Born September 19, 1949, lost at sea in an apparent fishing accident August 2005.
Myron was born in Crookston, MN and his family moved to West Seattle in 1957. He attended local schools, graduating from Chief Sealth High School in 1967. He worked locally at Safeway and enjoyed being a ski instructor at Snoqualmie Pass. He always loved salmon fishing in Puget Sound and steelheading in local rivers. Also during this period Myron was instrumental in introducing sisters, Sue and Janell to their future spouses, Roy Willanger and Tom Neklason, we thank you. Myron was an avid outdoorsman and that led him to Alaska. He first went to Alaska in 1983 as a deckhand for a summer fishing season, returned in 1984 and has lived in Alaska ever since, ending up in King Salmon near Bristol Bay. He took EMT classes at the NakNek Medical Clinic, became certified with advanced cardiac support and served as an ambulance driver there for several years. Generally, Myron was a fisherman during the summer and during the winter led an Alaskan subsistence lifestyle, odd jobs, sports fishing, hunting caribou, rabbits and ptarmigan. He often spent several months in Seattle during the winter visiting his Mom and other relatives. He was a gracious host and fishing guide to visitors, many of us returning to the Lower Forty-eight with coolers of fish. He lived life on his own terms and was a risk taker and was very happy to be skipper on his own boat this year, the Cory B. He was reported missing in the NakNek area of Bristol Bay, Alaska. As of August 23rd, Coast Guard and land searches found no remains.
He was preceded in death by his father Anton and his brother James. He is survived by his mother Eleanor Rapacz, brothers Gary, Ron (Vicki), Tom and Rick, sisters Sue (Roy Willanger, Janell (Tom Neklason), Linda (Andy Pierce) and Christine and numerous nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. We will miss him, our consolation is that he was doing what he loved.
Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Saturday September 24th, 11 a.m. Donations in lieu of flowers to the Seattle Fishermen's Memorial Fund, PO Box 17356, Seattle WA 98127.
Myron, we love you, live free and enjoy the wilderness in the great beyond.
