Ronald Irrigoo

Former Nome resident Ronald Lee Irrigoo, 45, died peacefully at home in Anchorage after a long illness at 6:20 a.m. on April 29, 2011.

A memorial will be held at Anchorage First Presbyterian Church Chapel, 616 W. 10th Ave., on Wednesday, May 4, at 2 p.m. He will be buried this summer near other family in Nome, a home he loved so much and missed.

Born and raised in Nome, Ronnie graduated from Nome-Beltz High School in 1984. He married Frances Arnold of Kotzebue in August 1987. They had two beautiful daughters, Christine and Janelle, who live on the Big Island of Hawaii.

After graduating from high school, Ronnie worked for the Alaska Gold Company in Nome until the mid-'90s. Soon after, he moved to Anchorage to be with family and worked as an RV mechanic until his health failed.

In 2009, he accepted God as his Lord and Savior. God's grace was shown by Ronnie's bravery in the last few years, and God's mercy was given by Ronnie's peaceful passing.

Ronnie loved to hunt, fish and crab with family and friends in Nome and Anchorage. In Nome, he hunted birds, moose, seal and walrus. He bravely climbed cliffs for bird eggs. From setting nets for salmon near the family cabin at Cape Nome, fishing the rivers and ice fishing, Ronnie loved to fish. He took every opportunity to fish with Anchorage buddies on any lake, river or the sea, even with a failing body. He always looked forward to the start of fishing season by dipnetting for hooligan at Twenty Mile River, clamming at Ninilchik, dipnetting for salmon in Chitina, and fishing at Ship Creek, Seward and the Russian River.

Ronnie was taken good care of by the many nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, lifters and pharmacists at the Alaska Native Medical Center. He especially liked the staff of the critical care unit and fifth floor. Thank you to St. Elias, Providence Alaska Medical Center, Anchorage firemen and paramedics for their kindness and professionalism; Northwest Medical and ProCare for providing medical equipment; and the many who visited him.

He is survived by his daughters, Christine and Janelle of Hawaii; mother, Maggie; brothers, Walton, Bernard Jr. and Kevin; and sisters, Marilyn and Connie, all of Anchorage. He has many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins from Homer to Kaktovik. He is greatly missed by all.

Ronald was preceded in death by his father, Bernard Sr.; wife, Frances; paternal grandparents, Clarence Sr. and Mildred Irrigoo; and maternal grandparents, Lawrence and Rosie Kulukhon.