Anchorage Daily News

DEC. 26, 1943

Maggie and Larry Belzer

Anchorage residents Maggie and Franklin Lawrence "Larry" Belzer celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary Dec. 26 with a romantic dinner at the Crow's Nest at the Hotel Captain Cook. They later traveled to Seattle to celebrate with their son, David, and his family.

During World War II, Larry served in the Navy. His first leave, after two years in the far Pacific, was their wedding day, Dec. 26, 1943. Larry was on the USS Maryland and was transferred off for new construction. He was the 38th person to report aboard the USS Wisconsin, which was in the Philadelphia Navy Yard in precommissioning condition. Larry was a third class electrician's mate and had the Battle Telephone circuits aboard ship.

After the war, he went to work for General Telephone in Santa Barbara, Calif., Maggie's hometown. Both worked for General Telephone in California and Washington state. While working for General in Kennwick. Wash., Larry was listed in the 1965-66 edition of Who's Who in the West due to his community projects involvement. He spent 28 years working for General Telephone, then retired to fulfill a lifelong dream of coming to Alaska.

The Belzers went to work for ATU. After retiring from ATU, Larry had his own insurance appraisal business. Maggie also retired from ATU.

Both love to travel the western states, Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada. They especially like the Oregon Coast at Lincoln City. They also loved to dance, especially jitterbug, but time has taken its toll, they wrote. Maggie and Larry spent many years doing volunteer work for various organizations.

Their youngest son, Stacy, died in 1993 and is greatly missed.

JAN. 24, 2009

Roxana and Zachary Martinez

Roxana Huiza Huaman and Zachary Joseph Martinez were married Jan. 24 in Hawaii. It was love at first sight when the two met while Zach was teaching English at Maximo Nivel English Institute in Arequipa, Peru, in 2006. Zach returned to Eagle River in 2007, and Roxana joined him one year later.

The ceremony was officiated by Joe R. Martinez, father of the bridegroom, on the beautiful Waialae Park Beach in Waikiki. Joey Martinez, brother of the bridegroom, was best man. The bride was given in marriage by Lawrence Martinez, uncle of the bridegroom. Other guests included Cindy Martinez, mother of the bridegroom; Virginia Martinez and Andrea Martinez, aunts of the bridegroom; KJ Boyce; Aimee Johnson; Josh Adams; Ferris Bieber; Jennifer Lundy; and David and Patty Sanchez.

"A lot of love went into making this blessed occasion as beautiful as it was," the bridegroom's mother wrote.

The ceremony was followed by a reception/luau at Paradise Cove. The couple had a wonderful time vacationing in Hawaii as well as all of their guests.

Roxana is the daughter of Hipolito Huiza Yucra and Eugenia Huaman de Huiza of Arequipa. She was born and raised in Arequipa. Roxana graduated from Arequipa High School in 1999 and attended the University of Idex.

Zach is the son of Joe and Cindy Martinez, longtime residents of Eagle River. He was born in Ogden, Utah, and grew up in Eagle River. Zach graduated from Chugiak High School in 1998. He attended Weber State University and the University of Reno, and graduated from Mount Zion School of Ministry in Pennsylvania. Zach completed his internship in Macedonia and Guatemala. He works for Halliburton Energy Services.

OCT. 4, 2008

Sarah and Peter Colliander

Sarah Hocker and Peter Colliander, both of Anchorage, were married Oct. 4 at Trinity Presbyterian Church. A reception followed at the Bill Sheffield Railroad Depot at the airport. Tom Letts with Trinity Presbyterian Church officiated. Sarah's bridesmaids were her friends, Mandy Rathburn and Renaye Lavin; sisters, Corryn Hocker and Miranda Hocker; and friend, Kelsea Horner. Groomsmen were Peter's brother, Chad Colliander, and friends, Mischa Sorbo, Robert Jones, Kory Rogers and Josh Horner. Ring bearers were Peter's cousins, Anders and Lars Weaver of Washington. Flower girls were family friends Hayley Horner and Sienna Tommerdahl. The couple left on their honeymoon the day after the wedding. They honeymooned in Mazatlan, Mexico, for six days.

Sarah is the daughter of Dave and Sue Hocker of Wasilla. She graduated from Wasilla High School in 2000 and from the University of Alaska Anchorage in May 2008 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Sarah is a fifth-grade teacher for the Anchorage School District. Her hobbies include snowmachining, camping, four-wheeling, fishing, volleyball and softball.

Peter is the son of John and Gwen Colliander of Anchorage. He graduated from Dimond High School in 1996 and from UAA in 2001 with an accounting degree. Peter works for Northland Services. His hobbies include snowmachining, four-wheeling, camping, hockey, softball, hunting and fishing.

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