Cheryll Heinze

Cheryll Christine Heinze, 65, died July 11, 2012, at Beluga Lake near Homer in a small plane accident. She died of injuries due to the plane crash.

Visitation services are from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., July 16 at the Anchorage Legacy Funeral Home on Debarr Road. Pastor David Dahms will officiate at a celebration of her life at Lazy Mountain Bible Church in Palmer starting at 5:30 p.m., July 17. A light meal will be provided after the celebration. She will be buried in Lampasses, Texas, beside her family this summer.

Cheryll was born in Wewoka, Okla., Oct. 30, 1946, to Nel-Jo and Dallas Boren. Her father was a Chaplain in the Army and served in both World War II and the Korean conflict. Cheryll lived at Fort Richardson in her childhood while her father was stationed in Alaska. This began a lifelong love of Alaska and the outdoors. Cheryll and her two sisters found their way back to Alaska to live for some time throughout the years with Cheryll staying and becoming a true Alaskan.

Cheryll spent her life learning. She began her formal education at East Central University in Ada, Okla., but completed her degree in her 50s at Alaska Pacific University. She was truly proud of this accomplishment.

She moved to Alaska in 1985 and lived in a small cabin in Slana and later moved to Valdez. She settled in Anchorage in 1987 meeting the love of her life, Harold Heinze during the Hickle Governor’s Campaign where she served as Press Secretary. They married in 1993 surrounded by family and friends.

Through the years Cheryll and Harold became familiar faces serving the public and at local events. The two built a cabin by Montana Creek where they could experience the solitude and stunning beauty of Alaska’s untamed wilderness.

She was both an artist and a poet. Her poem “Aurora Borealis,” was presented at the symphony in 2001. Many of her beautiful paintings can be found in homes and offices around the state. Always having an appreciation for history and beauty, she owned and operated antiques stores. One in Anchorage was named Anna Kristine’s after her beloved grandniece.

She began working in Alaska at a fish camp of which she eventually became part owner on the Yentna River. She then went on to work at the state of Alaska with the Department of Commerce then on to Natural Resources where she became Deputy Commissioner. In 2002, Cheryll was elected to the Alaska Legislature and served one term. At the time of her death, she was employed by Matanuska Electric Association as Director of Public Affairs and Human Relations. She loved MEA and Palmer, its people and was a major factor in MEA’s progress.

She valued being part of the community and had the opportunity to contribute to a number of wonderful organizations and charities over the years. She was often instrumental in creating new and interesting events that surprised and wowed those who attended. From the Carhartt Ball in Talkeetna to the symphonies and Opera Galas, she found a new way of delivering a spectacular event. She served with the following boards or special interest groups: The Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau, the State Chamber of Commerce, the Anchorage Symphony League, Anchorage Opera Board, The World Affairs Council and the Matanuska Charitable Foundation Board.

Cheryll loved to explore Alaska and the world. She took every opportunity to get out and experience the world around her. She could be found fishing, camping or flying throughout the state of Alaska discovering those out-of-the-way places.

Above all, Cheryll loved her family with a passion and intensity. She was the leader, the organizer and planner often being referred to lovingly as the “little general.” She loved with her whole heart and had plenty of room for both family and friends. She made people along the way feel special and valued and invited them into her life to share the adventure.

The Montana Creek Cabin became a gathering place for family and friends. She was always ready to provide a meal and sit around the fire and visit.

Surviving are her husband, Harold Heinze of Anchorage; sisters Jodi Standard of Ada, Okla., and Karen Boren of Holdenville, Okla.; special nieces and nephew, Frederick Sloan of Lampasses, Texas, niece, Suzanne Sloan Rust and nephew in-law, Todd Rust and her three children, Jonathan, 13, Anna-Christine 11 and Lauren 8 of Anchorage, and Christine Meinders of Los Angeles, Calif.; and stepson, Harold Heinze and his wife, Katrina, and children Kayla and Victor in Minneapolis, Minn.

Her family wrote, “We remember her smiling with a twinkle in her eyes and laughing. She will always be the sparkle in our life. She carried us along with her enthusiasm for life, her love for others and her desire to serve and make the world a better place to live. Her creative talent permeated all that she did and enriched all of our lives. She is simply irreplaceable and will be so deeply missed by all.”

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts to 4 Paws For Ability Service Dogs and the Talkeetna Build-A-Plane-Project.