Brown, Juanita Tressler

Anchorage and Big Lake resident Juanita Tressler Brown, 
79, died March 22, 2010, at her home surrounded by 
family.

A burial for Mrs. Brown will be held at 2 p.m. June 9 at 
Angelus Memorial Park, 440 E. Klatt Road, in Anchorage, 
where Juanita will be laid to rest next to her father and 
stepmother. A celebration of life will be held immediately 
afterward at 8819 Sahalee Drive in Anchorage.

A private family Mass was held on March 26, officiated by 
Father Dan Hebert of Holy Cross Parish, at the Brown 
residence.

Mrs. Brown was born Nov. 7, 1930, in Shamokin, Pa., to 
Irvin L. Tressler and Ruth Irene Reed Tressler. She grew up 
in a farmhouse with no electricity, phone, running water 
or indoor plumbing. She and her brother, Charles, had to 
walk two miles to a one-room schoolhouse. Mrs. Brown's 
mother died when she was 8 years old. She and her 
brother were raised by her grandparents, Isaiah and Ada 
Reed, after her father went into the service. During the 
war, she would get up at 4 a.m. and help her brother pick 
up milk from the farmers before going to school.

Mrs. Brown graduated from Trevorton High School in 
1948. She, her brother and his friend drove a new truck 
from Pennsylvania to Seattle; then traveled by steamship 
"The Denali" to Seward. In Seward she joined her father, 
Irvin, and stepmother, Orpha. The Tresslers purchased the 
Kenai Lumber Co. shortly after the war. Mrs. Brown 
remained in Seward until her grandfather passed away in 
Pennsylvania, and she returned to care for her 
grandmother.

She went to work for Pennsylvania Threshermen Insurance 
Co., where she met her husband-to-be, Gregory A. 
Brown. 

After Gregory asked for her hand in marriage for the fifth 
time, she finally accepted. They were married on Oct. 14, 
1950 in Harrisburg, Pa. They had two sons, Gregory and 
David. They moved to Anchorage in July of 1964. Two 
years later, Mrs. Brown began her career in the insurance 
industry as a producer's assistant with LaBow Haynes 
Insurance Co. Later she obtained her agent's license and 
ultimately her broker's license while working for Rollins, 
Burdick & Hunter, Frank B. Hall, and then Ribelin Lowell 
Insurance.

Mrs. Brown was one of the first female insurance brokers 
in Alaska. She was the president of Anchorage 
Toastmasters and also president of Anchorage 
Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association. 
She was also a member of the Women's Insurance 
Association. Mrs. Brown was a true professional in the 
insurance industry. She was very highly respected by her 
colleagues and her clients.

After nearly 25 years in the insurance industry, Mrs. Brown 
retired. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and family 
on cruises. She also enjoyed gardening and spending time 
with her family and friends in Big Lake. 

Her family wrote: "She was a person of integrity and 
honor. The values that she taught her children and 
grandchildren are cherished by her family. Our 'Sis' will be 
deeply missed and her memory will live in our hearts 
forever."

Mrs. Brown is survived by her best friend and husband of 
59 years, Greg Brown; sons and daughters-in-law, 
Gregory and Wanda Brown and David Brown and Susan 
Crowder; brother, Charles Tressler and wife Wanda of 
Grants Pass, Ore.; sister, Janie Thomas and husband Jon 
Levy of Eugene, Ore.; grandchildren, Thomas and 
Michelle, Dustin, Jessica and Martin, Joshua, Tyler and 
Maegan, and Taylor; great-grandchildren, Nathalie, 
Genevieve, Quentin, Karter and Matthew; sister-in-law, 
Nathalie Brown of Hummelstown, Pa.; aunt, Betty 
Marquette of Trevorton, Pa.; and many cousins, nieces, 
nephews and dear friends in Big Lake. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Providence 
Hospice Care.

Published in adn.com from April 17 to April 18, 2010