Former Sitkan Ferdinand JeanBlanc died Aug. 23, 2013, in Valley Vista Nursing Home in St. Maries, Idaho. He was 78.
He was born Dec. 14, 1934, in Nampa, Idaho, the son of Ray and Aileen JeanBlanc. The family came to Sitka in 1945, and he attended school here. He took part in many school activities, and was the first male cheerleader for the Sitka High boys basketball team.
While in high school he fished summers with Henry Yriana on the troller Hope, and after graduating in 1953 he worked on the fish packers Clydesdale and Nellie B.
He went to Idaho in 1955, where he met and married Brenda Methala, in Kamiah, Idaho.
He and his new family moved to Sitka in 1956, and a year later they moved to Ketchikan where he worked in the pulp mill and fished commercially. He was in the Alaska National Guard in Ketchikan for three years.
He moved back to Idaho, working in logging, then became involved in designing and manufacturing specialized sewing machines. His company’s Ferdo Machines were marketed worldwide.
Ferdie frequently came back to Sitka for class reunions and to go sport fishing. He was a champion trap shooter.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Brenda; parents Ray and Aileen; and brothers Marion, Dick and Chuck.
He is survived by his five sons, Ray, Ron, Rick, Robert and Randy; two sisters, Marlene and Dorylee; and numerous grandchildren. He also is survived by his lifelong best friend, Norman Richard Nelson of Sitka.