GERALD P. TOVSEN

Gerald P. Tovsen, 61, Wasilla resident, died Feb. 17, 2002, at his home due to complications with cancer. A visitation was held Thursday, Feb. 21, at Kehl's Palmer Mortuary from 6 to 9 p.m. The memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 22, 2002 at St. Michaels Catholic Church, 432 E. Fireweed, in Palmer.

Mr. Tovsen was born March 16, 1940, in Kennan, Wisc. He lived in northern Indiana from 1940, until he moved to Alaska in 1977, then to Wasilla in 1979. Jerry worked for Matanuska Telephone Association from 1979, until he retired in September 2000. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and golfer who spent all his time in the beautiful outdoors.

Jerry attended Hanover College and Purdue University in Indiana. He served in the U.S. Army during the period of 1963 through 1965. He was stationed at Ft. Knox, Ky. and Schweinfurt, Germany.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Patricia; son, John, of Anchorage; daughter, Rebecca Tovsen, of Palmer; and Mary Penelope (Shane) Groth of Wasilla. Jerry had four grandchildren, Eric, 9; Jaryd, 7; Coleman, 7; and Victoria (Tory), 2.

He is survived by his mother, Phyllis, of Portage, Ind.; brothers, Ronald (Martha), of Mission Viejo, Calif.; Richard (Marilyn) of Houston, Texas; and sister Janet (Carl) Nodd of Clermont, Fla. He also has many nieces and nephews throughout the United States. He is preceded in death by his father, Nolan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements were made by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.