Henry Katkus
Orderly
304th Station Hospital

3 Mar 1920 Babtai, Lithuania
27 Feb 1989 Wasilla, Alaska

Henry Katkus, 68, a retired Alaska Railroad employee, died Feb. 27 at his Wasilla home following a lengthy illness. A funeral will be held at noon Thursday at the Eagle River Post 9785 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mr. Katkus was born March 3, 1920, in Lithuania, and moved to the United States in 1937. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He moved to Alaska in 1948 from New York City via the original Alaska Highway. The trip took several months in an old truck. Mr. Katkus homesteaded in Wasilla and worked in Wasilla and Willow as section laborer for the Alaska Railroad. He retired in 1970. He owned and operated HK Electronics in Wasilla, as a retirement business. He had been a member of the VFW Post 9365 in Wasilla since 1948. He had served as post commander several times, and from 1969 to 1970 served as state commander. Over the years he also was on several national VFW committees. He was a member of the Palmer Elks Lodge and the American Legion. He leaves his wife of 43 years, Joan, of Wasilla; his daughters, Sue Williams and Jane Katkus, both of Anchorage, and Maggie Inman, of Sitka; his sons, Tom, of Chugiak, and John, of Wasilla; and nine grandchildren. A graveside service will be held at Fort Richardson National Cemetery immediately following the funeral. A gathering of family and friends will take place at the Eagle River VFW following the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be sent to the VFW Ladies Auxiliary or the VFW Cancer Fund, in care of June Nunley, P.O. Box 870050, Wasilla 99687. Local arrangements were by Kehl's Palmer Memorial Chapel.