Reverend Henry Guinotte

Henry, 90 years old, passed away in Orlando, Florida, July 16, 2020.

He was born Henry Paul Guinotte to Henry Peter Guinotte and Pearl Eisele Guinotte on June 16, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska.

He married Martha Jane Marling on June 7, 1953 and remained married for 66 years until her death in December 2019.

He attended Rosewater Elementary, Central High, and attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Henry graduated from Hastings College with a BA in Philosophy, and graduated from Dubuque Seminary.

He was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1956. He served Nebraska churches: Avery, Lyons, Divide Center, Cedar Bluffs, and Neola, Iowa. His final calling was to the United Protestant Church in Palmer, Alaska in 1972.

His ministry to youth included driving. He would ultimately cover from Arizona to DC and New York to Alaska. He began mission trips traveling to Fairbanks, AK in 1965 and fell in love with Alaska. The Palmer church youth traveled within Alaska on the Anna Jackman mission boat and to Scotland for Park Week for 5 years.

He started a food bank at his Palmer church. When it out grew that location he continued to volunteer with his friends at the Saint Michael’s Catholic Church location through 2010. He served as Chaplain for the Valley Hospital and for Mat-Su Regional hospital for many years before and after retirement. He retired from pastorate church ministry in 1990 but remained in Palmer, which he considered home.

He was a member of the volunteer fire department in Neola, Iowa and helped to add ambulance service to Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska. He was a school bus driver in Cedar Bluffs.

He had an ongoing gadget addiction that started at a young age with cameras and a printing press. Radios, audio and video equipment, computers and office equipment were his favorites. He always had a darkroom for developing and enlarging photos. He took photos for the Omaha World Herald newspaper and several high school yearbooks in the varying towns. He used all his hobbies to supplement his church and community service projects.

In Palmer, he was a member of the Lions club; a charter member and a Paul Harris fellow of the Palmer Rotary Club; a former member of the city council, and former mayor. He enjoyed being a part of the Saroma, Japan Sister City program. He was an Alaska delegate to the 2004 Republican convention in New York City.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, and his wife, Martha.

He is survived by his daughter, Diana and Vince Ibarra of Orlando, Florida; and son, Hank and Noël Guinotte of Palmer, Alaska. Grandchildren are Kathryn Brown(Darren) and Lauren Guinotte of Anchorage; Mikel Ibarra, Jon Kepa Ibarra, and Eisele Ibarra of Orlando Florida.

Due to covid there will not be a service at this time, but it is hoped we can have a memorial service in the future. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Palmer Food Bank.