Daniel E. Woodcock

Sgt. Daniel E. Woodcock, 25, died March 11, 2007, in the Ad Dawr province of Iraq, while serving his country.

He was born April 21, 1981, in Glennallen, to Calvin R. and Linda R. Woodcock.

He was the third of four sons. His entire childhood was spent in the Glennallen, Copper Center area. In high school, he was very active in the thespian group and acted in many productions. He graduated from Glennallen High School.

He joined the U.S. Army in July 2000, and joined the 82nd Airborne in January 2001. He was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. While there, he met Alida Oberlon, whom he married Nov. 16, 2001.

They were blessed with two children, Gabriel Michael, 3, and Charlotte Johanna, 14 months.

The family able to make a trip to Alaska in the summer of 2004, where he was able to share his love for his home state with his wife and introduce her and his son to his family. It was a wonderful time for all that now will be cherished by all who loved him, his family writes.

He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 for Operation Enduring Freedom. He began his second tour in Iraq in the fall of 2006. He missed his family very much and called home as often as he could. He called home early Christmas morning to be able to hear the children open their gifts, his wife said.

His decorations include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal.

He is survived by his wife, children and parents; his brothers, Travis Woodcock and wife Karen of Anchorage, Sgt. Dustin Ray Woodcock of Ft. Campbell, Ky., and Trenton Ross Woodcock of Glennallen; paternal grandfather, Howard Woodcock; uncle, Nathan Woodcock of Copper Center; aunts, Rhonna Gilmore and her husband Wade of Fairbanks, and Janice Weaver and her husband Bob of Florida; maternal grandparents, Harold E. and Jo Childs of Palmer; uncles, Steven J. Childs and his wife Bonnie of Skwentna, Ross A. Childs and wife Camis of Clarksville, Tenn., Paul C. Childs and wife Denise of Valdez; and 14 cousins.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Nathana Woodcock.

&#8220We are proud of him and his service to our country, but his absence will be greatly felt by his family and friends who knew and loved him,” his family writes.

A gathering of friends will be held at Fort Bragg on March 19. A funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, March 23, 2007, at the Fort Richardson Post Chapel in Anchorage, followed by graveside service and burial at Fort Richardson Cemetery. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, March 25, at the high school gymnasium in Glennallen, followed by a potluck gathering at the American Legion Hall.

Memorial donations for his children can be made to any Wells Fargo Bank - account #5102289781

Local arrangements were provided by Witzleben Family Funeral Home.

Donald D. Bush Sr.

Donald D. Bush Sr., 80, died March 20, 2007, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

There will be a gathering for family and friends at the family home from 2 to 4 p.m. March 24, 2007. He was born Oct. 24, 1926, in Warren, Ohio.

He was a World War II veteran. In 1959, he moved to Alaska. He lived in Anchorage from 1959 to 1960, and then moved to Eagle River, where he lived from 1961 to 1970.

In 1970, he moved to Palmer and spent the rest of his life there.

He was employed by the Civil Service at Elmendorf Air Force Base as an electrician. Some of the hobbies he enjoyed were fishing, hunting and woodwork.

He is survived by his wife, Gertrude Bush of Palmer; son and daughter-in-law, Donald, Jr. and Carol Bush of Palmer; son, Jeffery Bush of Palmer; son and fiancée, Eric Bush and Susan Polstra of Wasilla; daughter and son-in-law, Gretchen and Scott Thomas of Anchorage; son and daughter-in-law, Sean and Cassandera Bush of Anchorage; grandchildren, Elizabeth and Madelynne Thomas of Anchorage, Erin and Ryan Bush of Anchorage, Annette Lynch of Oregon, Donald C. Bush of Oregon, and Brett Bush of Anchorage; and great-grandchildren, Kala Ann Bush of Michigan, Allison Bieman of Michigan, Mike Fleishhauer of Oregon, and David Bush of Oregon.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.