Rhea Lou Herzberg, who came to Sitka in 1977, died June 13, at her home. She was 73.
A potluck celebration of her life will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at the Halibut Point Recreation Area main shelter. Drinks will be provided.
Rhea was born Feb. 16, 1943, in Bakersfield, Calif., the daughter of Gordon and Arlette Herzberg. The eldest of four, she was as much a mother as a sister to her three brothers.
Rhea Lou Herzberg
Her family settled in Salem, Ore., where she met Phil Brownell. They married, and had two children. In 1971 they moved to Scio, Ore., and built a house together on top of Rogers Mountain. It was there her sense of adventure and a love of the outdoors was born.
By 1977 she was divorced and this free spirit found her way to Sitka, looking for new adventures. Alaska didn’t disappoint. Remote and wild, it offered boating and camping, hunting and fishing, all at your back door. She often lived a homestead lifestyle in some of Sitka’s even more remote places. She fit right in as though she had been here all her life. She was finally home. Her kids soon followed in her footsteps and made Alaska their home, too, where together they had a lifetime of adventures.
Most knew her as “Skipper” or “Grama Skippy.” She was the kind of person who would take you in or give you the shirt off her back if you were in need, her family said. “If you were fortunate enough to meet her you couldn’t help but love her. She was taken from us too soon and will be more than dearly missed.”
She is survived by her two children, Tamara Brownell of Sitka and Sean Brownell of Haines; six grandchildren, Gregory and Jessica Haag and Leland Shennett of Sitka, and Hali, Neva and Juniper Brownell of Haines; and great-grandkids Rory and Riot of Sitka.
Also surviving are her three brothers, Owen, Kevin and Eric Herzberg of Salem, Ore.; and her daughter’s unofficial big sister, Kim Duffy-Emery of Stayton Ore.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Paralyzed Veterans of America, of which she was a member; or any number of the wildlife/animal organizations. She loved all animals – and any bird who winters over in Sitka knew that Skipper would keep them fed.
“As tears begin to fall and sadness overwhelms, I am suddenly surrounded by a positive and uplifting sense of love and courage. It is a hug from my mom, my best friend,” her daughter said.