September 22, 2006

Marguerite (Wisthoff) (Shea) LeMay

Marguerite Wisthoff Shea LeMay, 70, died surrounded by family and loved ones at the Wasilla home of her daughter on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006, of complications from recurrent breast cancer.

She was born in Winooskie, Vt., on Dec. 23, 1935, and later graduated from high school in Baltimore, Md., where she met and married her first husband, James (Bob) Wisthoff. They moved to Anchorage in 1968 when Bob was assigned to Elmendorf Air Force base. Together they raised eight children.

In addition to being a Girl Scout leader and Boy Scout den mother, she worked as a factory manager at Bering Sea Originals and then as a catalog departments manager for Sears during her time in Anchorage. After her divorce in 1979, she moved to Florida to be near her mother.

Until she returned to Alaska to be with her family in her final months, she owned and operated her own custom ceramics business with second husband, Robert Shea, for many years. Her family said she was a fun loving, extremely hardworking person who always was ready to help when someone was in need. She spent the last decade of her life as the primary caretaker for her elderly mother and aunt. She also loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, and took great pleasure in making gifts for them. She was a master ceramist, and among other things was known for the beautiful ceramic dolls she made.

She was preceded in death by her father, Frank LeMay; and her sister, Mary Rykaczewski.

She is survived by her mother, Kathleen Comodo of Okeechobee, Fla.; sister, Nancy McAlinden of Okeechobee; sons and daughters-in-law, Jay and Kathy Wisthoff, Mark and Marge Wisthoff and Shawn and Retha Wisthoff of Anchorage, and Tom and Cecilia Wisthoff and Gary and Terri Wisthoff of Wasilla; daughters and sons-in-law, Luanne and David Rykaczewski of Wasilla, and Gigi and Willard Walker of Buffalo Grove, Ill.; daughter, Debbie Deininger of Milton, Fla.; grandchildren, Amy, Gabrielle, Tommy, Veronica, Stephanie, Mary, Marguerite, Matthew, Jimmy, Michael, Harlie, Sarah, Elsie, Lily, Kristopher, Dylan, Courtney, Ashley and Kailey; and great-grandchildren, Grace, Joel, Mikayla, Lorin and Billy.

The family is planning a memorial service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, they ask that donations be made in her name to the Alaska Run for Women, P.O. Box 230929, Anchorage, AK 99523, to help fight breast cancer.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.

Leslie Eual Hall

Leslie Eual Hall, 71, died Sept. 17, 2006, at home in Wasilla. A funeral service will be Monday, Sept. 25, 2006, at 2 p.m. at Valley Funeral Home Chapel in Wasilla. Burial will follow at Wasilla Aurora Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Randall Giffin, Wayne Hall, John Brown, John Wilson and Leon Gray.

He was born on July 9, 1935, in Howe, Okla. He moved to Wasilla in June 2006. He was a semi-truck driver from Fresno, Calif.

He is survived by his brother, Wayne H. Hall of Wasilla; sister, Agatha A. Stewart of Wasilla; son, Marcus D. Hall of Tulare, Calif.; son, Allan E. Hall of Norton, Kan.; daughter, Linda M. Davies of Rio Del, Calif.; daughter, Brenda G. Hall of Mississippi; son, Roger D. Hall of Fresno; and 10 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, Leslie Howell Hall; and mother, Zetta Alberta Rey.

The family would appreciate flowers at the service.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.

David Dwayne Ihly

David Dwayne Ihly, 35, died Sept. 17, 2006, at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

Services will be at the St. Mark Lutheran Evangelical Church, 3230 Lake Otis Pkwy., on Friday, Sept. 22, 2006, with a viewing at noon, the service starting at 1 p.m., and a military honor burial at Fort Richardson National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.

He was born in Fairbanks on July 26, 1971, to Lynn (George) and Lola (Baglien) Ihly. He shared this special day with his Uncle Dwayne Ihly.

He attended elementary school in several rural Alaska Peninsula villages. He attended high school in Nome, and graduated from White Mountain High School in 1990. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in August 1990, and served in the first Gulf War, &#8220Desert Storm,” in 1991.

After his service in the Marines, Dave had an interest in working as a warehouseman and he favored his job with the Bureau of Land Management, Alaska Fire Service. He would work summer seasons in Fairbanks with BLM and then for the Alaska Gold Company in Nome during the winter. He met and proposed to his beloved wife, Charlene, and they married Aug. 15, 1998, at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Anchorage. On March 3, 2000, Melissa Rose Ihly arrived. David was elated to become a father, and he was an awesome dad, one any parent would be proud to call son.

He also was a remarkable and respected soldier. Being a good Marine was something he was extremely proud of. His Marine character helped him fight a tremendous battle with cancer during the last two years of his life. With courage and faith, David lost his final battle at 4:58 a.m., Sept. 17, 2006. He kept his wonderful sense of humor and his intense love for his wife and daughter right up to his last breath.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Sebastian Ihly.

Dave is survived by his wife, Charlene; daughter, Melissa; mother, Lola Lind; father, George Ihly; sister, Denise; brother, Doug and wife Jolyne; brother, Daniel Lind and wife Carleen; sister, Elissa Lind; grandparents, John and Rene Baglien; grandmother, Ella Ihly; and many uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Arrangements with Witz-leben Family Funeral Home.

Susanna W. J. Verhoekx

Susanna W. J. Verhoekx, 91, died at her home in Palmer on Sept. 14, 2006. She was born March 21, 1915, in Leiden, Netherlands.

She and her husband, Frans, came to Palmer in 1973. They were married for 66 years.

Oma (Dutch for grandma) will be remembered by her family as a kind and beautiful woman. She faced many hardships in her life and met them with perseverance and a positive outlook. She always chose to find beauty in life and enjoyed very much every opportunity she had to spend with her family. Her eyes and spirit would light up when watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Oma will be greatly missed for her wit, wisdom and love.

She is survived by her husband, Frans Verhoekx; daughter and son-in-law, Suus and Ben VanderWeele of Palmer; son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Ria Verhoekx of the Netherlands; grandson and his wife, Glen and Misty VanderWeele of Palmer; granddaughter and her husband, Michelle and Arthur Keyes of Palmer; grandson and his wife, Roger and Jenny VanderWeele of Palmer; granddaughter, Jennifer Verhoekx, and grandson, Niels Verhoekx of the Netherlands; and great-grandchildren, Luke, Jenna, Wade, Grant, Caitlyn, Braden and Samuel.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Palmer

Theo Jerome Koppenberg

Theo Jerome Koppenberg, 78, passed away Sept. 2, 2006, at his residence in Nenana. No services are scheduled.

He was born on April 1, 1928, in Pine River, Minn. He was a member of the Merchant Marines and the U.S. Army and moved to Palmer in 1950. He also lived in Cordova, Fairbanks and rural Nenana. He was a master woodworker.

His family said, &#8220Jerome was at home and cared for by his loving wife, DeVonne, and stepson, Tom. Each was holding his hand when he lost his courageous one-year battle with cancer. During his last nine years, he enjoyed time spent with his wife, DeVonne, and stepson, Tom. He will be dearly missed by many.”

He was preceded in death by his parents and adopted son.

Survivors include his wife, DeVonne, of Nenana; sisters, Thelma Koppenberg and Lourie Rowe (Jim) of Alaska; brother, Sam (Roberta) of Alaska; stepson, Tom Schleicher, of Alaska; two daughters, Hally (Mike) Truelove and Sally (Jay) Erickson, both of Alaska; son, Aaron (Angela) of Texas; former wife, Hazel Koppenberg, of Alaska; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two stepdaughters and families in Minnesota; stepsons in Minnesota; a stepdaughter in California; nieces and nephews and other family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to, Healy Medical Clinic, P.O. Box 62, Healy, AK, 99743 (907) 683-2211; Interior Alaska Cancer Association, P.O. Box 80063 Fairbanks, AK, 99708 (907) 374-0974; or Hospice of the Tanana Valley, 706 3rd Ave. Fairbanks, AK, 99701.

His ashes will be scattered near Chandala Lake in the Brooks Mountain Range at a later date.

Judy Ann Smith

Judy Ann Smith, 48, died Sept. 16, 2006, at Alaska Regional Medical Center in Anchorage.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Sept. 22, 2006, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 9th and S. Klevin, with a rosary at 10:30 a.m. an service at 11 a.m.

She was born May 21, 1958, in Tacoma, Wash. She began her Alaska residency in 1963, living in Chugiak. She was a homemaker.

She enjoyed reading, beading, camping and working on crossword puzzles.

Her family wrote, &#8220Judy had a beautiful heart and never judged anyone. She was a kindred spirit, fun loving and kind to everyone. She had a love of nature and family.”

She is survived by her daughters, Heather Hernandez, Callie Smith and Amanda Huffman; son, Jeremiah Smith; grandson, Therin Currier; brothers, Walter Lovell and William Lovell, Jr.; and sisters, Jackie Tvenge and Mary Lovell.

Arrangements with Witz-leben Family Funeral Home.

Leona ‘Lee'

Goodman

Mrs. Leona &#8220Lee” Goodman, 66, died Sept. 15, 2006, at her home in Anchorage.

A private family service will be held at a future date.

Leona was born April 9, 1940, in Cooper, Iowa. She began her Alaska residency in 1975, living in Anchorage. She worked for the Municipality of Anchorage, Appraisal Department from 1975-1998.

She is survived by her husband, Michael Goodman; son, Rusty Goodman; and brother, Loyal Ure of New Hall, Iowa.

Memorial donations can be made to the donors charity of choice.

Arrangements are with Witz-leben Family Funeral Home.