery at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, with a celebration of life to follow at the Elks Lodge.

Alice Gloria Camenzind was born on Aug. 14, 1933, to Edward Camenzind and Julia Larsen in San Mateo, California. At a young age, Alice and her mother relocated to Wrangell, where Julia married Hans Nergaard. Julia and Hans added two more children to their family, Marie Nergaard (Johnson) and Carol Nergaard (Hay).

Edward Camenzind later married Emma and they added two daughters, Joyce Camenzind (Craig) and Lois Camenzind (Burkhalter).

"Alice always loved and appreciated having her sisters," the family wrote.

Alice married Wayne Deiz in California and on Oct. 23, 1953, a son, David, was born.

Alice left California and moved back to Wrangell, where she met her beloved husband Arnold "Cappy" Bakke. They were married on Sept. 10, 1954, and Cappy adopted David. On May 11, 1955, A son, Arnold, was born to Cappy and Alice. At the young age of 3, David passed from brain cancer, "a grieving that lasted many years."

On Sept. 5, 1957, Alice and Cappy welcomed their daughter, Helen Bakke (Keller).

Cappy and Alice's experiences included many years of commercial fishing, part owners of the Stikine Bar, as well as Bakke Rentals. With only an eighth-grade education, Alice taught herself how to operate their rental business, but her main interest was real estate.

Alicie enjoyed fishing with Cappy, gardening, crocheting, painting, going on picnics with her family, and rummage sales. "One of her main goals was to arrive at a sale before her friend Karen Johnson, a goal she was happy to accomplish," her family wrote. "Alice will be forever missed by her family and friends."

She was preceded in death by her fathers, Edward Camenzind, and Hans Nergaard; mother Julia Nergaard; husband Arnold (Cappy) Bakke; and son David Bakke.

She is survived by son Arnold Bakke (Ava); granddaughter Solvay Gillen (JC); great-granddaughters Annika and Leeya; daughter Helen Keller (Steve); granddaughter Brandy Grina (Jeremy); and great-grandson Jacob.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wrangell Mariners' Memorial, Box 2346, Wrangell, AK 99929, or Wrangell Elks Club, Box 377, Wrangell, AK 99929.