Person:Alice Reynolds (7)

Anchorage Daily News August 18, 2006

Anchorage pioneer resident Alice B. Hoekzema, 95, died Aug. 9, 2006, of natural causes at the Anchorage Pioneers' Home. A gathering was held with a service Sept. 5 at First Congregational Church.

Mrs. Hoekzema was born in Dec. 2, 1910, in Traverse City, Mich. She later moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., where she met and, in 1930, married her lifelong mate, Jack Hoekzema. She and her family first came to Alaska in 1936 and settled into a two-room wall tent in Palmer. Her husband ran the general store for the colonists while she cared for the family. They briefly returned to Michigan in 1939 but came back to Anchorage to work at Fort Richardson and then at Lucky's grocery store on Fourth Avenue. In 1948, the family purchased fish sites near Kasilof. For 10 years, Mrs. Hoekzema was active in all facets of this operation, especially in the cannery where she prepared hand-packed salmon. From 1958 to 1965, they lived in Turkey and Pakistan. While her husband helped develop airport supply systems, Mrs. Hoekzema volunteered as a gray lady in local hospitals. They returned to Anchorage in July 1965. While in Anchorage, she worked at the Bob Dow Real Estate Agency and the Alaska Treasure Shop. She also volunteered for and belonged to the Anchorage Women's Club, the First Congregational Church and the Pioneers of Alaska, Auxiliary 4. "Alice had many hobbies," her family wrote. "She loved to travel and made trips to Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, Australia, Africa, the Far East and Europe. She was an avid bridge player and earned many trophies. "Alice was a true pioneer -- strong, adventurous and proud. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother with a strong sense of family. She could always be counted on to lend support to those in need and to offer advice."

Mrs. Hoekzema is survived by her sister, Miriam Woodward, daughter, Marilyn Newell, and son, Robert Hoekzema, all of Anchorage; nine grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; brother, Richard Reynolds; and son, Jack Jr. Arrangements are with Evergreen Memorial Chapel.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Birth-Death-Burial, in Find A Grave.

   FindAGrave

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Birth-Death, in Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).

   United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch Alice Reynolds : accessed 02 Aug 2014), ALICE B HOEKZEMA, 09 Aug 2006; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).