MICHAEL D. CHAPINSKI

Michael Dean Chapinski, 43, died at his home in Big Lake on Feb. 26, 2005.

Private services were held at the family home on Saturday, March 5.

Mr. Chapinski was born in Duluth, Minn., county of St. Louis, on Oct. 16, 1961. He graduated from Denfeld High School in Duluth and went on to earn certification in carpentry and weatherization from a vocational school.

In 1994, he moved to Wasilla, where he lived until moving with his wife and children to Big Lake in 2000. He worked for the Municipality of Anchorage from March 1997 to August 2004. He went on to work for Spenard Builders Supply and was working for Uresco Construction Materials at the time of his death.

He held memberships in the Wisconsin Union of Carpenters, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local #1281 and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, both in Anchorage.

He enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, skiing, four-wheeling, flying, hatchet-throwing, horseshoes, gardening, and playing and loving his pet Labrador, Chelsea Lee.

The family wrote, "Mike was a very loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and cousin. He was dearly loved by his wife, children and grandchildren, as well as many other family members and close friends."

His father, Jerry Chapinski; paternal grandparents, Stanley and Genevieve Chapinski and his maternal grandparents, Carl and Jeanette Lindblom, preceded him in death.

Mr. Chapinski is survived by his wife, Blanca Chapinski; children, David, Melissa, April, Philip and Dawn; grandchildren, Annalease, Dominick and Ally; mother, Arlone Chapinski; brothers, Jon and Jamie Chapinski, all of Duluth, Minn.; nephew, Zachary; niece, Karsyn, and many other special aunts, uncles, cousins and friends in Anchorage, Big Lake, Wasilla and Duluth, Minn.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Michael Chapinski Memorial Fund at any branch of Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union, or send to Blanca Chapinski, 1020 S. Bailey St., Palmer, AK 99645. Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.