William “Bill” Osbekoff Sr.
William “Bill” Osbekoff Sr., a Sitka resident for more than 46 years, passed away Dec. 16, 2016, at Ketchikan General Hospital.
He had been in an extended care facility in Ketchikan for the past three and a half years. He was 79.
No service is planned.
Bill was born in Chignik, Alaska, on Jan. 21, 1937, the son of John and Anna (Kalmakoff) Osbekoff. At a very early age, he and his older brother, Ted, were placed in the Kodiak Baptist Mission orphanage by their father, who could not take care of them.
Bill attended Wrangell Institute and graduated from Mt. Edgecumbe High School. He spent three years in the U.S. Army, serving in Korea. After his discharge from the service, he returned to the Kodiak area and worked at various jobs in the fishing industry and as a country singer.
In October 1966, he arrived in Sitka and found it a place he could call home. In March 1967 he began working at Mt. Edgecumbe High School in various positions, eventually to become a pipefitter. He worked there – except for the few years the school was shut down – until his retirement.
On July 11, 1970, he married Etsuko Tomita at St. Peter’s Episcipal Church in Sitka. A few years later they had twin sons.
Bill loved all aspects of sports, including playing basketball and softball, and coaching youth baseball.
Singing was a constant in his life, with which he made a living when younger, then to entertain when invited to, and to just sing at home for hours and hours.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and brother Theodore.
Survivors are his wife of 46 years, Etsuko; his sons William Osbekoff Jr. and Dennis (Kristy) Osbekoff; and grandchildren Gabriel and Olivia, all of Sitka.
