Nov. 23, 2006

Edna A. Johnson

Eagle River resident Edna A. Johnson, 89, died of natural causes Nov. 16, 2006, at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

A visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, 2006, at Evergreen's Eagle River Funeral Home, 11046 Chugiak Drive. A celebration of life will be 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, at Community Covenant Church of Eagle River with the Rev. Susan Halvor officiating.

Pallbearers will include Dennis Johnson, Paul Johnson, Darrell Johnson, Thomas Johnson, Reid McDonald and Sam Theis. Burial will be at the Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.

She was born July 31, 1917, in Duluth, Minn. She was a past volunteer for Morning Star Adult Day Car in Palmer. She enjoyed shopping, needlework, crocheting, crossword puzzles, playing cards (cutthroat), family gatherings, drawing and making greeting cards.

Her family wrote, &#8220Edna's main focus in life was family. After numerous trips to Alaska in the 70s to visit their children, Edna and her husband finally moved to Palmer in 1979. Twenty-seven years of great memories ensued with children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many dear friends. Edna stories revolving around her sense of humor, kindness and love of family will be told for years to come. She was everybody's GG and is already greatly missed.”

Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis and Linda Johnson, and Paul and Joan Johnson, all of Eagle River, and Darrell Johnson and Laurine Knott of Seattle; son, Thomas Johnson of Palmer; daughter, Gloria Snodgrass of Palmer; granddaughters and their spouses, Shanda and Reid McDonald, and Briana and Sam Theis, all of Eagle River; grandsons, Brandon Snodgrass of Anchorage, Tyler Snodgrass of Eagle River, and Ryan Snodgrass and Travis Snodgrass of Squaw Valley; granddaughter, Heather Johnson of Eagle River; great-grandsons, Sutton, Cameron and Gavin of Eagle River; great-granddaughters, Breghan and Claire of Eagle River; sister, Cecelia Jackson of Proctor, Minn.; sister-in-law, Alice Dahlberg of Duluth, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Irene Delich; brother, Harold Pete Dahlberg; and husband, Leonard Johnson.

The family suggests memorial donations to the American Cancer Society, 1057 W. Fireweed, Anchorage AK 99503; or the American Heart Association, 3700 Woodland Drive #30, Anchorage AK 99517.

Arrangements were made with Evergreen's Eagle River Funeral Home, 11046 Chugiak Drive.

John Nathan Burke

John Nathan Burke, 20, died Nov. 18, 2006 at the Little Susitna River in Wasilla.

A celebration of life potluck will be Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, at the Palmer Elks Lodge on Finger Lake at 3 p.m., 2600 North Barry's Resort Drive.

He was born Dec. 11, 1985, in Palmer. He lived in Wasilla. He was employed as a carpenter throughout the Valley.

He spent many hours volunteering at the Palmer Elks Lodge in his youth. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, kayaking, snowboarding, snowmachining, and spending time with his many friends and family.

His family wrote, &#8220John overcame many physical and health battles through his short life, all except for his bouts of depression. He was the sunshine of our lives and will be missed by all of those who knew him forever and a day. His adventurous spirit, stunts, many pranks, his stories, his laughter, his smile, and his wonderful bear hugs will be with us all forever. He had a heart that was so big, full of love, forever giving, and also forgiving. All of his friends were his family. He leaves behind him many, many friends and his girlfriend, Lynnsey. His heart was pure, he knew how to give of himself and he never expected anything in return. John lived life at 100 mph, and packed more into a day than most do into a lifetime.”

True to his generous and giving nature, he gave the gift of life through organ donation so as to make life better for others.

He is survived by his parents, Daniel and Jo Burke of Wasilla; sister, Susan Ashton of Pennsylvania; brother, Daniel of Wasilla; brother-in-law Andrew Ashton and niece Ella Rose Ashton; and many aunts, uncles and cousins in Alaska and the Lower 48. His ashes will be scattered at his favorite places throughout Alaska.

Arrangements are with Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.

James Ralph Anderson

James Ralph Anderson, 62, died Nov. 16, 2006, at his residence in Palmer.

A private family service will be at Valley Funeral Home in Palmer.

He was born May 3, 1944, in Palmer and graduated from high school there. He drove heavy equipment on the pipeline project, and was a member of the Moose Lodge, the local labor union and the Teamsters.

He enjoyed the drag races, billiards, relief carving, furniture making, cribbage, dominoes, bowling, fishing, hunting, cooking, camping and generally almost any outdoor

activities.

&#8220Jimmy, as he was known by most, was considered by many to be a kind and generous friend, forgiving others without reservation.”

He is survived by son, James F. Anderson of Palmer; daughter, Michelle D. Chambless, of Sarasota, Fla.; son, Duane S. Anderson of Anchorage; daughters, Tammi L. Monday of Portland, Ore., and Tessa Lynn Butts-Anderson of Wasilla; parents, Delbert W. and Ethel L. Anderson of Palmer; sisters, Susan A. Monnin and Sally J. Fletcher of Palmer; brothers, Michael D. Anderson and Robert J. Anderson of Palmer; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Duane W. Anderson; and a nephew.

Memorial contributions may be mailed to Duane Anderson, 4312 Reka Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508

Valley Funeral Home and Crematory of Palmer is assisting the family.

Donna May Zastrow

Donna May Zastrow, 52, died on Nov. 17, 2006, at 12:43 a.m. at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer surrounded by family and friends. A service was Nov. 18, 2006, at 3 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Palmer.

She was born Oct. 27, 1954, and was raised in Anchorage. She lived in Homer for 20 years and Brookings, Ore., for 12 years. She spent the rest of her life in Wasilla. She was a faithful Jehovah's Witness, and was baptized in the spring of 1972. She was a volunteer Bible student and a door-to-door minister. Some hobbies she enjoyed included singing and playing the guitar, but her biggest hobby was her kids and being with her family to see them smile.

Her family stated, &#8220Our mom had many special qualities. Her main focus was her family and the truth of the Bible. Most of her activities somehow included the success of her children. She loved to show off her kids and their talents. She was a doting grandmother and was known as ‘project gramma.' She was a very good organizer. She enjoyed putting together talent shows and organizing special occasions. Her most valued and precious quality was her ability to teach. This included her knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and the way she could teach the truth and the comfort the Bible brings. One of her favorite scriptures was Jeremiah 29:11, ‘For I myself well know the thoughts that I am thinking toward you, is the utterance of Jehovah, thoughts of peace and not of calamity, to give you a future and a hope.' Mom was a firm believer in the resurrection hope. During her last days with us, when she would wake up from a deep sleep, she would tell us that before she opened her eyes she would listen to whether she was waking up to the paradise earth or not, based on Psalms 37:29 and John 5:28, 29. This reiterated how firm mom's belief in the paradise earth and resurrection hope was, and also her understanding that between now and her time of resurrection she would simply be asleep in Jehovah's memory and we know that there is not a safer place that our mom could be. We love you mom.”

She is survived by her husband, Jim Zastrow (married on May 5, 1973) of Wasilla; children, Tony and Luisa Zastrow of Wasilla, Jakki and Brady Millo of Castle Rock, Wash., Melanie and Brock West of Anchorage, and Dustin Zastrow of Wasilla; mother, Kathy Allred of Anchorage; sister, Betty Metcalf of Anchorage; sister, Sharon Malnarick of Anchorage; brother, Richard Allred of Wasilla; and five grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Vincent Gale Allred. Condolences can be mailed to 1330 W. Gale Drive, Wasilla AK 99654. Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.

Harry Curtis ‘Tim' Neal

Harry Curtis &#8220Tim” Neal, 86, always had a wanderlust and after a lengthy battle with lung cancer, he has been freed to go home with the angels on Nov. 20, 2006.

He was born in Payson, Ariz., in 1920. Raised on the Lion Springs Ranch, he worked as a cowboy for his first years out of high school. He always thought of himself as a cowboy, even though he was successful at several other trades. He worked as a lumberjack, surveyor, forester, and, after moving to Alaska, an ironworker. He was a hard worker and provided well for his family while traveling the country. He served in the U.S. Army and upon being discharged, moved to Arkansas to help his parents run a dairy farm. After the death of his father, the family returned to Arizona and remained in the Southwest until they moved to Alaska.

After pulling a trailer up the Alaska Highway, the family arrived in Alaska in April 1957. He immediately began the process of homesteading and, to the chagrin of his family, traded their brand-new Ford Fairlane 500 for a bulldozer so he could clear the land. He cleared his own fields and those of several neighbors while building a log house for the family to live in, finishing it in time for winter.

As an ironworker, he traveled all over Alaska (and parts of the Lower 48) building radar bubbles and radar stations in the 60s and 70s, and bridges and structures in the 80s. He suffered with a bad back as a result of all his hard work, but still led a very active life. He enjoyed his garden, especially having his own potatoes even into his 80s. He liked nothing better than to have the table filled with moose meat and potatoes and vegetables he had grown.

He and his wife, Goldene, were active in the American Legion and took pride in organizing the &#8220Turkey Shoot” for many years. He was extremely patriotic, loved Alaska and enjoyed cowboy poetry, Robert Service and Louis L'Amour novels.

He was generous to a fault, and over the years helped out neighbors and friends who needed a hand or a handout. Often, his gift went unnoticed except for acknowledgment by the receivers. He always responded to the Indian foundations with donations, as well as Boys Town and the Salvation Army. As the saying goes, &#8220He would give you the shirt off his back.”

Anytime two or more people sat down with at the table he, felt a card game should break out, and often it did. He played to win and gave no quarter.

He will be sincerely missed by family and friends. He is

survived by his wife, Goldene to whom he had been married 66 years; daughters, Florene and her husband Doug Carney, Shirley and husband Fred Nunley, and Nancy and husband Wayne Cherry; grandchildren, Michelle, Lisa and Chris Carney; Joy Lynn, Tim, Rob and Dave Nunley; Karissa Zimin, and Ryan and Daisy Cherry; as well as 14 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Wasilla American Legion Post 35, Mile 46 Parks Hwy.

Valley Funeral Home and Crematory of Wasilla is assisting the family.

Jane Evelyn Payne

Longtime Palmer resident Jane Payne, 86, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer of natural causes.

A visitation will be Friday, Dec. 1, 2006, from 2-5 p.m. at Kehl's Palmer Mortuary Chapel, 209 S. Alaska St. in Palmer.

A funeral service will be Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006, at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church, 855 S. Trunk Road in Palmer, followed by a luncheon at the church.

Jane Evelyn LaGier was born in New Haven, Conn., on July 6, 1920. She attended nursing school and shortly after becoming a nurse, joined the U.S. Army Nursing Corp. and served in World War II. She achieved the rank of 1st Lt., and was stationed in the U.S. and overseas in England and France.

After her discharge, Jane attended the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, earning a bachelor's degree in nursing, and then a masters in nursing administration from Columbia University.

She shared an apartment with three other nurses in New York. Hearing of a nursing shortage in Alaska, the four drove up the Alaska Highway in 1953 to work for a year.

Earl Payne came into the doctor's office in which she worked, asked her out and they were married three months later. The other nurses returned east, and she remained in Palmer.

She worked for many years at the Valley Hospital and then at the Palmer Pioneer Home. In addition, she helped manage Earl's guiding business. She was active in the Immanuel Baptist Church, the Golddusters Homemaker's club, the Pioneers and more.

She was a caring, sweet individual who always put other's need before her own, her family wrote. She was independent and never wanted to inconvenience others.

She will be remembered by her friends and family for these and other fine qualities, and for her warm smile.

Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Payne; and is survived by her children, Don Payne and Kimberley, Ron Payne, David Payne and Linda, Daniel Payne and Marie, Richard Payne, Emily Arrowsmith and David, and their families; and by many extended family members and friends.

Arrangements are with Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.

Gregory James Hillier

Gregory James Hillier, also known as &#82204EVR17,” &#8220Coop,” &#8220Stretch,” and &#8220Guardian,” went on to the big ride in the sky on Nov. 17, 2006, at 9:17 p.m. at his home in Wasilla at age 51.

He was born in Fairbanks on March 21, 1955.

His family moved to California in the 60s and we're all sure he had a colorful childhood.

He moved back to Alaska in the early 80s, and by then he was married and had two daughters.

He worked in many Alaska communities as a journeyman electrician. His great loves were his family, friends, music, and riding his motorcycle. If you'd met him you wouldn't have been a stranger.

He believed that there were no strangers, just friends he hadn't met yet. He was very giving to his friends of his time and friendship and went above and beyond the extra mile for the people he loved and the things he believed in.

He got his first guitar at age 8 and it was in his soul. He played at many establishments, always entertained his friends at every opportunity, including campfires, weddings, garages, etc. Greg was an active supporter and participant in the motorcycling community.

He seized every opportunity to ride and if he wasn't riding, he was polishing or working on his bike or singing about riding on it with his guitar.

He is survived by his mother, Thelma Hillier of Belfair, Wash.; daughters, Tara Hillier of San Francisco and Kristen Hillier and her son Damien of Rapid City, S.D.; his sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Dick Larouche of Belfair; and his loving companion, Jane Bond and her daughter Erica of Wasilla.

Friends and family will gather at a celebration of life party for 4EVR17 at the Tug Bar, Mile 18 Knik-Goose Bay Road in Wasilla, on Dec. 2, 5 to 9 p.m.

Valley Funeral Home & Crematory of Wasilla is assisting the family.