Shan J. Satterfield

Shan J. Satterfield, CWO3 U.S. Army, 32, died Dec. 12, 2011, as the result of a helicopter accident in the line of duty. He was born May 18,1979, in Anchorage, the son of Gary and Cynthia Satterfield.

A memorial service in honor of Shan is at 1 p.m., Jan. 7 at First Presbyterian church in Wasilla with Pastor Henry Woodall officiating. Graveside services with full military honors are at 1 p.m., June 23 at Fort Richardson National Cemetery in Anchorage.

He lived most of his life in Alaska. He graduated from Dimond High in 1997 before joining the U.S. Army in September 1997. He served in such places as Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C., during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. At the time of his death, he was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

Shan received numerous awards while he was a SWAT sniper and then as a helicopter aviator. He loved to fly and enjoyed spending time with his family, especially playing with Kinsley and Owen as often as his job allowed. Shan also enjoyed playing keyboard and bass guitar when he wasn't rocking out to "Rockband" with family. Shan had almost received his bachelor's degree and was considering continuing on for his master's.

Shan will be remembered by his family as someone who had an awesome sense of humor and for his warm hugs and smiles. He was an instructor pilot, a wonderful teacher, a mentor and respected by his many colleagues. Shanliked the quote: "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him," which defined his choice of career nicely. He will be loved and missed always.

Shan is survived by his wife, Sassa Satterfield, and their children, Kinsley and Owen, all of Alaska (though all currently in Washington, as Shan was); parents, Gary and Cynthia Satterfield; brother, Scott Satterfield and wife Patricia. He is also survived by his nephew and niece, Shae and McKenna Satterfield; grandmothers, Lanell Schmidt of Mississippi and JoAnn Satterfield of Tennessee; father and mother-in-law, Lee and Sharon Seagondollar; brother and sister-in-law, Mitchell and Shannon Seagondollar of Oregon; and niece and nephew, Jenna and Evan Seagondollar, also of Oregon. He is also survived by many uncles, aunts, cousins, family members and friends.

Donations may be made in his memory for a memorial statue to be erected at JBLM honoring Shan, as well as his three fellow aviators who died in the same accident: Four Fallen c/o America's Credit Union P.O. Box 33338 JBLM, WA 98433. Reference account No. 695824, routing No. 325180634.

Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel of Wasilla cared for the family.