Marie Rozak
Sep 3, 1944 -
Sep 20, 2021
Longtime Alaska resident Linda "Marie" Rozak died peacefully at home in Anchorage, of pancreatic cancer, with her husband Ron by her side. Marie is survived by her husband, Ron and son, Michael of Anchorage; daughter-in-law, Camille Davidson of Burien, WA; brother, Marty Varner of Collierville, TN; and sister, Murrae Webster of Sapulpa, OK.
Marie was born in Burbank, to Wanda "Jeanne" Stearmer and Carl Edmonds, but moved to Sapulpa, when she was young. Her mom divorced Carl Edmonds and married Charles Varner; he adopted Marie. She grew up in the county; had good friends, loved horses, participated in Roundup Club and rodeo activities. Classmates at Sapulpa High School, where she graduated in 1962, consistently described her as cute, sweet, great personality, good friend and sure to go places. After graduating with a degree in elementary education from Northeastern Oklahoma State University, Marie Varner accepted a special education teaching position at Soldotna Elementary School, starting her many adventures as an Alaskan in January 1971. She immediately fell in love with the cold winter beauty and the warm community of teachers and homesteaders.
During summer school vacation Marie traveled and had seasonal jobs, including packing salmon roe at a cannery in Kenai and working as secretary for the State Project Engineer on a bridge crossing the Kenai River, meeting her husband Ron, a field engineer on that project. Marie loved working with contractors and engineers, including administrative positions with the Southeast Alaska District Highway Engineer in Douglas, Morrison-Knudsen Construction Co. at their trans-Alaska pipeline camp near Tonsina, McLane Consulting in Soldotna, and business manager with Ron for their construction business near Homer and later their environmental engineering practice near Kenai.
Marie also enjoyed commercial salmon fishing for several salmon with Ron in Cook Inlet, work at the State Capital in Juneau as a legislative assistant for one session and as volunteer coordinator on Kenai Peninsula campaigns for several candidates running for statewide offices.
Marie and Ron were married in Homer on June 21, 1975. Subsequently they bought Ron's homestead house in Anchor Point from his parents, Ted and Ruth Rozak. Marie enjoyed the homesteader families and their way of living. Their only child, Michael, was born May 1977 in Homer. Marie was a loving mother and wife, sacrificing her career to manage a household that moved to support Ron's career; from Anchor Point to Texas A&M in 1979, to Las Vegas 1980-82, to Anchorage 1982-1985, to Kenai 1985- 2006, and back to Anchorage 2006-2021.
Marie had enjoyed high school wrestling in Oklahoma and, with Ron, was very active with the Kenai Kardinal booster club during the '90s, making friends with many wrestlers, parents and coaches from Kenai Peninsula schools. She and Ron attended numerous State and NCAA Division 1 wrestling tournaments as well as 1996 Olympic wrestling in Atlanta and US team trials in Dallas.
Marie regularly worked crossword puzzles, was an avid reader and enjoyed being part of a women's book and social club in Soldotna. GranMarie loved taking her only grandchild, Theadora Rozak, to children reading areas in public libraries and bookstores. Marie was also fascinated with the amazing programs at the Tucson Festival of Books that she and Ron attended for several years; she was very disappointed when COVID-19 cancelled the event in 2020 and 2021.
Marie served on their Anchorage Condo association board for many years as a tireless liaison with contractors and others to resolve many major, costly maintenance and repair problems. Contractors learned that her quiet, gentle personality had a firm backbone and practical knowledge gained from many years working in construction. She was an attentive listener, genuinely cared for Condo neighbors, and gradually developed a community of wonderful friends within the building.
Marie was a quiet, searching, spiritual woman. She was grateful to find a comfortable home and welcoming community at the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for pursuit of her personal beliefs and engagement in community social justice and environmental activities.
Marie loved their permanent home on Kalifornsky Beach south of the Kenai River where she walked the beach in search of agates and shells, watched gulls, eagles, seals, belugas, fishing boats, sunsets and more. Their beach house provided peace and comfort during her illness until mid-September when she and Ron returned to Anchorage to be closer to her very caring Providence Hospice medical team. Marie never complained during her illness and accepted her fate with grace and appreciation for a loving family and friends.
Celebrations of life will be held in Anchorage this winter, date and location to be determined, and at the Kenai family home next spring. In accordance with her wishes, her ashes will be released to the Kenai River near the bridge where she and Ron met 48 years ago.
