Elmer Elias Lindstrom - February 5, 1915 - September 3, 2010

Life-long Juneau resident Elmer Elias Lindstrom died September 3, 2010 at age 95 at St. Elias Specialty Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska.

He was born in Juneau, Alaska on February 5, 1915 at St. Ann’s Hospital.

As a young man Elmer excelled at basketball and baseball.  He was inducted into the Alaska high school basketball hall of fame and played baseball in community leagues in the 1920’s and 1930’s. He was a lifelong baseball fan and in his later years followed the Seattle Mariners closely.  He was particularly not fond of the New York Yankees.

After graduation from Juneau High School in 1932 he worked for the Alaska Juneau Mine for several years in various capacities including as a lineman (the Salmon Creek, Sheep Creek and Nugget Creek hydro projects) and skipper of the powder barge (transporting explosives from bunkers located at DuPont south of town to Juneau harbor).

After the outbreak of the war he joined the United States Navy, first commanding the Princeton Hall as a patrol boat out of Sitka (today the Princeton Hall can be seen operating as a charter boat out of Juneau) and subsequently running a salvage barge in Dutch Harbor. After the war, he resumed commercial fishing until 1955 when he became co-owner of Reliable Transfer.

Elmer was an avid fisherman and hunter. He and friends enjoyed countless hunting and fishing trips to Seymour Canal where they maintained cabins for many decades. He enjoyed trout fishing on Admiralty Island and for many years owned a small boat in Juneau for sport fishing. He was never happier than with a fish on the line and his customary exclamation that “It’s a dandy!” was just as enthusiastic for a pan-sized cutthroat as for a hundred pound halibut or thirty pound king.

In 1967 Elmer won the Golden North Salmon Derby – an occasion he remembered fondly for the rest of his life.

Elmer was preceded in death by his father Elils Lindstrom, mother Mary Newman (Sundquist), step-father Fred Newman, brother Carl (Bud) Lindstrom, and sister Ingaborg Julian.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years Evelyn Lindstrom, son Elmer A. Lindstrom, daughter Linda Siirila, grandson Lance Siirila, and granddaughter Jolene Siirila, all of Juneau; granddaughter Eileen Nakamura, two great grandchildren Christopher and Shasta Nakamura, and one great great grandson Damien Nakamura, all of Everett, Washington; granddaughters Amanda and Leah Krafft of Portland, Oregon; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

No services are planned as he desired.  Donations in Elmer’s memory may be made to Catholic Community Services, Hospice and Home Care, 419 6th Street, Juneau, AK, 99801.