Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Carolina Abella Hermano
Juneau resident Carolina Abella Hermano, 87, died Sept. 17, 2004.
She was born June 27, 1917, in Cebu, Philippines.
Her family said, "She was a very religious person. She will be greatlym issed by all who knew her." She enjoyed watching television and sewing.
She is survived by her son, Bertram (Veronica) Hermano of Juneau; granddaughter, Vera Hermano of Juneau; grandson, Brian Hermano of Moscow, Idaho; sisters, Nita (Paquito) Espada, Elena (Juan) Garcia and Sonia Abella, all of Canada; brothers, Roland (Tina) Abella of Los Angeles, Calif.; Jose (Rita) Abella and Socrates (Victoria) Abella, both in the Philippines; other relative, Hanette (Mike) Taboada; and other family in Juneau, Archimedes (Amy) Abella and Percius Abella.
A celebration of life will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2004 at the Cathedral of Nativity.
Walter Kirkness
Former longtime Juneau resident Walter Kirkness died in Seattle on Nov. 6, 2004.
He was born Aug. 9, 1920. He graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in fisheries. He was a U.S. Marine Corps captain and served in the Pacific during World War II. At the end of the war, he returned to Seattle and worked for the Washington State Department of Fisheries, until he was hired by C.L. Anderson, director of the newly created Alaska Department of Fisheries in 1950. Along with Robert Parker, he was one of the first employees. In 1961, Gov. William Egan appointed Walter as the Commissioner of Fish and Game, a job he held until 1967. His family and friends said, "His integrity and honestly were hallmarks of his administration. He was well-respected and admired by all those who worked with him, friend or adversary. Alaska was his home and always held a special place in his heart."
After 1967, he worked for the Department of Interior and NOAA, managing the Pribilofs Fur Seal Program prior to his retirement in 1983. In retirement, he enjoyed his garden, swimming and reading.
His family says, "He had a long, well-lived life. He will be remembered for his sweet disposition and his infectious laugh."
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Kirkness of Seattle; his daughter, Susan Kirkness of Juneau; and son, Mark Kirkness of San Diego, Calif.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 11, at Evergreen-Washelli Funeral Home in Seattle. An on-line memorial book is available to sign at www.evergreen-washelli.com.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Seattle or a charity of choice.
Nick Kokotovich
Longtime resident Nick Kokotovich, died Nov. 9, 2004, at his home in Juneau, surrounded by his family.
He was born in 1926 in Minnesota. He moved to Alaska at the age of 24, and it became his home.
He served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman during World War II from 1945 to 1946. Afterward, he spent many years working construction out of Laborers Local 942. He worked on roads, mines and dams. His projects ranged from the White Pass and Yukon Railroad at Skagway to the North Slope pipeline. Other jobs included road projects in Juneau, Valdez, Ketchikan, Sitka, and the Snettisham dam.
He married Vivian on Dec. 31, 1969. After retirement he spent time clearing snow around the neighborhood and picking blueberries with grandchildren.
His special interests included an early career in basketball, playing in the 1956 Gold Medal basketball finals for the Haines Athletics team. He enjoyed visiting with friends, studying the lotteries, and listening to country music. He was an accomplished conversationalist with many interests.
One in-law said, "You never knew what you would end up talking about - runaway taxes, the lottery, the possibility of a tram up Mount Juneau with a hotel at the top, or the blueberry crop." He was adopted into the Killer Whale Clan Fin House out of Klukwan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Miladin and Katherine Kokotovich; brothers, Pete Kokotovich and Marion Kokotovich; and son, Tony Kokotovich.
Survivors include his wife, Vivian Kokotovich; brother Sam Kokotovich; and children, Nicholas Kokotovich Jr., Fred Stevens Jr., Angela Wyatt, Lisa Fisher, Vicki Stroh, Katherine Kokotovich, Judson Kokotovich, Sam Kokotovich, Selina Kokotovich; and nine grandchildren.
The funeral will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, Nov. 15 at the Northern Light United Church with a reception to follow. All friends and family are invited to attend.
Honorary pallbearers include Cyril W. George Sr., Patrick Owen, Ole Taug Jr., Fred Hopkins, Charles Williams, Tom Paddock, Flore Lekanof Sr., Austin Brown, Richard Beasley and Edward Kunz Jr.
Active pallbearers include Ole Taug III, Isaiah "Hosaiah" Campos, Josh Moeser, Grady Fisher, Bill Ehlers, Freddie Hopkins, Michael Beasley and Clint Watanabe.
Ushers include Robert Hughes, Thomas Hughes, Tony Tompkins, Alex Fisher and Nicholas Kokotovich III.
The family may be contacted at 9466 Eagle St., Juneau, or by phone at 789-3429.
Ann Marie Hale
Former Juneau resident Ann Marie Hale, 67, died in her home surrounded by family members on Oct. 21, 2004, in Seattle.
She was born in Toppenish, Wash., on April 20, 1937, and attended Kings Garden High School and Seattle Pacific College. She lived in Juneau from 1971 until 1978 and worked for Northland Services and Lynden Transport.
She married Matthew R. Hale on April 24, 1979, and moved to Fairbanks and lived there until 1989.
Survivors include her husband, Matthew; and children, Shari Abel (Scott Guenther) of Juneau, Eric Peterson (Lisa) of Juneau, Kevin Peterson (Christine) of Port Angeles, Wash., and Robert Peterson (Kathryn) of Fairbanks; grandchildren, Jacob Abel, Heather Peterson, Ashlee Peterson, Emilyann Peterson and Kasey Tucker.
A funeral service was held at 2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25, at Acacia Funeral Home Chapel, 14951 NE Bothell Way, in Seattle.
Memorial contributions may be made in Ann Hale's name to: International Myeloma Foundation, 12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206, North Hollywood, CA 91607-3421.
Arrangements were by Acacia Funeral Home, Seattle.
Angelo "Mike" Guinzy
Former Juneau resident Angelo "Mike" Guinzy, 75, of Ashley, Ill., died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at the St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital of Centralia, Ill.
He was born in Collinsville, Ill., on Oct. 23, 1929, the son of Angelo T. and Mary (Combetto) Guinzy. He married Helen M. Isaak in Seattle on Nov. 29, 1948. He was a veteran, having served in the United States Coast Guard.
He was a retired ironworker and was a member of Local 392 of the United Iron Workers. He was also the former owner of the Resala Motel in San Binito, Texas. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Centralia, Ill., where he served as an usher for several years and was a member of the Centralia Moose and Centralia Elks.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Mary Steck Guinzy; two brothers, Jim and Tony Perotti; and a sister, Rose Bohnenstiehl.
He is survived by his wife, Helen Guinzy of Ashley, Ill.; son, John Michael Guinzy and wife, Vicki of Ashley, Ill.; five grandchildren, Dawn Melton, John Guinzy, Jr., Bruce, Brittany and Deborah Guinzy; three step-grandchildren, Rick and Kenny Tongate and Stacey Schuster; seven great-grandchildren; his former daughter-in-law, Colleen Bathon; an uncle, Victor Guinzy and wife Rosemary, of Ashley, Ill.; two aunts, Pricilla Combetto and Annabell Dankenbring, both of Collinsville, Ill.; and other relatives and friends.
A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 10, 2004, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Centralia, Ill., with Fr. David Darrin officiating. Mr. Guinzy's remains will be cremated.
Friends may call at 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, and 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Campagna Funeral Home of Ashley, Ill. A vigil prayer service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday evening.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church or the American Lung Association.
