Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Julia Ann Wigg
Juneau resident Julia Ann Wigg, 71, died at 6:22 a.m. on Dec. 8, 2006, at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau.
She was a Juneau resident from September 2004 until her death. She attended Wrangell public schools, Piasex Mission, in Skagway, and training in Utah.
She worked as an aide at the Wrangell Institute, at J.O.M., as an aide for Wrangell Public Schools, at the Wrangell Senior Center, on a fishing processor with her life partner of 20 years, Chuck Helland, and as a Wrangell Seafood's Cannery worker.
She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 6 for 32 years, member of the Alaska Native Sisterhood and Pioneers.
The family thanks her medical escorts, Christine Tolman and Irene Buethe.
She was preceded in death by her husband "Sonny" Frederick W. Wigg Sr.; sons, Charley and Charley Wigg (twins); mother, Emily Gotardo (McCluskey); and father, Fortunado "Cowboy" Gotardo.
She is survived by Chuck Helland, of Juneau; daughters, Alora Wigg and Irene Buethe, of Wrangell, and Romona Wigg, of Juneau; son, Fred Wigg, of Juneau; grandchildren, Troy "Bubba-Lou" Robert Winchester Jr., JD and Dylan "Pickle" Franks, Delila Wigg, Christina Wigg and Darren Wigg; great grandchildren, Tori Carmena Willard, Kylie Julia and Naveah Contraras, Alania Marie Wigg (Fell), Elias Corranza (Wigg); sisters, Margaret Gordon, of Sitka, Betty Ruks, of Anchorage; and many nieces and nephews, Flora Tagaban, Maybelle Silva and Ralph Jackson.
Memorial services will be at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall in Juneau and on Dec. 24 at the American Legion Hall in Wrangell. Times will be announced.
Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be Dennis Berkley, Miguel Jiminez, Dan Strickland, Elmer Mork Sr., Frank Joseph, Bucky Bjorge, Marvin Willard Jr. and Bob Robbins.
For donations, contact Romona Wigg at 209-6146 or mail to Romona Wigg, 2895 Mendenhall Loop Road No. 68, Juneau, AK 99801.
Steven Knickerbocker
Juneau resident Steven Edward Knickerbocker, 54, died Nov. 28, 2006, in Juneau.
He was born Oct. 20, 1952. He graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1970 and had extensive advanced training in electrical engineering. He was a Juneau resident for 44 years and an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers electrical engineer for 35 years. He was a member of the National Rifle Association, lifetime member of the National Hunters Association and River Rat member.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh and Marylou Knickerbocker; Laura Reynolds; and Retha Moss.
He is survived by his daughters, Tiffany Knickerbocker, and her children, Johnathan and Chevela, of Kettle Falls, Wash., Sebrina Knickerbocker, of Spokane, Wash., and Sadie Lloyd-Knickerbocker, of Juneau; stepdaughter, Brandee Lloyd Steiner, of Bremerton, Wash.; sister, Dr. Janet Akremi and her husband, Boujemaa, of Missouri; nephews, Reno Chellis, Damon Mehr, Haythem Akremi, Fares and Maher Akremi, of Missouri, and Justine Akremi, of Massachusetts; Lorraine Reynolds, of Juneau; Polly Lloyd, of Bremerton, Wash.; Keran Morrison, of Soldotna; and Rick Reynold, of Soldotna.
A memorial service was on Dec. 9, and a wake followed. His cremated remains will be flown to and scattered at the Taku River by his lifelong friend John Lewis.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to benefit his daughters at First National Bank of Alaska Juneau Valley Centre Branch, Attn: Lisa Loupe, Manager, 8990 Glacier Highway, Juneau, AK, 99801.
Jason Casto
Former Juneau resident Jason Mathew Casto of Lucedale, Miss., died Nov. 2, 2006, in Memphis, Tenn. He was 29.
He was born Dec. 15, 1976, in Houston. He lived in Juneau from 1989 through 2001. He moved to Lucedale to work in a nursery.
His family said that he was a handsome, sensitive young man and quick with a smile. He had an easygoing personality and a wonderful sense of humor, and was a talented artist. He was respectful to everyone and had a generosity of spirit with young and old alike. He loved reading books, and his favorite authors were Aldous Huxley and Charles Bukowski, they said.
He was engaged to Melanie Weisser, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
He is survived by his fiancee; father and stepmother, Joel and Diane Casto, of Juneau; mother and stepfather, Patricia and Ed Howell, of Lucedale; and son, James Casto, of Juneau.
Friends are invited to a remembrance service at noon on Dec. 16 at the Shrine of St. Therese Chapel.
A reception will be held following the service at the shrine's main lodge. The main lodge will be available for warmth and refreshments prior to and just after the service from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in his memory to The Glory Hole, 247 S. Franklin St. Juneau, AK, 99801.
Jeffrey Allan Huber
Anchorage and former Juneau resident Jeffrey "Jeff" Allan Huber, 51, died Dec. 15, 2006, at Red Dog Mine in Northwest Alaska, where he was employed.
He was born June 26, 1955, in Detroit, to John M. and Barbara G. (McNair) Huber. He graduated from Seaholm High School in 1973. He was awarded a bachelor of science degree in geology in 1978 from Lake Superior State College in Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., and a master of science degree in economic geology from University of Alaska Fairbanks in May 1988.
He married Carol Sue Parret (Langworthy) on Dec. 27, 1988, in Troy, Mich., at his parent's home.
He was a geologist for numerous minerals companies in Alaska, from 1978 until his death. Besides the Red Dog Mine, he worked for Fort Knox Mine, Alaska Gold Company, Tri-Con Mining, Fairbanks Exploration Inc., Echo Bay Exploration, Placer Dome and others.
He was a property manager for Bonanza Reality in Anchorage from 2002 to 2004. He accepted a position at the Red Dog Mine in February 2004.
He was a member of the Alaska Miners Association and was a stanch supporter for the mining industry.
He enjoyed an active lifestyle consisting of fishing, boating, hiking, adventure traveling, racketball, strength training and playing with his step grandchildren.
His family said that his fun-loving and generous nature was an inspiration to them. He lived life to the fullest, they said.
He is survived by his wife, Carol S. Huber, of Anchorage; stepdaughter, April L. Odegaard and her husband, Erik, of Anchorage; two step grandchildren, Alex and Angel, of Anchorage; step son, Kenneth A. Langworthy and his wife, Angelique Garnand, of Anchorage; father, John M. Huber, of Troy; and brothers and sisters Joy Durham and her husband, Tom, of Ann Arbor, Mich., Tom Huber and his wife, Ava, of Lincoln, Neb., Dennis Huber of Waterford, Mich., Steve Huber, of Hernando, Miss., Al Przybylski and his wife, Nancy, of Troy, and Peter Huber and his wife, Joann, of Sterling Heights, Mich.
A memorial service will be Dec. 28 at Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Anchorage. A Celebration of Life will follow, at 1453 Essex Circle in Anchorage.
Larry A. Nelson
Former Juneau resident Larry A. Nelson, 70, died Dec. 15, 2006, at Sitka Community Hospital in Sitka.
He was born April 18, 1936, in Williston, N.D., the son of Arne and Ruth (Hanson) Nelson. He graduated from high school in Williston in 1954, and attended Montana State University in Missoula. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1962. In 1959, he married Janette Haugen at the home of her parents in rural Williston. After his discharge, they lived in Vacaville and Novato, Calif.
In June 1968, they moved to Juneau and in October 1971 came to Sitka, where he was manager of the Alaska Federal Savings and Loan and then ALPS Federal Credit Union.
He loved living in Sitka and was active in community affairs. He served on the Assembly and the Planning Commission for several years, and was a member of the Sitka Elks Lodge 1662, serving as treasurer for several years.
In Petersburg, he belonged to the Moose Lodge 1092 and the Sons of Norway Lodge 2-119 Norke Venner. Active in the Sitka Lutheran Church, he served on the church council.
Due to health problems in later years, he enjoyed watching TV, particularly the shows "Millionaire" and "Jeopardy," and playing cards, cribbage and bid whist.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son; and a niece, Christie Nelson LaDestro.
He is survived by his wife, Jan Nelson, of Sitka; daughter, Tammy Antoniadis and her husband, Dean, of Juneau; grandsons, Jeremy Gray, of Spokane, Wash., and Kelsy Gray, of Juneau; brother, Arnold Nelson, of Williston; sister, Elaine Sommers and her husband, Al, of Wahpeton, N.D.; nephew, Todd Nelson and his wife, Tammi, of Dunn Loring, Va.; niece, Kari Cornwell and her husband, Dwight, of Fort Collins, Colo.; sisters-in-law, Mariann Jacobson and her husband, Bob Juelke, of Fargo, N.D., and Shirley Smith and her husband, Chuck, of Westminster, Colo.; and several other nieces and nephews.
Services were held Tuesday at the Sitka Lutheran Church in Sitka. The Rev. Jim Drury officiated. A lunch was served in the church basement following the service. A visitation was held Monday at Prewitt Funeral Home with cremation to follow.
Pallbearers were Kelsy Gray, Chuck Smith, Arnold Nelson, Ted Buckmaster, Al Sommers, Jon Lowrance and Roger Hames.
Honorary pallbearers were Jeremy Gray, Bert Stedman and his many friends. Church ushers were Ricco Mulligan and Steve Stiles.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to a favorite charity.
