Dec. 8, 2006

Larry G. Van Patten

Larry G. Van Patten, 59, of Wasilla, died Dec. 3, 2006, at home with his wife, Freddy, holding his hand and saying a prayer as he took his last breath. His wife said Larry fought a valiant battle against cancer, caused by Agent Orange and post-traumatic stress disorder.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, 2006, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post, 301 E. Lakeview Ave., Wasilla, up Knik-Goose Bay Road. Friends are asked to bring a photograph for the picture board, and a dish for the potluck following the service.

He was born July 30, 1947, in Tyler, Texas, and attended high school in Utah, where he played football and ran track. In college, he earned a degree in zoology and organic chemistry. His wife said he was a football star and an excellent archer.

He met his wife in San Jose City College, and the two went on to get their bachelor's degrees at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. They married in Tanana on July 1, 1972, in St. James Episcopal Church with all of Tanana present.

He earned an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army. He was Spec 4 and point man. During the Vietnam War, he was stationed in Chulia, Vietnam. While overseas, he developed dingy fever, a military illness, which his wife said caused him years of medical problems.

He lived in Alaska for 28 years. He moved to Anchorage in 1978 and lived there until 1982, when he moved to Wasilla.

He worked as the maintenance department supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service for 25 years. He was a member of St. David's Episcopal Church. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, camping, bow hunting, boating (especially on the Yukon River), household maintenance, art, golfing, woodcarving, reading books on military (Civil War) history, studying wildlife biology, and solving the New York Times crossword puzzle.

&#8220He was an excellent husband, father and grandfather. Larry spent most of his time (with his sons) teaching them survival skills, bow hunting, game hunting, fishing and camping,” his wife said.

He is survived by his wife, Freddy Van Patten; sons, Adrian Van Patten, Brandon Van Patten and Cody Van Patten, all of Wasilla; grandson, Dylan Van Patten of Wasilla; brother and sister-in-law, Ken and Kathy Van Patten of San Jose; parents Mel and Diane Van Patten of Milpeta, Calif.; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandfathers, Homer Van Patten, John A. Swenson, and John Van Patten; great-grandmothers, Minnie Van Patten, Viola Laney, Nora Edwin, and Rose Swenson; grandfathers, the Rev George Edwin and Bobby Swenson; and grandmother, Pauline Swenson.

His ashes will be spread across special locations on the Yukon River, the Knik River, and at his home in Wasilla.

Flowers are welcome at the service. Memorial donations can be sent to 1180 Pinion Dr. Wasilla, AK 99654.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.

Carol Ann Verrall

Carol Ann Verrall, 67, died Dec. 6, 2006, at her home in Palmer, surrounded by her mother and children.

A celebration of life is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, 2006, at the American Legion Post 15 off the Outer Springer Loop in Palmer, and will conclude with a potluck dinner.

She was born Jan. 31, 1939, to Joseph and Blanche Jahn in Pueblo, Col. She attended school there and graduated from Pueblo Catholic High in 1957. She married Louis Hinds and they had six children. In 1965, they traveled the Alaska Highway in a Rambler station wagon with four of their children, arriving in Anchorage on a very cold January day.

Since that time, Carol made Alaska her home. She spent most of the early years in Alaska raising her children in Anchorage. Later she moved to the Valley and, with her second husband, Gail Bodner, ran roadside lodges, worked Alaska fairs, and led a true Alaska lifestyle.

She then moved to Palmer and worked for Matanuska Telephone Association until her retirement in 1999, and there she met and married Bert Verrall and they shared a wonderful life together until his death in November 2005.

Carol loved many things, including cooking, gardening and music, but most of all she loved her family and friends, and her home always was filled with warmth and love.

Her family and friends will remember her beautiful smile and happy outlook on life.

She was preceded in death by her son, Louis &#8220Marty” Hinds Jr.; father, Joseph Jahn; brother, William &#8220Bill” Jahn; sister, Mary F. Zaremba; and husbands, Gail Bodner and Bert Verrall.

She is survived by her mother, Blanche T. Jahn; brother, Joseph P. Jahn; children and their spouses, Lou Ann Hinds, Bert and Tracy Verrall, Andrea Manges, Ron and Ronette Verrall, Mary and Rick Podobnik, Maureen and Jim Bennett, and Joe and JoAnn Hinds; grandchildren, Armagan, Carol, Fred, Valerie, Shani, Laura, Sherri, Dennis, Jamie, Alene, Kevan, Amber, Chad, Mary-Kate, Kyle, Dominque and Briana; great-grandchildren, Netenal, Natali, Kyla, Avarehem, Belle, Jayden and Jeice.

Many friends and other family members in Alaska and throughout the United States also survive her.

Rosemary Lou Ost Turner

Rosemary Lou Ost Turner, 67, died Dec. 4, 2006, at home in Houston after a battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family at the end. She left us with much grace and dignity, her family wrote.

She was born in Golovin on Feb. 3, 1939, to John and MaryLou Ost. She married Everett S. Turner in 1958, and together they had six children. They traveled extensively during his career in the U.S. Army. She was a mother and homemaker and raised her children alone after the death of her husband in 1978 in Wasilla. After her children finished high school in Wasilla, she moved to Houston, and built her home with the help of her children. Her home was always a warm and loving place to visit, her family wrote.

She was a lifelong Christian with a deep and abiding faith in God and her savior Jesus Christ. To the end, her faith never wavered, her family wrote. She was a gentle teacher, counselor and friend to her siblings, children and extended family loved ones. She enjoyed preparing food, especially foods from the land and waters of Alaska. Her sourdough pancakes were world famous.

She is survived by her children, Rosemarie of Houston, Denise and granddaughter Tori of Wasilla, honorary daughter Bonnie Long of Wasilla, Wayne of Houston, Janet and Ronnie Sims of Wasilla, and Karen and Chad Carpenter and grandsons Josh and Mike of Wasilla; grandchildren, Everett and Annemarie of Houston, and Zack, Pherrari and Sarah of Wasilla; sister and brother-in-law, Lola and Graham Austerman of Minneapolis; sister, Clara James of Clam Gulch; sisters, Lillian Mooney of Tacoma, Wash., Lois Marsden of Soldotna, and Metta E. Riley of Kenai; brothers, Donald H. Ost of Spanaway, Wash., John L. Ost of Anchorage, and R. Emory Ost and wife Carol of Tacoma; sister-in-law, Jan Kral of Anchorage; aunts, Helen Ost of Tacoma and Louise Ost of Tacoma; and many cousins, nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Everett; parents, John and Mary Ost; son, Everett (Cliffie); sister, Ramona Anderson; and brother, David L. Ost.

A funeral service will be held at Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, 2006. Interment will be at Fort Richardson National Cemetery, where she will rest with her husband and son.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.

Ione Jean Shuravloff

Ione Jean Shuravloff, 67, died due to complications of diabetes on Dec. 4, 2006, at home surrounded by her family in Wasilla.

A viewing is scheduled for noon Friday, Dec. 8, 2006, followed by a funeral service at 1 p.m. at Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla. Burial will follow at Wasilla Aurora Cemetery. The Rev. Christopher will officiate. A reception is set for 5 p.m. at the Wasilla American Legion. The pallbearers will be Mick, Rick and Wally Shuravaloff (brothers), Nick Hunter, Alex Slavens and Joshua Gobles.

She was born Aug. 18, 1939, in Kodiak. She attended school through the eighth grade. She lived in Alaska her whole life, in Kodiak and Wasilla.

She worked in child care for the state for many years, and housekeeping until she lost her legs to diabetes in 1994. In 1994, she retired from her housekeeping job. She was affiliated with the Kodiak Russian Orthodox Church. She adored children and was &#8220Gramma” to all the kids in the neighborhood.

Her family stated, &#8220Ione was larger than life and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was generous beyond words. She would give you the shirt off her back. Everyone who knew her knew she loved bingo and Yahtzee, her grandchildren and children in general. Her family meant everything to her. Her heart was as big as all outdoors. She affected everything she came in contact with. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a great love for people. She loved to watch movies and listen to her scanner. She had a very close and special relationship with her only daughter, Mona Shuravloff, Yahtzee and bingo partner and best friend. She will be loved and missed by her and everyone related to her.”

She is survived by her daughter, Mona Shuravloff of Wasilla; son-in-law, Alex Slavens of Wasilla; grandson, Joshua Robles of Fairbanks; grandson, Joseph Bowlin of Wasilla; granddaughters, Jeana and Janelle Bowlin of Wasilla; sister, Patricia Harris of Anchorage; mother, Martha Shuravloff of Anchorage; brothers, Nick Shuravloff, Michael (Mick) Shuravloff, Wally Shuravloff, Marty Shuravloff and Rick Shuravloff, all of Anchorage; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Nicholas Shuravloff; and sisters, Netty Pearson and Edna Ferris.

The family would appreciate flowers at the service.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.

Clyde Wallace Hornal

Wasilla resident Clyde Wallace Hornal, 78, died Dec. 4, 2006, at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

A memorial service/celebration of life is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006, at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, 1015 S. Check St., Wasilla. A service also will be held at Waverly Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Waverly, Tenn., at a yet-to-be-determined date. His cremated remains will be scattered in Alaska and Tennessee.

He was born March 28, 1928, in White Bluff, Tenn. He was stationed at Fort Richardson in the late 1940s, and returned to Alaska in 1969.

From January 1947 to November 1949, he was a corporal in the U.S. Army at Fort Richardson, and was honorably discharged. He homesteaded at Old Knik Townsite after his discharge from the Army. He later built a home in Wasilla when he returned with his family in the summer of 1969. He was retired, but maintained homes in Tennessee and Alaska.

He was chief of maintenance for the University of Alaska Agriculture Experimental Station in Palmer from the early 1970s until he retired in the mid 1980s.

He was a member of Waverly Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Waverly. He was an accomplished woodworker and craftsman, always busy and involved in many building projects and carpentry/cabinetry work.

His family said, &#8220Clyde enjoyed his life to the fullest, always on the go, and enjoyed driving between homes (Tennessee and Alaska) and seeing different parts of the country. He was never interested in slowing down and was active every day.”

Survivors are his wife, Margarett K. Hornal; sons, John S. Hornal and Robert W. Hornal; brothers, James Hornal of Texas and George Hornal of Tennessee; and grandchildren, Justin, Anthony, Hailey and Anna.

Alan Richard Butts

Alan Richard Butts, 56, died Dec. 5, 2006, at his home, Fox Run RV Campground, near Palmer. His death was attended by family members and loved ones, both spiritual and physical.

He was born to Eugene and G. Jean Butts in Seattle on Aug. 11, 1950. He previously had been a member of the Seattle chapter of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, but left that world behind when he became one of Jehovah's Witnesses at the age of 37. He resided in Palmer from 1982 until his death, except for long stays in Powell, Wyo. Raymond, Wash., and Homer, where he participated enthusiastically in the preaching work. He served his God Jehovah faithfully until the time of his death and looked forward to being resurrected to serve Him forever on the Paradise earth. Many people in Alaska, Wyoming and Washington were helped to learn about Jehovah through his preaching.

He is survived by his wife, Letha; his mother, Jean Butts; his siblings and their spouses, David and Karen Butts, Linda and Steve Jones, and Cathy and Dale Wolcott; his ex-wife, Margaret L. Butts; his in-laws, Bob and Margaret Sloan, Roberta Soolook, Sean Sloan, Dianne Sloan and Arletta Sloan; his children, Glen W. Butts, Margaret M. Butts, Christine A. Moser, Robert A. Butts and Mitchell M. Butts; his nieces and nephews, Damon, Tiffany, Braden, Joey, Allie, Jeffery, Gary, John, Janiene, Jason, Erica, Allisha, Kaitlynn, Steven, Bethany and Gracelynd; great-grandchildren, Alliana and Trinity; and surrogate grandchildren, Zach and Tessa.

A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, across from the State Fairgrounds in Palmer on Blounk Road.

All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Worldwide Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses through a local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Gregory Dean Carpenter

Longtime Palmer resident Gregory Dean Carpenter, 53, died Dec. 1, 2006, at the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center of natural causes. Per his wishes services will not be held.

Greg was born Oct. 21, 1953, in Alma, Mich., to proud parents Raymond and Zora Carpenter. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17, and afterwards attended college, where he received a degree in business management/law enforcement. He married Elizabeth (Lucy) Barton in 1974, and moved to Alaska in 1978, where he was hired at the Palmer Police Department, and later worked for state of Alaska Department of Corrections. In 1990, he was chosen to attend the FBI National Academy, a feat of which he was very proud.

He volunteered for many different community organizations, including the American Legion and the V.F.W., and loved being an Alaskan.

He is survived by his wife, Lucy of Palmer; son, Jared of Palmer; son and daughter-in-law, Preston and Coral of Palmer; siblings, Janice Marcelino of Ontario, Doug Carpenter of Florida, Vada Keys of Michigan and David Carpenter of Idaho; as well as so many other family and friends.

Arrangements are with Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.

Donald J. Brandl

Donald J. Brandl, 56, of Lincoln, Neb., died Nov. 24, 2006, at the Monarch Hospice Center in Lincoln, after an extended illness with cancer.

Memorial services were held at the Berean Church in Lincoln on Nov. 30 and at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Coleridge, Neb., on Dec. 2.

An Alaska memorial service is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006, at Wasilla Bible Church, 1651 W. Nicola Ave., one block off the Parks Highway behind Burchell High School.

He was born May 5, 1950, in Laurel, Neb., to Jack and MaryAnn (Lensing) Brandl.

He attended Coleridge Community Schools and graduated in 1968.

He loved sports and was quarterback of the football team, played baseball and participated in track. He held the shot-put record for many years. He attended Wayne State College for a short time, where he also played football.

In 1969, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He received basic training in San Diego, Calif., and was stationed in Vietnam and Okinawa.

He received an honorable discharge in 1971.

He attended Universal Heavy Construction School in Miami, Fla., then returned to Coleridge, Neb., where he worked in Sioux City as a heavy equipment operator. After leaving Coleridge, he went to Houston to work.

In 1975, he moved to Alaska, where he worked for Steve Arduser, a classmate, and other heavy construction companies. He was also employed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in the winter months.

In 1979, he married Frances Dickson in Palmer. They had three children, Isaac, Mariko and Sachiko.

He returned to Nebraska in 2002 after his brother, Rodney, and his wife, Kathy, of Seward were killed.

He was the guardian for their children, Jessica and Matt, until 2005. During this time, he worked in Lincoln.

Don returned to Wasilla, and married Cindra Ens of Lincoln on Feb. 24, 2006. His desire was to return to Nebraska before he died and before Thanksgiving.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion of Wasilla. One of his favorite pastimes was returning to Coleridge for pheasant hunting season. He loved his grandchildren and nieces and nephews very much. He had a great love for family and enjoyed reading the Bible every day.

Survivors include his wife, Cindra; son, Isaac and Sarah Brandl of San Diego; daughters, Mariko and her husband Jake Rousculp of Wasilla, and Sachiko Brandl of Wasilla; and two grandchildren, Emma Brandl of San Diego and Josiah Brandl of Wasilla; brother, Richard and Karen Brandl of Shawnee, Kan.; sister, Julie and Lindsay McDiarmid of Tualatin, Ore.; stepchildren, Kent Ens, and Quentin and Makaila Ens of Lincoln; stepgrandson, Adin Ens; parents, Jack and MaryAnn Brandl of Coleridge; father and mother-in-law, Richard and Edith Bunn of Lenox, Iowa; and sisters-in-law and their husbands, Carolyn and Don Stanley of Grand Island, and Dixie and Ted Greenwald of Omaha.

He was preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, Rodney and Kathy of Seward; grandparents, Joseph and Helen Brandl and Herman and Anna Lensing; and uncles, aunts and cousins.