LIFELONG RESIDENT

John Padgett II, 34

Lifelong Alaska resident John Dwain (Elmore) Padgett II, 34, disappeared Dec. 25, 2002. His remains were found April 24, 2006, in Kent, Wash., in a greenbelt near the home of his son, John "Trey" Padgett III, where he was spending Christmas.

A remembrance of his life/reunion of friends will take place from 6:30- to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Alyeska Prince Hotel in the Summit Room on the eighth floor.

Mr. Padgett was born Sept. 25, 1968, in Anchorage to Toni Marie (Elmore) and John Padgett Sr. He traveled worldwide with his parents extensively, living in England and Canada during the early 1970s. He was raised in Anchorage and Girdwood.

Mr. Padgett attended Tom Thumb Montessori schools, Girdwood School, Dimond High and Steller Secondary schools. He also attended Green River College in Seattle and the University of Puget Sound.

Mr. Padgett joined the U.S. Navy Nuclear Program. He was sworn in by his grandfather, Floyd Elmore. He married Kathy Heberer in Seattle and reported to Florida for duty.

Mr. Padgett later raised ferrets rescued from release into the wild and rehabilitated many injured minks, also released into the wild from mink farms.

"He spent years being a real live victim for his mother's EMS classes, often able to very accurately assess the care provided," his family also wrote.

Mr. Padgett was involved in civic and charitable activities.

He began karate lessons in his early teens and achieved his black belt. He had been preparing to open a dojo.

"John was a very gifted student, talented in music, writing, designing ferret products and toys. He traveled throughout Europe and the Ukraine with Frank Dux, author of 'The Secret Man.' "

He was filming and preparing to write the screenplay adaptation of Dux's book and the Ninjitsu style and exploits of Dux. He was also a Star Wars fan and "trekkie."

Survivors are his son, John "Trey" Padgett III; parents, Toni Marie Smith and John Padgett Sr.; brother, Jason Padgett; niece, Megan Padgett; first wife, Kathy Heberer Padgett; son's mother, Keri Domingo; and many other relatives.

Those who preceded him in death included his grandfather, Floyd Elmore; nephew, Jason Padgett II; stepfather, Steve Smith; and great-grandmother, Marie Buckland.

ANCHORAGE

Brendan Smart, 24

Anchorage resident Brendan Jon Smart, known as "The Corporal Smart," 24, died Feb. 28, 2006, in an avalanche while backcountry snowboarding on Marmot Mountain, Mile 15 Hatcher Pass Road, in Palmer. He was buried by the avalanche for 91 days; his body was retrieved May 29 -- Memorial Day.

A service with military honors will be at 10:30 a.m. on Summer Solstice Day, June 21, at Mile 16.5 Hatcher Pass Road, in Palmer. The Rev. Tracy Simmons will officiate. Bill Watson will close by playing the bagpipes. All flowers will then be placed at Mile 15. His ashes will later be spread on Marmot Mountain.

Mr. Smart was born Feb. 23, 1982, in Anchorage.

He graduated from Alaska National Guard Youth Corps Challenge Program, class of 99-1, and was selected by his peers as the "cadet most exemplifying youth corps spirits." He served with the U.S. Marine Corps from 2002-04 as a heavy equipment operator. Boot camp was at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he earned his expert rifle badge. He was stationed two years by choice at Iwakuni, mainland Japan. He served in Australia, Kuwait, then Iraq for "Operation Iraqi Freedom" and stayed nine months.

"The Corporal" was a legendary athlete and folk hero with international recognition, his family wrote. He became the USA men's kicksled titleholder in Austria 2000; an Alaska mountain bike champion; and was one of two Alaska snowboarders accepted into Alaska Extreme (AKX) Winterfest 2006, pooled from backcountry athletes across the continent. "He helped many friends better their lives with his protective encouragement, one-liners and silent ways of wisdom," his family wrote. "He was a gentle, loving soul, yet you knew not to mess with him. He led by example. He called all mountains 'church' and worshipped atop many often. He best loved life. A legislative memoriam and a beer were made in his honor."

Mr. Smart was preceded in death by his father, Daniel Jon Wilk, and grandparents, Stanley and Jane Wilk.

He is survived by his mother, Brenda Smart; uncle, Victor Smart and aunt, Barbara; cousins, Vastyl Mangold and Alexi McPherren; grandfather, Joe Smart; and many dear friends whom he called "family."

Arrangements were by Evergreen Memorial Chapel.

FORMER RESIDENT

Edward Samsal, 56

Former longtime Anchorage resident Edward Samsal, 56, died June 9, 2006, near Phoenix from complications due to lung cancer.

A memorial service was held Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. His cremated remains will be spread at Clarence Lake at a later date.

An Anchorage memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church, 616 W. 10th Ave.

Mr. Samsal was born Feb. 8, 1950, in Bluffton, Ohio, to Lloyd and Geneva Samsal. When he was 10, the family moved to Anchorage, where he developed a love for hockey. He played for West High School, graduating in 1968 with a hockey scholarship. He coached the Squirts for many years.

Growing up in Alaska, he helped his dad establish Samsal and Son's Flying Service, as a guide and pilot. He and his wife, Vicki (Rabung), owned and operated the Sports Villa in the early 1970s. They had three children, Tina, Scott and Mark.

Mr. Samsal lived in Anchorage from 1960 to 1993.

He was a long-distance truck driver, driving his weekly round-trip route from his hometown of Fort Worth to Los Angeles and back. His long-standing co-driver and wife, Sheila, was with him at the time. His CB handle was "Alaska Cowboy."

His family said: "Ed had an infectious laugh and loved to cook. His passion when not driving truck was taking care of his 500 rose plants at his home in Fort Worth, Texas."

Mr. Samsal is survived by his wife, Sheila, and his adopted son, Branson of Fort Worth; daughter, Tina Roy; grandsons, Steven, Patrick, Colton, Jackson, Austin and Nathanel ; sons and daughters-in-law, Scott and Jolene Samsal and Mark and Heather Samsal; parents, Lloyd and Geneva Samsal of Sterling; brother, Ron Samsal of Midwest City, Okla.; and sister, Donna McLeod of Anchorage.

Condolences can be sent to Donna McLeod, 2733 W. 100th Ave. Anchorage 99515, and will be forwarded to the family. Donations received will go toward establishing a scholarship fund for his son, Branson.

SEWARD

Wilma Lind, 96

Wilma Ailene Lind, 96, died peacefully June 7, 2006, at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. She had been a resident of Seward for 80 years.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. July 2 at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Seward. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that friends plant a perennial and think of Mrs. Lind whenever they look at it.

Mrs. Lind was born Dec. 18, 1909, on a farm near Westmoreland, Kan., the second daughter of Wilbur and Laura Laughlin. She and her mother and three sisters arrived in Seward on an Alaska steamship on July 24, 1926, and joined her father. In 1928, she and Swan Lind, an immigrant from Lulea, Sweden, eloped to Seattle, where they were married on May 1. After living briefly in Juneau, they returned to Seward, where she lived until her death.

Predominantly a homemaker, she worked in a sawmill and at a soda fountain before her marriage. In the 1930s, she and her husband hand-cut ties for the Alaska Railroad and had a small truck farm, selling eggs, berries and produce. Alaska Nellie and Brown and Hawkins, a local store, were two of her customers. After the death of her husband in 1953, she did baby-sitting and fished a setnet site on Nikiski beach.

Her family wrote: "Wilma will be fondly remembered by family and friends as an avid gardener who loved to share her plants and as a collector of 'hens on nests,' which began with the purchase of one at a library auction years ago and grew to a flock of nearly 300 hens. Among her other interests were quilting, Scrabble, crossword puzzles, smoking salmon and preserving the produce from her garden. Her home is a treasure trove of Seward history, through newspaper clippings and pictures."

Mrs. Lind was a member of Women's Igloo No. 9, Pioneers of Alaska, and the Rebekah Lodge.

Mrs. Lind is survived by her children and spouses, Joanne and Jack Hoogland, Jeanette Wright, and Ron and Val Lind; grandchildren and spouses, Kenneth and Robin Wright, Glenn and Christine Wright, Suzanne and Rich Loprete, Teresa and Mark Gustray, Rick and Robin Hoogland, Dale and Justyne Hoogland, Carol and Jay Thomassen, and Cari Rose; 11 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Resurrection Lutheran Church, Box 35, Seward 99664.

Arrangements are with Anchorage Funeral Home & Crematory.

ALASKA SERVICES

TODAY

Dennis Hiramoto of Anchorage: 6 p.m., Billiard Palace.

Larry Tyson of Anchorage: 4-6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 725 W. Ninth Ave.

MONDAY

Charles Mansfield of Soldotna: visitation, 5 p.m., Peninsula Memorial Chapel, 5839 Kenai Spur Highway; memorial service, 6 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church, one block off Kalifornsky Beach Road on Ciechanski Road; reception afterward at the church.

William Mitchell of Anchorage: burial, 1 p.m., Fort Richardson National Cemetery.

TUESDAY

James Shanigan of Wasilla: 1 p.m., Valley Funeral Home.

JUNE 24

Orville Wertzbaugher of Palmer: noon-3 p.m., Palmer Senior Citizen Center.

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