Isabelle Koslosky

Isabelle Koslosky, a pioneer Alaskan passed away on July 6, 2014, at the age of 87. The wife of the late Jan M. Koslosky, Isabelle made Palmer her home for more than 55 years.

Isabelle was born in 1927 in Two Hills, Alberta, Canada. She joined the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service — more familiarly know as the WRENS when she was 18. She was chosen to represent the WRENS on the cover of a publication about their work, which was a great source of pride for her.

Isabelle came to Alaska in the late 1950s. She worked in Koslosky’s Department Store (now the Koslosky Center) for more than 20 years. She enjoyed greeting the customers, getting to know their families and was as committed to customer service as her husband. Jan and Is would often open the store in the early morning hours to sell a fisherman the bait he needed or a hunter a box of shells.

Isabelle eagerly joined Jan, an avid outdoorsman on his hunting and fishing expeditions. She became an excellent fisherman and hunter in her own right. Is always served as the camp cook, much to the delight of Jan’s hunting and fishing buddies, taking the catch of the day and turning it into a gourmet meal. She took pride in her ability to not only shoot an animal but also to skin it.

Jan Koslosky became a State Senator in 1967 and served four terms. Isabelle accompanied him to Juneau when the Legislature was in session. She loved entertaining in the State Capital, and enjoyed dressing up for formal occasions. However, she was most proud of the work her husband did on behalf of the residents of Alaska.

Jan was the love of her life. She never quite got over his death in 1991. It was her practice in the final years of her life to kiss his framed photograph before she went to sleep at night and tell him how much she loved him. When Jan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and had to be placed in the Palmer Pioneer Home (a facility he had lobbied for during his years in office and for which he became a co-founder), Isabelle would visit him daily, bringing his favorite meals and talking to him. Although Jan could no longer say her name, he would listen for her footsteps and respond to the sound of her voice.

Isabelle had a generous spirit. Two years ago when Is and her step-daughter Michale were visiting the Palmer Senior Center and admiring the original Fred Machetanz painting that Isabelle had donated, an elderly volunteer was standing nearby. Immediately Isabelle walked up to her and told her how beautiful she was and what a wonderful posture she had. The women beamed and told Michale later that she had been having a difficult day but Isabelle’s generous comments turned it around. This trait did not go unnoticed at the Two Sisters Assisted Living facility where Isabelle spent the last two years of her life. Caroline Jeffords, the owner said Isabel was always complimenting and encouraging residents and staff, making the days brighter for everyone.

Surviving are her nephew, Ron Ticker of Vancouver Canada; and step children, Jan Koslosky Jr. of Bellevue, Washington, Michale Gabriel (aka Susan Koslosky) of San Jose, Costa Rica, and Linda Vanderbaan of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Isabelle was interned on July 8 at the Palmer Cemetery next to her husband.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Kay and Joe Graf; siblings, Mary Tucker and Billie Graf; and her husband, Jan M. Koslosky.

The Koslosky and Tucker families wish to thank Caroline Jeffords, Julie Bradshaw and the staff at Two Sisters Assisted Living in Palmer for the extraordinary love and care they provided Isabelle during the last two-plus years of her life. They became part of her family and she adored them.

Remembrances can be made in Isabelle’s name to: Mat-Su Senior Services, 1132 Chugach Street, Palmer, AK C/O Rachel Greenberg-Deputy Director.