Gerald Angeles Protzman (Jerry), 90, loving husband of the late Gloria J. Protzman, passed away peacefully the morning of Nov. 25.
Gerald spent Thanksgiving Day with his family, surrounded by all of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held on Dec. 1 at the Anchorage Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
Gerald was born April 8, 1926, in Seward Alaska. He was raised from the age of 6 by his grandparents, after the passing of his parents.
At 15, Gerald joined the Territorial Guard on Shemeya Island, as an equipment operator, building airstrips, and at 18, Jerry entered the U.S. Army. He is recognized a WWII veteran of the Aleutian Campaign.
In 1947, Gerald met Gloria Jean Black, the love of his life. They were married 6 months later on October 3rd, 1947. The young couple moved to Whittier in 1948, where the Alaska Railroad employed Gerald, until they moved back to Seward in 1949, to have their first son Gerald, “Pee Wee”. Jerry’s employment involved flying as a private pilot, commercial fishing and gold mining.
In 1951, they moved to Anchorage in 1951 where they had their daughter Vicki, and Gerald worked as a trucker, logger and heavy equipment operator. In 1955 Jerry and Gloria moved to Sterling, formerly known as Naptown, to homestead. They resided in a Quonset hut. Jerry continued driving trucks for a living, along with logging and working as a heavy equipment operator, and then started his own trucking business – Jerry’s Freight Service. In 1957 they had their youngest son, James. The family then moved back to Whittier in 1964, following the earthquake. Jerry was the dock superintendent for the Alaska Railroad. In 1969 he retired and the couple moved to Hawaii, built a home, and after a few years in the tropics, found themselves back in Whittier, out of retirement, working as the plant manager for Whitney Fidalgo Seafoods. The family relocated out to Fairmont Island in Prince William Sound for his work at the kelp processing plant. With love for the Sound and passion for the trucking industry, Jerry started yet another business located in Whittier. Dojer LTD. -Marine freight and fuel for the outlying villages, towns and hatcheries in Prince William Sound. He successfully ran Dojer LTD. until his final retirement in 2008.
Gerald is survived by his dog FuFu; son, Gerald G. “Pee Wee” Protzman and his wife Maribel; daughter Vicki L. Hartman and her husband Steve; son, and James C. “Jimmy” Protzman of Anchorage; all of Anchorage; grandchildren, Bryan Protzman, Jonnie Marie Bernier, Michael Stephens, Yeasi De Leon, Kenny DeLeon, Matthew J. Protzman, Sheila Mann, Casey Protzman, Ashlee Protzman and 20 great grandchildren.
Gerald A. Protzman will be missed by his family, and always remembered as a loving husband, father, and “Papa”. Gerald’s presence in this world left a lasting impression on all that knew him, friends, family and associates. He was an amazing soul with an incredible drive for family unity, hard work, and determination for his family to succeed. Happily, Gerald joins his beautiful wife Gloria J. Protzman in everlasting joy. Rest in peace Papa.
Arrangements were in care of the Anchorage Funeral Home & Crematory. Please visit Jerry’s online memorial at www.AlaskanFuneral.com
