Bert Stewart

Bert Edward Stewart was born in Wapato, Washington, March 14, 1923, the fourth child of George and Ella Wellwood Stewart. The family moved to Palmer, Alaska in 1937, where he began a love affair (as he was fond of saying) with the Matanuska Valley; the nuances of which made an impression on him the rest of his life. He graduated from Palmer High School in 1941, attended the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, and Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, where he eventually completed his bachelor’s degree in 1965.

He enlisted in the Marine Corp in November of 1942, and served his country with valor in many battles in the South Pacific until December of 1945. He was wounded in action May 22, 1945, and bore the scars of those battles the rest of his life.

He returned to Palmer after the war and married Georgia May Small in 1948. They started their family and lived in many places in Alaska, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, New Mexico, Missouri, and Indiana. He taught school in Driggs, Idaho, and Hoonah, Alaska, but found he enjoyed carpentry above all other work. They spent 32 years in Excursion Inlet, where they built two homes. He was known as a fine carpenter and small boat builder, and for his long rowing trips with his family and on his own. He rowed the boats he built from Excursion Inlet to Juneau, Hoonah, Tenakee Hot Springs and Elfin Cove. He made nine crossings of Icy Straits.

Central to Bert’s life was his devotion to God, and his belief in the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross to reconcile man to his Maker. He sought always to encourage his family and friends to read the Bible and to take God at his Word.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Georgia May; his mother Ella; his father George; brothers, Arnold Stewart, Baby Stewart, Robert Stewart; and his sisters, Jean Piercy, and Alice Onkka. He is survived by his sister, Janet Kemphaus; daughters, Memory (Brad) Ames, Melody (Tom) Kirchner; his son-in-law Garry DesRosiers; his sons, Wiley (Kathy) Stewart, Tyke (Mary) Stewart, and Troy (Lori) Stewart; his grandchildren, September Dawne (John) Ames, Gable (Brooke) Ames, Rachel (Toby) Ames, Mandy Ames, Natalie (Erik) Norberg, Adam (Haley) DesRosiers, Norman (Sarah) DesRosiers, Brooke (Ryan) Walsh, Gavin Stewart, Cadence (Santiago) Stewart, Chandler Stewart, Cory (Amber) Stewart, Travis (Amanda) Stewart, Shane (Katelyn) Stewart; great-grandchildren, Gaedon, Hailey, Trinity, Warren, Evan, Jackson, Isaac, Maelle, Navah, Sonorah, Corinthian, Donovan, Iliana, Selena, Stephanie, Ayanna, Aylynn, Alanna, Avery and Peyton.

He lived the last years of his life after the death of his wife, in the Valley. He passed peacefully with his family around him in his daughter’s home in Palmer, on May 23, 2016. There will be a memorial service May 28 at 6 p.m. at the Family Christian Center, 203 W. Dogwood in Palmer — the church he helped to build and where he married his beloved wife Georgia.