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Anchorage resident Allen Diershaw, 80, died March 10, 2007, at Alaska
Regional Hospital as a result of a vehicle/pedestrian accident.
A graveside service with military honors will be at 2 p.m. Friday at
Fort Richardson National Cemetery. A memorial service will be at 4 p.m.
Friday at the Church of the Nazarene in Eagle River. Honorary
pallbearers include Bruce Diershaw, Kelvin Diershaw, Kyler Diershaw and
Kris Diershaw.
Allen was born Nov. 22, 1926, in Chicago to Ida and Edwin Diershaw. He
was a 1944 graduate of Knox College in Chicago. He enlisted in the Army
and was a World War II veteran.
Allen moved to Alaska in 1952, working with the Department of Fish and
Game and also joining the Anchorage Volunteer Fire Department. In 1955,
he began working with RCA Communications as an engineer on the early
warning sites statewide, where his appreciation of Alaska wilderness and
wildlife grew. Allen opened one of the first personal computer
businesses in Anchorage in 1982, identifying future personal and
business essentials with his forward thinking. He was a tremendous
advocate of the contributions of science and directed the state science
fair for a number of years. He appreciated critical thinking. From the
mid '80s to the early '90s, he owned a communications consulting firm,
working in Alaska, Venezuela, Peru, China and the Soviet Union.
Allen was an avid golfer and enjoyed skiing, dancing and hiking.
He was a member of the American Legion and 35+ Singles Club.
His family wrote: "He was a family man who believed that a good
education would serve you well. He was a kind person with a great sense
of humor, huge heart and always tried to help others."
He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty; sister, Beth Blind; brother,
Bruce Diershaw; seven children and their spouses, Kedrin Purcell, Kelvin
and Debbie Diershaw, Kyler Diershaw, Kris and Tina Diershaw, Kim and
Steve Foster, Lizmery and Wendy; niece, Mary Beth Curtis; nephew, David
Blind; grandchildren including Michael, James and Daniel Purcell, Devynn
Diershaw, Graham, Aimee and Peter Brookins, Christy, Katy and Elizabeth
Diershaw, Danielle South, Amber and Courtney Diershaw, Colin Redmond,
Lindsey Profeta and Ben Foster; and great-grandchildren including
Samantha, Joel, Margo, Addison and Jonah.
Memorial donations may be made to the Allen Diershaw Memorial Education
Fund, which will be established at Wells Fargo bank.
Published in the Anchorage Daily News on 3/18/2007.
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