Eugene Olsen

Anchorage resident Eugene Russell Olsen, 70, died Oct. 17, 2010, at Alaska Native Medical Center of cancer.

A service will be at 2 p.m. today at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Eugene was born Dec. 24, 1939, in Valdez. He lived in Anchorage, Valdez, Yakutat, False Pass, Unalaska, Cordova and King Cove; Hoquiam, Wash., and Seattle, Wash. He was employed by Peter Pan Seafoods. He was Elder of the Year in 2009 for Chugach Corp.

His hobbies included making plaques for Alaska Native Medical Center and Native corporations, fighting for fishermen's rights and listening to Christian music.

His family wrote: "Eugene believed that he, an Alaska Native orphan, raised in many children's homes, could be successful in life by hard work and helping others. By 18, he owned his fishing boat. He fished from the Bering Sea to South America. He survived seven boat sinkings and was known as "the first one out and the last one in" from the fishing grounds. He fought for fishermen's rights and challenged Russians fishing in Alaska waters. He taught his grandsons to fish hard in summers and shared his wisdom about life with them. He treasured his family, especially daughters Ingrid and Laurel, who cared for him the last few years. He was generous to a fault and loved his Lord."

He is survived by his daughters, Ingrid Marie Carlson and Laurel Jean Olsen-Piscoya, both of Anchorage; the mother of his two daughters, Mary L. Olsen of Sand Point; former wife, Noemy Olsen, of Seattle; former wife, Ann Olsen of Melbourne, Fla.; son-in-law, Nick Carlson of Anchorage; sister, Patsy Stanley and niece, Bonnie Stanley, both of Marshall, Texas; grandchildren, Gavin, Gage, Gaius Carlson, Bridget, Bradley and Jared O. and Mackenzie P. Piscoya, all of Anchorage; great-grandchildren, Chase Gould of King Cove, Gage Elias Carlson of Anchorage, and Cameron Krause of Anchorage; many relatives and friends in King Cove and Sand Point.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Agnes Mildred Cooper; and his father, John Edward Olsen; and a great-granddaughter, Serenity Hope Marie Krause.

Arrangements are with Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel; www.janssenfuneralhomes.com.