Anchorage Daily News September 1, 2008
Former Alaskan Donald James Ayers, 76, died July 16, 2008, of congestive heart failure at home in Neillsville, Wis. A memorial service took place Oct. 3 in Neillsville.
Don was born April 8, 1932, in Marshfield, Wis., to Claude and Florence (Thoma) Ayers. After graduating from Neillsville High School, Don joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He became sergeant and served from 1951 to 1954 during the Korean War. Upon returning from the Marine Corps, Don married Carol Jean Thompson in 1956, a registered nurse and childhood friend. Don joined the Wisconsin State Patrol as it first formed in 1956. He was in the second graduating class of troopers and served with them for 17 years. Among the state troopers, Don made lifelong friends and won numerous awards for marksmanship. In 1973, Don transferred into Investigations and retired in 1987. Don had many adventures in Alaska. He enjoyed his Point MacKenzie property, hunting, fishing, goldpanning and cabin-building with friends and family. An avid outdoorsman, Don pursued game as big as moose, as small as woodcock, as wily as turkeys or white-tailed deer. "Landing a feisty salmon or scrappy trout always made him smile," his family said. "Don was an excellent gunsmith and storyteller; he was strong, humorous, well-read and creative." He was a member of the NRA and the United Church of God.
Don is survived by his former wife, Carol of Neillsville; son and daughter-in-law, James and Kathy of Wasilla; daughter, Jean of Anchorage; son, Darrel of Nikiski; sisters and brother-in-law, Joan and Robert Bertz of Loyal, Wis., and Charlotte Ayers of Beaufort, S.C.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Wendell and Ruthe Ayers of Corbett, Ore., and Melvin and Marian Ayers of Oshkosh, Wis.; two grandchildren, Patrick Ayers of Athens, Ga., and Tiffany and husband Shanon McGee; and great-granddaughter, Anya of Fairbanks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Society. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Former Alaskan Donald James Ayers, 76, died July 16, 2008, of congestive heart failure at home in Neillsville, Wis. A memorial service took place Oct. 3 in Neillsville.
Don was born April 8, 1932, in Marshfield, Wis., to Claude and Florence (Thoma) Ayers. After graduating from Neillsville High School, Don joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He became sergeant and served from 1951 to 1954 during the Korean War. Upon returning from the Marine Corps, Don married Carol Jean Thompson in 1956, a registered nurse and childhood friend. Don joined the Wisconsin State Patrol as it first formed in 1956. He was in the second graduating class of troopers and served with them for 17 years. Among the state troopers, Don made lifelong friends and won numerous awards for marksmanship. In 1973, Don transferred into Investigations and retired in 1987. Don had many adventures in Alaska. He enjoyed his Point MacKenzie property, hunting, fishing, goldpanning and cabin-building with friends and family. An avid outdoorsman, Don pursued game as big as moose, as small as woodcock, as wily as turkeys or white-tailed deer. "Landing a feisty salmon or scrappy trout always made him smile," his family said. "Don was an excellent gunsmith and storyteller; he was strong, humorous, well-read and creative." He was a member of the NRA and the United Church of God.
Don is survived by his former wife, Carol of Neillsville; son and daughter-in-law, James and Kathy of Wasilla; daughter, Jean of Anchorage; son, Darrel of Nikiski; sisters and brother-in-law, Joan and Robert Bertz of Loyal, Wis., and Charlotte Ayers of Beaufort, S.C.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Wendell and Ruthe Ayers of Corbett, Ore., and Melvin and Marian Ayers of Oshkosh, Wis.; two grandchildren, Patrick Ayers of Athens, Ga., and Tiffany and husband Shanon McGee; and great-granddaughter, Anya of Fairbanks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Society. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Anchorage Daily News September 1, 2008
Former Alaskan Donald James Ayers, 76, died July 16, 2008, of congestive heart failure at home in Neillsville, Wis. A memorial service took place Oct. 3 in Neillsville.
Don was born April 8, 1932, in Marshfield, Wis., to Claude and Florence (Thoma) Ayers. After graduating from Neillsville High School, Don joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He became sergeant and served from 1951 to 1954 during the Korean War. Upon returning from the Marine Corps, Don married Carol Jean Thompson in 1956, a registered nurse and childhood friend. Don joined the Wisconsin State Patrol as it first formed in 1956. He was in the second graduating class of troopers and served with them for 17 years. Among the state troopers, Don made lifelong friends and won numerous awards for marksmanship. In 1973, Don transferred into Investigations and retired in 1987. Don had many adventures in Alaska. He enjoyed his Point MacKenzie property, hunting, fishing, goldpanning and cabin-building with friends and family. An avid outdoorsman, Don pursued game as big as moose, as small as woodcock, as wily as turkeys or white-tailed deer. "Landing a feisty salmon or scrappy trout always made him smile," his family said. "Don was an excellent gunsmith and storyteller; he was strong, humorous, well-read and creative." He was a member of the NRA and the United Church of God.
Don is survived by his former wife, Carol of Neillsville; son and daughter-in-law, James and Kathy of Wasilla; daughter, Jean of Anchorage; son, Darrel of Nikiski; sisters and brother-in-law, Joan and Robert Bertz of Loyal, Wis., and Charlotte Ayers of Beaufort, S.C.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Wendell and Ruthe Ayers of Corbett, Ore., and Melvin and Marian Ayers of Oshkosh, Wis.; two grandchildren, Patrick Ayers of Athens, Ga., and Tiffany and husband Shanon McGee; and great-granddaughter, Anya of Fairbanks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Society. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Former Alaskan Donald James Ayers, 76, died July 16, 2008, of congestive heart failure at home in Neillsville, Wis. A memorial service took place Oct. 3 in Neillsville.
Don was born April 8, 1932, in Marshfield, Wis., to Claude and Florence (Thoma) Ayers. After graduating from Neillsville High School, Don joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He became sergeant and served from 1951 to 1954 during the Korean War. Upon returning from the Marine Corps, Don married Carol Jean Thompson in 1956, a registered nurse and childhood friend. Don joined the Wisconsin State Patrol as it first formed in 1956. He was in the second graduating class of troopers and served with them for 17 years. Among the state troopers, Don made lifelong friends and won numerous awards for marksmanship. In 1973, Don transferred into Investigations and retired in 1987. Don had many adventures in Alaska. He enjoyed his Point MacKenzie property, hunting, fishing, goldpanning and cabin-building with friends and family. An avid outdoorsman, Don pursued game as big as moose, as small as woodcock, as wily as turkeys or white-tailed deer. "Landing a feisty salmon or scrappy trout always made him smile," his family said. "Don was an excellent gunsmith and storyteller; he was strong, humorous, well-read and creative." He was a member of the NRA and the United Church of God.
Don is survived by his former wife, Carol of Neillsville; son and daughter-in-law, James and Kathy of Wasilla; daughter, Jean of Anchorage; son, Darrel of Nikiski; sisters and brother-in-law, Joan and Robert Bertz of Loyal, Wis., and Charlotte Ayers of Beaufort, S.C.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Wendell and Ruthe Ayers of Corbett, Ore., and Melvin and Marian Ayers of Oshkosh, Wis.; two grandchildren, Patrick Ayers of Athens, Ga., and Tiffany and husband Shanon McGee; and great-granddaughter, Anya of Fairbanks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Society. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
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