Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Charles Hardin
Former Juneau resident Charles A. "Chuck" Hardin, 52, of Boise, Idaho, died June 24, 2006, at home after a battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
He was born Aug. 17, 1953, in Juneau. He was raised here and later in Seattle, where his mom worked for the Veterans Administration. Family members said his passion was bowling.
They said he was a well-known professional who loved the sport, and he taught many people in Seattle and Boise the love of the sport.
"He was a kind and thoughtful person who will be missed dearly," they said.
He was preceded in death by his brother, William S. Razpotnik; father, Harry A. Hardin; grandmother, Maude (White) Rice; and grandfather, Ross B. White.
He is survived by his mother, Marguerite A. Hardin of Meridian; brother, George Hardin and his wife, Patricia; and uncle and aunt, Gerald and Carol White.
Visitation will be held June 30 at Bowman Funeral Parlor in Garden City, Idaho. Funeral Mass will be July 1 at Holy Apostles Catholic Church in Meridian, Idaho. Burial of cremated remains will be held at a later date in Seattle.
Daniel Gore
Longtime Auke Bay resident Daniel Gore, 76, died June 16, 2006, in Rainier, Ore.
Born in Juneau, he was a recognized hero in the Korean War's "Battle of Heartbreak Ridge." In 1951, he went to Anchorage to enlist in the U.S. Army for the Korean War. During that time, he was reported in the Anchorage Daily News as receiving the highest rifle-shooting score of any trainee.
In recent years, he received a special medal from the president of the United States commemorating him as a significant hero. According to family members, his father was also recognized as the first person to notify America via Morse code that World War I had ended in Europe.
According to his family, his hands were known deadly weapons; he was a master and black belt in kung fu. They said his precision and technique inspired his nephews, Wayne Fu Smallwood and James Eddy Smallwood, who are both black-belt Kung Fu fighters, to create Juneau's first kung fu studio.
He was an outdoorsman and a musician. He entertained his family and friends by playing the guitar and harmonica and singing country favorites at his cabin home in the woods near Mendenhall Glacier. He worked for 20 years at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau and only missed one day, the day his mother, Lucille Simenstad, was buried.
Family members said, "He will always be remembered in Alaska as being the strongest man in Juneau and one of the greatest legendary heroes of one of the most famous battles in history of a war long gone by."
He is survived by sisters, Harryet Rappier and Dorothy Gore Rosenberg; daughter, Lisa Gore; nephews, Richard Kincaid, Arley Domenguez and his wife, April, Wayne Fu Smallwood, James Edgar Smallwood and his wife Denise, Gene Smallwood, Ned Smallwood and his wife Cynthia, Dayton Rosenberg, Ben Rosenberg, Mark Rosenberg, Aaron Rosenberg, Gene Smallwood Jr., Raymond Smallwood, Andrew Smallwood and Aaron Smallwood; and nieces, JoAnn Smallwood, Shanna Smallwood, Lavina Smallwood, Lexi Smallwood, Ashley Smallwood, Carol Rosenberg, Laurel Rosenberg and Jeannie Lee.
There will be a 40-day gathering at the end of July in Juneau.
Tobin 'Toby' Edward Coate
Former Juneau resident Tobin "Toby" Edward Coate, 28, died June 20, 2006, while river seining for sockeye salmon in the Thorne River on Prince of Wales Island.
A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m., June 26, at Centennial Hall.
He was born Aug. 29, 1977, to Kenneth and Barbara Coate in Juneau. His first duck hunt was when he was only 6 days old. Family members said he grew up loving the outdoors and everything that could be done outside.
He attended several Christian elementary schools in Juneau and graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1996. He attended the University of Alaska Southeast and was student body president during the 2004-2005 school year. He was the leader of Baptist Campus Ministry from 2002 to 2005. He supported his studies building houses and commercial fishing.
He moved to Prince of Wales Island last May, returning to Juneau this winter to help his fiancé, Emily, move to the island. They married in January and settled in Thorne Bay, where they both opened businesses. Toby started Goose Creek Log Cabins and helped Emily with her childcare establishment, Tongass Tots.
Family members said, "Everyone who knew Toby commented on his love for life - especially the Lord, hunting, fishing, building and his wife. He was the consummate harvester of souls for Jesus Christ and of fish and game."
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Harvey and Polly Lou Coate.
He is survived by his wife; mother, Barbara; father, Kenneth (Linda) Coate; sisters, Katie and Amanda Coate; grandparents, Everett and Laura Mae Bracken; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to a memorial fund in his wife's name at Wells Fargo Bank.
Jean L. Crosby
Juneau resident Jean L. Crosby, 84, died June 21, 2006, in Juneau.
She was born June 18, 1922, in Hood River, Ore. She was a registered nurse and administrative assistant. In 1947, she met and married her husband, and they arrived in Juneau aboard the S.S. Aleutian. They raised three daughters in Juneau. They enjoyed their cabin on Mosquito Lake for many years, and enjoyed traveling, especially to Hawaii. Both were active in the Juneau Elks and Emblem Club, holding many offices in the organizations.
Family members said, "Jean will be dearly missed by so many. ... She is remembered for her ever-youthful smile and laughter, as well as her wonderful sense of humor."
She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Bertha Eby; twin brother, Jack; and two brothers, Phil and Bill Crosby.
She is survived by her husband, Hartley "Pete" Crosby; daughters, Sharon (Henry) Deja, Norma Crosby and Linda Crosby; cousin and best friend, Peggy (John) Mulligan; sister, Mary (Syd) Tate; and four grandsons and four great grandchildren. Donations may go to the Juneau Pioneer Home Donated Funds, Juneau, AK, 99801.
A service will be held at 1:30 p.m. June 26 at the Juneau Pioneer Home, 4675 Glacier Highway.
Nancy Lee Wentzel Burns
Juneau resident Nancy Lee Wentzel Burns, 66, died Jan. 31, 2006, in Juneau.
She was born July 21, 1939, in Seattle, to Bill and Jayne Wentzel. The family moved to Juneau in 1953, and she graduated from Juneau High School in 1957. She began working at Grummett Insurance in March 1959 and later became a partner in Shattuck and Grummett Inc., retiring in February 1998, after 39 years.
Family members said, "On Christmas Eve in 1964, Nancy married Jim Burns, and the two began their joint adventure of fun, family and friends."
She was involved in several local civic organizations over the years, and enjoyed many activities unique to life in Alaska.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents, Bill and Jayne Wentzel; brother, David Wentzel; and godson, Will Shattuck.
She is survived by her daughter, Leslie (Craig) Dahl, and grandson, Jason Cameron, all of Juneau; brother, Roger (Suzanne) Wentzel of Washington; stepchildren, Jannine (Eldon) Swingler of South Dakota, Traci (Mark) Welborn of Utah, and Jim Burns of South Dakota, and their children; goddaughter, Lynn Shattuck of Maine; several nieces; and many longtime friends who she considered family.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. June 24 at the Hangar Ballroom in Juneau. Donations in her memory can be made to the charity of choice or to the Gastineau Humane Society.
