Gerry Helland, who joined Sitka Fire Department as a volunteer in 1963 and retired as fire chief in 1990, died at his home here on March 2, 2016. He was 74.
At his request, no services will be held. His friends at the fire department paid him a tribute, and the family will have a private service.
Gerard Walker Helland was born Sept. 25, 1941, the son of Gerard and Gertrude (Kubley) Helland. The family was living in Ketchikan but his mother went to Seattle for his birth.
The Helland family moved to Sitka in 1949. They returned to Seattle for a couple of years, and Gerry graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle then attended Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Wash.
Gerry was married twice, first to Colleen Doyle and then to Jacqueline.
After joining the Sitka Volunteer Fire Department in 1963, Gerry became the fire marshal, then assistant chief, and, in 1981, the fire chief.
Along with his fire department service, Gerry was well known in the community for his work as a Little League coach and as a basketball referee.
He also liked to fish, starting when he was 14 and helping Larry Calvin on his boat, and continuing on to trolling with such friends as Tom Budd and brothers Leland and Jud Fager.
“Gerry was a loving father, brother and uncle, who loved Sitka more than anyplace on earth,” his family said.
Gerry is survived by his son, Joshua Cale Helland; his sister, Toni McGraw; nephew Nick McGraw; niece Jenna McGraw, brother-in-law Rob McGraw; grandnephews Shaun McGraw and Stephen McGraw; and brother-in-law Ted Doyle.
All the family lives in Sitka, except for Ted Doyle, who lives in Seattle.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Sitka Fire Department.
