Marie Adele (Kinberg) Wichman passed away Thursday morning, August 6, 2015, at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Wash.
Although she had been suffering from ill health for over a year, her death was unexpected.
She was born at Mt, Edgecumbe Hospital, February 14, 1950, the firstborn child of Harriet Adele (Campbell) and Marvin Clarence Kinberg Jr. She lived as an infant at Iris Meadows on Kruzof Island where her parents and grandparents, Alpha Kathleen (Barclay) and Marvin Chase Kinberg Sr. had a homestead.
She moved with her parents and brother to Amsterdam, N.Y., in 1952, where two other siblings, were born. The family returned to Sitka in 1959, and she graduated from Sitka High School in 1969.
She worked 10 years for Alaska Lumber and Pulp Mill and another 10 years for the University of Alaska Southeast in Sitka. She retired in June of this year after 11 years as an administrative assistant at the Pioneers Home.
She was passionate about living the Alaskan lifestyle that included boating, shrimping, berry picking, canning and all other subsistence activities.
Her hobbies included creating stained glass, cooking and reading, among others.
She was an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and was involved in many aspects of the church over the years. Her greatest passion in life was her family.
Marie married the love of her life, Columbus Wichman, on Feb. 26, 1977, in Sitka. They had 40 beautiful years together and within that time had two wonderful children.
Other than her husband and mother, Marie is survived by two children, Benjamin Graham (Heather Moncrief) Wichman, and Sara Adele “Blu” (Michael) Jacoby; three grandchildren, Chasen Bain, Jolie Adele and River Anthony Jacoby; two children from a previous marriage, Kevin Ernest Gresham Jr., and Heather Geraldine (Sidney) Finch; grandson Robert Pohl; one brother, Marvin Charles (Carolyn Warner) Kinberg III; three sisters, Kathleen Susan (Bob) Wilson, Deborah Jean (Stephen) Bickford, and Barbara Anne (Juan) Iaria; and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her father September 29, 1992.
She was cremated and the funeral will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 15. A potluck will follow at noon at Sweetland Hall on Sheldon Jackson Campus.
Her ashes will be spread on Sunday, August 16, at Iris Meadows on Kruzof Island.
“We will meet at Mud Bay at noon,” the family said. “Please provide your own transportation to Mud Bay and across the island to Iris Meadows. Everyone is welcome.”
Ride to Iris Meadows
‘‘A free bird leaps from the back of the wind,
Floats downstream till the current ends,
Dips its wings in the orange sun rays,
And dares to claim the sky.’’
–Maya Angelou
