Obituaries

ANCHORAGE

Cecile (Bunker) Jochen, 82

Anchorage resident Cecile (Bunker) Jochen, 82, died July 29, 2005, at Mary Conrad Center due to complications of a stroke in July 2002.

A visitation will be at 11:30 a.m., with a service at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday at Anchorage Baptist Temple. The Rev. Jerry Prevo will officiate. Pallbearers will include James Hall, Larry Bunker, Mike Hannon, Jesse Hall and Mitch Clark. Burial will be at 4 p.m. at Kashwitna Cemetery in Willow.

Born Dec. 13, 1922, in Tompkins, Mich., she and her first husband, Larry Bunker, along with family and friends, traveled up the Alaska Highway with a caravan of trucks, a tractor, horse, cow, household goods and more. They arrived in Willow in August 1960 and applied for homestead land, where they built a cabin. She helped her husband on his trapline in the winter and commercial fishing in the summer. Mr. Bunker died in a hunting accident in the Copper River area in 1974. She remarried in 1976 to Erwin Jochen. She lived in Eagle River from 1976 to 1986, when she moved to Anchorage. Mr. Jochen died in August 1986.

Mrs. Jochen was an active member of Anchorage Baptist Temple. Since 1974 she had served in the choir, prepared communion and helped with housekeeping, greeting and other volunteer work. She was employed at Anchorage Christian Schools from 1986 until 2002 in the school cafeteria.

Her family wrote: "The most important things in Cecile's life were her Lord, her family and her church. She had a servant attitude and was always willing to help in whatever or wherever needed. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. For such a little woman she left big shoes to fill!"

She was preceded in death by her husband of 34 years, Larry Bunker; sister, Myrtle Dexter; brother, Wesley Kilburn; and second husband, Erwin "Sonny" Jochen.

Mrs. Jochen is survived by her children and their spouses, Loretta and Larry Hall, James and Hilda "Cookie" Bunker and Larry and Pam Bunker; grandchildren, Jimmy, Gerrie, Christine, Lorrie, Mike, Larry, Samantha, Tim, Tabitha and Raymond; great-grandchildren, Jesse, Justin, Katherine, Jared, Timothy, Colony, Brooke, Brittani, Sasha, Jordan, Jameson, Thomas, Jesica, Donavon, Devin, T.C., Nicole, Kayla, Kip and Serena; and one great-great-grandchild.

Arrangements are with Evergreen Memorial Chapel.

SEWARD

Millie Sorenson, 83

Longtime Alaskan Mildred "Millie" Loretta Sorenson, 83, of Seward, died July 29, 2005, at Providence Alaska Medical Center, surrounded by her family after a short battle with cancer.

A service will be at 2 p.m., with visitation from 1 to 2 p.m., Wednesday at Seward Resurrection Bay Baptist Church. Burial will be at Seward Pioneer Cemetery.

She was born Aug. 14, 1921, in Muskegon, Mich., to Wayne and Esther (Newman) Heinbaugh. She attended schools there and married Christian Sorenson on Dec. 23, 1939. They had five children.

Her family wrote: "As true pioneers, they spent a month traveling the Alaska Highway before arriving in Anchorage. As there was no road to Seward at that time, they completed their journey by train, arriving on June 4, 1948. Millie had four small children and was expecting the fifth during her first Alaska adventure.

"Millie was former president of the Pioneers of Alaska Auxiliary 9 and was elected queen in 1996. She enjoyed playing bingo, flower gardening and baking for a steady stream of family and friends.

"Mom warmed our hearts with cinnamon rolls and lots of love. One mission in life was to ensure that everyone was well fed. She was loved by all who knew her, and was adopted by a few other friends as their mom."

Mrs. Sorenson is survived by her children and their spouses, Darlene and John Crawford, Dona and Tom Walker, Jacquelyn and Bill Booher, and Dale and Sandra "Midge" Sorenson; grandchildren and their spouses, Kimberly and Dan Costa, Norman and Jackie Kashevaroff, Crystal and Kim Collier, Don and Sandra Kashevaroff, Dorene Lorenz, Lisa Lorenz-McMurray, Brian Walker, Michelle and Richard Wallace, Paul Booher, and Chris Booher; great-grandchildren, Amanda Tennant, Chancelen, Colton, Courtney and Calem Collier, Alyssa, Zachariah, Allison, Micah and Ashley Kashevaroff, Donald Kashevaroff II, Casmir Billsborough, Brendan and Justin McMurray, Shane, Michael, Lauren and Destiny Walker, Cameron, Hillary and Gabriella Wallace, and Stetson Booher; sister, Monell Dahl; sister-in-law, Agnes "Lee" Heinbaugh; and special friend, Milly Lindall.

She was preceded in death by her son, Christian Sorenson Jr.; husband, Christian Sorenson; and brother, Donald Heinbaugh.

Arrangements are with Kehl's Forest Lawn Mortuary.

GLENNALLEN

Jeremy Lewis, 23

Lifelong Alaska resident Jeremy Andrew Lewis, 23, died July 22, 2005, at home in Glennallen.

A graveside ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Lake Nerka in Dillingham, where he will be laid to rest next to his mother. A potluck will be afterward at the home of his aunt, Shirley Murphy. Call Diana Palin-McLean at 1-907-715-8165 or 1-907-745-3036 for details.

Mr. Lewis was born Sept. 17, 1981, in Glennallen "to loving parents Elayne Ingram and Paul Lewis, and four adoring big sisters," his family wrote. "Throughout his life, he was a resident of Dillingham and Glennallen, where he loved to play hockey, listen to music and hang out with friends and family. He left this world too soon. ... He is deeply missed and will be thought of every day, forever."

He is survived by his father, Paul Lewis; sisters, Dana Bartmen, Margaret Wallona, Laura Lemons-Young, and Diana Palin-McLean; grandmother, Lillian Ingram; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Arrangements are with Evergreen Memorial Chapel.

ANCHORAGE

Mary Ann Woodward, 70

Anchorage resident Mary Ann Woodward, 70, died July 19, 2005, at home.

A service will be at 9 a.m. Friday at Holy Family Cathedral.

An obituary will be published later.

FORMER RESIDENT

Chuck Knight, 72

Former Alaska resident Charles Edward "Chuck" Knight, 72, died July 24, 2005, after a valiant battle with emphysema in Pahrump, Nev.

A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Moose Lodge in Pahrump.

Mr. Knight was born Nov. 19, 1932, in Vallejo, Calif., to Rawson and Dorothy (Van Valkenburg) Knight and spent his early years living in various communities throughout California and Oregon.

In 1950, he married Beverly Moore of Grants Pass, Ore., with whom he had three daughters.

He came to Alaska in 1961 after purchasing a business, H.S. Young Mercantile, in Seldovia. He moved his family up from Santa Rosa, Calif. After the 1964 earthquake, Chuck was instrumental in the reconstruction effort in Seldovia and built Bayview Mercantile.

During his time in Seldovia he served as a City Council member, mayor, Kenai Borough Assembly representative and member/president of the Seldovia Chamber of Commerce.

He worked for 10 years as a Teamster in the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay. His most recent venture was owning and operating the first limousine and taxi business serving Nye County, Nev., for the past 11 years.

While living in Alaska, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and flying his plane for business and pleasure. Mr. Knight was a member of the Elks and Moose lodges.

"Chuck lived a very full life and was a hardworking, ingenious businessman," his family said. "He will be missed and remembered by all of those who knew and loved him."

He is survived by his wife, Laurie Knight of Pahrump; daughters and sons-in-law, Chris Woodford of Grants Pass, Cathy and John Seville of Burlington, Wash., and Cindy and Tim Callahan of Mount Vernon, Wash.; grandchildren, Melissa and her husband, Giuseppe, of San Diego, Mai-Lani Kaililaau and James Woodford of Grants Pass; great-grandson, Camaron; brother and his spouse, Ron and Mary Knight of Grants Pass; half-sisters, Carol and Jeannie of California; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and stepchildren.

His brother, Ross Knight, preceded him in death.

NOME

John Kotongan Sr., 34

Nome resident John Arthur Kotongan Sr., 34, died July 28, 2005 at Alaska Native Medical Center from massive head injuries. He was an organ donor.

A service will be in Gambell at a later date.

Mr. Kotongan was born July 13, 1971, in Anchorage to Betsy Kotongan of Gambell and Edwin Kotongan Jr. of Elim. He graduated from Aniguiin High School in 1989. He served in Desert Storm from 1990 until 1994 in the U.S. Marine Corps. He also worked as a village police officer in Gambell.

Mr. Kotongan loved to hunt and provide food for his family. He went hunting every chance he got.

His family wrote, "John was a very loving and caring father, son, and nephew."

Mr. Kotongan is survived by his longtime companion, Tina Weyiouanna of Shishmaref; daughter, Sydney Kotongan; son, John Kotongan Jr., both of Nome; mother, Betsy Kotongan of Gambell; aunts, Rhoda Boolwon of Gambell, Judy Beltz, Donna Koonooka and Dorene Holbrooks of Anchorage, Rachel Ungarook of Barrow, and Carolyn Bradley of Elim; uncles, Merlin, Gerald, Job, Ben and Al Koonooka of Gambell, and Kenneth, Gabriel and Brian Kotongan of Elim; father, Edwin Kotongan Jr.; grandmother, Elizabeth Kotongan; and cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ilene Kakaruk and Harold Koonooka; aunts, Marjorie Maldanoto, Ila James, Jean Pungowiyi and Clara Nagaruk; grandfather, Edwin Kotongan Sr.; and uncle, Paul Kotongan.

Arrangements are with Evergreen Memorial Chapel.

NOME

Bill Oman, 61

Nome resident William "Bill" Oscar Oman, 61, died July 20, 2005, at Alaska Native Medical Center with family members present.

A service was July 25 in Nome.

Mr. Oman was born July 18, 1944, in Candle, to Carl and Lela Kiana Oman. He graduated in 1963 from Nome High School, where he was proud to have been a Nome Nanook and was known as "Big Bill." Mr. Oman married Charlene Frazier and together they had his only child, Tina Oman-Green.

In March 1968, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served until 1970. During his service he earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star, Air Medal and Vietnam Combat Certificate.

Mr. Oman was employed with Alaska Airlines as a cargo handler for many years and as a bartender for the Arctic Native Brotherhood. Along with several other jobs, he worked on the North Slope during construction of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.

He was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion in Nome and assisted during the design and construction of the VFW Hall. He was proud to have been a former commander and was a trustee at his death. He was also a member of the Arctic Native Brotherhood in Nome. He loved to go fishing, crabbing, boating and to the Reno Air Races. He had many friends who fondly called him "Billy-O."

His family writes: "Our father, grandfather, son, brother and friend was caring, kind and always put others before him. He will be greatly missed, but we will always feel his presence in our hearts."

Mr. Oman is survived by his daughter, Tina Oman-Green; granddaughter, LaSheaya Williams; mother, Lela Oman; sisters and their husbands, Irene and Earl Merchant, and June and George Briggs; brothers, Bob Oman and his wife, Anne, and Lee Oman; many nieces and nephews, including Earl III, Carl, Jodi and Bill Merchant, Alison and Elizabeth Briggs, Lisa, Cindy, Bobby and Lynnee Oman, and John, Carl, Sheryl and Kristen Oman.

Arrangements are with Evergreen Memorial Chapel.