Alaska School Yearbooks by County
David Ackerman
Juneau resident David A. Ackerman died April 18, 2007, in Juneau. He was 54.
He was born June 20, 1952, in Tacoma, Wash., to Winona and Arthur Ackerman.
According to family members, he loved to read and travel. He was proficient in many languages and had diverse experiences.
His studies and careers in the U.S. Navy and state department as a foreign service officer took him all over the globe. He was an avid scholar whose educational background fed a personal thirst for knowledge, family members said.
His love of nature brought him to the wilderness of Alaska as an intelligence research specialist for the U.S. Coast Guard at the 17th District office. He also was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Yeahja Ackerman; children, Audrey and Arthur Ackerman of Juneau; mother; Winona Ackerman; sisters, Kathleen Alexis Ackerman, Alice Uddin and Molly Baumert; and many grandnieces and grandnephews.
A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. today at Northern Light United Church.
Memorial contributions in his honor will be held for his daughter as she starts college this fall. Any financial gifts can be deposited at Alaska USA Federal Credit Union under Audrey Ackerman. Gifts and cards can be sent to 1960 Glacier Ave., Juneau, AK 99801.
Richard and Ardith Eakins
Former Juneau residents Richard and Ardith Eakins died on May 18, 2007, in an automobile accident in Idaho. Richard was 75. Ardith was 69.
The couple started their family in Juneau and lived here for almost 23 years while he worked for the state. After Alaska, the Eakins lived in the Salt Lake City area and in Mesa, Ariz. They were active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served two missions in Cambodia and Myanmar. Their lives were devoted to serving others and will be greatly missed, family said.
Ardith was preceded in death by her father, Don L. Taylor. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Madge Eakins.
They are survived by their seven children and their spouses, Rich Eakins, Mike Eakins, Bob Eakins, Colleen Mace, Lauri Poulson, Mark Eakins and Rebecca Kasparian; 25 grandchildren.
Ardith is survived by her mother, Verna Taylor; brothers, Ralph and Lynn Taylor; and sisters, Mareen Layton and Sherry Smith. Richard is survived by his sister, Nancy Taylor; and brothers, Bill and Jim Eakins.
A public viewing will be held Wednesday at the Russon Brothers Funeral Home in Farmington, Utah. A separate viewing will be held Thursday, followed by funeral services, at the Sandy Utah Granite View Stake Center in Sandy, Utah.
Joseph 'Dale' Gowen
Former longtime Juneau resident Joseph "Dale" Gowen died May 19, 2007, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kan. He was 42.
He was born on Dec. 27, 1964, in Ketchikan, to Peter and Nina Masters Johns. He moved to Lawrence from Alaska in 1989.
He was a counselor for the Clarence E. Kelly Counseling Resources in Topeka, Kan., and a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lawrence.
He married Heidi Marie Gagnon on May 2, 1992, in Lawrence.
He is survived by his wife; daughter, Sarah Gowen, of Lawrence; son, Adam Gowen, of Lawrence; two brothers, Peter Gowen, of Jacksonville, N.C., and Fred Gowen, of Honolulu.
A Memorial Mass will be held today at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lawrence. Interment will be at a later date. A wake will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, followed by a visitation for family and friends.
Memorials may be sent to the Adam and Sarah Gowen Educational Fund, in care of the mortuary.
Lillian Jim-Croasmun
Juneau resident Lillian Jim-Croasmun died June 19, 2007, at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau. She was 55.
She was born Oct. 31, 1951, in Juneau, to the late Charlie Jim Sr. and Jennie Jim, and was raised in Angoon. She lived in Juneau for three years, Anchorage for two years, and prior to that, in Angoon. She worked for Tlingit and Haida Angoon Headstart for more than 12 years and preceding that, she did cannery work.
Her family recalls Lillian always saying that her parents encouraged her to do the very best she could. She believed that if she hadn't listened to her parents, she wouldn't have been where her life's path had guided her.
She got her GED and CDA certificates for her job in adult education in Angoon. Her family says that she measured her success in 10-year increments. She would say that if she made it 10 years, she could do another 10 years. She also really enjoyed working with children, as they not only made her laugh, but they always knew when she was in need of a kind word - knowing the right thing to say to make her spirits soar. Her family recalls that she had many fond memories of working with children. Her favorite pastimes were listening to music, watching television, teasing friends and playing bingo.
She is survived by her husband, Matthew Croasmun of Juneau; her mother, Jennie Jim of Angoon; her mother-in-law, Dorothy Croasmun of Erie Penn; her adopted son, Rusty Johnson Jr.; her sisters, Marie Demmert, Darlene Jack, Ida Jack, Barbara Demmert, Frances Johnson, all of Angoon; Betty Torres and Dora Barr of Juneau; Karen Campbell of Wrangell; and Margie Jarrett of Seattle; her adopted sisters, Cheryl Rose of Kake and Harriet Silva of Angoon; her brothers, William Jim, Paul Thomas Jr., Frank Jim, Joseph Jim Sr., Floyd Jim, all of Angoon; and Tommy Davis of Seattle; her aunts and uncles, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jack Sr., Ethel Jack, all of Angoon; and Percy Hunter Sr., of Yakima, Wash.; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Pallbearers are Matthew Croasmun, Clifford Paul, Kyle Johnson, Peter Jack Jr., Rusty Johnson Sr., Marty Thomas, Alvin Johnson, Peter Demmert, John Howard Jr., Jeremy Martin, and John Croasmun, Sr.
Honorary Pallbearers are Garfield George, Daniel Johnson Jr., Alan Zuboff, Jimmy George Jr., and Leonard Demmert.
Services were held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Tlingit and Haida in Juneau. She is being taken to Angoon, where services will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Angoon ANB Hall. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday in Angoon.
Virginia Shadduck
Former Juneau resident Virginia Shadduck died June 18, 2007, at the Sun Bridge Care and Rehab facility in McCall, Idaho. She was best known to her friends and family as "Ginger." She was 69.
She was born Dec. 31, 1937, in Muskogee, Okla. Her parents, A.C. and Wanda Hammons, moved their family to Rich- land, Wash., in 1943. She grew up and graduated Columbia high school in Richland in 1955.
She married Richard Shadduck in 1964. They lived in Kennewick, Wash., until 1970, when they and their three daughters moved to Juneau.
Family members said she always had a fondness for growing roses wherever she lived. She developed a talent and love for oil painting and quilting and shared and taught her love of quilting to her daughters and their friends.
She and her husband lived in Juneau for 24 years. In 1994, they retired and moved to Riggins, Idaho.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Shadduck of Riggins; three daughters, Sarena Mahle of Juneau, Sheri Nelson of Tok, and Deon Revis of Riggins; a brother, George Hammons of Sumner, Wash.; six grandchildren, Treavor, Joshua, Brandon and Cody Mahle of Juneau, and Richard and James Nelson of Tok; and two great- grandchildren, Makenzie and Katie Mahle of Juneau.
A private service will be held at a family home in Riggins.
