The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Edward Leo Nygard died peacefully on January 21, 2017, at the Juneau Pioneer Home. He was 89.

Ed was born on June 6, 1927, in Big Sandy, Montana, to Julius and Irma (Tuomi) Nygard. He was the eldest of four children.

Ed grew up in Big Sandy on the family homestead, working the family commercial coal mine. He graduated from Big Sandy High School in 1945. He graduated in 1949 from the University of Montana (Go Grizz) with a degree in forestry. Ed joined the United States Army on September 28, 1950. He served in the 207th Medical Detachment in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant First Class on September 2, 1953.

After the army, Ed returned to Great Falls, Montana where he married Shirley Ann Coons on July 24, 1955. Ed's employment with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) took them to Sells, Arizona and in 1959 to Kotzebue, Alaska. Juneau became their home in 1961, where Ed continued working for the BIA until his retirement in 1980.

Ed was a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church, and a member of the Mount Juneau-Gastineau Lodge No. 21 (lifetime), Nugget Chapter No. 2 Order of Eastern Star, Juneau Chapter No. 7 Order of the Eastern Star, and the Juneau Shrine Club.

Ed was preceded in death by his beloved wife Shirley, his parents Julius Edward Nygard and Irma Mae (Tuomi) Nygard and his sister Lillian Johnson.

Ed is survived by his children, Chuck Nygard (Bonnie), of Townsend, Wisconsin, Gail Fenumiai (Al), of Juneau, and Scott Nygard (Crystal), of Palmer; grandchildren, Shauna Nygard, of Denver Colorado., Cole and Hali Nygard, of Townsend, Nicole, Brittany and Phillip Fenumiai, of Juneau, and Eric, Alexander and Nikolas Nygard, of Palmer; brothers Emil Nygard (Doris) of Great Falls, Montana and John Nygard (Susan) of Tacoma, Washington; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 25, at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 740 West 10th Street. A reception will follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Resurrection Lutheran Church (designated to the Food Pantry), 740 West 10th Street, Juneau, AK 99801; Shriner's Hospital, c/o Juneau Shrine Club, PO Box 20865, Juneau, AK 99802-0865; or the Mt. Juneau-Gastineaux Lodge Scholarship Fund, PO Box 32558, Juneau, AK 99803-2558.

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