Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Robert Abram Welsh Sr.
Former Juneau resident Robert "Bob" Abram Welsh Sr. died Feb. 8, 2008, at the Arbor Rose Home in Mesa, Ariz. He was 80.
He was born March 22, 1927, in Bellingham, Wash. Family members said he was best known for his work in the fish industry in Southeast Alaska.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Kathleen L. Welsh, of Mesa; sons, Robert A. Welsh, of Mesa, and Stuart E. Welsh, of Las Vegas; and daughters, Robin J. Welsh, of San Diego, and Molly M. (Welsh) Brewster, of Mesa; grandchildren, Robert A. Welsh VII, Lisa McMahon, Tammy Verdirame, Thomas Gibson, Robyn Cross, Courtney Wilhelm and Robert Borucki; seven great-grandchildren; and sisters, Joanne Wear and Barbara McCollum, of Bellingham, Wash.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert IV and Jeanice Welsh; and two brothers, Barney and Bill Welsh.
A celebration in his honor will be held near the end of July 2008 in Hoonah. For information on his celebration, call Molly Brewster at 480-272-6361.
John A. Clark
Juneau resident John Anthony Clark died Feb. 3, 2008, in Juneau after a brief illness. He was 74.
Born June 13, 1933, in Buffalo, N.Y., he lived in Petersburg and worked for the Petersburg power plant as the chief operating engineer. He also was an active member of Petersburg Moose No. 1092, with a dual membership in Juneau Moose No. 700. He received the Moose's highest degree of Pilgrim in 1992, in recognition of his many years of service and hard work for the organization.
Family members said he was a faithful lifelong Roman Catholic and a member of St. Catherine of Sienna church, in Petersburg, for many years. He was a doting grandpa who loved spoiling his grandchildren any time he was given the chance, they said.
He was a loyal friend, always willing to lend a helping hand when needed, his family said. Many dogs in Petersburg recognized the "power guy reading meters" as the bringer of doggie treats. He seldom was without a pocketful for his buddies.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Olive Clark; brothers, David and Bruce Clark; sister, Pat Warsitz; wife, Virginia Clark; sons, Steven and Dennis Clark; and grandson, Jeremiah Nashonak-Wheaton.
He is survived by his sister, Mary Ellen Aldridge, of Buffalo; son, Raymond J. Clark, of Buffalo; daughters, Sandra Johnston, Patricia Wheaton and Elizabeth Seslar; sons, John M. Clark and Mark Clark, all of Juneau; son, Christopher Clark, of Eugene, Ore.; 16 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial Mass was held Feb. 5 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Juneau, and a Moose Lodge memorial service was held Feb. 6. He will be interred in Petersburg in April with a reception to follow.
James Kookash Demmert Jr.
Juneau resident James Kookash Demmert Jr. died Feb. 3, 2008, in Juneau. He was 68.
He was born March 27, 1939, in Klawock, to James and Lena Demmert. As a young child, he grew up fishing in Southeast with his father on the F/V Alice K. He started seining when he went to high school and returned to trolling in his 30s. He stayed with trolling until retirement.
Family members said he was a "highliner" at trolling and could catch fish when no one else could. He was a self-taught mechanic. His skills were much sought after, since there weren't problems he could not solve on fishing vessels, they said.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his sons, James Kookash Demmert III, of Anchorage, and John Anthony Demmert, of Ketchikan; daughters, Gina Lucille Demmert, of Juneau, and Matilda Lee Demmert, of Tuallip, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; two sisters, Emma Jean Williams and Dixie Lee Hanson; and brother, Sam L. Demmert; significant other, JoAnn Weiner; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Services were Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Church of God.
Pallbearers were Samson O. Demmert, Keith Callister, Donald R. Williams Jr. and Kenneth James. Honorary pallbearers were Paul Moreno, George Koosh James, Murphy James, Franklin James, Melvin Charles and Arthur Kennedy.
Angle Rock Peterson
Lifelong Juneau resident Angle Rock Peterson Jr. died Feb. 10, 2008, in Juneau. He was 58.
He was born May 29, 1949, in Juneau, the second child of Angle R. Peterson and Leadia Austin Peterson. At birth, he lost his twin brother due to complications.
His early childhood years were spent between Juneau and a homestead in Gustavus. There he developed a love for animals. He and his older brother grew up with an orphaned wolf for a couple summers.
The family moved to Juneau in about 1954, so he and his older brother could enroll in school. Except for a one-year visit to Mount Edgecumbe, in Sitka, during a brief illness with his mother, he finished his school years at Juneau-Douglas High School.
During his time in Juneau, he and his brother learned the ways of the water and woods, his family said. In the woods, the brothers learned about nature and wilderness from their father.
On the water, he learned the way of a fisherman and seaman, they said.
At the death of his father, he became a resident of Juneau Alliance of Mental Health, where he continued his life, making new friends and impacting all with his person, his family said.
He is survived by his siblings, Reginald B. Peterson Sr. and family, of Sitka, Hedy Ann Peterson, of Alabama, Veronica Garcia and family, of Juneau, Marcy Peterson, of Anchorage, Johanna Alimorong, of Sitka, John Peterson and family, of Juneau, Kris Peterson and family, of Juneau, Val Peterson and family, of Juneau, Elizabeth Sosa-Flores and family, of Juneau, and Debbie Peterson, of Juneau.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at St. Paul's Catholic Church.
Pallbearers will be Reginald, John and Val Peterson. Honorary pallbearers will be Manuel Flores, Jeremy Peterson, Mervin Marks, Richie Verda, Mark Davis Jr., Reginald Peterson, Isaac Peterson, Willoughby Peterson, Lee George and Lester Davis.
Joseph Jerry Lopez
Longtime Juneau resident Joseph Jerry Lopez died Feb. 3, 2008, at Bartlett Memorial Hospital. He was 83.
He was a most loving husband, said his family. A military veteran, he worked as a kitchen worker and prep cook in various Juneau restaurants. During his retirement, some of his favorite activities were going on car rides to garage sales, sharing lunch with his friends at the Mountain View Senior Center and visiting with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Lopez, step daughter Darlene Grant, and grandson, Joel Grant.
He is survived by his stepchildren: Hilda McDonald and her husband, Allen, and their children, Ariel and Josh, of Fairbanks; Mary McConkey and her husband, David, and their children, Erika, of Sitka, Michelle, of Bethesda, Md., and Marjorie Bagoyo and her partner, William, of Juneau; Larry Grant, of Seattle, and friend Mary Lou McKinley, and Larry Grant's children, Larina Santos of Juneau and Crystal Santos, of Seattle; Alfred Grant and Lorena Johnson, of Juneau; Mike Grant of Juneau; Ruth Grant of Juneau; and step great-grandchildren, Steven and Desiree Littlefield, Amber Bagoyo, Lila and Lacy Woeber, all of Juneau, and Lilly Ann Marie Grant, of Juneau.
A memorial and time of remembrance will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Salvation Army Church. Refreshments will be served.
For the pallbearers, contact Larry Grant at 907-957-2591 or Mike Grant. To make a memorial donation or flowers, contact Larry Grant.
