David Allan Ahonen

KETCHIKAN, Alaska - David Allan Ahonen, 72, of Ketchikan and Hurley, Wis., died Dec. 27, 2017, in Ketchikan, of complications from pneumonia.

He was born Aug. 17, 1945, in Duluth, Minn., to Gustaf A. and Jennie F. Ahonen. He spent his childhood in Hurley, specifically in Kimball, Wis.

David served in the U.S. Air Force as an M.P., worked as a prison guard in Wisconsin and was a cook on Great Lakes ore boats. He also tried his hand as a logger, police officer and as a scrap collector. He moved to Ketchikan in 2010.

On Oct. 20, 1967, David was joined in marriage with Jennifer M. Pull, of Bexleyheath, Kent, England. They settled in Kimball and had three children.

He was later married for several years to Chris Bennetts, formerly of Bessemer, Mich. She preceded him in death.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Elaine Cook; brothers-in-law, Don Silkworth, William Kuula and Roy Cook; and sister-in-law, Hilda Ahonen.

David is survived by daughters, Jacqueline Vertigan Swerdfiger (Craig Swerdfiger), Ostego, Minn., and Julie Wroblewski (Tim Huotari), Woodruff, Wis .; son, Dale Ahonen, Gile, Wis .; five grandchildren, Julia and Olivia Mosconi, Jenna and Mason Wroblewski and Jacie Huotari; his former wife, Jennifer (Steven) Smith, Kimball; sisters, Dorothy Kuula, Hurley and Ketchikan, and Marlene (Andy) Torrez, Kenosha; a brother, Ronald Ahonen, Kimball; and many nieces and nephews, including Darin Silkworth of Hurley and Ketchikan, who cared for him in his last years and days.

Cremation has taken place. There are no planned services at this time.

Messages to the family may be sent in care of Dorothy Kuula at 1460 Ketchikan Lakes Road, Ketchikan, AK 99901.