George Navarre

Longtime Alaskan and Kenai resident George A. Navarre died June 4, 2009, at home in Kenai. He was 85. A viewing will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Kenai. A funeral Mass will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at the church, with a gathering afterward at the Kenai Senior Center. Mr. Navarre was born Aug. 27, 1923, in Dayton, Ohio. After graduating from high school he attended Michigan State College. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He moved to Alaska in 1951, residing in Juneau. He moved to Kenai in 1956. Mr. Navarre started the Kenai Food Center in 1957. He served as the Kenai borough mayor from 1966 to 1972 and was later city manager of Kenai. He owned Alyeska Sales and Service (1978-86) and opened the first Arby's in Alaska in 1981. Mr. Navarre was a member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church. He enjoyed golf, playing bridge and traveling. "He loved his family and his community with all his heart and we can only hope to honor his legacy by doing our best to live in his example," his family said. "He's gone from us now, but will never be forgotten by those who knew and loved him. And as we mourn his loss for ourselves, we can't help but be saddened a bit for the man himself, as he's likely enduring a severe scold from Rose for taking so long to join her in heaven." Mr. Navarre was preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary (Doogan) Navarre, and daughter, Rozann Tunseth. He is survived by seven sons, three daughters and their families; sisters, Mary Jane Tripp of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Caroline Peters of Michigan; cousin, Jake Moesch of Las Vegas, Nev.; 20 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; the entire Doogan clan; and, numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial donations may be sent to the Kenai Peninsula Boys and Girls Club Endowment, 705 Frontage Road, Suite B, Kenai 99611; the Kenai Peninsula Foundation, P.O. Box 928, Soldotna 99669; or Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church. Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.