Tamara Von Gemmingen
Story Created:
Mar 7, 2008 at 10:17 AM AKDT
Story Updated:
Mar 7, 2008 at 10:17 AM AKDT
Lifelong Alaskan Annie J. Dotomain, 89, of Anchorage died Feb. 29, 2008, at Alaska Native Medical Center. Her family wrote that she has "graduated to heaven." She was the last living child of Jacob Kenick.
Annie Dotomain was born Jan. 12, 1919, in Shaktoolik. Her family first moved to Hooper Bay when she was 9 years old. There her father was a missionary for the Covenant Church. The family moved again to Nunivak Island in 1935. There she met her husband, Tom, and they were married on Christmas Day in 1939. In 1956, the family moved via schooner to Shaktoolik.
She gave birth to 10 children and adopted her granddaughter Beverly. She was a subsistence food gatherer to feed her family and her family's sled dogs. Her life was centered on God and keeping her family fed and clothed and her home open to any visitor.
"She was a devout Christian and tireless servant of God," her family recalled. "She served as a Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, treasurer, church choir leader and church women's sewing circle leader. She translated the devotional book "Daily Living" into Inupiat for the Christian radio station KICY in Nome. She also served as a midwife, delivering many babies in Mekoryuk and Shaktoolik."
She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Tom; son, Walter Eklund; daughter, Rebecca Della; her parents; and all of her sisters and brothers.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, Caleb and Janet, Sarah and partner Bob Vaughn, Fena and Palmer Sagoonick, Isaiah and partner Maggie, Aaron and Rita Dotomain, Minnie and Bob Reska, Rosanna and partner Marty, Eleanor and partner Sam Oliveri, and Beverly Dotomain; 26 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are with Evergreen Memorial.
