Wrangell Sentinel -

The populace of Wrangell, Alaska, is much the poorer with the passing of life-time resident, Edward "Eddie" Earl Kalkins, Jr., on January 21, 2015. For over a century, the Kalkins' name has occupied a storied place on the island beginning in 1900 with the arrival of Polish immigrant, Anthony J. Kalkins, and his young son, Edward, to Alaska.

Born April 2, 1933 in Wrangell to Captain Edward Kalkins and the former Miss Elsie Vance of Telegraph Creek, B.C., Canada, Ed attended school in Skagway and Wrangell.

After a stint in the Navy, serving aboard the USS Prairie, serving in the Pacific arena, he returned to his hometown and familiar Alaskan waters to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather as a fisherman. A lover of the sea, Ed walked the decks of a number of boats in his career, beginning with the Melba, including the Shrimper, the Dirgo, the Minnie Ann, and the Monitor.

He was preceded in death by his father Edward E. Kalkins, his mother Elsie Vance Kilborne, his Aunt Betty Wigg, his sister Darlene Kilborne, and his brother Randolph Kalkins. He is survived by his wife of sixty years, the former Miss Minnie Evangeline Larsen, a granddaughter of Tlingit Chief Shakes. Their union produced seven daughters and two sons: Elsie (Jody) Lindley and Randy Kalkins of Wrangell; Edward (Janice) Kalkins of Juneau; Rose Johnson, Emma (James) Stickel , Lillian Smith, and Trixie Bennett of Ketchikan; Darlene (Arnie) Villegas of Oregon; and Minnie Ann (Eric) Bandera of Illinois.

Fourteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchild are counted among Ed's descendants: Honey Kalkins, Amanda Kalkins, Joshua Gordanier; Michelle Amundson; Jessica Whitaker, Shannon Lindley, Alexandra Bennett, Britany Lindley, Veronica Smith, Briana Smith, Bianca Smith, Shane Bennett, Stone Riley, Erika Riley, Shelton Eklund, Maddisen Ginter, Kasey Whitaker, Bradley Eklund, Ethan Whitaker, Gibson Girt, Brayden Beasley and Jace Amundson. A sister, Rose Pagano, resides in Anchorage, Alaska.

Services are set for January 31, 2015 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church at Noon. Burial will be in the Wrangell

Cemetery, following with a celebration of life at the American

Legion Post #6 Hall.