Daily Sitka Sentinel

Harold Kitka

Harold Kitka

    A memorial service for Harold Kitka will be held at noon Saturday, August 25, at the American Legion Post 13.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, August 27, at Sitka National Cemetery, with a U.S. Army color guard.
Harold, a lifelong Sitka resident, died August 18, at his home. He was 85.
He was born Oct. 25, 1932, the son of Alice (Bailey) and Peter Kitka Sr.  His siblings were Margaret, Esther, Peter Jr., Ethel and Matthew.
Harold served in the U.S. Army from April 3, 1953, when he was 20, until May 20, 1955. He was with the Heavy Mortar Co. at Fort Richardson. Afterward, he served eight years with the U.S. Army Reserves.
He worked at the Conway Dock, at SEARHC in the maintenance department, was a fisherman for many years, and was custodian at the ANB Hall and American Legion.
He was a member of the Alaska Native Brotherhood, the Moose Lodge, and American Legion Post 13, where he served as commander.
He was Sitka Tribe of Alaska Citizen of the Year in 2015.
Harold also played basketball starting in the 1950s with the Night Hawks, so named by George Howard Sr. because the team played until it got dark in front of the Howards’ boat shop. The players were Frank Sam, Frank Benson, Herbie Hope, Glenn Howard and Harold.
“Dad had a heart of gold, would give anyone the shirt off his back,” his children said. “His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the greatest love in his life.”
Harold was a survivor of an aneurysm and lymphoma, diagnosed in October 2014 and cancer free in March 2015.
A daughter, Alice Kitka, preceded Harold in death.
He is survived by his sisters Ethel Willis and Maria Guthrie; son Raymond Kitka; and daughters Barbara Kitka, Marla Kitka and Janice Johnson-Meabon, all of Sitka.
Also surviving are numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.