Oct. 6, 2006

Gerald E. Sherman

Longtime Alaska resident Gerald E. Sherman, 80, died Oct. 2, 2006, at Providence Hospital.

A service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006, at Immanuel Baptist Church on Trunk Road in Palmer. Burial with military honors will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 10, 2006, at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. The Rev. Ben Burtch will officiate.

He was born Dec. 1, 1925, in Northboro, Iowa, and was the youngest of six children. In September 1951, he married Joyce Roskelly in Kingsland, Ga.

He served two years in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea.

After his discharge, he moved to Rapid City, S.D., where he worked as a carpenter and mechanic.

In 1965, he moved to Anchorage, working in construction and contracting. In 1968, he and his family moved to the Matanuska Valley, where he was instrumental in designing and building Immanuel Baptist Church on Trunk Road.

He retired from Fort Richardson civilian service in 1986, and spent his time traveling the United States with his wife, ultimately spending winters in Yuma, Ariz.

Family members wrote, &#8220Gerald was a master craftsman and if he couldn't fix it, it wasn't broken. His talents and willingness to help others were well known in whatever community he lived. He enjoyed the outdoors of Alaska, whether it be hunting, fishing or camping. He set the ultimate example in his faith in God and his continual watching for the return of his Lord and Savior.”

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Joyce Sherman of Chugiak; daughter and son-in-law, Kelly and Douglas Hall of Palmer; son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Vicki Sherman of Chugiak; grandchildren, Christina Sherman of Chugiak and Gregory and Meredith Sherman of Eagle River; and great-grandson, Grayden.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church, 855 S. Trunk Road, Palmer, AK 99645.

Arrangements are with Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.

Paula Anne Bell

Paula Anne Bell, 50, died in a hospital in Springfield, Mo., on Sept. 22, 2006. She passed away peacefully after a longtime struggle with medical issues. She was laid to rest in the Springfield Lake Veterans Cemetery on Friday, Sept. 29, 2006.

She was the youngest of three girls born to Paul and Ann Derockie in Rochester, N.Y., on July 2, 1956. Her parents moved to Daytona Beach, Fla., in her senior year of high school. This is where she met and married her husband, Danny Bell. Shortly after their marriage, her husband took up the career of truck driving. However, she found herself pregnant with her second child, so they settled down to start a new life together in Texas. After only a few years in Texas, their adventures brought them to Alaska in 1984. They lived in Palmer for many years, where she worked as a waitress at the Palmer Hotel. They moved to Anchorage in 1990, where she waited tables at the La Mex Restaurant in Spenard. She had three loving children, the late Robert Derockie of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Lisa Ann Hernandez and Daniel Paul Bell.

She was a kind, good-hearted person, a warm and nurturing mother, an understanding wife and a cherished friend to many. She always had an open-door policy with everyone she held close. She always gave of herself and very seldom accepted help from her friends and family. Paula loved and cherished her two grandchildren, and they loved spending time with her as much as she did them.

She is survived by her husband, Danny Bell of Springfield; sister, Nancy Williamson of Rochester; children, Lisa Ann Hernandez and Daniel Paul Bell, both of Anchorage; and two grandchildren, Tyler and Paris Bell, both of Anchorage.

As a celebration of her life, a service will be held in Anchorage at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006, at the LDS Brayton Chapel, 13111 Brayton Drive, for all her friends and family.

Send flowers and cards to 3701 W. 44th Ave. #2, Anchorage, AK 99517.

Edith Stella

Gardino

Mrs. Edith Stella Gardino, 84, died Oct. 3, 2006, at Anita's Home Care in Wasilla. A mass of Christian burial is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 6, 2006, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Palmer with a viewing at 9 a.m. and a mass at 10 a.m. Entombment will be in DesPlains, Ill., at All Saints Cemetery, with her husband.

She was born Oct. 17, 1921, in Chicago. In May of 2002, she moved to Palmer and lived there until her passing. She was a housewife and was affiliated with the Catholic Church. She enjoyed reading and cooking.

Her family stated, &#8220She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. Her world centered around her family.”

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Phyllis Gardino of Chugiak; son and daughter-in-law, James and Kathy Gardino of Henderson, Nev.; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Jim Marchini of Copper Center; son and daughter-in-law, Lee and Mary Ellen Gardino of Wasilla; son, Brian Gardino of Palmer; sister, Louise Tantillo of Virginia; 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Merle Gardino.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Arrangements with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.

Joseph Henri

Gallant, Jr.

Joseph Henri Gallant, Jr. 66, died in his Anchorage home surrounded by his family on Sept. 22, 2006, after a battle with lung cancer.

He was born Feb. 24, 1940, in Gardner, Mass., to Joseph Henri Gallant Sr. and Virginia Gallant.

In 1949, he and his family drove up the Alcan Highway pulling their trailer, among the first civilians to use the road. Eventually settling in Palmer, he attended Palmer High School. After school, he joined the Alaska Army Reserves. He later transferred to the Navy, serving on the USS Yorktown, and at both Adak and Kodiak N.A.S.

He spent seven years in the military. After leaving the military, he married Jane Mallgren in 1966, moving to Anchorage and having two children, Thomas and Michelle. In 1969, he joined ARCO Alaska Inc., starting in the drafting department and completing a 23-year career with the oil company. In 1992, he joined AeromapUS Alaska, an aerial photography firm, as a cameraman and senior projects technician. After his medical diagnosis, he retired and purchased a motorhome on eBay, and was able to take a short trip in the Southwest United States before his condition forced him home.

He is survived by his son, Thomas Henri Gallant; daughter, Michelle Marie Grothe with husband Lee; six grandchildren, Logan, 16, Alden, 13, Hannah, 11, twins Rebekah and Matthew, 8, and John 8 months; cousin, Virginia Wirzbicki with husband Mike; ex-wife, Jane Martin; stepmother, Irene Gallant; and step-siblings, Patricia, Orlyn, Ramona, William and James

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Oct. 7, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Palmer Moose Club.

A service was Sept. 29, 2006, at Witzleben Funeral Home on Bragraw Street with a burial with military honors at the national cemetery at Fort Richardson.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made with Key Bank to the Joseph Henri Gallant Jr. grandchildren educational fund.

Arrangements were handled by Witzleben Family Funeral Home & Crematory.