June 12, 2006
Monday

Peter Paul York, born March 1, 1951, went home on June 4, 2006. Peter York was baptized Peter Paul Thomas Joseph York and was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. His father was a diplomat and his mother was a physician. Peter York immigrated to the U.S. in 1971 and became a naturalized citizen.

York joined the United States Marine Corps and served in Vietnam, He served for eight years with the Marine Corps. His DD 256-MC shows he earned four Purple Hearts, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the RVN Cross of Gallantry, the Vietnam Legion of Honor, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

York's education and military training included: OCS, Geneva Convention, Military Justice, US Army Airborne/Ranger Course, US Institute For Military Justice Assistance, MACV Recondo School, USMC Infantry School, and US Army Intelligence School. Peter arrived Ketchikan, Alaska in 1989 where he served as a police officer on Annette Island Reservation and later was a substance abuse counselor and earned a PhD in counseling psychology.

He came to Ketchikan by way of sailboat, solo sailing the Inside Passage from Seattle. He fell in love with Southeast Alaska. York met his wife, Nancy, in 1992 and had 14 years of shared life with her.

York left Ketchikan for health reasons. His last years were spent traveling the western states in his motor home with his wife and dog, sometimes residing at various campgrounds and RV Parks on military bases doing the best he could to enjoy the last days of his life to the fullest.

His wife, Nancy York said his diabetes and other medical problems got the best of him and his heart failed. He died in his sleep of natural causes the early morning hours of June 4, 2006.

He is survived by his wife Nancy York, and his little dog, Esmeralda. His cremated remains will be interred at Fort Richardson National Veterans Cemetery near Anchorage, Alaska.

Nancy York said, "May God Bless Peter's soul."

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Ketchikan, Alaska