Richard Arthur Resch, 69, of Wasilla, Alaska, died Sept. 15, 2007, at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage.

?A service will be at 1 p.m. Sept. 29 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Eastsound, Wash. A celebration of life will be afterward at the American Legion in Eastsound.

?Mr. Resch was born July 12, 1938, in Park Rapids, Minn. He served in the U.S. Navy as an IC man and an electrician.

?Mr. Resch moved to Alaska in 1981 and was a resident of Wasilla at the time of his death. He had also lived in Anchorage and Delta Junction. ?He worked for Inter Island Telephone Co. for 19 years as a foreman, installer, lineman and repairman and for Alascom for 13 years as a lineman and splicer tech. He retired from Alascom in January 1994.

?Special hobbies included fishing, hunting, gardening, golfing, woodworking and traveling.?His family wrote: “Dick loved celebrating life as a party! He brought smiles and laughs to his family and friends from his jokes and wit. He loved to see and visit with his kids and grandkids, as well as staying home and relaxing in his easy chair. He had a kind heart and was loved and will be missed by many.”

?Mr. Resch is survived by his daughter, Kathy Anderson and her husband, Brian Anderson, of Lynden, Wash.; daughter, Mary VanderYacht and her husband, Bryan VanderYacht, of Lynden, Wash.; stepdaughter, Shannon Schmelzer and her husband, Rick Schmelzer, of Wasilla; stepson, Randy Souhrada and his wife, Ellen Souhrada, of Anchorage; stepson, Travis Souhrada and his wife, Angela Souhrada, of Anchorage; grandchildren, Brock, Bryce, Braxton, Denver, Drake, Karly, Heather and Carrie; great-grandchild, Reilly Heather Mullenix of Anchorage; sisters, Mary Morrell of Seattle, and Linda Madden and husband, Mike, of Eastsound; brothers, Dave Resch and wife, Patty, Bobby Kimple and wife, Sue, and Danny Kimple, all of Eastsound; and many other relatives.

?He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Robert Kimple; father, John Resch; mother, Dorothy Wynne; stepmother, Ruth Resch; and brother, John Resch.

?Arrangements are with Anchorage Funeral Home and Crematory.?