Elmer Clyde Sunarak “Little Bead” Ipalook

Elmer Clyde Sunarak “Little Bead” Ipalook died Jan. 13, 2011.

He was born March 13, 1936, in Wainwright to Percy Sr. and Esther Ipalook. He was the oldest of 11 children.

He went to grade school in Wainwright, Barrow, Dubuque, Iowa and Kotzebue. He graduated from Sheldon Jackson High School. He attended Sheldon Jackson Junior College, the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Griswold Technical School in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the top electronic student in the state of Ohio. Elmer worked as an electronic technician. He was a supervisor when he worked for White Alice and he retired from Alascom in Anchorage.

Elmer and Cathi Clark were married March 30, 1960. They had two children, Sherry and Gerald. He was the proud grandfather of two grandsons, Alan and Alex Ipalook.

Elmer enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles, playing solitaire, bowling, pool and loved to watch baseball and boxing. Elmer had a quirky sense of humor; he had a clock that ran backward, cartoon computer wallpaper and a leather Snoopy checkbook cover. He enjoyed his cats and always had treats for Sherry’s dogs.

Elmer took pride in how he looked. Even after he was retired he dressed with care. Many people said Elmer was the nicest man that they ever met. He was organized and paid his bills on time. He was loved by his family, was a good father, a wonderful brother and a great man. He will be missed by all of his family members.

Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, Percy Sr. and Esther Ipalook; son, Gerald; and brothers, Gerald, Milton and Frederick.

He is survived by his wife, Cathi; daughter and son in-law, Sherry and Robert Stubblefield; grandson, Alan; grandson and significant other, Alex and Donna DeFrance; brothers and their spouses, Thomas and Louise, Percy Jr. and Beulah, and Edward; sisters, Helena, Joan and Gustavo Cuellar, Molly and Hannes Korpela and Dolly Ipalook; and numerous other family members.

The funeral is at 2 p.m., Wednesday at Valley Funeral Home, 151 E Herning Ave., Wasilla. Visitation is at 1 p.m. There will be a gathering at the Church of Christ after the service. Burial will follow at a later date in Tok.