Anchorage Daily News

JAN. 11, 1958

Gloria and Roger Whitaker

Soldotna residents Gloria and Roger Whitaker celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Jan. 13 at Peninsula Bible Fellowship, which meets at the Cook Inlet Academy gymnasium. It included music, moments of sharing and lunch. Hosts were their daughters and sons-in-law, Kathleen and Dan Olson of Kodiak, Kimberly and Peter Mlynarik and Karrie and Craig Yarnes of Soldotna; and son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth and Wendy Whitaker, also from Soldotna.

Gloria and Roger were married Jan. 11, 1958, in Grand Rapids, Mich. They came to Alaska in 1969 as missionaries to Port Graham. They then moved to Kenai, where Roger became pastor of Kenai Bible Church. After Roger obtained a pilot's license, the family moved to Eagle. Roger flew to Dawson, Yukon, every Sunday (weather permitting) to pastor a church there. After three years in Eagle, Roger joined the Alaska State Troopers and spent two more years in Eagle before moving to Tok. From Tok, they moved to Soldotna, where Roger retired from the troopers in 1990. In 1991, Roger went to work for Columbia Paint, where he is presently employed.

Gloria worked in tourism in Tok, was an on-call jail guard and was Roger's "backup man" when no other help was available. "It has been the joy of her life to help raise their family and watch them grow," the couple wrote. Gloria has worked at West Chiropractic Clinic in Soldotna since 1980.

The Whitakers have 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

DEC. 30, 2007

Kari and Jake Pool

Kari Kieker and Jake Pool were married Dec. 30 at the Snow Goose Restaurant, where a reception followed.

Kari is the daughter of Ron Kieker and Janice Kulp. She teaches for the Anchorage School District. Kari enjoys clogging, running, reading and spending time with her son and stepdaughter.

Jake is the son of Gene Pool and Glenda Talbert. He enjoys snowmachining, biking, reading and being a dad.

Jeff Rath, a marriage commissioner and the mutual friend through whom Kari and Jake met, officiated. Bridesmaids were Shari Bintz, DeAnne Scrivener, Jill Abrams and Jennifer Pool. The bride's brother, Chad Kulp, accompanied her down the aisle. Dave Combs was best man, and groomsmen were Shad Griffen and Keith Zeddies.

The couple plan to honeymoon later this year. They enjoyed an overnight snowmachining trip and spent New Year's Eve with close friends and family members at Gabbert's while enjoying fireworks.

OCT. 20, 2007

Christina and Sean Boyle

Christina Neuner and Sean Boyle were married Oct. 20 in the bride's hometown of Camillus, N.Y.

Christina is the daughter of Michael and Cathy Neuner of Camillus. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Boston College and is pursuing a doctorate in neuroscience at the University of Southern California. Christina is also a yoga instructor.

Sean is the son of Tom and Judy Boyle of Anchorage. He attended Service High School and graduated from Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix. Sean graduated with a double major in economics and English from Boston College. He is a supervisor in the audit services group at Washington Mutual.

Christina and Sean were wed during a traditional Roman Catholic Mass at St. Joseph's Church. Music from the majestic organ filled the 80-foot-high parabolic arches of the church. The bride was attended by Toni Ann Kruse, Jackie Boyle Young, Beth Glauber, Melissa Miller, Amy Neuner, Kimberly Rapp and Andrea Ward. Groomsmen were Andrew Del Boccio, John Michael Engles, Colin Holmes, Matt Kleiner, Ryan Lamb, Matt Neuner and Matt Weissinger.

Afterward, wedding party and guests were transported to the reception at the Lodge at Welch Allyn in Skaneateles, N.Y. The guest book was filled with warm wishes and candid photos taken in a photo booth. Guests dined and danced while enjoying views of a lake and surrounding hills that were ablaze with fall colors. Guests traveled from Alaska, the East and West coasts, and London. The couple honeymooned in New Zealand. They live in Los Angeles.

OCT. 13, 2007

Adrienne Stohr Lewis and Ryan Lewis

Adrienne Stohr of Anchorage and Ryan Lewis of San Antonio were married Oct. 13 at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

They met as Peace Corps volunteers in Zambia (2000-02). After seven years of long-distance "dating" and traveling, Ryan proposed April 20 in Denver. The couple will live with their dog, Deshka, in Pinedale, Wyo., where they have built a house.

Adrienne is the daughter of Jeanne and Kim Stohr of Anchorage. She attended Bartlett High School before graduating from Bishop Heelan Catholic High School in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1996 and from the College of St. Benedict/St. John's University in Minnesota in 2000. Adrienne graduated from the University of Denver Graduate School of International Studies with a master's in international development, African studies and human rights in 2007. She enjoys traveling, reading, cross-country skiing and spending time with friends.

Ryan is the son of Carolyn and Joseph O. Lewis, II of San Antonio. He attended Alamo Heights High School before graduating from Elkins High School in Houston in 1996. Ryan graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2000 with a double major in math and engineering science. He is a completions engineer with Ultra Petroleum in Pinedale. Ryan enjoys traveling, camping and brewing beer.

The reception was at Spring Creek Ranch. Christina Magill was maid of honor, and bridesmaids were Carrie Whitlock, Emily Peterson, Hanna Hall, Missy Sherman, Rachel Nelson and Alex Siller. Kemble Pope was best man, and groomsmen were Marshal Hazen, Rob Blakey and Camryn Siller.

The couple honeymooned in Cape Town, South Africa.

SEPT. 2, 2007

Jackie and Andrew Young

Jackie Boyle and Andrew Young were married Sept. 2 in Hood River, Ore.

Jackie is the daughter of Tom and Judy Boyle of Anchorage and a graduate of Service High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in international economics, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Georgetown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Jackie is an associate brand manager at Kraft Foods.

Andrew is the son of Calvert and Eileen Young of London, Ontario. He is director of New Project Initiatives for Horizon Wind Energy, developing power projects. Andrew earned an honors bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

Jackie and Andrew were married outdoors at the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel with views of Mount Hood and the Columbia River. The bride's father walked her on a garden-lined path and then down an aisle strewn with rose petals. A string and vocal ensemble performed wedding music including classical selections and Paul Stookey's "The Wedding Song." Attending the bride were Heather Timmerman and Sarah Grunwaldt of Anchorage and Dominique Taylor. Groomsmen included Rob Veizer, Glenn Melski and Joel Elwood. Readers were Sean Boyle, Carol Down and Justine Young.

Afterward, the wedding party and guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and refreshments at sunset on the outdoor promenade overlooking a waterfall. The group spent the evening dining and dancing under the stars. Friends and family members traveled from Alaska, Canada, both coasts and Hong Kong. The couple will honeymoon in Morocco this month. They live in Chicago.

NOV. 17, 2007

Stephanie and Justin Courtney

Stephanie Harrington and Justin Courtney were married Nov. 17 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

They met at Jim Creek in 1999 while with mutual friends. Justin proposed in October 2003 after surprising Stephanie in their apartment with roses and petals that led up the stairs and into the kitchen, where Justin waited with the ring. They have two daughters, Sarah and Samantha Harrington.

Stephanie was born in Smith County, Miss., and moved to Alaska in 1988 with her mother, Peggy, who later married Stephanie's father, Jesse Blurton. Stephanie attended Dimond High School. She enjoys camping, poetry and spending time with family. Stephanie also loves being in South Carolina, where the rest of her family lives.

Justin, born and raised in Anchorage, is the son of Linda Staats and Roger Courtney. He enjoys camping, fishing, snowmachining and spending time with his family.

The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Vincent Blanco. Melissa Gould was matron of honor, and Nicole Migneault was bridesmaid. Flower girls were the couple's daughters. Terex Spicer was best man, and Chad Christman was groomsman. Hawke Spicer was ring bearer. Justin's sister, Tina Crespo, was flown in from Florida as a surprise for Justin.

The reception was at Tanglewood chalet. Stephanie and Justin plan to honeymoon in Hawaii.

OCT. 9, 1982

Mary and Joe Buckingham

Longtime Alaska residents Mary and Joe Buckingham of Anchorage began celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary Oct. 9 with an overnight stay at The Hotel Alyeska and dinner at the Double Musky restaurant in Girdwood. The celebration continued with an open house for friends a week later at their home on Wendy's Way, where they were married Oct. 9, 1982, by their neighbor, Presbyterian Rev. Gordon Corbett. That was followed by a trip in early December to the Westward Look Resort in Tucson, Ariz., where they were unexpectedly joined by family members Angie, Steve and grandniece Angelica Strozier of Edmond, Okla. They will finalize their anniversary celebration with an eight-day cruise in Mexico this spring.

The couple met in January 1981 during spring registration at West High School while working as teachers. "Joe was interested in Mary's Anchorage Daily News crossword, and since she only was interested in the Cryptoquote, it was a working relationship from the start," the couple wrote. Mary taught Spanish for two years after transferring from teaching Spanish and French for one year at Bartlett High and one year with Anchorage Bilingual Education. In 1982, Mary went back to school at Anchorage Community College for a degree in business administration, hoping to start an independent bookstore. Joe retired from teaching biology at West High in 1987.

Then they began their third career, the Alaskan Renaissance Bookshop in Spenard, the current home of the Bear Tooth Theatrepub, their favorite hangout. Their second career was operating a mobile food business, the Renaissance Cafe, during the summers starting in 1983 at events including the Talkeetna Bluegrass Festival and Girdwood Forest Fair. In 1993, after losing their bookstore lease, they went into selling out-of-print books on the Internet and at Saturday Market and Fur Rendezvous. They gave up their book business after adopting an older child.

The Buckinghams work as independent tutors, enjoy a memoir writing class, music, travel, pets and exercising at the Hotel Captain Cook, and they dream of becoming snowbirds.

JAN. 2, 2008

Christina and Derek Moffet

Christina Childers and Derek Moffet were married Jan. 2 at Treasure Island Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.

Christina is the daughter of Debra Oudean of Anchorage and Michael Childers of Eagle River.

Derek is the son of Richele Weaver of Anchorage and Jeffrey Moffet of Grass Valley, Calif.

They met in June 2004 at an anniversary party for their friends Amanda and Beau Brandlen and spent the summer falling in love. Christina and Derek enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends.

The couple thank their friends and family members from Alaska, California and Colorado who traveled to share their special day as well as those who viewed online.

NOV. 30, 2007

Melissa and David Roediger

Melissa Ray Magnus and David Alan Roediger were married Nov. 30 at Faith Christian Community, where the reception followed in the fellowship hall.

They grew up across the street from each other and reconnected in October 2003 at a college and career Bible study. They started dating in November 2005 and became engaged in May 2007.

Melissa is the daughter of Scott and Nancy Magnus of Anchorage. She graduated from Heritage Christian School in 2003 and from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a degree in culinary arts in 2007. Melissa is an administrative assistant at Moose Run Golf Course. She enjoys making coffee and all things culinary.

David is the son of Ken and Cindy Roediger of Palmer. He graduated from Bartlett High School in 2001. David served six years in the Air National Guard. He is a recording engineer and producer at BuzzBizz Studios. David enjoys playing guitar and music.

The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Bob Sloan. Erica Sharp was matron of honor, with Amanda Tompkins as maid of honor and Kaleigh Magnus, Jennie Hokenson and Ashley Thibault as bridesmaids. Ryan Thibault was best man, and groomsmen were Jamey Rhodes, Andrew Mindala, Robby Gunther and Michael Cross. Ana Hokenson was flower girl, and Seth Johnson was ring bearer. Guests from out of town included the bridegroom's grandmother, Judith Philyaw, and great-aunt, Sadie Stahl; and the bride's best friend, Erica Sharp, and mother, Dawn Pryor.

That night, David and Melissa rode in a limousine to Girdwood and enjoyed a long weekend in Alyeska Resort. They are planning a cruise in 2009 for a second honeymoon.

DEC. 21, 2007

Cheri and Thomas Lipps

Cheri Howland and Thomas David Lipps were married Dec. 21 in Anchorage. The reception followed and was attended by close friends and family members.

They met in 1996 after both returned to Alaska.

Cheri is the daughter of Tom and Lauren Rayfield of Anchorage and Marshall and Willa Wiley of Santa Maria, Calif. She graduated from Service High School in 1984.

David is the son of Thomas and Anita Lipps of Murray, Ky. He graduated from Service High School in 1981.

HOW TO SUBMIT AN ANNOUNCEMENT

To announce your wedding, engagement, special anniversary or milestone in the Daily News, information and pictures must be submitted at adn.com/help. Weddings, anniversaries and milestones (25-year minimum for anniversaries and milestones) should be submitted within three months of the event, engagements two months before the ceremony. At least one of the partners must be a current or former Alaska resident. Former residents must have graduated from a local high school. Any good JPEG photograph showing both partners is acceptable. The Daily News reserves the right to edit announcements. All submissions become the property of the Daily News. By submitting an item for publication, a person represents that he or she is authorized to submit that material and that the newspaper may use it in any format for any purpose without compensation to the owner.

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