IDA B. (MILLER) YUKNIS

Ida B. Miller Yuknis, 93, of Willow Point Apartments in Palmer, passed away at her daughter's home in Palmer on April 17, 2005, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by Leonard Yuknis, her devoted husband of 53 years.

Mrs. Yuknis was born in East Hammond, Ind., Dec. 2, 1911. She worked as a comptometer operator during the Depression and in later years as a bookkeeper.

She and Leonard married in 1935 and spent their honeymoon fishing in northern Wisconsin. They settled in the small country town of St. John in northwest Indiana to raise their children and later moved to Schererville, Ind.

Following Leonard's retirement as an illuminating engineer from Northern Indiana Public Service Co., they moved to Placida, Fla., where they enjoyed a peaceful life of restaurants, beaches and salt-water fishing.

The couple made 25 round trips on the Alcan in various motor homes to visit their children in Anchorage. In 1984, they finally moved to Anchorage and eventually Mrs. Yuknis moved to Palmer to be closer to her children.

Her family wrote, "Ida loved to travel, camp and garden. She was an avid animal lover who always owned dogs and birds. Friends and family will remember her fine sense of humor. Typical of her sense of humor, she awoke from a deep sleep shortly before her death, looked around the room at her quiet family who had been gathering at her bedside and said, 'Isn't this boring?'"

Mrs. Yuknis leaves two children, Dr. Leonard Yuknis of Wasilla and Mary Kay Flynn of Palmer; five grandchildren, Laura Birch, Piper, Robyn and Brook, as well as one great-granddaughter, Cirrus.

The family will have a private celebration of Mrs. Yuknis' life this summer at Lake Clark, where she will be reunited with her husband.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the loving people at Hospice of Mat-Su, who helped make her last days comfortable and peaceful.

Arrangements are with Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.