Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Karen Ann Rusher
Former Juneau resident Karen Ann Rusher died Feb. 4, 2006 in Puyallup, Wash.
She was born to Pete and Geneva Bevans of Omaha, Neb. on June 5, 1945. After graduating from Benson High School in Omaha, she moved to Alaska to work for the Forest Service and met her husband, Robert C. Rusher.
Robert's job with an airline took them to Federal Way, Wash., then to Cannon Falls, Minn., where they tried their hand at farming and raising horses. After time in Utah, they settled back Bainbridge Island, Wash., where their kids graduated high school. They finally settled in Buckley, Wash., where she became an active member of the community.
She was active in her children's activities and volunteered in community services. She served as director at the Buckley Food Bank for a number of years and was active in Kiwanis and the Ida Marge Guild of the Tacoma Orthopedic Association. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling and bowling. Friends and family members say she "devoted her life to being a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother."
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and brother.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara; her son, Robert and his wife Jenn; her grandson, Jack and many special friends.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. today at the Community Presbyterian Church of Buckley. Viewing was held on Feb. 8 at Week's Funeral Home in Buckley. There will be a celebration of her life at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 10 at the Buckley Eagle's Hall. She will be laid to rest Feb. 12 at Agency Cemetery in Agency, Iowa.
The family requests that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the Buckley Food Bank, P.O. Box 29, Buckley, Wash., 98321.
Herbert Mead
Former Juneau resident Herbert Malcolm Mead died Jan. 19 at the Mount Diablo Hospital in Concord, Calif. after a lengthy illness of lung and heart disease.
Herb was born Dec. 21, 1928 in Juneau to the late Vera and Douglas Alaska Mead.
He played on the Juneau High School basketball team and was on the championship team in 1946 and 1947. In 1947, he played in the first Gold Medal tournament. He attended the University of Idaho on a basketball scholarship where he met and married his wife of 54 years, Shirley.
In 1952, he led the Fort Richardson Pioneers to the All-Alaska Armed Forces Championship, and was named "Most Valuable Player." He was joined by teammates Dick McCormick of Douglas and Herman Ludwigsen of Ketchikan. The team traveled to San Antonio and participated in the Worldwide Armed Forces Tournament. The following year, he was designated as player-coach of the Fort Richardson Pioneers. He again was named to the All-Star team.
He coached basketball in Idaho and, in 1958, he moved to Concord, Calif., where he taught physical education in the Mount Diablo School District until his retirement.
He enjoyed basketball and friends and family remember him as "an outstanding player."
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Laura; his son, Douglas; his parents; his brother, Henry Mead; and his sister, Marie Mead.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; his sons, Scott and Brad; five grandchildren; his sister, Bernice McCay; and a niece in Juneau, nephew in Wrangell and a niece and other nephews in the lower '48.
Private services are planned. The family can be contacted at 1947 Carlotta Drive, Concord, Calif., 94519.
William Aalbu Baker
Former Juneau resident William "Bill" Aalbu Baker, 67, died Feb. 6, 2006, in Tumwater, Wash.
He was born to Dorothy and Dewey Baker on June 11, 1938, in Juneau. He graduated in 1956 from Juneau-Douglas High School and in 1960 from the University of Washington. He married Carolyn Allison of Portland, Ore., on Aug. 19, 1961. They lived in Seattle before moving in 1964 to Juneau. They remained in Juneau until 1989 when they moved to Tum-water to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
In Juneau, he was an insurance broker from 1964 to 1989. He served as president of the Alaska Association of Independent Insurance Agents in 1972. In Tumwater, he worked for Farmers Insurance.
He was a member of the Juneau Volunteer Fire Department from 1967 to 1983 and later served as a volunteer fire investigator with Lacey, Wash., Fire District 3. His volunteer work included regular deliveries of the Senior News to businesses in the Olympia area. He was eager to volunteer his services as storyteller-in-residence. Friends and family say that he would tell "tales of life in Southeast Alaska and his love for aviation."
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; his sons, Mike and Todd; his daughters-in-law, Kim and Lynn; and his grandchildren, Brett, Ryan, Alex and Harry, all of the Puget Sound area.
At his request, there will be no funeral services. Donations in his memory may be made to the Olympic Flight Museum, 7637-A Old Highway 99 SE, Olympia, Wash., 98501 or Lacey Fire District 3 Memorial Fund, 1231 Franz St. SE, Lacey, Wash., 98513.
Marc Harold Blaine
Juneau resident Marc Harold Blaine, 56, died Dec. 18, 2005, at Bartlett Regional Hospital, surrounded by his brother, Harry, and close friends.
He was born to Floyd and Ruth (Mann) Blaine on July 25, 1949, in Winter, Wis. At age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was in the service for more than eight years and was decorated numerous times for expert marksmanship and good conduct. He received the commendation medal, overseas service bars and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. He served in Vietnam for four years and was stationed in Germany for two years. He was in the military police for four years.
After serving his country, he settled in Juneau. He was a commercial fisherman, a bus driver for Mendenhall Glacier Tours and a cab dispatcher. Friends remember the T-shirt he wore while working for the tour company that said, "The world is going to hell and I'm driving the bus." He enjoyed NASCAR, his friends and the Green Bay Packers.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Steve; and his sister, Cheri.
He is survived by his sisters, Vickie Huber and her husband, Richard, of Mellen, Wis., and Linda Kokko and her husband, Dale, of Highbridge, Wis.; his brother, Harry Blaine and his wife, Sherry, of Detroit Lakes, Minn.; his uncles, Harry Mann of Sauk City, Wis., and Archie Mann and his wife, Eva, of Yucaipia, Calif.; his aunt, Judy Mann of Lake Nebagamon, Wis.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held Dec. 27 in Mellen, Wis. Interment was in Mount Hope Cemetery in Highbridge, Wis., with military honors under the auspices of Mellen Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2273.
A Juneau celebration of life will be held 1 p.m. on his favorite day, Daytona Sunday, Feb. 19, at the Triangle Club.
George H. Brabaw
Former Juneau resident George H. Brabaw, 82, died Feb. 20, 2006, in his home in Amity, Ore.
A gathering of family members and friends was held from Feb. 25 in Amity.
He was born to George Henry and Flora Brabaw on July 11, 1923, in Canton, N.Y. He was raised and schooled in New York and was in the Army during World War II. After the war, he moved to Juneau and lived here until 1990, when he moved to Sheridan, Ore. Finally, he moved to Amity in 2004. He worked for many years for Juneau Motor Co. as a body and fender man. He married Pat Brown Smith in Coos Bay, Ore.
He was a member of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 420 in Juneau.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.
He is survived by his wife, Pat Brabaw of Amity; sons, David Brabaw of Juneau and Brad Brabaw of McMinnville, Ore.; stepson, Michael Smith of Amity; daughter, Georgene Nielsen of Fairbanks; stepdaughter, Michele Cushman of Amity; sisters, Hildred Cuthbert, Betty Mashburn, Fran Sheridan and Muriel Backus, all of New York; and one grandchild, seven step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.
