Obituaries: July 13, 2007

Philip G. Sutch

Anchorage resident Philip G. Sutch, 60, died July 9, 2007, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

A celebration of his life will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Blues Central-Chef's Inn, 825 W. Northern Lights Blvd., in Anchorage.

Sutch was born Sept. 29, 1946, to Garland Sutch and Katherine Ghezzi in Bronx, N.Y. In 1949, he moved with his family to Seattle, where he called home until moving to Alaska in 1999.

Papa Phil, as most of Anchorage knew him and called him, touched the hearts and lives of everyone he met. He was best known for his kid heart, giving spirit and a beautiful smile that would brighten everyone's day. He lived to help those in need doing so every chance he got, even if it meant he would have to go without.

Sutch is survived by daughters Arius Dodd of Washington and Felicia Perry of Alaska; sons Justin Sutch of Alaska and William Sutch of Washington; granddaughters Ana Iosefa of Washington, Shauna Norman of Oregon and Sunshyne King of Alaska; grandsons Eric Langi, Robert Brooks and Jacob Sutch of Washington, and Darius Perry of Alaska; great-granddaughters Salafai Iosefa of Washington and Cailin Norman of Oregon; great-grandson Slaosi Iosefa of Washington; sisters Francine Hagstrom of Hawaii and Valerie Sutch of Idaho; brother John Sutch of Washington; great aunt, Ethel Ghezzi of Fairbanks; great uncle Alfred of Seattle; and god daughters Cheryl Seslar and Bridget Mullally. He was preceded in death by wives Kristine Cole and Wendy Sutch.

Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory.

Richard Newton Morlock II

Richard Newton Morlock II died July 7, 2007, at Lake Louise in Glennallen. He was 55.

A celebration of his life will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at American Legion Post 35, Mile 46 of the Parks Highway followed by a gather of family and friends. Food and refreshments will be provided.

Morlock was born May 1, 1952, in Battle Creek, Mich., and graduated from A.T. Mahan High School in Iceland. He attended college in Colorado and Alaska, and joined the U.S. Army in November 1970. He served for three years in Germany as an aviation operations specialist. Morlock earned many medals and awards for his military service and other endeavors.

Morlock moved to Alaska in 1980, living in Anchorage and then Wasilla. Since 1988, he worked on the North Slope for NANA Marriott, Marriott and Sodexho Inc.

An outdoors enthusiast, Morlock enjoyed mountain climbing, ice climbing, hunting, fishing, hiking, rugby, reading and his cabin. He conquered Mt. McKinley and completed 16 years of running the Mount Marathon in Seward. He was also a member of Wasilla Bible Church.

Morlock is survived by sons Zach of San Francisco, Rick III of Anchorage and Jeremy of Ft. Lewis, Wash.; daughters April, Kirstin, Marissa and Katrina of Wasilla; wife Audrey of Wasilla; mother Lawanna of Sarasota, Fla.; brothers Robert of Grand Junction, Ariz., and Eric of Sarasota; sister Linda of Brandenton, Fla.; mother- and father-in-law Lucille and Arnold Lincoln of Glennallen; brother- and sister-in-law Robert and April Juliussen of Anchorage; sister-in-law Pamela Finnesand of Anchorage; brother-in-law Calvin Finnesand of Everett, Wash.; nieces Audrey Ann Juliussen of Anchorage, Jade Morlock of Maine and Michelle of Brandenton; and nephew Jens Juliussen of Anchorage. He was preceded in death by father Richard and brother Michael.

A memorial fund has been established at Alaska USA Federal Credit Union in memory of Morlock for his children. His ashes will be scatter atop Mt. McKinley. Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory of Wasilla and Palmer.

Franciscus A. Verhoekx

Franciscus A. Verhoekx, 90, has died at his home in Palmer.

Born Sept. 5, 1916, in Leiden, The Netherlands, Vorhoekx and his wife Susanna came to Palmer in 1973 to help out on the farm. Both played vital roles in the success of the family's vegetable growing business.

Verhoekx, known as Opa to family (Dutch for grandpa), was a larger than life character and strong as an ox with a work ethic to match. His famous Dutch appeltaarten, which he whipped up easily and gave away, will be fondly remembered and missed by family and friends.

Herhoekx and his wife were married for 66 years and endured many extraordinary events in their lives. Although he had a difficult time outwardly expressing his feelings for his wife, his deep and abiding love for her was obvious to all around them. Her passing last summer left him very lonley. He will be remembered for his strong moral character, keen intelligence and deep commitment to his family.

He is survived by his daughter Suus (Ben) VanderWeele of Palmer; son Chris (Ria) Verhoekx of the Netherlands; grandchildren Glen (Misty) VanderWeele, Michelle (Arthur) Keyes, Roger (Jenny) VanderWeele, all of Palmer, and Jennifer Verhoekx and Niels Verhoekx of The Netherlands; and great-grandchildren Luke Jenna, Wade, Grant, Caitlyn, Braden and Samuel.

Valley Funeral Home and Crematory assisted the family with arrangements.