WILLIAM MRAK SR.

William Mrak Sr., 84, died Feb. 15, 2005 at Valley Hospital, of a stroke. A memorial Mass will be held at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 19, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Palmer.

Known as Willy to his many friends, he was born March 22, 1920 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., one of 12 children. In 1948, he fulfilled his dream of moving to Alaska, and never wanted to leave.

A miner and prospector all his life, he owned and operated Mrak Coal Company in Sutton, until 1964. During the early 1970s, he was the manager of the Red Devil Cinnabar Mine. He mined his gold placer mine in Hatcher Pass since the 1950s. In 1978, his late wife opened Ellie's Gold Nugget Jewelry Store, where he made custom gold nugget jewelry until 1991, when she retired.

His family wrote: "A kind, loving, compassionate man with an optimistic outlook and strong work ethic. He will be greatly missed by all those who loved and knew him."

Mr. Mrak was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor, and grandsons, Ron Aklestad Jr. and William Michael Mrak. He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-laws, Judy and Ron Aklestad, Karen and John Stuart, and Kim and Mark Crowl; son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Cheri Mrak, and grandchildren, Tom Aklestad, Britt Cooper, Tisa Becker, Christy Sledge, and Stacy and John Stuart III.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 1057 W. Fireweed Lane, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99503. Arrangements were made by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.