Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Matilda S. Dzinich
Juneau resident Matilda Dzinich , 94, died May 23, 2003, at the Juneau Pioneer's Home.
Dzinich was born to Stjepan and Marija Gregurich (Rizner) in the small Croatian village of Topusko. Her brother Ladislav and sister Ivanka predeceased her.
Dzinich studied pharmacy in Zagreb. There, she met and married Ibrahim B. Dzinich of Bahja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 1934. They lived in Zagreb until 1946, when she and her daughter were separated from her husband and son, who were in Turkey at the time. They were reunited again in 1952 in Chicago.
Dzinich became a naturalized American citizen in 1957. When her husband retired in 1986, they moved to Juneau. She lived with her son's family in Juneau until 1994, when she moved into the Pioneer's Home. While still able, she worked as a volunteer at St. Vincent De Paul. Her hobbies included reading, television and gardening.
Dzinich is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Kurt and Zrinka Dzinich of Juneau, and her daughter, L. Doria Vuksan, of Chicago. Her grandchildren were Kurt Dzinich Jr. and his wife, Kristin, Lara Dzinich, Sonia Bradley and her husband Jim, all of Juneau. She is also survived by great-grandchildren Derek and Cassandra Dzinich and Sebastian and Willow Bradley, of Juneau.
Burial was Thursday at Alaskan Memorial Park.
Donations may be made to the Juneau Pioneer's Home Foundation.
Sharon D. Fitzgerald
Juneau resident Sharon D. Fitzgerald, 67, died May 24, 2003, in Puyallup, Wash., after a long illness.
She was born March 18, 1936, in Rochelle, Ill. She graduated from Bell High School in California and attended Biola College, also in California. She worked with Campus Crusade and Young Life staff.
She owned a business in Portland, Ore., for 20 years providing nutritional supplements to health care professionals. She spent 40 years in sales, offering vitamins to Harley-Davidson parts to vacuum cleaners. She retired in 1996 and moved to Juneau to be with her only child and two grandchildren.
Her family said she "loved to talk and had a keen sense of humor. She was full of the kind of life and love that lit up a room wherever she was. Her talents and interests were many, but strongest in the arts. She loved to sing, draw and participate in theater."
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry Fitzgerald and Grace (Knipchild) Fitzgerald; her brother, Robert Edous; and sisters, Betty Edous and Patricia Bates.
She is survived by her daughter, Richelle Burns; grandchildren, Grant and Grace Burns; brother, George Fitzgerald; and sisters, Sandy Fitzgerald and Cecelia Bottorff.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 31, at Alaskan Memorial Park in Juneau. In lieu of flowers, donation can be made in Sharon Fitzgerald's name to the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, 206 N. Franklin St., Juneau, AK 99801.
Aaron Eugene Weston
Juneau resident Aaron Eugene Weston, 45, died May 3, 2003, at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M.
He was born July 22, 1957, in Salt Lake City, Utah. His family moved to Durango, Colo., in 1967, and he graduated from Durango High School in 1975. He completed his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Brigham Young University in 1980 and earned his master's from Utah State University in 1985. He was awarded his engineer's license in 1987.
He married Kim Kowallis in June 1982 and their daughter, Brandy, was born May 12, 1983. Kim and Aaron were divorced in 1986, and Brandy moved with Aaron to Juneau in 1990.
He was employed as a civil engineer for Utah Power and Light, the Montana Department of Highways, the U.S. Forest Service office in Ketchikan and Brewer and Associates of Farmington, N.M.
In 1990, Aaron went to work at the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He transferred to the Alaska Department of Highways and was working for the Juneau office of the U.S. Forest Service at the time of his death.
His friends and family said "he was a very thoughtful and creative person. Those who knew him will dearly miss his patience, understanding and consideration for others. He created beautiful pottery pieces and enjoyed strategy games and thoughtful conversation. He inspired many with his e-mails, but his true love was nature and the outdoors."
He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed hiking, camping, canoeing, boating or taking walks near his home. He also enjoyed gardening and his dogs, Rascal and Curly. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Juneau 2nd Ward.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Paul Weston.
He is survived by his daughter, Brandy Weston and her husband, James Anderson of Juneau; parents, Carl and Jeanne Weston of Durango, Colo.; brother, Mark Weston of Kalispell, Mont.; sisters, Jeanette Weston of Boise, Idaho, Ruth Davis or Bayfield, Colo., and Carla Weston of Durango, Colo.; nephews, Brent and Kale Davis; nieces, Summer Dawn Weston and Tiffany Davis; and grand-nephew, Denton Palmer.
Services will be at the Alaskan Memorial Park, 3839 Riverside Drive, at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 31. A luncheon will follow the services at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5100 Glacier Hwy.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Aaron Weston memorial scholarship fund at all branches of the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union.
Steven Michael Ballew
Former Juneau resident Steve Ballew, 49, died May 23, 2003, at his home in Haines.
He was born Aug. 17, 1953, in Bremerton, Wash., and graduated from Federal Way High School in 1971. He was an accomplished sailor, commercial fisherman, catskinner and homebuilder.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Fayetta Ballew.
He is survived by his wife, Marjory (George) Ballew of Haines; father, Theodore Ballew of Redondo, Wash.; brother, Richard Ballew of Juneau; nephew, Jesse Ballew of Tempe, Ariz.; an uncle, several aunts and many cousins in the Puget Sound area.
No services will be held, according to his wishes. He was cremated and his ashes will be scattered in the Chilkat Valley.
Donations to help pay medical bills can be sent to P.O. Box 934, Haines, AK 99827.
Peter M. Schneider
A memorial service for longtime Douglas resident Peter M. Schneider will be held at 6 p.m. today at the Cathedral of the Nativity. All friends are welcome at the service.
Schneider died May 15, 2003, after a long illness.
