Wayne Edward Alex

1937 - 2018

Wayne Edward Alex 80 years old of Juneau, Alaska passed away on November 13, 2018 at Petersburg Medical Center. A Celebration of Life will be held in his honor at Lighthouse Assembly of God on Saturday, November 17th, and a grave side service will follow at Jones Point Cemetery in Haines, AK on Monday November 19th, 2018, followed by a celebration of life at the American Legion. Wayne was born December 12, 1937 in Coon Rapids, Iowa to Edward and Marjorie Alex. Ed, Marjorie, Wayne the oldest and his two siblings Carol Waldo, Stan Alex and a family friend Squeak Smith made their way to Alaska on the Alaska Highway in 1948. As a young man in Haines, Wayne enjoyed visiting with the locals and learning about building boats, hunting, fishing and the Tlingit culture. At the age of 15 he started his career as a commercial fisherman until he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 1956 and served for 38 months out of Astoria, Oregon on the Lightship "Relief", they would be on anchor at the mouth of the Columbia River for three month stretches to help guide ships in. Upon return from the United States Coast Guard Wayne started to build his first commercial fishing boat the Marauder at 7 mile Haines, Alaska. This developed into a successful career which include building the Geewhiz a fiberglass Gillnetter and then eventually buying a Seiner the FV Pacific Belle, fishing Salmon, herring, halibut, black cod, all over the State of Alaska during his career he contribute many things to the fishing industry including the Marco auto baiter, helped in the design of the Marco Seine block and other fishing techniques and practices. His hobbies included boxing, archery, playing guitar, gun smith, hunting, traveling and visiting with friends, writing letters to the editor at local papers. He was a legend to many and will be missed greatly. He is survived by his four daughters , Kathy DeLeon of Anchorage, Victoria Moore of Petersburg, Ramona Thomas of Surprise, AZ and Samantha Alex of Vancouver, WA, Grandchildren Nathan Alex Anchorage, AK, Nieko Isturis of Juneau, AK Alex Moore of Petersburg, AK and Rowan Thomas of Surprise, AZ. siblings are Carol Waldo of Haines, AK Stan Alex of Lynnwood WA, Elaine Pigott of Haines, AK, Colleen Smith of Anchorage, AK and Marsha Rutherford of Bastrop, TX.Had numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held in Juneau, AK in the early spring of 2019, when family south are able to attend.