Alvin R. Aspelund Sr.
Jan 30, 1930 - Jan 8, 2020
Alvin R. Aspelund Sr. was born to Karl Walter and Anna Augusta Klein Aspelund at Libbyville, Alaska, on Jan. 30, 1930. He passed peacefully in his chair, overlooking the Naknek river with family by his side. He was 89.
From age 11, Alvin was raised by his uncle and aunt Nick and Mary Zimin in South Naknek. He attended grade school in Naknek and high school in Anchorage. His first job at 9 years old was commercial fishing on the South Naknek beach. He continued to fish until his retirement in 1996. In his youth he worked spring and fall at Alaska Packers Cannery and operated a monkey boat for Bumble Bee Seafoods. He took up flying in 1947 with a few "local boys." In 1950, after marrying the love of his life, Freda Peterson, they worked as the winter watchmen at Bumble Bee. From 1951-1954, he was the winter watchman for Libby's Graveyard cannery and operated a power scow there for three years. When they moved to Naknek in 1954, Alvin started Aspelund Flying Service and worked for the Weather Bureau before taking a job with the Civil Aeronautics Administration as shop mechanic. With their love for children and hopes to entertain Naknek's youth, Alvin and Freda opened the Aspelund Theater in 1964 which operated until 1981.
He and Freda owned a couple of lodges: the Hide Away Fish Camp below Rapid's Camp and the Reindeer Station Lodge. In 1996, Alvin started Katmai Spirit Tours to transport visitors across Naknek Lake to Brooks Camp.
From 1972 to 1995, Alvin worked for Peter Pan Seafoods as Caretaker of Nornak.
He spent the last 25 years in the home he built overlooking the Naknek River. During the summers he enjoyed reminiscing about Bristol Bay and its cast of characters with his brothers. His family said: "He loved his children. He was a very kind and loving dad, grandfather, friend and husband."
Alvin often said his greatest joy was raising his children with Freda and then watching them raise their own families.
Alvin is survived by three sisters, Thelma Eckert, Viola White and Lorraine (Dale) Beaulieu; three brothers, Earl (Myrtle), Allan (Mary Lou) and Wally (Marci) Aspelund; five children, Alvin Jr. (Lucy), Roger (Kim), Lorri Cockrell, Shawn (Tami) and North (Jennifer); and daughter-in-law, Gail Aspelund; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Freda; daughter, Ellen Pueblo; son, David Aspelund; granddaughter, Samantha Cockrell; and grandson, James Cockrell.
Memorial Services for Alvin were held at the Hilltop Christian Fellowship in Naknek on Jan. 13, 2020. He is interred next to Freda in the Naknek Borough Cemetery.
Jan 30, 1930 - Jan 8, 2020
Alvin R. Aspelund Sr. was born to Karl Walter and Anna Augusta Klein Aspelund at Libbyville, Alaska, on Jan. 30, 1930. He passed peacefully in his chair, overlooking the Naknek river with family by his side. He was 89.
From age 11, Alvin was raised by his uncle and aunt Nick and Mary Zimin in South Naknek. He attended grade school in Naknek and high school in Anchorage. His first job at 9 years old was commercial fishing on the South Naknek beach. He continued to fish until his retirement in 1996. In his youth he worked spring and fall at Alaska Packers Cannery and operated a monkey boat for Bumble Bee Seafoods. He took up flying in 1947 with a few "local boys." In 1950, after marrying the love of his life, Freda Peterson, they worked as the winter watchmen at Bumble Bee. From 1951-1954, he was the winter watchman for Libby's Graveyard cannery and operated a power scow there for three years. When they moved to Naknek in 1954, Alvin started Aspelund Flying Service and worked for the Weather Bureau before taking a job with the Civil Aeronautics Administration as shop mechanic. With their love for children and hopes to entertain Naknek's youth, Alvin and Freda opened the Aspelund Theater in 1964 which operated until 1981.
He and Freda owned a couple of lodges: the Hide Away Fish Camp below Rapid's Camp and the Reindeer Station Lodge. In 1996, Alvin started Katmai Spirit Tours to transport visitors across Naknek Lake to Brooks Camp.
From 1972 to 1995, Alvin worked for Peter Pan Seafoods as Caretaker of Nornak.
He spent the last 25 years in the home he built overlooking the Naknek River. During the summers he enjoyed reminiscing about Bristol Bay and its cast of characters with his brothers. His family said: "He loved his children. He was a very kind and loving dad, grandfather, friend and husband."
Alvin often said his greatest joy was raising his children with Freda and then watching them raise their own families.
Alvin is survived by three sisters, Thelma Eckert, Viola White and Lorraine (Dale) Beaulieu; three brothers, Earl (Myrtle), Allan (Mary Lou) and Wally (Marci) Aspelund; five children, Alvin Jr. (Lucy), Roger (Kim), Lorri Cockrell, Shawn (Tami) and North (Jennifer); and daughter-in-law, Gail Aspelund; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Freda; daughter, Ellen Pueblo; son, David Aspelund; granddaughter, Samantha Cockrell; and grandson, James Cockrell.
Memorial Services for Alvin were held at the Hilltop Christian Fellowship in Naknek on Jan. 13, 2020. He is interred next to Freda in the Naknek Borough Cemetery.
Alvin R. Aspelund Sr.
Jan 30, 1930 - Jan 8, 2020
Alvin R. Aspelund Sr. was born to Karl Walter and Anna Augusta Klein Aspelund at Libbyville, Alaska, on Jan. 30, 1930. He passed peacefully in his chair, overlooking the Naknek river with family by his side. He was 89.
From age 11, Alvin was raised by his uncle and aunt Nick and Mary Zimin in South Naknek. He attended grade school in Naknek and high school in Anchorage. His first job at 9 years old was commercial fishing on the South Naknek beach. He continued to fish until his retirement in 1996. In his youth he worked spring and fall at Alaska Packers Cannery and operated a monkey boat for Bumble Bee Seafoods. He took up flying in 1947 with a few "local boys." In 1950, after marrying the love of his life, Freda Peterson, they worked as the winter watchmen at Bumble Bee. From 1951-1954, he was the winter watchman for Libby's Graveyard cannery and operated a power scow there for three years. When they moved to Naknek in 1954, Alvin started Aspelund Flying Service and worked for the Weather Bureau before taking a job with the Civil Aeronautics Administration as shop mechanic. With their love for children and hopes to entertain Naknek's youth, Alvin and Freda opened the Aspelund Theater in 1964 which operated until 1981.
He and Freda owned a couple of lodges: the Hide Away Fish Camp below Rapid's Camp and the Reindeer Station Lodge. In 1996, Alvin started Katmai Spirit Tours to transport visitors across Naknek Lake to Brooks Camp.
From 1972 to 1995, Alvin worked for Peter Pan Seafoods as Caretaker of Nornak.
He spent the last 25 years in the home he built overlooking the Naknek River. During the summers he enjoyed reminiscing about Bristol Bay and its cast of characters with his brothers. His family said: "He loved his children. He was a very kind and loving dad, grandfather, friend and husband."
Alvin often said his greatest joy was raising his children with Freda and then watching them raise their own families.
Alvin is survived by three sisters, Thelma Eckert, Viola White and Lorraine (Dale) Beaulieu; three brothers, Earl (Myrtle), Allan (Mary Lou) and Wally (Marci) Aspelund; five children, Alvin Jr. (Lucy), Roger (Kim), Lorri Cockrell, Shawn (Tami) and North (Jennifer); and daughter-in-law, Gail Aspelund; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Freda; daughter, Ellen Pueblo; son, David Aspelund; granddaughter, Samantha Cockrell; and grandson, James Cockrell.
Memorial Services for Alvin were held at the Hilltop Christian Fellowship in Naknek on Jan. 13, 2020. He is interred next to Freda in the Naknek Borough Cemetery.
Jan 30, 1930 - Jan 8, 2020
Alvin R. Aspelund Sr. was born to Karl Walter and Anna Augusta Klein Aspelund at Libbyville, Alaska, on Jan. 30, 1930. He passed peacefully in his chair, overlooking the Naknek river with family by his side. He was 89.
From age 11, Alvin was raised by his uncle and aunt Nick and Mary Zimin in South Naknek. He attended grade school in Naknek and high school in Anchorage. His first job at 9 years old was commercial fishing on the South Naknek beach. He continued to fish until his retirement in 1996. In his youth he worked spring and fall at Alaska Packers Cannery and operated a monkey boat for Bumble Bee Seafoods. He took up flying in 1947 with a few "local boys." In 1950, after marrying the love of his life, Freda Peterson, they worked as the winter watchmen at Bumble Bee. From 1951-1954, he was the winter watchman for Libby's Graveyard cannery and operated a power scow there for three years. When they moved to Naknek in 1954, Alvin started Aspelund Flying Service and worked for the Weather Bureau before taking a job with the Civil Aeronautics Administration as shop mechanic. With their love for children and hopes to entertain Naknek's youth, Alvin and Freda opened the Aspelund Theater in 1964 which operated until 1981.
He and Freda owned a couple of lodges: the Hide Away Fish Camp below Rapid's Camp and the Reindeer Station Lodge. In 1996, Alvin started Katmai Spirit Tours to transport visitors across Naknek Lake to Brooks Camp.
From 1972 to 1995, Alvin worked for Peter Pan Seafoods as Caretaker of Nornak.
He spent the last 25 years in the home he built overlooking the Naknek River. During the summers he enjoyed reminiscing about Bristol Bay and its cast of characters with his brothers. His family said: "He loved his children. He was a very kind and loving dad, grandfather, friend and husband."
Alvin often said his greatest joy was raising his children with Freda and then watching them raise their own families.
Alvin is survived by three sisters, Thelma Eckert, Viola White and Lorraine (Dale) Beaulieu; three brothers, Earl (Myrtle), Allan (Mary Lou) and Wally (Marci) Aspelund; five children, Alvin Jr. (Lucy), Roger (Kim), Lorri Cockrell, Shawn (Tami) and North (Jennifer); and daughter-in-law, Gail Aspelund; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Freda; daughter, Ellen Pueblo; son, David Aspelund; granddaughter, Samantha Cockrell; and grandson, James Cockrell.
Memorial Services for Alvin were held at the Hilltop Christian Fellowship in Naknek on Jan. 13, 2020. He is interred next to Freda in the Naknek Borough Cemetery.
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