William C. Morterud

April 23, 1949 – Jan. 7, 2017

William C. Morterud, 68, died Jan. 7, 2017 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer as a result of Lewy body dementia.

William was born April 23, 1949 in Duluth, Minnesota to Chester C. and Marion S. Morterud. He graduated from Duluth Central High School and completed U.S. Navy Special Warfare Group Training.

He moved to Alaska in July 1971, living first in Anchorage and moving to Anchor Point in 2002. He was employed by the Navy from December 1967 to November 1971, and he served in a Naval Special Warfare Group in Southeast Asia, and in the Republic of Vietnam in a special operations group. He also had work as a pile driver from 1971-1973, as a deep water diver from 1974-2001, and as a diving supervisor from 2001-2010. William retired in Homer in 2015.

William was Protestant, and was supportive of Alcoholics Anonymous groups. His special interest was his family.

“Bill has been my hero for 28 years,” wrote his wife, Monica.

“Bill has always been my loving brother,” wrote his sister, Sylvia Johnson.

“Bill was always a good friend and family member,” wrote JB Johnson, his brother-in-law.

Finally, his children, Arli, Marci, Vanessa and Heath wrote, “Dad was a patient and kind father, a solid rock, an indomitable Navy Seal, and he will live again through his grandchildren.”

William was preceded in death by his father, Chester C. Morterud; mother, Marion S. Morterud; and nephew, Richard C. Johnson.

He is survived by his wife, Monica of Anchor Point; daughters, Vanessa A. Emery of Anchor Point, Marci G. Miller of the Republic of Japan, and Arli J. Wynn of Eugene, Oregon; son, Heath F. Emery of Homer; sisters, Marjorie M. Jones of Georgetown, Texas, and Sylvia J. Johnson of Maryville, Tennessee; brother-in-law, Johnnie B. Johnson of Maryville, Tennessee; and many nephews and cousins.

Services for William will take place at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, with internment at Joint Base Elmendorf-Ricahrdson near Anchorage. There will be no viewing. There will also be military honors as well as presentation of taps and the American flag.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors of America.