Lifelong Alaskan Gordon William Wahto, 84, died Jan. 31, 2007, at Providence Alaska Medical Center. A graveside service with military honors was at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. A reception followed immediately afterward at Lidia Selkregg Chalet, Russian Jack Park, 1600 Lidia Selkregg Lane.

Mr. Wahto was born June 28, 1922, in Douglas. He attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Washington Seattle.

He served in World War II from 1942 until 1945 as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne in the Normandy, Ardennes, Rhineland, Holland and Belgium campaigns. He received the American Theater Service Award, a Victory Medal, a European Service Medal, a Bronze Star, a Belgium and Netherlands Unit Citation, and Field Commission after Battle of Bulge.

He lived in Douglas until 1953, when he moved to Anchorage and worked for Standard Oil Co. from 1954 to 1969. Previously he had worked for the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mine in 1940-41, for the Alaska Railroad in 1940 and as a commercial fisherman from 1948 to 1953. He was a lifetime member of the C-47 Organization and a member of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Association and the Alaska Territorial Guard.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, clam digging, berry picking, smoking fish and gardening. His family described him as the "patriarch of the family who dedicated a large portion of his life providing for his family and assuring that his children developed into capable people."

He is survived by his wife, Joan L. Wahto of Anchorage; son, David G. Wahto of Anchorage; daughters, Susan T. Rivers of Kaiser, Ore., and Cody Sontag of Yelapa, Mexico; grandson, Jason L. Wahto of Portland, Ore.; and granddaughters, Rachel S. Wahto of Gunnison, Colo., Margaret E. Rivers of Kaiser and Tyra E. Rivers of Tucson, Ariz. He was preceded in death by his three brothers and two sisters. Memorial donations may be sent to the charity of the donor's choice.

(Anchorage Daily News February 9, 2007)

(courtesy of Lynn Rogers)

Grave marker for Gordon W. Wahto at Section N Row 28 Site 1397 in Fort Richardson National Cemetery, Fort Richardson (Anchorage Borough), Alaska.