Evelyn Madeline (Prosak) Wince

Apr 1, 1925 -

Jul 2, 2021

Alaskan pioneer Evelyn Madeline (Prosak) (Henning) Wince passed away in the early hours of Friday, July 2, 2021, at Providence Hospital, at the regal age of 96.

Known to her friends as "Lynn," Evelyn was born on April 1, 1925, in New York City, N.Y., to first generation immigrant parents Joseph and Anna Prosak. Anna came alone to Ellis Island as a teenager from Czechoslovakia with little English language. Her father died while she was still a small child. She was the second youngest of four sisters: Alice, Lillian and Helen. She completed grade school through high school on the upper east side of Manhattan. While in high school, she worked as a professional photographer's model for John Robert Powers, modeling for Sears Catalog, True Confessions Magazine and fashion ads. She was a member of the American Theater Wing on Broadway. After screen testing with 20th Century Fox, she made tours with many movie celebrities selling war bonds. As a young woman, with an innate adventurous spirit, she signed an 18-month contract to work for the Corps of Engineers. She received travel orders to Edmonton, Alberta, then to Whitehorse, Yukon, and ultimately to Fairbanks, Alaska. In Fairbanks, she attended night classes at the University of Alaska. When the war ended, she returned to New York City, only to accept a job at Fort Richardson, Alaska, for the Recruitment Office in the "Kremlin" building. She married Gordon Henning in 1946, an early Anchorage photographer, and homesteaded in their log cabin they built off KFQD Road in Fish Creek. They had two children together. She worked for some time in the Anchorage Health Department as secretary to the head. She and Gordon eventually divorced and she went to work for the FAA as a Purchasing Officer. She went on to be a Contracting Officer and retired after 20 years of service. While with the FAA, she met and married Frank Wince, a civil engineer, in 1965, with whom she spent many decades gardening, traveling and enjoying life. A highlight of their life together was serving in 1996 as King and Queen Regents for the Pioneers of Alaska, where they were both life members.

Lynn was an expert quilter and knitter for most of her life. She was one of the founders of the Anchorage Log Cabin Quilters as well as other guilds in Anchorage and Palmer. She briefly owned a fabric shop on Spenard, Anchorage, in the 1950s, The Spenard Knit Shop, with fabrics shipped direct from New York City. She was a certified Master Gardener of UAA. Her greenhouse and vast gardens won many ribbons from the Alaska State Fair over the decades. She particularly enjoyed helping her local church start their garden every spring. She was a Past President of The Pioneers of Alaska Women's Igloo No. 4 and one of the last - current - most senior active members. She was also a strong advocate for seniors and actively involved with the Mabel T. Caverly Center in Anchorage. A few of her favorite things were plants and flowers, dogs of all breeds, movies, chocolate, jewelry, rose parfum, antiques and strawberry ice cream.

She is preceded in death by her father; mother; three sisters, Alice, Helen and Lillian respectively; her first husband, Gordon; and her late husband, Frank. She is survived by her son, Mitchell Henning (Karen); daughter, JoAnn Brandlen (Leo); grandchildren, Michael Korting, Beau Brandlen, BreAnn Brandlen (Steve Kim), Theresa Robarge (Jonathan), Sonia Malloy, Greg Petersen; and great-grandchildren, Carlie Brandlen, Isabelle Brandlen, Aidan Brandlen, Maxfield Kim, Evelyn Kim - her namesake, Tyler Malloy, Ian Malloy, Emily Malloy, Riley Malloy, Adelyn Petersen and Elle Petersen. She was especially proud of being a great-grandmother.

A family service was held on Saturday, July 10, 2021, at Evergreen Memorial Chapel. She will be buried in the Pioneers of Alaska section at The Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery beside her husband Frank. A public service will be on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021, at 2 p.m., at the Lutheran Church of Hope. In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made in her name to the Anchorage SPCA Animal Shelter.