BIRTHS
Isavel Irene Siller
Isavel Irene Siller was born March 20, 2008, at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage to Alberto and Tiffany Siller. Isavel weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 20-1/2 inches.
Grandparents are John and Marie Gage of Seward and Antonio Jr. and Tomasa Siller of Walla Walla, Wash.
Emily Ryan Anger
Ryan and Erika Anger of Seward announce the birth of their daughter, Emily Ryan Anger, at 2:27 p.m. on April 22, 2008, at Providence Medical Center in Anchorage. Emily weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 21 inches. Grandparents are Frank Dahl, of Anchorage; Cathy and Bob Murphy, of Washington; Diane and Joe Strangfeld, Terry Anger and great-grandmother Marcella Gilbertson, all of Wisconsin. Emily’s relatives in Seward are Liz and Sol DeMoss and Anna and Ava Dahl.
OBITUARIES
John M. ‘Augie’ August
Longtime Alaskan and Seward resident John M. “Augie” August died peacefully Thursday, May 29, 2008, at home on ‘his couch’ surrounded by his family and friends after a long and courageous year of battling cancer. He was 54.
A motorcycle and vintage car motorcade through Seward will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 7. A celebration of his life will be held afterward at the Pit Bar. All are welcome.
Honorary pallbearers are John Spurr, Benton Groom, Red Marshall, Paul Shacklett, Mike Nelsen, Richard Worabel, Animal and Dennis Douglas.
August was born Aug. 18, 1953, in Erwin, Ill. He graduated at Soquel High School in Santa Cruz, Calif. He and his wife, Jenny, embarked on their Alaskan adventure in 1982, leaving behind friends and family of their Santa Cruz surfing community. When they arrived in Seward, a new family was born. He lit up many people’s lives and homes with his sparkling eyes and electrical wizardry.
He worked at Seward Fisheries, Seward Ships and Dry Dock, Chugiak Sawmill, Service Electric, and for the Seward I.L.W.U. He enjoyed surfing, motorcycles, fishing, camping and music. He was a member of H.O.G. and ABATE.
His family wrote: “We have lost a brother, a man who took care of those that he loved and even helped those that he didn’t know. He had a great love for motorcycles and riding, but first and foremost, he dedicated his life to his beloved Jenny. She was the light of his life, his shining star. They danced through their 28 years together as one.
“Augie, being a follower of Bob Dylan, leaves these words of comfort for those who loved him, ‘I been all around the world boys. Now, I’m trying to get to heaven before they close the door.’ ”
August was preceded in death by his mother, Irene Rossi, and father-in-law, George Sterba.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Jenny August, of Seward; sisters, Sheri McCarthy and her husband, Dennis, of Arlington, Wash., and Terri Gallardo and her husband, Richard, of Holister, Calif.; brother, Nelson Korn, and his family, of McGrath; nephew, Shawn McCarthy, of Marysville, Wash.; mother-in-law, Betty Sterba, Grants Pass, Ore.; brothers-in-law, Joe Sterba and his wife, Paula, of Ione, Wash., Darryl Sterba of Modesto, Calif., Russell Sterba and his family, of Modesto, Calif.; sister-in-law, Debbie Yager, and her family, of Richland, Wash.; and cousin, Don Steudeman, of El Cerrito, Calif.
Memorial donations may be made in memory of John August to the Make-A-Wish
Foundation, P.O. Box 29119, Phoenix, AZ 85038.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Myrle E. (Ewbank) Diener, 73
Myrle E. (Ewbank) Diener, 73, died in her sleep May 18, 2008, after a long illness.
A service was held May 23 at the First Presbyterian Church in Republic, Wash., and a graveside internment was held afterward at the Republic cemetery.
Diener was born Feb. 26, 1935, in Tonasket, Wash. Her parents were Harold Ewbank and Martha (Ewbank) Wilcox, of Republic.
She graduated from Republic High School where she was active in music and sports. Singing was a great part of her life.
In 1956, she married Army Lt. Paul Diener in Ephrata, Wash., and they traveled the world together for 52 years. She accompanied him during assignments to Germany, Panama, South America and Turkey and throughout the United States.
Later they lived for many years in Alaska, where she earned a master’s degree from the University of Alaska. She continued her graduate studies at the Vancouver School of Theology.
Diener was ordained in 1986 as an Episcopal priest by the bishop of Alaska and she served as vicar of St. Peters in Seward. In 1993, she retired, and she and her husband left Alaska.
After retiring, Diener served for several years as the winter priest for St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Parker, Ariz., and as a retired priest in the diocese of Spokane. In 1998, she and her husband established their home near Republic.
Diener was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Jerry.
She is survived by her husband, Paul; daughter, Lesley; son, Scott; twin sister, Myrna Kathleen Thompson; brothers, Ray and Ron Ewbank; and two grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial be made to the donor’s choice.
Arrangements by Bergh Funeral Service of Republic.
Kathy Ann Walsh-Newton, 52,
Longtime Kasilof resident Kathy Ann Walsh-Newton, 52, died while she was riding her bike near Homer on Sunday, May 11, 2008.
Memorial services took place Friday, May 16, at the First Baptist Church in Soldotna.
The Revs. Paul Kupferschmid and Levi Parish officiated. A celebration of life was held afterward in Kasilof.
Walsh-Newton was born Sept. 22, 1955, to Don Eugene and Helen (Baker) Swofford in Tifton, Ga. She and her family moved to Glennallen in 1966.
She later moved to Anchorage and also resided in Moose Pass, Nikiski and Sterling before making Kasilof her home. She worked as school bus driver for Laidlaw on the Kenai Peninsula from 1983-88. She also worked as a gas station attendant from 1991-93 in North Kenai and Soldotna.
In 1994, she began working as an assisted living caregiver at Kat’s Elder Care where she later became the administrator.
She was the sponsor of many racers from the Tustumena 200 to the Peninsula Ice
Racers. She spent numerous hours and weeks in the summer cleaning highways of the state she called home.
Walsh-Newton enjoyed biking, skiing, working in her greenhouse, raising farm animals, fishing, four-wheeling, snowmachining and spending time with her many grandchildren, family and friends.
Her family wrote:
“(Kathy was) a devoted loving wife, a giving and loving mother and grandmother. A beautiful and loved daughter and sister, a helping and caring friend to many and the community. She will be loved and missed by all.” Proverbs 31:27-29: “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Walsh-Newton was preceded in death by her brother, Keith Swofford.
She is survived by her parents, Don and Helen Swofford, of Kasilof; brother and sister-in-law, David and Theresa Swofford, of Brownsboro, Texas; husband of 25 years, Romey Newton, of Kasilof; son and daughter in-law, David and Cassy Walsh, of Kasilof; daughter and son-in-law, Karla and Josh Hudson, of Kasilof; son and daughter-in-law, Nathan and Crystal Walsh, of Kenai; daughter, Shannon McBride, of Anchorage; daughter and son-in-law, Melanie and Darren Oard, of Duboise, Wyo.; son, Jason Walsh; grandchildren, Crystal and Lucas Walsh, Amanda, Jerry and Johnny Hudson, Katlynn Walsh, Troy and Jared Anderson, Sarah, Darienne and Johna Oard; sisters-in-law, Darla Suter, of Mill Creek, Wash., Carolyn Deal and Cathryn Newton, both of Montana; brother- and sister-in-law, Roy and Cindy Newton, of Gillette, Wyo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions and condolences may be made to the family,
P.O. Box 1063, Kasilof, AK 99610.
Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Carol Eve Eads, 60
Lifelong Alaskan and Seward resident, Carol Eve Eads, 60, died on Monday, May 5, 2008, at the home of her sister, from brain cancer, with her family by her side.
A celebration of her life and a potlatch will be held at a later date.
Eads was born Sept. 9, 1947, in Seward to John and Martha Eads. She lived in Seward her entire life.
“Carol’s favorite times of the year were spring, for composting and planting, and fall for the annual family bird hunting, trout fishing and berry-picking trips,” her family wrote. “She was an avid reader on topics from nature to history to art and philosophy.
She absorbed everything she read and shared it with those of us who loved her. She will be greatly missed.”
She was preceded in death by her mother, Martha. She is survived by her father, John Calvin Eads; brother, John (Charlie) Eads; sister, Ava L. Eads; and son, John Calvin Wood, all of Seward; daughter, Tonya V. Bass; grandsons, Travis, Trevor, Timmy and Taylor, all of Wasilla; niece, Deanne S. Moore, of Kenai; and significant other of 20 years, Sammy Goodwin, of Seward.
Memorial donations may be sent to: C/O Ava L. Eads, P.O. Box 1107 Seward, AK 99664.
Arrangements were by The Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
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