, Alaska
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, May 23d, 11am-2pm at Kasilof Community Church, 51540 Mercantile Ave., Kasilof, AK 99610. Those wishing to honor Jeffrey's memory may send flowers to Kasilof Community Church or consider providing grocery or gas gift cards, which would be a meaningful way to help support the family during this time of loss.
, Alaska
Andrew “Andy” Szczesny of Soldotna, Alaska, passed on April 30th, 2026 after living life exactly the way he wanted, usually somewhere on the Kenai River with a fly rod in hand and a smart remark ready to go.Andy was preceded in death by his wife, Robin Szczesny, and is survived by his children James, Eppie, Mattie, Stacey, and Peter; nephew Mikey Szczesny; and brothers John and Larry Szczesny.This would have been Andy’s 40th season guiding on the Upper Kenai, a place he loved more than just about anywhere. He was known for his fly fishing skills, his legendary stories, and a sense of humor that was unmatched. You either loved him or hated him, and Andy was perfectly fine either way.He leaves behind countless friends, fishing stories, and probably a few fish tales that got bigger every year.
, Alaska
Joseph Edwin "Ed" Back was born September 29, 1928, to Joseph Helmer and Marion Eliza (nee Nixon) Back in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada, and died at the age of 91 due to natural causes December 23, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. Ed married Pauline Audrey Britt September 20, 1951 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and moved to Soldotna with his family in 1958 while working on a seismograph crew exploring for oil. When his eldest son began school, he started a furnace and appliance repair business (Ed's Appliance) in the early 1960's, and performed contract work for Anchorage Natural Gas Company (now Enstar). He later went to work for Xerox Corporation as a field service technician, from which he retired in 1994. A lifelong "ham", he was a founding member of the Moose Horn Amateur Radio Club, and with other members helped provide communications in the aftermath of the 1964 Good Friday…
, Alaska
May 15, 2026
Thomas “Tom” Emerson Matthews, 64, of Anchor Point, Alaska, passed away on May 16, 2026, at South Peninsula Hospital Long Term Care in Homer, Alaska.Service will take place at a later date at Weippe Cemetery in Weippe, Idaho.Tom was born on May 6, 1962, at St. Joseph Hospital in Lewiston, Idaho. He graduated from Grangeville High School in Grangeville, Idaho, with the Class of 1983. In 2008, Tom made Alaska his home and settled in Anchor Point, where he enjoyed the beauty and peacefulness of the Last Frontier.Tom worked at Grangeville Hospital in housekeeping and held several other jobs throughout his life. He was known for his kind heart, warm smile, and easygoing personality that left a lasting impression on everyone who met him.One of Tom’s proudest accomplishments was participating in the Special Olympics, where he represented his group in New York State alongside fellow athletes. He brought joy and…
, Alaska
James Arlin DeLesline, 90, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026, in Anchorage, Alaska, surrounded by his family.Born on March 13, 1936, in Bradenton, Florida, James was the youngest of six children. He graduated from Manatee High School in 1954 and served in the U.S. Navy Reserves from 1953 to 1961.In 1961, James moved to Alaska, where he began a long and distinguished career with the Department of Highways, later known as the Department of Transportation. Over the decades, his work took him to nearly every corner of the state — from Fairbanks in the 1960s, to Valdez, Cordova, and Gakona in the 1970s, and back to Anchorage and Fairbanks in the 1980s. He retired as a review engineer in Fairbanks in 1990, having contributed to the building or rebuilding of nearly every major highway in Alaska.In retirement, James divided his time between Alaska and Florida, finding joy in traveling…
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