Memorials - resting places of nikiski's pioneers
The following persons lived in the Nikiski area.. They were buried on private land or their ashes were scattered.
Russell Lloyd Brinkeroff, Feb 20, 1921-Mar 17, 1998
SSgt US Army World War II, American Ex Prison of War.
Buried at 53420 Ainsworth Ave., Nikiski.
Mr. Brinkerhoff was born Feb. 20, 1921, in Lemoore, Calif. After completing high school in California, Mr. Brinkerhoff enlisted in the U.S. Air Corps on Jan. 27, 1940. Mr. Brinkerhoff served his country during World War II, in both the Pacific and European Theaters. He was stationed in Alaska from 1941 to 1943. During this time, he received the Soldier's Medal for rescuing a pilot from a burning airplane. After aerial gunnery school, he was stationed at Bassingbourne, England, in the 91st Bomb Group. His plane was shot down on March 6, 1944. Mr. Brinkerhoff and the surviving crew members were captured immediately and taken to prison camps in Germany. They were liberated by British armored forces at the end of the war. Mr. Brinkerhoff owned his own trucking company, was a salesman and later worked for the Atomic Energy Commission at Camp Mercury, Nev., as the operating engineer. He also worked as a roustabout and operator for Amoco Production, from which he retired in 1983. Mr. Brinkerhoff was a member of the North Star United Methodist Church; Pacific Rim Lodge No. 567; F.&A.M.; American Ex-Prisoners of War, Alaska Chapter No. 1; Disabled American Veterans; Peninsula Moose Lodge & Family Center No. 1946; Veterans of Foreign Wars; and American Legion Post No. 20. He was a regular participant at Veterans Day, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July festivities in the community. His family wrote: ''Mr. Brinkerhoff loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. He was known for his loyalty to his family, friends and country. He was honored and respected for his leadership and service. His lineage will long pass on his experiences, his sense of fun and wonderful humor, as well as his fierce sense of survival.''
Mr. Brinkerhoff is survived by his wife of 24 years, Barbara, of Nikiski; his son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Paula of Oroville, Wash.; daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Todd O'Mealy of Portland, Ore.; stepdaughter, Rebecca Baker of Anchorage; stepsons, Robert Baker and his wife, Leslie, and Randall Baker, all of Nikiski; sister, Evelyn Harbaugh; eight grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. (From Anchorage Daily News March 20, 1998)
John W. "Jack" Curran, 1902-1959
Born Phillips, WI.
Grave is located at Boulder Point. 2.7 miles down Rounds Road, Nikiski, surrounded by a chain link fence.
Florence Daniels (wife of Earl Daniels)
Buried on the former Daniels homestead, Ellen Street, Nikiski.
Her husband, Earl, is thought to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Information provided by Vernon Nowell.
Adam Wayne Duvall, Dec 21, 1984-Aug 7, 1998
Adam is buried in the Kenai City Cemetery Section E Block 9 Lot 5.
Lee Eby, Mar 28, 1926-Nov 22, 1971
Ashes spread in Cook Inlet.
Ole & Liz Hellie
Ole and Liz are buried in Baker subdivision, Wik Rd., Nikiski.
Isam Hilleary, Jul 24, 1919-Jan 19, 1993
"World War II, Beloved Husband and Brother."
The Hilleary graves are located 2 miles off the Bypass Road and 2.5 miles from Marathon Road, Kenai.
Russel H. Hilleary, May 7, 1960-Apr 5, 1994
"And now you are with the angels."
The Hilleary graves are located 2 miles off the Bypass Road and 2.5 miles from Marathon Road, Kenai.
Carolyn C. Huhndorf, Feb 1916-Oct 20, 2001
Cremains are buried on the family homestead marked with a large boulder, family plaque and a statue of St. Francis of Assisi. Lost Lake at mile 30.5 of the Kenai Spur Highway.
Jay C. Jarvis, Jan 16, 1923-Jan 25, 1997 and Josephine Bertha "Jo" Jarvis, Mar 29, 1927-Mar 8, 2003
Jay and Josephine, husband and wife, are buried on Price Island, Daniels Lake, Mile 29 Kenai Spur Highway, Nikiski.
David J. Lamm, Feb. 19,1916-1991
A Nikiski fisherman whose ashes were spread at the entrance of Resurrection Bay, Seward
Robert R. Lentz, 1928-1992
US Navy WWII.
Marker is in the garden at 35625 Timber Lane, Nikiski. His ashes are spread in Resurrection Bay.
Alvin "Al" Clarence Miller, March 31, 1927-Oct. 28, 1991
His ashes were scattered in a lake on the Miller Homestead off Bastien Rd. Nikiski.
Thelma Margaret McConnell, Feb 12, 1926-July 12, 1993
Her ashes were scattered in a lake on the Miller Homestead off Bastien Rd. Nikiski.
Samuel Parker, 1898-1956
Monument on Thunder Road at mile 15.5 of the Kenai Spur Highway, Kenai
Leslie "Red" Rappe, 1927-1982 and Ellen Rappe, 1932-2009
Husband and wife, buried in the family cemetery on the Rappe homestead on Halbouty Road, Nikiski.
Leslie D. Rappe, 1983-2008
Buried in the family cemetery on the Rappe homestead on Halbouty Road, Nikiski.
David Curtis Seaman, May 18, 1951 - Aug. 3, 1953
Buried in a private cemetery located 1/4 mile north on Bernice Lake Road, on land owned by Carl and Elsie Seaman.
John Francis Seaman, Dec. 7, 1949 - Aug. 11, 1961
Buried in a private cemetery located 1/4 mile north on Bernice Lake Road, on land owned by Carl and Elsie Seaman. He drowned, along with his friend Forrest Michael Van Sky, in Stormy Lake.
Lilbourne "Roy" Smith, Dec 23, 1921-Jun 17, 1999
Cremated, ashes scattered in the Kenai River where he loved to fish. He lived in the Nikiski area.
Forrest Michael Van Sky, May 7, 1948-Aug 11, 1961
"Our Beloved Micky"; Micky was originally buried on the Seaman homestead with his friend David Curtis Seaman. They had drowned together in Stormy Lake. His remains are still there but after the property was sold his marker was moved to the VanSky property, 48374 Bernice Lake Rd., Nikiski.
Helen A. VanSky, Jul 14, 1918-Apr 7, 1984
"She was a lady." The VanSky memorials are on the VanSky property at 48374 Bernice Lake Rd., Nikiski.
Alex Wik
His ashes were scattered in Chinitna Bay.
Alfred Wik, Nov 26, 1916-Dec 10, 1997 (Alfei Demidov)
His name on his birth certificate is Alfei Demidov. His ashes were spread at the end of Osprey Lane off Lamplight Road at Wik Lake, Nikiski )
Hayward Wik, Mar 5, 1941-Jan 29, 2002
Ashes in Nikiski.
Jordon Norris Wik, Feb 4, 1943-Feb 2, 1979
Ashes spread in Chinitna Bay.
IN MEMORIAM