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Michael Dayle Gray
Michael Dayle Gray, 54, died Dec. 21, 2011, at his home in Wasilla following a short illness.
A viewing is at 10 a.m., Dec. 28 at the LDS chapel in Palmer across from Colony High School, with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. A family gathering is at Wood Funeral Home at 11 a.m., Jan. 3 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, followed by a graveside service at Rose Hill Cemetery in Idaho Falls.
Michael was born Feb. 22, 1957, in Boise, Idaho, to Robert G. and Barbara S. Gray. He graduated from Skyline High School in Idaho Falls. He attended Ricks College then served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Canada Montreal Quebec Mission. He then attended Brigham Young University and received his doctorate in podiatric medicine from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. He practiced podiatry in Anchorage and Wasilla.
He married Kari Smith in Seattle, Wash., Dec. 20, 1986. He loved sports and outdoor activities. His favorite thing was playing with the family and watching his kids play sports.
His family wrote: "Mike loved his family so much. He was kind-hearted and had a great sense of humor. We will miss him and all those late-night talks. Whenever he talked to family members, he would always talk about how proud he was of his family and how much he loved his children. He loved to be with his children and his wonderful wife, Kari."
Surviving are his wife, Kari; son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Tahna; sons, Douglas, David and Mark; daughters, Kristi and Amy, all of Wasilla; sister, Rosemary Jenkins (Paul) of Rigby, Idaho; brother, Robert Gray (Anne) of Wasilla; sister, Debbie Grant (Steve) of Boise, Idaho; brother, Steve Romande (Rex) of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; brother, Dennis Gray (JoLene) of Cedar City, Utah; and sister, Barbie Young (Steve) of Farmington, Utah.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Robert and Barbara Gray.
Arrangements were by Kehl's Funeral Home.
Myrtle E. Moline
Myrtle E. Moline, 93, died Sept. 17, 2011, at her home in Wasilla.
She was born March 14, 1918, in Chippewa Falls, Wisc., and lived in the Great Lakes area until she moved to Alaska in July 1949 with her husband, Harold Moline and their three children, James, John and Mary.
In their early years of living in Alaska, they moved following where construction work took them. Starting in Anchorage then Palmer, Cordova and then back to Anchorage in 1957.
In 1959, Myrtle was widowed, leaving her to provide for her three children. She then went into the workforce, but first had to learn to drive.
She was a bookkeeper, office worker and held a variety of other jobs along the way. She created Moline’s Garden on Baxter Road in East Anchorage until moving to the Valley. She was one of original growers of the all-blue Lobelia baskets.
After retiring and giving up “city” life in Anchorage, she moved to Palmer near Bodenburg Butte, taking her 60-foot greenhouse with her. There she grew flowers and vegetables, spent time with family and enjoyed the lifestyle. She lived there until the early 1990s when the Matanuska River flooded and changed course.
Then tragically in 1991 it eroded the riverbanks, taking her greenhouse, home and property. She then moved to Wasilla with her long-term companion and friend, Don Hunt.
They found a home overlooking Finger Lake, which reminded her of a birdhouse. She was very grateful to live there. She would tell visitors, “God, must have built this house” because of the breathtaking views of Pioneer Peak, Finger Lake and the surrounding Valley.
One of her last desires was fulfilled this past summer — to sit on the deck admiring the view while eating a ripe, homegrown tomato. This was a tradition of growing produce for themselves as well as family that had occurred for many years and was passed down though the generations.
“We give thanks to all who helped her, including Mat-Su Hospice, Turn-a-Leaf, but most of all, Don Hunt. Without his help she would not have been able to spend her last years in the home she loved, ” her family wrote.
No visitation or formal service is planned at her request. Myrtle will be honored at 2 p.m., Jan. 8 at the Palmer Train Depot as part of the Mat-Su Regional Home Health and Hospice’s “Gathering of Remembrance.”
Myrtle was an avid gardener and loved books, traveling, cooking, berry picking and the outdoors.
Surviving are longtime friend and companion, Donald Hunt of Wasilla; son and daughter-in-law John and Sue Moline of Sterling; daughter and son-in-law, Mary Moline and Harry Haywood of Anchorage; grandchildren, Cindy and Gary Friesen of North Dakota, James “Jim” Moline of Arizona, Robert, and David and Katherine Karabelnikoff of Anchorage; great-grandchildren, Alyssa Godes of Wasilla, Breanna Godes of North Dakota and Tyson Moline of Arizona.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Harold Moline; son, James Lee Moline; sisters, Doris Seisennop and Lydia Pifer; and brothers, Robert and Richard Wendt.
In lieu of flowers, send donations to Valley Hospice Resources, 1150 S. Colony Way, Suite 3 PMB 349, Palmer, AK 99645.
Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory cared for the family.
Neal D. Brown
Longtime Palmer resident Neal D. Brown, 83, died Dec. 19, 2011, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer. His wife, children and almost all of his grandchildren surrounded Neal at the time of his death.
Memorial services are at 1 p.m., Dec. 27 at Palmer Christian Church on Scott Road. Pastor Bill Lance will officiate and the JBER Honor Guard will perform military honors. A reception will immediately follow the services at the church. Neal's ashes will be laid to rest at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.
Neal was born June 16, 1928, to Roy Lester and Bessie Inis (Resseguie) Brown in Arapahoe, Neb. In his younger years he lived on a 1, 500-acre ranch with his family in Atkinson, Neb. Neal joined the U.S. Navy and served his country in the latter part of World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1947. Neal moved to Washington state and met the love of his life, Betty Lou (Waggoner). They were married Aug. 18, 1947. While living in Washington state, they had four children. Neal fulfilled one of his greatest dreams by moving his family to Alaska in 1961, where he settled in the Matanuska Valley.
Neal worked at the Anchorage International Airport Post Office, first as a carrier and later as a supervisor from 1961 to 1979. After retiring from the post office he started a construction company, Brown's Builders, where he built many homes located in the Palmer and Wasilla areas. He retired from his construction business in the early 1980s.
For many years, Neal was a member of Palmer Christian Church and helped to design and build the church located on Scott Road. Neal was passionate about hunting, horseback riding, fishing and enjoying his grandchildren. He also loved to garden and grew record-sized tomatoes, cucumbers and cabbage which he shared with family and friends. He built a 35-foot ocean boat, which he kept in Valdez for use on the weekends with his family. Neal also had his captain's license.
"Neal was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be greatly missed, " wrote the family.
Neal is survived by his wife of 63-and-half years, Betty; children, Linda Turner, Roy Brown and his wife Norma, Ginger Beal and her husband Greg, and Alice Hershman and her husband Wayne; 12 grandchildren, Tara, Cherish, Michael, Troy, Misty, Wayne, Toby, Tammy, Todd, Rachael, Rebekah and Danielle; he also is survived by 27 great-grandchildren.
Valley Funeral Home and Crematory cared for the family.
Nellie Mae Anderson
Wasilla resident Nellie Mae Anderson, 92, died Jan. 3, 2012, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.
Bishop Gray will officiate at funeral services in honor of Nellie at 11 p.m., Jan. 9 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Wasilla Stake Center, 821 E. Dellwood St.
Nellie was born May 2, 1919, in Madison, Maine, to Archie and Lucy (Abbott) Dawes.
Nellie attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nellie also loved to hunt. She learned to trap in the early 1950s and at one time held the record for the largest beaver trapped in Maine.
“Nellie loved the outdoors, loved living life to the fullest and remembered it all, ” her family wrote. “She had a remarkable memory and a loving, compassionate soul. Her true love of over 72-and-a-half years shared in all of her adventures. Their love and adventures will continue through the eternities. She remained the darling sweet bride for her adoring Horace.”
Nellie was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Stacy M. Anderson.
Surviving are her loving husband, Horace W. Anderson of Wasilla; son, Ron H. Anderson of Talkeetna; son, Garnold L. Anderson of Mexico, Maine; granddaughter, Sandra Butch of Anchorage; grandson, David H. Anderson of Germany; granddaughter, Kathy M. Anderson of Arizona; grandson, Mike A. Anderson of Anchorage; granddaughter, Suzanne Anderson of Anchorage; and grandson, Edward C. Anderson of Talkeetna.
Memorial donations in memory of Nellie may be made to: Ron Anderson, HC 89 Box 8310, Talkeetna, AK 99676.
Valley Funeral Home and Crematory cared for the family.
Sgt. Shane Louis Guszregan
Army National Guard Sgt. Shane Louis Guszregan, 30, died Jan. 17, 2012, at his home in Anchorage.
Memorial services begin at 2 p.m., Jan. 23, at Fort Richardson Chapel on Fort Richardson Army Base. Chaplain McGovern will officiate. Those attending should meet at the Fort Richardson Gate at 12:30 p.m. for the funeral procession.
Shane was born Feb. 18, 1981, in Spokane, Wash. Shane lived in Spokane as a young child and later moved to Palmer. He attended Palmer High School and Alaska Military Youth Corps Academy. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Army in September 1998.
Shane completed basic and advanced individual training as a petroleum supply specialist before joining the Alaska Army National Guard in September 2002. Shane was deployed to Kuwait with C CO 3rd BN in 2006 to 2007. He was then deployed to Kosovo with 1-207th AVN REGT from November 2008 to November 2009. His last tour was with B CO 1-207th AVN REGT/OIF 2010-11 (Operation Iraqi Freedom).
"Shane Guszregan was our son, our brother, our uncle, our nephew, our friend, our light and our love, " his family wrote. "Shane was a fine soldier, a man who defended freedom and knew the cost of defending that freedom. If you were looking for a heart as big as the universe, a smile to light up a room, then Shane was your man. He loved life, loved his family, friends and cherished the most precious things this world had to offer. Shane was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking, shooting guns, boating, snowboarding and enjoying time with family and friends. He was a kind and generous man. Anyone who had ever met him can tell you just how great a person he was; his laugh, his smile and his goofy personality. He would give you the shirt off his back if he knew it would help you. He will be deeply missed by many and that goes to show how much he was loved."
Preceding him in death were his grandparents, Earl and Margaret Joyce Guszregan and Ardis Marr.
Surviving are his father, Sylvester Guszregan and his wife Angela of Palmer; mother, Judith Gusky and her husband Paul of Spokane, Wash.; sisters, Kandy Fleurisma and her husband Gregory of Glen Oaks, N.Y., Meghan Guszregan of Spokane, Wash., Elizabeth Guszregan of Anchorage, Brittni Harriss of Spokane, Wash., Michelle Chambers of Asheville, N.C., and Brittania Zimmerman of Palmer; and brothers, Adam and Ian Zimmerman of Palmer. Shane also was a loving uncle to Paayton Grace Fleurisma, Noelle Grace Wright and Miah Star Chambers.
Memorial contributions may be made in Shane's memory to the ReMIND.org, a public awareness movement of the Bob Woodruff Foundation that provides resources and support to injured service members, veterans and their families.
Valley Funeral Home and Crematory cared for the family.
Teresa Evelyn Mielke
Lifelong Alaskan Teresa Evelyn Mielke, 60, died at home Dec. 19, 2011, after living with cancer for 15 years.
Born in Palmer Feb. 1, 1951, Teresa grew up on a potato farm and felt the ground shake in 1964. After graduating from Palmer High School in 1968, she attended Southern Oregon University and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She was married to George Ziegler in 1970, residing in Fairbanks and Adak. They divorced in 1974.
Teresa moved to Anchorage, where she completed her degree in English at the University of Alaska Anchorage. After graduation, she began working at R&R Reporting as a court reporter. Several years later, she and Donna Romerdahl formed Gemini Reporting Services, providing deposition and transcription services to local attorneys and courts. She continued as the sole proprietor of the business (later TM Transcribing) from about 1990 until her death.
Teresa met and lived with Terry Schleppegrell from 1988 to 1990. They had one son, Jackson Mielke Schleppegrell, in 1989.
In the 1980s, she bred Himalayan cats and showed them competitively in Anchorage and the Lower 48. Throughout her life she was an avid bridge player and was active in the Anchorage Bridge Club. In the 1990s, she developed a strong interest in flower gardening, which led to many new friendships. She was a member of several book clubs and loved discussing murder mysteries with fellow devotees in Sisters in Crime.
Teresa is survived by her son, Jackson Schleppegrell of Anchorage; her mother, Evelyn J. (Foster) Mielke of Palmer; brother, Bob (Terri) Mielke of Wasilla; sister, Marie (James) Dryden of Anchorage; sister, Gwen (Jon) Erwin of Tallahassee; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death was her father, Robert C. Mielke of Palmer.
The family will hold a memorial service at the Anchorage Bridge Club, 639 W. International Airport Road, Unit 10, at 2 p.m., Dec. 28 with refreshments afterward. Final arrangements are being handled by the Cremation Society of Alaska.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity in her name.
William “Bill” Hayes McKillop
Wasilla resident William "Bill" Hayes McKillop, 66, died Dec. 20, 2011, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.
A celebration of Bill's life and memorial potluck is at 2 p.m., Jan. 8, 2012, at Palmer Elk's Lodge 1842, 2600 N. Barry's Resort Drive in Wasilla.
Bill was born Sept. 15, 1945, to Thomas and Rose (Hayes) McKillop in Bronx, N.Y., where he attended Theodore Roosevelt High School. He moved to Oregon in the 1960s and attended Pacific University in Forest Grove, where he earned degrees in psychology and sociology.
After moving to Alaska, Bill attended the Alaska Public Safety Academy in Sitka. Bill worked as a chief investigator and loss prevention manager for Montgomery Ward from 1970 through 1974. In 1973 and 1974, he was also chief investigator for the Alaska Public Defender's Office in Anchorage. He was a security guard on the pipeline working for Wackenhut in 1974 through 1976, and later as an assistant manager for Loomis-Smith Security.
Bill served the state of Alaska as a state trooper from 1976 through 1996. He was stationed in Anchorage, Ketchikan, Cooper Landing, St. Mary's and Palmer. It was recently said by a fellow trooper that "they don't make men like Trooper Bill anymore."
Bill met his wife, Carlene, in Ketchikan, and they were married April 21, 1982, in Kona, Hawaii. When Bill and his wife retired, they traveled coast-to-coast several times in their motorhome and settled in Las Vegas for three years before family obligations brought them back to Alaska.
Bill enjoyed golf, reading, travelling, singing watching "Jeopardy, " collecting penguins and John D. MacDonald books. Bill was a member of Wasilla AMVETS Post 11, was past Exalted Ruler for the Fraternal Order of Elks and was a member of the American Legion, the VFW and the Moose Lodge. He was a life member of FOAST and APOA. Bill was happiest when his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were around. He was generous to a fault and made many lasting friends throughout his life.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Thomas; daughter, Lucinda Peterson; and sister in-law, Cheryl Dirkx.
He is survived by his wife, Carlene at the family home in Wasilla; daughters, Stephanie Gillen of Anchorage and Jennifer Korff of Wasilla; grandchildren, Nichole Gillen, Amanda Gillen, Timothy Oliver, Candace Peterson and Joshua Peterson; four great-grandchildren; sister in-law, Joyce McKillop of Concord, N.C.; brother in-law, Marc Dirkx of Salem, Ore.; and several nieces and nephews.
Bill's family is very grateful for the many people who have offered their assistance and condolences during their bereavement. May each of you be blessed in a very special way for your compassion and generosity. Special thanks to the Alaska State Troopers, AMVETS Post 11, Palmer Elks Lodge, Dr. Natalie Beyeler, Chief Tom Clemons, Susan Sprague, Perry Streeter and Louisa Allen for going that extra step to assist and support Bill and his family.
