John Nash 1921-2005

NASH, JUVELAND, STEPHL, QUAKENBUSH, BLYTHE, REED, BOLEN, KESLER, RASEY, LEOPOLD

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall
Date: 4/26/2006 at 07:28:34

JOHN NASH, 83, WAS ACTIVE IN AGRICULTURE FOR HALF-CENTURY

Longtime Valley resident and pioneer John Dale Nash, 83, died March 15, 2005, at his home on Wolverine Road.

A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at the Moose Lodge, 793 S. Cobb St., in Palmer.

Mr. Nash was born Sept. 16, 1921, in Williamsburg, Iowa, to Frederick and Ella Nash. He was the Iowa Heavyweight Division Wrestling champion during high school and graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1939.

Mr. Nash joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 and served as an airplane armorer on a B-24 in India, China and Burma during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1945.

Mr. Nash married Sylvia Juveland on May 25, 1946, in Lake Mills, Iowa.

They moved to Alaska in 1948 and pioneered a 240-acre parcel of land in the Lazy Mountain area, where he had resided since.

Mr. Nash was involved in agriculture in Alaska for more than 50 years, in practice and by serving on the boards of many organizations. He contributed to many programs, including being the manager and executive director of the Production Marketing Association program, later known as the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service.

Mr. Nash was a member of the board of directors of Matanuska Maid for 27 years, 20 as president. He was on the state board of directors of the Alaska Farmers and Stockgrowers Association and was appointed by former Gov. Bill Sheffield to the Governor's Advisory Agricultural Commission. He was executive director of the state Department of Agriculture under President Reagan.

Mr. Nash served on the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly from 1973-80. He was a member of the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corp. from 1974 to 1995 and served as the chairman of the board from 1990 to 1994.

"He was a loving and supportive father and grandfather who taught by word and example the value of strength and integrity," his family said. "His intelligence and wit will be greatly missed."

Mr. Nash was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia; grandson, Zane Stephl; and sisters, Lyla Quakenbush and Roberta Blythe.

He is survived by his daughters and sons-in law, Carol and Stan Reed, Barbara and Matt Stephl, and Diane and Wayne Bolen; son and daughter-in-law, John F. and Dianne Nash; grandchildren, Sara and Karen Reed, Rachel and Rebecca Stephl, Angela and Jacob Kesler, and Nathan, Madison and Makayla Nash; nephews, Darrell and Stewart Blythe; and nieces, Nancy Rasey and Julia Leopold.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 530 Dexter Ave. N., Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98109.

Arrangements were by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.

-source: Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, Alaska; March 20, 2005