Jack Lee “Caavialuq” Hopstad was born in Platinum, Alaska on August 24, 1951 to Olaf and Mildred Hopstad, and entered into eternal life May 7, 2021.
Jack’s parents met in Bethel and married in 1951, when they moved to Platinum, Alaska where his father worked as a dragline operator for the Goodnews Bay Mining Company. Jack was the first baby born at the mine. They lived in Platinum for three years before moving back to Bethel in 1954.
Jack had remembered going to school at age six at the old log school, called the Bethel Territorial School, which was located downtown near where Swanson’s hardware is now. He attended grades 1-3 at the old log school, and went to 4th grade at the old Moravian Church on Mission Road. Then he moved up to the new Kilbuck School for grades 5-12, graduating from Bethel High School in 1969.
Jack attended the University of Fairbanks for a time and then joined the National Guard. He became the Battalion Commander for Bethel and then after that Kotzebue, as well. He had a total of 21.5 years of service for the Guard, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel. After that he worked at AVCP as the VPSO Program Coordinator, and finished his career at LKSD as the District’s Safety Officer.
He had a passion for flying and after earning his pilot’s license, he purchased his signature low-wing red plane. He loved flying to visit family and sight-seeing around the Y-K Delta. Jack was proud to have taught himself how to play the violin and loved his time in the Kuskokwim Fiddle Band.
Jack and Agatha were married on June 10, 2006 and cherished each other’s company for 15 years. Together they enjoyed fiddle dancing, subsisting, and especially manaqing at the Johnson.
Jack is survived by his beloved wife Agatha; step-mother Marie Hopstad, daughter Colleen Charles (David); son Michael Attie (Daisy); sister Diana Murat (Steven); brother Patrick Hopstad (Mariaana); stepchildren: Simeon, Emil, Anna, Charlie (Jewel), Chester; grandchildren: Deanna, Olaf, Kelly, Jason, Kanen, Dray, Sean, Rhea, Danielle, Little Byron, Mathias, Delilah, Josephine; great-grandchildren: Kaden, Jacqueline, Isabella, DeAndrae, Maureen, Matina, Scarlett, Everick, Sabrina, Delailah; numerous in-laws and too many aunts and uncles and cousins to count.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents Olaf and Mildred Hopstad; daughter Maureen Hopstad; son Sigfurd Hopstad.
The family of Jack would like to thank the following: BFD first responders, YKHC ER staff and Marcia Coffey; Bethel VFW; Alaska National Guard; City of Bethel’s Lori Strickler and Jim Boan; and Fr. Gregg Wood and Susan Murphy at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Special thanks to Augusta and Stan who helped Aggie prepare for guests, and all those who cooked and prepared food to provide for our family and guests. Thank you to Ryan, Conan, Patrick, and Jason for making the casket cover and cross. Thank you for all who came from near and far to be with our family – May you all be blessed for your prayers for Jack, we know each and every one of you have memories of him in a special way.
