JAMES GUHL

Palmer resident James Guhl, 49, died Feb. 18, 2004, at home.

A celebration of his life was held at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Lutheran Church on the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer with a potluck. He will be cremated, and a private family service will be held later.

Mr. Guhl was born Nov. 21, 1954, in Waterloo, Iowa. He graduated from West High School in Waterloo in 1973.

Mr. Guhl married the love of his life, Julie, in 1975, in Minneapolis.

In Waterloo, he and his wife worked at Adams Grocery, running the bakery department.

"He was very artistic, decorating many beautiful cakes for other people's special moments," his family wrote.

Mr. Guhl and his family moved to Palmer in 1990. He worked for the Alaska State Fair seasonally for most of this time.

Mr. Guhl enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow, spending time with his family, reading a good book, watching movies and making up new recipes for his family to try.

He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Amanda Ivory.

Mr. Guhl is survived by his wife Julie; daughter and son-in-law, Dawn and Donnie, and their children, Layla, Brianna and Emily of Palmer; sons and daughters-in-law, Mathew and Carrie of Wasilla and Benjamin and Brenda and their children, Thomas, Matthew, Jeffery and Johnathon of Palmer; his parents, Ed and Delores of Waterloo; brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry and Char of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Rick and Sara of Palmer, Jeff and Lora of Solon, Iowa, and Ralph and Lis of Virginia Beach, Va.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Rhonda and Billy Stewart of Fort Worth, Texas, and Deanna and Darrin of Canyon Club, Texas; many nieces and nephews; and extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the family, P.O. Box 4600, Palmer, AK 99645.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.