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Adrea Louise Hamrick
Soldotna resident Adrea Louise Hamrick, 31, died March 26, 2012, in Soldotna.
Bishop Eric Massey will officiate at funeral services at 2 p.m., April 3 at Peninsula Memorial Chapel, 5839 Kenai Spur Hwy., in Kenai. Viewing is from 1 to 2 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial is in the Kenai City Cemetery. A gathering will follow the burial at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Forest Street in Kenai.
Adrea was born Sept. 13, 1980, in Soldotna. She attended school through the 10th grade.
She enjoyed music, self-portraits and hanging out with friends.
“Adrea, you are an amazing daughter, ” her family wrote. “You enjoyed being with your friends and you were there when they needed you. We will never forget how much love you spread. You will continue to touch the lives of everyone you knew. We love you and you will be deeply missed.
“During her last days in the hospital, she told us that she was in God’s hands. Adrea was not one to judge people and didn’t hold grudges. She loved everyone. I love you, my darling daughter.”
Preceding her in death were her grandpa, Eldon Hamrick Sr.; and great-grandma, Ruth Yohey.
Surviving are her parents, Lenette and John VinZant Sr., and brother, John VinZant Jr., all of Kasilof; brothers, Justin and Brian VinZant and Sovala Kisena Swearingen of Kenai; sister, Michelle Merriman of Soldotna; grandma, Ethel Hamrick of Soldotna; grandparents, Violet and Ray VinZant Sr. of St. Paul, Minn.; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.
Albert Campbell
Albert Leo Campbell, 69, died March 18, 2012, at his home in Sutton. He was born Dec. 22, 1944, in Des Arc, Ark. He spent time in Texas and Washington before moving to Alaska in the late 1980s. He lived in Palmer, Fish Lakes, Fairbanks and Lake Creek.
Leo was a mechanic, fisherman, guide, and a truck driver. He enjoyed horseback riding, fishing, four-wheeling and building different things.
All who knew him will dearly miss him. Leo had a way of talking that would make him a friend to all.
Surviving are his wife Sherry Segeada; sons, Albert Campbell, Scott Campbell and Justin Segeada; daughters, Carla Roedell and Katherine Segeada; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Ashes will be scattered at Lake Creek. A private service is at 3 p.m., April 5 at his residence in Sutton.
The family was taken care of by Legacy Kehl’s Palmer Chapel in Palmer.
Larry and Shawn Caswell
Larry U.J. Caswell, 60, died March 31, 2012, at his home in Wasilla. He was born June 12, 1951 in Winslow, Ariz., to Vernon and LaRetta (Rogerson) Caswell.
A memorial gathering in honor of Larry is at 12:30 p.m., April 7 at the Fishhook bar and café in Wasilla with military honors performed at the services.
Larry served his country honorably during the Vietnam War in the U.S. Navy, and after he moved to Alaska worked for Anchorage waste and water as a lab technician before his retirement.
His family will remember him as a loving husband, father, brother and grandfather. He had a true gift when he found his soul mate in his wife, Shawn, and the love and life they shared together before her passing earlier this year. Their daughters, Corina and Colby, will always love and miss them, but are overjoyed that they are together again. They are also saddened by the fact they will not get to watch their grandchildren grow up.
Larry is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Corina and Marty Mettlin, and Colby and Stephen King; grandsons, Reece Adams, Brody Mettlin and Kai Pinnow; and granddaughters, Madison Mettlin and Akasha Pinnow. Preceding him in death was his wife, Shawn.
Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel in Wasilla cared for the family.
Leola L. Meek
Alaska resident Leola Lynn Meek, 56, died March 24, 2012, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.
Leola was born June 26, 1955, to John Ellis Osborne and Lucille Henryetta Lavender in Mary’s Ville, Calif.
Leola moved to Alaska in 1990 and was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Preceding her in death were her parents.
Surviving are her brothers, Loyd and Art; and sister, Lou.
Arrangements were by Valley Funeral Home.
Bradford Alan Heck
Bradford Alan Heck, 55, died at home April 29, 2012.
He was born Aug. 30, 1956, in St. Louis, Mo. His early life was defined by a long list of athletic accomplishments. He was a captain of the powerhouse Horton Watkins Ladue Rams football team, which won the state championship in 1974 and continued to dominate the sport in his senior year. He was chosen to the All State All Star team and attended Illinois State University on a full scholarship.
Brad was avidly pursued by St. Louis Cardinals General Manager Bing Devine, who pressed him to sign a contract his senior year. Instead, with a wink and a smile, Brad said yes to ISU, the only college that offered to allow him to play both football and baseball. After a debilitating football injury, he battled back to bat .390 and .426 his junior and senior seasons.
Brad earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and went back to college to pursue a teaching certificate at Boise State University. He taught in the tiny town of Council, Idaho, where his eight-man football team and track teams won state championships. He was the Idaho State Track Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1986. Brad earned a Master’s of Education from the University of Phoenix in 1990.
He packed his family in his old Jeep and headed for adventure in Alaska, where he took his first school principalship in the village of Northway. He often said that in the coldest place in the United States, he found the warmest friends. From the moment he walked on the property he noted the makeshift hockey rink in the adjacent field.
Brad and his beloved friend Mark Cronk coached mites, squirts, peewees and bantams so that Northway hockey would stay alive. Because officials would call a game if the thermometer dipped below minus 20, Brad would secretly warm it under his shirt to keep the games going. Travel in the Interior was cold and dangerous, and on one trip the electricity on the bus gave out at 40 below zero. Brad held a flashlight out the window to highlight the snowberm for the driver, told the kids to climb in their sleeping bags and the team soldiered on.
He was the first Alaska Gateway School District Employee of the Year. Brad continued his administrative career at Susitna Valley High School and served on committees with the Alaska School Activities Association. He traveled extensively as the elected Northwest Regional Representative for the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He retired from Wasilla High School in the mid 1990s due to illness.
He was a devoted caregiver to his younger brother, Chris, for seven years preceding his death.
Surviving are his wife of more than 30 years, Esther Churchill Heck; son, Bradford Alan Heck Jr. of Nederland, Colo.; daughter, Brittany Alexandra Heck of Port Orange, Fla.; and father-in-law, Alex B. Churchill of Tucson, Ariz., whom he “adopted” as his father in 1999 after giving him a confession of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. His ashes have been combined with those of his beloved black Lab, Sally.
A celebration of life is planned for late June.
Francis Wayne (Pete) Kozak
Alaska resident Francis Wayne (Pete) Kozak, 47, died April 19, 2012, at his home in Palmer.
A celebration of life service is at 2 p.m., May 12 at Family Christian Center, 203 W. Dogwood Ave., Palmer.
Pete was born Nov. 20, 1964, in Sonoma, Calif., to Michael F. Sr. and Georgette Kozak.
The family moved to Alaska July 9, 1976, and have all lived here ever since. Pete loved Alaska and what it offered — the outdoors, adventure and the Last Frontier. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, outdoorsman, NASCAR fan and family man. Every day to Pete was a great adventure.
His father got his boys involved in the family construction business from the time they were very little. Pete continued those skills into adulthood and carried on what his father taught him into his own construction business. He took great pride and skill in his profession and in his work.
Surviving are his mother, Georgette Kozak; brothers and sister, Michael, Gregory and Nicole Kozak and their families; and sister and brother-in-law, Michelle and David Rodekohr and their family; wife, Maria Kozak; children, Tyler, BreyAnna and Keysha Kozak; step-children, Tonya Pellham and Dylan Kelley; and four grandchildren.
Preceding him in death was his father, Michael F. Kozak Sr.; and grandparents, John and Ruby Kozak, and Michael and Marie Wenandy.
“Beans, we will miss your cocky personality, your awesome smile, your adventurous side and the love you gave to your family, ” his family wrote. “We love you and miss you greatly. You will always and forever be in our hearts, love, Mom, Miki, Mike, Greg and Nicole.”
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to MDA Alaska, 121 W. Fireweed Lane, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99503. Please make checks payable to MDA Alaska; in the memo portion of check insert “in memory of Francis (Pete) Kozak.”
Merian Elizabeth Jansson
Wasilla resident Merian Elizabeth Jansson, 56, died April 27, 2012, at St. Elias in Anchorage. She will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Merian was born July 9, 1955, in Napa, Idaho, and was lovingly raised by Maxine and Charles Jansson.
She graduated from Doniphan High School in Missouri in 1973, and then moved to Anchorage to attend the University of Alaska Anchorage. She later met and married Lloyd Hood on July 26, 1975. Upon her marriage to Lloyd, she became mother to Jeannine, and later in 1977 to Bree, and in 1978 to Zeleen.
Merian gave up her earlier dream of entering law enforcement and chose instead to become a wonderful wife and mother to her very grateful children. She later returned to her dream and began working for the Department of Corrections for the state of Alaska. Merian worked for the DOC for 15 years, earning the respect and admiration of many people and colleagues. She was known as a fair, tough and compassionate officer. She made corrections her life and dedicated herself to it completely, taking great pride in her work.
Merian had many hobbies over the years and she excelled at them all. Most notable was her beadwork, sewing and leather work, as well as her poetry and writing. She was an avid reader, greatly enjoyed art, dancing, theater and music, and donated regularly to many charities and good causes.
Preceding her in death was her mother, Maxine Jansson and many uncles, aunts and cousins.
Surviving are her father, Charles Jansson of Idaho; sister, Sundee Davis of Missouri; ex-husband, Lloyd Hood of Wasilla; and daughters, Jeannine Lanfear of Medford Ore., Bree Hood of Seattle, Wash., and Zeleen Teter of Wasilla; and many good friends, coworkers and colleagues.
Merian’s celebration of life is at 1 p.m., May 4 at Palmer Church of the Nazarene.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks guests bring mementos to be displayed at the service, such as pictures, poems, quotes or anything that celebrates who Merian was to them.
Eva Florence Manginelli
Eva Florence Manginelli, 73, died of cancer April 24, 2012, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer. She was born Nov. 29, 1939, in Toledo, Ore. She came to Alaska in 1956 and lived in Anchorage, Homer, Sitka, Ketchikan and Valdez. At the time of her death, she resided in Wasilla.
Eva liked gardening and collecting gemstones.
Preceding her in death was her husband of 48 years, Art Manginelli.
Surviving are her daughters, Tamera Moore-Grimes and son-in-law Trevor,
Pamela and Lee Spicer, Monique and Rod Potter and Kimberly Manginelli; sisters, Joy and Jean; brothers, Sam and Jim; and grandchildren, Rachael, Rebecca, Garrett, Brandi, Daniel, Hali, James and Skylar.
The family was taken care of by Legacy Kehl’s Palmer Chapel in Palmer.
Jacqueline A. Rhine
Jacqueline A. Rhine, 82, died at her home in Big Lake April 27, 2012, surrounded by her family.
A graveside memorial is at 11 a.m., July 7 at Anchorage Memorial Park.
Jacqueline was born Feb. 11, 1930, in Kimberly, Ore. In 1939, she moved to Cordova with her parents, Everett and Alice Johnson, and brother, Lavern Johnson. On Feb. 14, 1948, she married Victor Rhine in Valdez during a basketball tournament. She and her husband raised five children in Cordova, Chistochina, McCarthy and Anchorage.
She was a compassionate, determined lady, undaunted by life’s trials and she instilled those values in her children.
She had a special touch with animals. While there were lots of dogs, cats and parakeets in her life, she also raised or tamed deer, squirrels, baby black bear, seagulls, martins and a bobcat. She loved her flower gardens and spent many hours tending them.
Some of the highlights in her life included when she and her husband met and actively campaigned for John F. Kennedy’s presidency, helping in a work camp at Kodiak after the earthquake to help rebuild the city, working as an assistant magistrate in Cordova, and working in the state clerk of the courts Criminal Division in Anchorage. She retired in 1995 after 23 years of service. She was well respected and admired by her peers and co-workers.
Surviving are her brother, Larry Johnson; daughter, Shairon K. Rhine; sons, Steven M. and wife Charlotte Rhine, and Darwin S. Rhine; seven grandchildren; four nieces; and one nephew.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Victor Rhine; brother, Lavern Johnson; and sons, Victor Rhine Jr. and James Rhine.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Faith Bible Fellowship, 14159 Left Hollywood Rd, . Big Lake, AK 99652.
Arrangements were by Cremation Society of Alaska.
