Friend recalls man who died in Lake Louise

LAKE LOUISE — A friend remembered a man who died boating on Lake Louise Sunday as “a great guy.”

Alaska State Troopers say they responded to the activation of a personal rescue beacon about 8:30 a.m., Sept. 14. The beacon belonged to Brian Johnson, 42, of Anchorage, who was located about 11 a.m. floating a mile offshore with fellow hunter Jeffrey Watson, 45, of Anchorage, authorities said.

Johnson and Watson told authorities that another man, Howard W. Jaidinger, 61, of Lake Louise had been with them.

It wasn’t immediately clear from reports whether Jaidinger was in a second boat or if he had become separated after all of them fell out of the same boat. While the troopers’ media release appears to make oblique reference to a second boat, troopers were unable to immediately verify that was the case, according to troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters.

Search and rescue workers found Jaidinger’s body about noon. After unsuccessfully attempts to revive Jaidinger, rescue personnel pronounced him dead at the scene, authorities said.

All those involved in the capsizing were wearing personal flotation devices, according to trooper reports.

The three had been hunting moose and caribou in the area, and were on their way home when the wind and waves overtook them, said Yvette Delaquito, co-owner of the Lake Louise Lodge, where authorities say Jaidinger’s body was brought after being retrieved.

Delaquito remembered retired North Slope worker Jaidinger as an avid outdoorsman, a hunter, and an incredible man. She’s known Jaidinger for 25 years.

“He was incredible,” she said. “He was a nice guy who would help anybody.”

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com.