Joyce Anne Boland, 50
Joyce Anne Boland died July 29 at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez, Calif. Ms. Boland was born Dec. 17, 1957, in Sitka, Alaska. She is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Jamila and Leif Gasco, Litonya Garrett and Aimee Boland; stepdaughter, Monica Boland; granddaughter, Aiyana Garrett; mother, Jennie Larson; sisters and brothers-in-law, Lydia and Christopher Heyward, Justina and Fredrick Meyer and Margaret Pratt; brother, David Larson; nieces, Andrea and Lacé Heyward, Jenny Nunn, Shannon Fisk and Devon Valentine; nephews, Michael Heyward, Shane Nunn and Aaron Fisk; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
James J. Chuitt, 41
James J. Chuitt died July 26 at home in Anchorage. Mr. Chuitt was born April 9, 1967. He is survived by his mother, Sophia Chuitt; sisters and brothers-in-law, Diane and Frank Bell and Rose and Thomas Welte; sister, Jessie; brothers, Patrick Jr., Dennis and Lecon; half-brother and sister-inlaw, Basil and Mary Allowan; aunts, Tania Bismark, Nora McCord, Clara Chuitt and Polly Goozmer; uncles, Lawrence Chuitt and Pete Allowan; and many nieces and nephews.
Bobby Ekstrom, 38
Bobby “Sunshine” Ekstrom died Aug. 2 in Kenai. Mr. Ekstrom was born April 3, 1970, in Anchorage. He graduated from high school and attended the University of Alaska. He was taking classes and training to be a heavy equipment operator. Bobby loved music, singing, reading, camping, fishing and just being with the people he loved. Bobby is survived by his mother, Shirley Ekstrom; brother, Jimmy Ekstrom; father, Robert J. Ekstrom Jr.; stepmother, Lillian Ekstrom; paternal grandfather, Robert J. Ekstrom Sr.; aunts, Cheryl Stephan, Helen Stephan, Annie Stephan, Roberta Hallam and Georgia Dieringer; uncles, Pete Ekstrom, Ray Stephan, Daniel Stephan, Donald Stephan, John Stephan, Jerry and Charles; great-aunt, Lillian Theodore; great-uncle, Herbert Theodore; nieces Amanda and Brenda Ekstrom; nephew, Allister Ekstrom; and many cousins in Tyonek, Knik,McGrath and Eklutna villages.
Olga Juliussen, 90
Olga Juliussen died July 12 at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska. Ms. Juliussen was born in July of 1917, in Kenai. She is survived by her daughters, Vivian Gaines, Judy Darien, Maria Juliussen and Pauline Trigg.
Philip Myron Owens, 66
Philip Myron Owens died May 1 in Eklutna. Mr. Owens was born May 14, 1941, in Golovin, Alaska. He is survived by his daughter, Judy Ann Owens; granddaughter, Donna Marie Nielsen; grandsons, Samuel Walter Nielsen, Robert Maxwell Nielsen and Thomas Wesley Nielsen; half-sisters, Charlotte Swarts and Darlene Katchatag; half-brother, John Jemewouk; and uncle, Donald Fred Jemewouk.
Jerry Lee Roberts, 73
Jerry Lee Roberts died July 23 at home in Anchorage. Mr. Roberts was born Dec. 7, 1934, in Unalakleet, Alaska. Mr. Roberts grew up and attended school at the Unalakleet Day School and Mt. Edgecumbe in Sitka. He served overseas with the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander. His family stated: “He was ‘there’ for family at the smallest hint of need, with any of us. He was generous and of good humor but brooked no offense against his character or mother. He was diligent in his work and was fastidious, priding himself in his military affiliation ‘I’m a Navy Man’. He always remembered birthdays and holidays with cards. An all-around good brother!” He is survived by his sisters, Minnie G. Scribner, Mabel “Mae” F. Moses and Ada L. Hengel; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Seraphim Stephan Jr., 46
Seraphim “Slim Jr. or Boop” Stephan Jr. died June 28 at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage. Mr. Stephan was born June 12, 1962, in Chicago, Ill. Mr. Stephan attended school in Kenai and Mt. Edgecumbe and graduated in 1979 from E.L. Bartlett School in Tyonek. He grew up playing basketball, co-ed softball and other sport activities. He could be found dipping for hooligan, clam digging and loved all forms of fishing, often sitting on lakes for hours at a time in the winter. He is survived by his daughter, Toni Bismark; son, Seraphim Stephan III; granddaughters, Helen, Ciara and Sharon; mother, Selina Doris Joshua; stepmother and father, Melva and Seraphim Stephan Sr.; sister, Michaelene Stephan; and brothers, Benjamin L. Stephan and Robert Anthony Stephan Sr.
Alfred Topkok Sr., 89
Alfred Topkok Sr. died June 16 in Anchorage. Mr. Topkok was born in 1919 in Teller, Alaska. Mr. Topkok was a commercial fisherman, auto mechanic and reindeer herder, and was noted for his great strength. As a young man, he could pick up a 55-gallon drum of gas with his fingers. He is survived by his son, Alfred Topkok Jr.; granddaughter, Daisy Topkok; and grandsons, Raymond and John Topkok.
Margaret A.Ward, 80
Margaret A. Ward died July 14 at home in Anchorage. Ms. Ward was born in July of 1928, in Nenana, Alaska. She is survived by her daughter, Patsy Huffman; sons, Tom, Jim, Jerry, Joe and Jack Ward; and sister, Winnie Atwood.
Condolences
“David” Shanon Gallant, 59
Nena Sophie Bieker, 83