Kodiak Couple Is Subject Of Feature
Article In Wichita, Kansas, Newspaper
Editor’s Note: The Wichita
Eagle Sunday edition recently
carried a detailed feature story
on Mr. and Mrs. Robert O. Chris
toffersen, formerly of Kodiak
who recently moved to Kansas.
In addition to the story which
follows, there was a two-column
picture of the couple with Mrs.
Christoffersen dressed in a parka
made of rabbit fur and trimmed
in fox fur.
The story which was head
lined: “Man of Many Jobs—Ko
diak Island Native Longs for Old
Haunts” follows:
Canning king crab, salmon fish
ing, police work, servicing auto
mobiles and apprentice works as a
shipwright all have been part of
the career of Robert O. Christoffer
sen, 335 N. Topeka, a native of Ko
diak Island, Alaska.
me 25-year-oid tiskimo nas
launched into still another occupa
tion since marrying the former
Edith Shultz of Wichita. He in
stalls and ships auto glass at Pitts
burgh Plate Glass Co., 245 N. Wa
ter, where he was employed shortly
after coming here from the city of
Kodiak last May.
The son of a Kodiak salmon fish
erman, Christoffersen went to
work at the age of 15 for a king
crab cannery in Kodiak, where
giant crabs up to six feet in di
ameter and 26 pounds are proc
essed. It was Christoffersen’s job
to pull the gills of the huge crabs
and help cook them.
In the summer when the crab in
dustry fell off the firm made its
annual switch to salmon fishing
and canning. Christoffersen made
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the transition easily, having fished
for salmon with his father siftce
the age of 11.
Salmon fishing consists of drop
ping a seine or net supported by
cork floats in a large perimeter
around the ship, and drawing the
bottom of the seine together “like
the drawstring of a purse’’ to trap
the catch, Christoffersen ex
plained.
The island currently is having
what may be its best salmon sea
son, the young Eskimo related with
a slight twinge of regret at missing
out on the lucrative venture.
Served With Marines
In 1954 Christoffersen entered
the Marine Corps, serving four
years, including two in Japan. He
returned to Kodiak for a summer
of fishing with his father before
going to work for an automotive
garage there.
Later he joined the Kodiak po
lice department, working as a desk
officer and gaining a knowledge of
booking, finger-printing, police
photography, dispatching and
other phases of police work.
He returned to commercial fish
ing in 1960 and for a short time
was an apprentice shipwright, re
pairing fishing boats for a marine
repair firm.
Married in 1960
Christoffersen was married in
1960. He met Edith when she came
to Alaska on a trip with relatives.
The couple decided this year to
return to Mrs. Christoffersen’s
hometown.
The Alaskan first tried to obtain
employment in the police depart
ment here, but is not tall enough
to qualify.
Christoffersen said Kansas win
ters are more severe than those in
Kodiak, explaining that the Japa
nese current warms the southern
coast of Alaska in the winter.
He has found wages lower in
Wichita but also prices. A loaf of
bread in Kodiak costs 60 cents and
a dozen eggs $1.10. On the other
hand a service station attendant in
Kodiak earns $2.25 an hour, Chris
toffersen added.
He said it is possible to save a
little more money in Kodiak.
Christoffersen said Alaskans are
much friendlier than Kansans, add
ing that even the poorest natives
are willing to give “the shirt off
their back to help someone out.”
How did the island react to state
hood? Most of the natives favored
the idea, Christoffersen said, but
a few of the older residents re
sented the white man and many of
the restrictions, such as game and
hunting laws, which were imposed.
Christoffersen hopes to return to
the island sometime to participate
in the fishing season, but is more
intent on going to a technical
school in Dallas to take a one-year
electronics course.
Anchorage Site
Of Underwriters
Recent Meeting
Approximately 150 members of
the Alaska State Underwriters’ As
sociation attended the state con
vention in Anchorage recently, ac
cording to George Cornelius of Ko
diak who was present at the three
day meet with the theme of “Nic
kles Make Dollars.”
New state president is Tom Fink
of Anchorage, general agent for
Pacific National Insurance, while
Forrest McConnell, also of Anchor
age, underwriter for Western l^ife
Insurance was named regional
president.
Cornelius is a representative
lor both life-insurance companies'.
Five From Here
At Legion Meet
Five Kodiakans are in attend
ance at the 43rd annual convention
of the Alaska Department of the
American Legion and Auxiliary
which opened Wednesday in Cor
dova.
The quintet, including Rear
Admiral F. E. Bakutis, Commander
R. K. Stacer of the Navy Base,
George Cornelius, Carl Rodli and
Henry White.
AT CENTURY 21
Kodiak residents visiting Cen
tury 21 at Seattle the latter part of
July include Ben and Hazel
Grdinger on July 25 and Nelda
Stone on July 26.
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0 Entered Navy as seaman; retired with rank of Lieutenant Commander
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