LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

State's Transportation Plan Gets Federal OK
28 Mar 2024 15:06

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Federal officials on Wednesday approved most of Alaska’s four-y [ ... ]

New Funding Plan Ahead for Visit Sitka?
28 Mar 2024 15:02

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]

Sitka 'Frankenstein' Puts Classic Tale in New Ligh...
28 Mar 2024 15:01

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]

State May Los Millions Over Ed Dept. Missteps
28 Mar 2024 14:59

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    The state government risks losing millions of dollars in feder [ ... ]

Gov Signs Bill On Internet In State Schools
28 Mar 2024 14:57

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]

Capitol Christmas Tree to Come from Tongass
28 Mar 2024 14:56

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, known for its steep mountains [ ... ]

City League Games Thursday
28 Mar 2024 14:52

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Police Blotter
28 Mar 2024 14:50

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead  [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Community Happenings
28 Mar 2024 14:48

This Week in Girls on the Run By Sitkans Against Family Violence
and The Pathways Coalition
During th [ ... ]

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]

Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]

Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
    A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]

House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]

Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]

Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

‘Arnie’ Johnson Sr. Dies; Longtime Sitkan was 69

Arnold Walter Johnson Sr.

    Arnold Walter Johnson Sr., better known by family and friends as Arnie, passed away peacefully Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. He was 69.
    He was born March 7, 1949, to Mary B. John and George B. Johnson Sr. He spent  his childhood in Angoon, and graduated from high school in Chilocco, Oklahoma. During the summers before graduating he would fish on the Mary D. with Bobby Duncan.
    Although Arnie spent much of his younger years on the water, he never learned how to swim, but that didn’t keep him from doing what he loved – fishing. And the way he could bait his herring, it was like magic, family said.
    After graduating from high school, he spent some time in Juneau, and later made his way to Sitka, where he began working at Mt. Edgecumbe High School. There he met Elizabeth G. Gardner, and the two began their life together as husband and wife on Aug. 4, 1973, at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Sitka. Together they had five children, and raised them in Sitka.
    His family was very important to him, and he enjoyed taking them out fishing, to visit family in Angoon, and on walks through Totem Park.
    Among his other passions were basketball and pool. If you didn’t see him out on the court playing ball, you could  see him in the stands at MEHS supporting high school athletes, or in Juneau for Gold Medal. He loved the sport, and the importance of being a good teammate.
    Arnie also was well-known in the Greater Sitka Pool League. He played many years with the league, and formed many lifelong friendship doing so.
    As a father of five children, he took great pride in being able to hunt and gather the traditional Native foods for his family; and he was never opposed to sharing with friends.
    He also enjoyed fishing the Sitka Salmon Derby, and knew where and how to fish any spot around Sitka.
    Arnie is survived by his children, Arnold Johnson Jr. (Taija and Chelsea Johnson), Katherine Johnson (Shawn Beauchamp), Lydia Spethmann (David Bean and Dylan Spethmann, father Matt Spethmann), and Victoria Johnson; and grandchildren Hayley, Hadley and Cody Kane and Taylor Helgeson.
    He also is survived by his brothers, Leonard and Stanley Johnson; and sisters Grace Sharclane, Genevieve Willard, Lorena Macasiat, Annie Braley, Velma Paul and Georgia Johnson.
    He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth; his mother and father, Mary B. John and George B. Johnson Sr.; his daughter Dahlia “Dolly” Johnson; his brother George B. Johnson Jr.; and sister, Gloria Plumber.
    “Arnie always did what he could with what he had,” his family said. “And he always told his children, ‘Tell the ones you love that you love them, no matter what. Because tomorrow is promised to no one.’”
    A small memorial will be held at a later date.

Login Form

 

20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

Calendar

Local Events

Instagram

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Instagram!

Facebook

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Facebook!