Daily Sitka Sentinel

Frank L. Guertin, Former Sitkan, Dies in Arizona

Francis Louis Guertin Jr. (Frankie)

Former Sitka resident Francis Louis Guertin Jr. (Frankie) died July 4, 2020, in Mesa, Arizona. He was 75.

He was born August 12, 1944, to Francis Louis and Alice Silvey Carlson Guertin, in their home in Sitka. He grew up in Sitka, and was in the Sitka High graduating class of 1963. He went on to receive his bachelor of science degree in accounting from Woodbury College in Los Angeles, California, in 1971. He received the Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy license to practice as a CPA in Alaska in 1979.

Frank married Janice Darlene Williams on July 11, 1981. They formed  a blender family of seven children. In order of age they are Tiffany (Luis), Sean (Ginger), Carrie, Christopher (Kelly), Noah (Jennifer), Chad, and Casey (Brady).

Frank served in the field of accounting for 39 years, working for the State of Alaska, City of Juneau, Channel Construction, Tlingit & Haida Regional Housing Authority, and as co-owner of Jan’s View Bed and Breakfast.

Frank enjoyed downhill skiing, scuba diving, camping, watching good old cowboy movies, RV-ing with his wife (they traveled for 19 months making it to all 50 states and most of Canada), eating Alaskan red salmon, king crab, and Jan’s potato salad, and taking a good nap with the grandbabies on the couch.

And not to be forgotten were all the many improvements made to his true pride and joy, his 1997 Ford F-250 3⁄4-ton diesel truck.

Frank was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day  Saints and served a two-year mission at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Frank and Jan moved to Mesa, Arizona, for medical reasons in 2018. He had been fighting a good fight with cancer for seven years.

He has 24 grandchildren and three great-granddaughters. The grandchildren are Jesse (Cassy), Skylar, Jordan (Nichole), Chloe, Bridgette (Quentin), Damien, Courtney, Hayden, C.J., Natalie, Tyler, Amanda, Seth, Aurora, Areum, Isaac, Enoch, Miriam, Sarai, Sophie, Spencer, Abaddon, Saynt and Ban, and the great-granddaughters are Brylee, Swayze, Maevie.

A small, family-only service was held in Mesa July 9 because of the restrictions of COVID -19. All seven children and parts of their families were there. 

 

“He is missed and we know he is not hurting now. Instead of suffering he is walking the dogs and catching up with family on heaven side,” his family wrote. “Until we meet again, save us a good seat. We love you, Frankie!”