Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

Robert “Bob” Holmstrand died Feb. 27. He was 89.

Fishermen remember Holmstrand as owner and captain of the salmon tenders Southland and Frigidland during the 1970s and 1980s.

Fisherman Karl Johnson of Haines said Holmstrand spent much of the gillnet season in local waters. Holmstrand and wife Ann were regulars at the annual Fisherman’s Ball in Haines.

Holmstrand was born in San Rafael, Calif., on Aug. 29, 1923 to Swedish immigrants Victor and Karin Holmstrand. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war he worked as a salesman and real estate agent, living in Homer and Seward as a commercial fisherman.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Eugene “Gene” Holmstrand. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Ann; children Dave Johnson of Bainbridge Island, Wash., Connie Ketter of Randsburg, Calif., Russ Smoot of Spokane, Wash. and Chuck Swatek of Snellville, Ga., seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.