Donald R. Soukup Dies; Longtime Sitkan was 85

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Created on Wednesday, 06 November 2024 14:51

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Donald R. Soukup

Husband, father, grandfather and friend Donald R. Soukup passed away November 1, 2024, at Sitka Long Term Care, after a three-year stay.
He was born September 8, 1939, to Richard F. and Lucille A. Soukup in Long Beach, California. His entire youth was spent in Long Beach with a deep commitment to the Boy Scout Program, from Cub Scout to Eagle Scout. His troop was named the longest in existence in the country, and continues to this day with the leadership from Don’s original fellow scouts.
His grandparents played a significant role in both his career path of forest management and commercial fishing. In high school his maternal grandfather invited Don to learn how to survey at the Long Beach Girl Scout Camp, Banning, California. His paternal grandfather hired Don to fish in the San Pedro Harbor aboard the Eleanor C, which he fished with his father and uncle who had owned the boat since 1945.
On July 6, 1963, Don married Barbara A. Kummer at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and established their first home in Arcata, California, where he entered his junior year at Humboldt State College as a forestry major, graduating with a bachelor of science, in January 1966.
The original college experience turned into a Humboldt County stay lasting 13 years in which his two daughters were born: Lucianne E. Soukup in 1969 and Elizabeth P. Soukup in 1971.
Don served on the vestrys of Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka and St. Alban’s of Arcata.
His professional forestry career began in the Humboldt County Timber Assessor’s Office, from 1964 to 1967. He was with Fortuna Veneer Forester 1967-1970; Cal Pac Manufacturing Company 1970 - 1976 which included Sawmill Manager on the Hoopa Indian Reservation, Hoopa, California and company Timber Manager, 1972-1974.
He was a licensed forester, State of California; past president of the Humboldt State College Forestry Alumni Association and Trustee, College of the Redwoods; past chairman, Forestry Advisory Board; and past vice president, Board of Directors, Northern California Scaling Bureau and Society of American Foresters, of which he’d been a member since 1966.
July 6, 1976, Don began his Southeast Alaska employment as Woods Division Manager at Alaska Lumber and Pulp with 25 logging camps and a seven-year employment.
Following that, he worked for Shee Atika as a forester and in 1983 bought from neighbor and friends Ola and Marian Harang their logging supply business and renamed it Soukup Wire Rope and Industrial Supply.
Don was known for his pink pick-up, pink hats and commercials featuring his grandsons. His retirement days included visits each spring and fall for 15 years to his Minnesota cabin which shared the land with his daughter’s home, enjoying family life to the fullest with his Minnesota grandchildren.
In his entire 48 years in Sitka his heart saw his priorities as St. Peter’s junior warden and vestryman with ongoing restoration of the parish and See House buildings. He was a member of the Diocesan St. Anna’s Society.
Don is survived by his wife, of 61 years, Barbara A. Soukup, Sitka; daughters Lucianne E. Hudak of White Bear Township, Minnesota, and Elizabeth P. Finn and son-in-law Michael of Sitka; and grandchildren Brandon C. Finn and Casey H. Finn of Sitka, Elijah B. Hudak of Maplewood, Minnesota, and Naomi S. Hudak of White Bear Township, Minnesota.
His brother, James H. Soukup and sister-in-law Mary Lou Soukup of Casper, Wyoming, also surive.
“The family wishes to thank all staff members of Sitka Long Term Care for their genuine care and love extended to all residents. You are truly blessings to our community; (and) Rev. Julie Platson and Dr. Robert Hunter for their ongoing care, concern and presence to the family.”
Services will be held next spring,  at St. Peter’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Sitka. His remains will be interred with the alter columbarium.
In Don’s memory, remembrances can be made to St. Peter’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1130, 611 Lincoln Street, Sitka, Alaska 99835, 907 747-3977, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , stpeters-sitka.org.

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