Jan. 19, 2007

Rock Edward Moreland

Rock Edward Moreland, 43, died Jan. 11, 2007, in Wasilla. A gathering of friends and family is scheduled for 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, 2007, at the Mat-Su Resort in Wasilla, 1850 Bogard Road. Call 376-3228 for further directions.

He was born April 29, 1963, in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan. In 1963, his family moved to Wasilla.

His family stated that &#8220Rocky” was a loving father, friend and family man.

&#8220Rocky resided in Alaska his entire life with the exception of a brief period of employment in Seattle. He grew up on Wasilla Lake and attended Iditarod Elementary, Wasilla Junior and Senior High schools. He was very active in school sports, achieving many successes within each. From a young age, he was passionate about the water and became a skilled boater and incredibly talented water-skier. Each summer of his life, Rocky spent many memorable hours in his ski boat with family and friends. In his late 20s, he met Stephanie Dyess, the love of his life. They married and had three beautiful children, Lindsay, Jesse and Jacob. In addition to enjoying a full family life, Rocky was an avid sportsman and longtime GCI employee. He enjoyed coaching youth basketball, water skiing, golfing, and fishing, and he was actively involved with his children's sports teams. The family wishes to thank the community and GCI for their outpouring of love and support.”

He is survived by his mother, Dorrine Moreland of Wasilla; children, Lindsay Moreland, Jesse Moreland and Jacob Moreland, all of Wasilla; sister, Wendy Gloor of Seattle; sister, Casey Moreland of Seattle; aunt, Sally Gibbs of Anchorage; uncle, Pat Gallagher of Wasilla; uncle, Jerry Gallagher of Seattle; and many nieces, cousins, and extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Stephanie Lynn Moreland; and his father, Alexander Joseph Moreland.

Memorial donations can be sent to Key Bank, c/o Casey Moreland, to The Moreland Children's Fund.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.

Alma Daisy Metcalf

Alma Daisy Metcalf, 92, died Jan. 9, 2007, at Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center in Kodiak of natural causes.

A memorial service is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Bodenberg Butte Baptist Church in Palmer with the Rev. Jerry Burton officiating.

She was born June 24, 1914, in St. Louis, Mo. She moved to Palmer in 1969.

She is survived by her sister, Delores Seals of New Haven, Mo.; her daughter, Jean Marie Carson of Kodiak; her son, Allen Lee Metcalf of Palmer; daughters-in-law, Margaret Wofford of Chugiak and Julie Metcalf of Wasilla; grandchildren, Deb Hite of Wasilla, Darla Johnson and Victoria Hulse both of Eagle River, David Carson and Cherie Osowski both of Kodiak, Casey Carson of Washington state, Megan Metcalf of Wasilla, and Allen Metcalf, Timothy Metcalf and Nicole Metcalf of Palmer.

She also is survived by many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Helen Arft; and sons, Clayton Wofford, Jr. and Timothy A. Metcalf.

Arrangements were made by Kodiak Mortuary.

James Allen Buege

Jimmy Buege, 29, died suddenly Jan. 2, 2007, at his aunt's home in Anchorage of complications from asthma.

A memorial service was held Jan. 6, 2007, at the Shepherd Of The Hills Lutheran Church in Anchorage.

Buege was born March 23, 1977. He is survived by the mother of his child, Sarah Jane Brown; his daughters, Antoinette and Dyanimay; his mother, Rebecca A. Buege of Bradford, Tenn.; brothers, Andrew and William Buege; sisters, Kristina Prydom and Tammy Willis; grandparents, Chet and Joanne Trow of Erie, Penn.; grandmother, Lorna Buege; and numerous aunts and uncles in Alaska, Idaho, Arizona, Texas, Pennsylvania and Montana.

He was preceded in death by his father, Henry Buege Jr.; and his grandfather, Henry &#8220Hank” Buege Sr.

Barbara E. Crothers

Former Alaskan Barbara E. Crothers, 81, of Sun City, Ariz., died Jan. 14, 2007.

She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Ralph Crothers of Sun City; daughter, Linda Crothers of Novato, Calif.; brothers, Kent and Larry Harrell; sister, Carol Shockley; sisters-in-law, Nila and Carlene Harrell; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ann and Clarence Gerberich of Crestline, Ohio; and five siblings.

She and her husband lived their dream by homesteading in Alaska in 1949, and lived in Wasilla for many years. In Alaska, they built their own cabin and were part of a close-knit community of fellow homesteaders.

She went on to work as a bookkeeper at the Matanuska Valley Co-op, and later the couple built another home on Wasilla Lake and established a successful business together: the Wasilla Building

Center.

She loved to travel, read and see new sights via RV. During her retirement in Sun City, she became a lifetime member of the Sun City RV travel club and made many friends in Sun City TOPS.

A public memorial will take place at 2 p.m. Jan. 27, 2006, at West Valley Chapel, 9380 W. Peoria Ave., Peoria, AZ 85345.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Sun Health Research Institute, 10515 Santa Fe Drive, Sun City, AZ 85351.

Robert ‘Bob' Dinwiddie

Robert &#8220Bob” Dinwiddie died Jan. 16, 2007.

He was born April 12, 1946, in Valparaiso, Ind., to Norm and Evelyn Dinwiddie. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to Kodiak. He graduated from Kodiak High School in 1964 and served in the Alaska Army National Guard in Kodiak during the time of the 1964 earthquake.

In 1971, he moved with his wife, Christine, and two boys to Anchorage, and worked for Western Airlines and the Port Authority Police. In 1973, he joined the Anchorage Police Department where he worked for more than 20 years, retiring as a detective working in the Eagle River area. During that time, the family grew by two more boys and had moved to Wasilla.

Growing up in Kodiak, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmachining, bow hunting, and anything else he could find to do outside. He taught his sons many outdoor skills, as well as a solid work ethic.

After retirement, he spent the summers working in construction and spent a good deal of his free time reloading ammunition or riding ATVs with his good friends.

He was very much a people person and had many friends throughout the state of Alaska. He was known for his straightforwardness, integrity and kind heart.

He is survived by his daughter-in law, Bridgette Boyle; sons and daughters-in law, Jeff and Julie Dinwiddie, Joe and Janet Dinwiddie, and Joshua and Katie Dinwiddie; four grandchildren, Zach, Maya, Emma and Ellie Dinwiddie; his aunt Peg; his sister, Sandee Relyea; and nephews, Billie and Bryon Relyea and their families.

He was preceded in death by his wife of many years, Christine Dinwiddie; and his eldest son, Robert E. Dinwiddie Jr.

A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Chapel in Palmer. Honorary pallbearers will include Jeffrey Dinwiddie, Joseph Dinwiddie, Joshua Dinwiddie, Jim Rogers, Donnie Lawhead and Roger Van Ornum.

Ashes will be scattered in many of his favorite Alaskan places including the mountains of Kodiak, the waters of Prince William Sound and Resurrection Bay, and his favorite moose hunting spot.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society in the name of their mother Christine I. Dinwiddie.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.

Patricia Ann Whitson-Haack-Grosse

Patricia Ann Whitson-Haack-Grosse, 76, of Big Lake, died Dec. 16, 2006, of cancer.

She was born Oct. 13, 1930, in New Haven, Ind., and lived most of her young life in northeastern Indiana.

She later attended school at Purdue University, where she met and married Robert W. Haak. The family later settled in Orange County, Calif.

In 1981, she moved with her second husband, veterinarian Bob Grosse, to Big Lake, where they purchased the Ship Ahoy Lounge as their retirement reward.

&#8220The environment they created at the Ship was one where they not only hosted Thanksgiving every year for those away from their families, but also provided a local establishment that tied the community together with fun times and a comfortable atmosphere,” her family writes.

Her family tree goes back to America's colonization, her family writes, and the Whitson branch &#8220is tied to the Lees of Virginia.”

She was an avid fan of mysteries, both to read and watch on television.

She enjoyed gardening and was proud of the one she planted at the Big Lake library. She also liked to walk, work crosswords, cook and, most importantly, shoot the breeze and argue with locals at the Big Lake Mall, her family said.

Her greatest pleasure, though, was in the time she was able to spend with her grandchildren.

The couple supported numerous local causes, including the Aurora Dog Mushers, the Junior Iditarod, the Iditarod, the Big Lake Regatta, the Big Lake Lions, the Big Lake Library and the Chamber of Commerce.

She is survived by her daughters, Andrea and husband Kevin Reider of Big Lake, and Judith Eileen Jones of Tacoma, Wash.; grandchildren, Kirsten, Megan, Christopher and Corissa; and sisters, Lois and husband Stanley Seretny of West Lafayette, Ind., and Lee DeWitt of Merritt Island, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Arthur Lee Whitsun; and sister, Carol Sue Roach.

A service is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2007. A mass and funeral service is set for 2 p.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Mile 5 S. Big Lake Road.

The service will be followed by a celebration of life gathering at 3 p.m. at the Hanger Restaurant across from the church.

Donations in her memory can be made to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, PO Box 520769, Big Lake, AK 99652.

Stephen Michael Czausz

Stephen Michael Czausz, 79, died Nov. 6, 2006, at Northstar Assisted Living Home in Wasilla of natural causes.

He was born Sept. 7, 1927, in Ansonia, Conn. Local arrangements were provided by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.