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Rinehart William Adolf -- 1998 Soldaotna resident Rinehart William Adolf, 79, died June 5, 1998, at Central Peninsula General Hospital after a long bout with cancer. A memorial was held at Grace Lutheran Church on Ciechanski Road. The Rev. Thomas R. Schmidt officiated. Mr. Adolf was born March 8. 1919. in Bathune [sic], Colo. He settled in Newberg, Ore., where he met and married Marjorie Rowland in 1941. During World War II, they lived briefly in Puyallup, Wash., but returned to Oregon, where they lived until the 1970s. In 1959, he began his career in highway construction with the Operating Engineers, from which he retired in 1982. He brought his family to Alaska in 1972, settling first in Ketchikan before moving to Soldotna in 1974. He worked on pipeline projects from Valdez to Prudhoe Bay. " He could never drive by a construction site without checking out the equipment." said his family. Mr. Adolf was an active member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church where he served on the church council and building committee. He was also a member of the Soldotna Senior Center. he was the first van driver to deliver homebound meals and shuttle seniors to lunch and appointments for the Soldotna area. he enjoyed snowmachining four-wheeling, outdoor activities and working in his yard. "He was surrounded by multitudes of family and friends," his family said. "He was a pillar of our family. He holds a special place in our hearts and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him." Mr. Adolf was preceded in death by his parents, William and Margaret Adolf; sisters, Mae Kellas and Alma Brandt; and son John. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marjorie of Soldotna; children and spouses; Jim and Betty West, Jim and Jan, Joe and Liz, all of Kenai; grandchildren, Tony and Stacey of Dundee, Ore., Jamie and Jessica of Newberg, Ore., Brain and Cindy Conrnett of Soldotna, Matt and Stacey Heilala, or Anchorage, Brandon West of Soldontna, Holly West of Gainesville, Fla., Julie and nancy of Kenai, Jeff and Ruth of Eagle River, Justin Adolf of Kenai; great-grandchildren, Ian, Kyle, Andrea, Lauren, Ryan, Mindi and Joshua. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials contributions in Mr. Adolf's name to: Grace Lutheran Building Fund, 47585 Ciechanski Road, P.O. Box 1683, Kenai 99611; or Soldotna Senior Center, 197 W. Park Ave., Soldotna 99669. Funeral arrangements made by Penninsula Memorial Chapels. |