Roger Seevell
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- Created on Thursday, 25 October 2012 10:23
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Services to celebrate the life and honor the memory of Roger Seevell are scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at the Assembly of God. Pastor Ryan Gluth will officiate. A reception will follow services.
Roger was born in Albert Lea, Minn., on Dec. 25, 1922, the son of Jack and Clara Seevell. He passed away Oct. 12, 2012, at Sitka Community Hospital at the age of 89.
Having lost both parents at a young age, Roger and his sister Gwen were raised by their grandmother who also raised 13 children of her own.
At the age of 17 he began work as a “gandy dancer” for the Rock Island Railroad where he worked on and off until 1941, spending one year in between working in a CCC Camp in Allen Junction, Minn.
Roger joined the U.S. Navy in 1942, serving during World War II on the SS Francis Lewis until 1945. He returned home and worked for Enderes Tool Company as a machinist for a couple years, but his adventurous spirit called him back to the Navy, and he re-enlisted in 1947. He went on to serve during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars aboard destroyers and submarines. Roger retired as chief gunners mate in 1963 and transferred to Fleet Reserves. He ultimately retired from the Navy Reserves, hanging up his sea legs in 1974.
Roger moved to Sitka in 1967 to work at Alaska Pulp Co. as a painter and maintenance man. He met Mary Hudson and they were happily married until she passed away in 1982. He then retired from APC in 1983.
He was an active member of the Sitka Assembly of God and volunteered his time as a greeter and maintenance man. Roger showed up for church early every Sunday to welcome the other members. During his years with the church he made a lifelong friend, Ruby Franklin, whom he supported through her final years.
Roger was also a member of the Elks Lodge for many years. He was well known for his wood-working skills and for playing his trumpet on sunny days off his deck on Halibut Point Road.
Roger was preceded in death by his wife, Mary A. Seevell; daughter, Raynona Blake; and grandson Robin Fraker.
He is survived by his aunt, Virginia Higgins, the last survivor of his grandmother’s 13 children.
He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jack and Donna Fraker, Jeff Fraker, Marc Fraker, Mary and Kurt Thalacker, Kona and Keanan Williams, Jessica Lew, Deana Lew, David Lew, and Jack and Jessica Lew.
His great-grandchildren include Robert Fraker, Anne Fraker, Kimberly Fraker, Robin Brantley,Mary Knutsen, William Fraker, Jeff Fraker Jr., Rose Fraker, Katrina Fraker, Nadine Fraker, Raynona Fraker, Skylar Fraker, Rendi Weber, Keith and Anika Thalacker, Jeffrey Williams, Dixon Lew Sexton, and Lennox Lew.
His great-great-grandchildren include Bastian Brantley, Ocean Brantley, Johnny Knutsen, Daisy Weber, and Isabella Weber.
Login Form
20 YEARS AGO
November 2004
Photo caption: Mary Lou Colliver presents Sitka Fire Dept. Acting Chief Dave Swearingen a check for $325 to help restore the 1926 Chevrolet fire truck originally purchased by Art Franklin. Colliver donated the money after her business, Colliver Shoes, borrowed the truck to use during Moonlight Madness. The truck is in need of an estimated $20,000 worth of restoration work, Swearingen said.
50 YEARS AGO
November 1974
Sitka Community Hospital Administrator Martin Tirador and hospital board chairman Lawrence Porter told the Assembly Tuesday about the need for a new hospital to replace the existing 18-year-old one. The cost would be about $6.89 million with $2.2 million of that required locally.
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