Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Samuel Patrick Sanders
Former longtime Juneau resident Samuel Patrick Sanders died Feb. 14, 2009, in Reno, Nev. He was 61.
Born Aug. 21, 1947, in Pasadena, Calif., he was the son of Vern Jackson Sanders and Marma Bernice (Lewis) Sanders.
While in Juneau, he was worked for R&M Engineering and EMPS Engineering. He owned and operated Southeast Graphic Media for many years.
He was a true lover of anything creative and always liked to keep busy, his family said. He had many hobbies including photography, reading, cooking, painting and graphic design. Also for a short time in Juneau, he was a member of the Historical Society.
He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Linda Sanders, of Reno; all five of his brothers, Jack Sanders and wife, Nancy, of Rogue River, Ore., Ken Cliff and wife, Vikki, of Carson City, Nev., Tony Sanders and wife, Melanie, of Chico, Calif., Joe Sanders and wife, Mary, of Lancaster, Calif., and John Sanders and wife, Kathryn, of Palmdale, Calif.; three sons, Sam Sanders and wife, Tammi, of Montana, Reuben Borbon, of Reno, and James Borbon, of Juneau; two daughters, Bernice Potter and Veronica Sanders, of Reno; seven grandchildren; and many friends in Juneau.
Per his wishes, no services will be held.
Tracy Cummins
Former Juneau resident Tracy Cummins died Feb. 26, 2009, at her home. She was 44.
Born July 26, 1964, to Charlene Stansell, she worked previously with the state of Alaska's Department of Labor. She also worked at the Landing Hotel in Ketchikan, where she met her husband, Dave. Soon after they moved to Juneau to be closer to her family and friends.
Her family said she was loved by many. She will be truly missed, they said.
She is survived by her husband, Dave Cummins; mother, Charlene Stansell; brother, Terry Stansell; children, Terry, Christopher, Ashley, Rona, Angie and Rachel; grandchildren, Brandon, Sierra, Trey, Terry, Lily, Blue, Tyson, Kristyanna, Klieo and Jace.
A celebration of her life will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Prospector Hotel. Donations and cards may be sent to Dave Cummins, P.O. Box 21462, Juneau, AK 99801. Dave Cummins can also be reached at 780-6458.
Irene Widmark Tansy
Former Ketchikan resident Irene Widmark Tansy died March 1, 2009. She was 65.
Born Dec. 2, 1943, in Ketchikan, to Alfred and Carmel Widmark, she was Tlingit of the Raven and Dog Salmon clan. She attended Sheldon Jackson High School and graduated in 1967 from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a degree in home economics. It was there she met Roy Tansy, of Cantwell.
She worked for the Juneau District Attorney's office before marrying Roy on June 1, 1968. Dr. Walter Sobeloff officiated their ceremony in Juneau. They made their first home in Cantwell. In 1974, they moved to Copper Center. Irene was especially proud to be adopted by Harry and Ruth Johns as a part of their Athabascan family.
She worked in the accounting office of Ahtna Inc. until returning to college to earn her teaching certificate in 1982. She went on to teach in the Copper River School District until her retirement. She was the first native teacher in the district. Teaching was not only her life's work, but also her passion. She loved her job, her coworkers and especially her students. She loved supporting all the local school sports. After retirement she gave her time to numerous boards such as Haskell Board of Regents, Alyeska Blue Ribbon Committee, Cross Roads Medical Center Board, Sheldon Jackson Alumni Board, and Ahtna Heritage Foundation. Sharing zest for life and adventure with Roy, she learned to fly their plane. She also enjoyed beading, quilting and crocheting many baby blankets. In addition to all her activities she always participated in church. She was a member of Glennallen Chapel. Roy and Irene lived both in Copper Center and Cantwell. She is fondly remembered for her generosity, birthday cakes for each one of her students every year and her faith. Her love and support made us better people for knowing her.
This year was full of many wonderful memories. Irene and Roy celebrated 40 years of marriage with a family trip to her home town of Klawock. An additional highlight to the trip, all of the grandchildren received Tlingit names. Her children also sent them on a one week vacation to Japan this past fall.
She is survived by her husband, Roy Jake Tansy Sr.; children, Carmel (Douglas) Read, Roy Jake (Martha) Tansy Jr., and Douglas (Kristine) Tansy; grandchildren, were the light of her life. She will be sorely missed by Gabriel, Nathaniel, Hannah Irene, Sarah, Isaiah, Rebekah, Elli, Emma and Ruby. Surviving siblings include Eric Widmark, Byron (Mary Ellen) Skinna, Chris (Bud) Duke, Edee (Dick) Jacobsen, and Randy (Don) Reader. Other significant family members include: The Johns - Donald, Dorothy, Kenny, Patsy, Warren, Becky, Violet, and Norman; Jane and Greg Nicholas; Leonard and Louise Mayo; Ray and Helga Wiebe; Alec John; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Emma Widmark, and grandson, Josiah Read.
Anchorage visitation will begin at 12 p.m. with a service at 2 p.m., Thursday, March 5 at First Baptist on 10th and L, with a potluck meal to follow. There will be a service Saturday, March 7 at Kenny Lake High School at 12 p.m. with a potluck meal to follow. Burial will be in Cantwell with a service Sunday, March 8 at 2 p.m. at the Cantwell High School.
In lieu of flowers, money will be accepted for scholarships established in Irene's name.
Jim Willie Marks
Juneau resident Jim Willie Marks died Feb. 28, 2009, in Juneau. He was 67.
Born with the Tlingit name Jakwteen on July 21, 1941, he was delivered by family physician and aunt, Annie Marks, at Icy Straits Cannery in Hoonah to Willie and Emma Marks. He was a Raven of the Lukaax.adi (Sockeye) clan and the Mount Rapinsky House (Gei San Hit). His father's people are the Chookaneidi of the Brown Bear House and Brown Bear Nest House of Hoonah. His mother's people are from the Alsek River Canoe Prow House (Shaka Hit) from Yakutat.
His family was widely known for its traditional Tlingit artistry, according to his family. He was known as the best traditional Tlingit master carver, known for his distinctive style and designs, they said. As early as 5 years old, he began to learn carving by watching his father; brother, Alex; cousin, Horace Marks; and uncle, David Williams carve.
He was raised and worked as a commercial fishermen beginning on the New Annie vessel and many other boats over the years in the Hoonah fleet. He also worked as a carving instructor and with the Tlingit language, as he was a fluent speaker in the Juneau School District Indian Studies Program with Lenard Sevdy and family. His designs are used widely throughout Alaska. His art form is so unique that it is recognizable anywhere, as his artwork has traveled as far as Australia and Japan.
He was a proud member the Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 2 and the Southeast Native Veterans, serving in the Alaska Army National Guard from 1958 to 1961.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Emma Marks; brothers, Alex, Leo and Raymond Marks; sister, Eva Speakes; nephew, Charles Dennis; and great-nephew, Philip Florendo.
He is survived by his daughter, Jocelyn K. Ramirez; son-in-law, Luis E. Ramirez; grandchildren, Jarred D. Philemonoff and Jimena M. Ramirez; Jocelyn's mother, Kathryn J. Dennis; siblings, Nora Dauenhauer, Florence Sheakley, Peter, John and Leo Marks, all of Juneau, and Paul Marks and Linda Marks, of Anchorage; many nieces and nephews and numerous other tribal relatives.
Memorial services will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 5, at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall. A funeral service will be at 6 p.m. Friday, March 6, at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall.
Pallbearers are Luis Ramirez, Jarred Philemonoff, Ricardo Worl, Christopher David, Larry Jackson, Raymond Dennis III, Paul Marks II and Antonio Florendo.
Honorary pallbearers are Richard Dauenhauer, Ernest Hillman, David Katzeek, George Martin, Phillip Martin, Sam Martin, Alfred McKinley, Harold McKinley, Ralph Knudson, Tom Pittman, Rosita Worl, Lisa Worl, Carla Casulucan, Kathryn Dennis, Leona Santiago, Chris Florendo, Mabel Lawrence, Jennie Lindoff, Jessie Johnny and Mary Rudolph.
Donations and cards can be sent to his daughter, Jocelyn K. Ramirez, at 4101 Birch Lane, Juneau, AK 99801, or contact her at 789-4101. Donations in Hoonah may be given to Mamie Williams at 907-945-3325.
Joe Heersink
Former Juneau resident Joe Heersink died Jan. 29, 2009, at the University of Washington Hospital with his wife, DeEtte Heersink, by his side. He was 71.
In the end, it was his heart and not his cancer that caused his death, his family said.
Born Sept. 16, 1937, in Puyallup, Wash., he was a high school chemistry teacher and coach in Juneau, Glennallen and Kodiak and a commercial fisherman in Southeast Alaska and Bristol Bay.
According to family and friends, he was diagnosed with cancer 11 years ago and told to put his affairs in order as he had only weeks to live.
Driving to Kenai for one last fishing trip, he realized he had wanted to learn to play the mandolin before he died. So he turned around, bought a mandolin in Anchorage and went to his cabin on the Kenai and taught himself to play.
"But he forgot to die like the doctor had told him," his family wrote. "The music, family, friends, a healthy diet of fish and a strong will to live brought him through to a new era of cancer treatments by an amazing medical team lead by Dr. Latha Subramanian. Joe credits her and the medical teams in Anchorage and Seattle with extending his life for 11 years.
"Joe took advantage of those years by surrounding himself with musical friends at his Arctic Rainbow Music store. He sold and repaired instruments and gave lessons to hundreds of Alaskan families. Each time one of his students dropped by to play him the latest song they had learned, it added another day to his life.
"He is best remembered not as a great player but as The Great Enabler - the man who provided the instruments and inspiration that brought out the music in all who knew him."
He is survived by his wife and their boys, Heinrich "Ric" and Haakon Heersink, all of Anchorage.
A memorial service was held at Muldoon Community Assembly. A celebration of life was held March 1 at the Anchorage Senior Center.
In lieu of flowers, please visit a friend.
