Jakob Hemnes

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Monday, 27 October 2014 13:04

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Jakob Hemnes, longtime Sitka resident, died Oct. 22, 2014, at Sitka Community Hospital. He was 84.
Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Nazarene Church. A gathering time will follow in the fellowship hall.
Born Feb. 23, 1930, to Ingeborg and Knut Hemnes, Jakob grew up in Skudenes Karmoy, Norway. He was in the merchant marine in Norway.
He came to the United States in 1954, living first in Bellingham, Wash., and then Ketchikan, where he worked on a fish trap and at the Ketchikan Pulp Mill. He went back to Norway for a time then returned to take a job with Alaska Lumber and Pulp in Sitka. He was joined by his wife, Ragnhild. The couple had two children, Joyce and Kurt, who were raised in Sitka. Kurt and his wife, Livi, make their home in Norway. Jake became a United States citizen in 1965.
In 1975, Jakob and Alberta Anderson were married at the Nazarene Church in Sitka. Alberta, a Canadian, had come to Sitka as a missionary with Gospel Missionary Union. The couple made many trips to their home countries of Norway and Canada.
Jakob first worked in the wood room at ALP, but later became better known as the company’s tugboat captain. He worked for ALP most of his career, retiring in 1993 when the mill closed.
One of Jakob’s joys in life was fishing, followed closely by his love of eating fish. He claimed as a Norwegian, he could never get enough fish to eat. He also spent many happy evenings watching wrestling on his television.
Jakob was a witty storyteller and always had time to share with those around him. He never failed to joke and visit with the Mt. Edgecumbe students attending the Nazarene Church each Sunday. His magnetic personality could light up a room.
Jakob Hemnes is survived by his wife, Alberta; daughter, Joyce (Gil Knutson); son, Kurt (Livi); and granddaughters Olaug and Erica.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ingeborg and Knut Hemnes; brother, Ola Hemnes; and sister, Lovisia Hemnes. He was also preceded in death by his beloved aunt and uncle, Peter and Bertha Hemnes.
His family says “jeg elsker deg, we love you, dear Jake.”
 In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Swan Lake Senior Center or the Nazarene Church.

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