Erwin Ernest Tucker

Dec 15, 1949 -

Jun 21, 2023

Erwin Ernest Tucker, 73, passed away on June 21, 2023, at his home in Cathedral City, Calif., with his family by his side.

Born in Golovin, Alaska, on Dec. 15, 1949, to Joyce Fagerstrom and Holger Jorgensen Sr., Erwin was adopted by Samuel Arthur Tucker shortly after birth. The family moved to Nome, Alaska, where in 1968, Erwin graduated from Nome High School. He then enlisted in the Navy, serving on the flight deck of several aircraft carriers as an aircraft mechanic troubleshooter during the Vietnam War.

After his naval service Erwin worked for Boeing, but the lure of the trans-Alaska pipeline took him back to Alaska and into the construction industry with Operating Engineers Local 302. The majority of his working years were with Wilder Construction out of Anchorage.

Erwin was always very mechanically-minded, inventive and creative. If something stopped working, he took it apart and figured out how to repair it. He loved sharing his knowledge and helping friends and neighbors with cars, motorcycles, golf carts, plumbing, electricity and anything mechanical.

He is survived by his wife, Teresa Tucker; son, Richard (Amber) Tucker; grandchildren, Justin Erdelac, Katie and Olivia Tucker; sisters, Karen Longley, Kathy Hodges (Mike), Roberta Scott; brothers Samuel Tucker Jr., Noel Jorgensen (Debbie); and many nieces and nephews, among them Arianne (Hank) Herglotz and Terre (Tom) Kimble.

He was preceded in death by his son, Dennis Allen Tucker; mother and fathers, Joyce and Samuel Tucker and Holger Jorgensen Sr. (Rosalie); sisters, Minnie Tucker, Joyce Aver Tucker, Violet Tucker; and brothers, Peter Tucker and Holger Jorgensen Jr.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Erwin's favorite charity, Exceeding Expectations Foundation, https://www.eefoundation.org/donate/.