Gastineau Channel Memories

Lindstrom, Anton & Greta (Brunnel)

Toni Warner Pierce

Anton Lindstrom was born in 1877, in Foglo Atland, Finland (Swedish descent), and came to Treadwell to work the mines before 1900. He met and married Greta Sophia Johans Brunell, also born in 1877, in Kronaby, Finland, and also of Swedish descent, in 1902. They had four children: Ester Viola Sofi (1903-1919), Vivi Ideal Maria (1905-1986), Helena Aleda Christina (1907-1973), and Carl Eric Anton (1919-1946). Anton was killed in the Treadwell Mine in 1912, and Sophia later married John G. Johnson, also a Swedish miner/carpenter, and another daughter was born: Jennie Sophia (1919-1990). Anton and daughter Ester are buried on the waterside of the old Douglas Cemetery and Sophia, John and Carl are buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery on the upper side of the Douglas Highway. Helen and Jennie are buried near each other in the Juneau Evergreen Cemetery.

Helen graduated from Douglas High School and Bellingham Normal School, returned to Alaska to teach in Gustavus in 1926. She later returned to Seattle and graduated from business school before coming back to Alaska. Helen married John G. ?Jack? Warner in 1933. They had two daughters: Aleda Lee born in 1934, and Jean Antonette ?Toni? born in 1938. Jack came to Alaska to help install Otis elevators in the ?new? Federal Building. He worked in many occupations in Alaska, among them, Standard Oil, Piggly Wiggly, captained many cannery tenders, such as the Forrester and the Estebeth. He later built boats including the St. Peter, St. John, Kathern S. and the North Star. Before leaving Alaska, he was a marine surveyor and insurance adjuster. For awhile the family lived in Tenakee Springs where both Aleda and Toni began school. Helen was a past Noble Grand of the Rebekahs and Jack was the 1955 Chairman of the Golden North Salmon Derby.

Both Aleda and Toni graduated from Juneau High School. Aleda then graduated from the Tacoma General School of Nursing. Toni graduated and took her Master?s degree from the U. of Puget Sound in Tacoma. Aleda married Dale Osterman and is living retired in Eugene, Oregon. They are the parents of three daughters and four grandchildren. Toni is married to Bob Pierce, is retired, lives in Washington and California. She is the parent of two sons and one daughter and grandmother of four.

Life for the Lindstroms in Treadwell was very rough, especially for Sophia left a widow, unable to speak English. Life was also tough for the Warner family, with many moves and many job changes.

	(L to R): Lindstrom Family-Vivian, Carl, Ester, Sophia and Helen. Runquist Family-John, Anard, Helen, Hilda May holding Ethel. Sophia Lindstrom and Hilda Runquist were sisters, ca. 1914.
	Bob and Toni Pierce, Juneau, 2000.