Influential NSSA Members

LARRY TRENT DOGGETT

May 7, 1953 – December 16, 2017 Age 64

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of a long-time member of the NSSA. Larry began fishing for steelhead with Ron who invited his life long friend to join him one spring about 25 years ago. Larry took the challenge and became a very proficient steelheader spending every spring in his camper trailer at the Cypress River. Crazy Harry’s campground will not be the same without Larry being there to organize the camp fire and to have a brew with anyone who stopped in for conversation or a scouting report.

Larry joined the NSSA around 1980 and within a few years became a member of the Executive. Larry volunteered his time to various projects and eventually became involved with the dinner auction committee leading the ticket sales and organizing the silent auction. This is the role that Larry took on with an unmatched passion, committing many hours in order to help raise the event to what it has become now, a first-class event.

For many years all of the prize items and auction items collected for the dinner event were stored at Larry’s house, filling many of his rooms. The NSSA also owes a huge thank you to his wife Marj and his family for their support as they worked along side Larry every step of the way.

Larry was a man of few word but deep emotions. His passions were fishing and hunting, of which he never tired. He loved to fish but his favourite time of the year was the fall, especially being in the bush waiting for the opening of moose season. He was a long time member, a willing volunteer, and a cornerstone of the North Shore Steelhead Association's Dinner Auction.

Larry started his working career in 1972 for Great Lakes Paper loading boats with paper rolls. He retired from Abitibi-Bowater in 2010 as Maintenance Superintendent. Larry always had a project on the go and even more so after retirement.

Family always came first with Larry. His real pride and joy were his children and grandchildren. Dad/Papa spent many hours taking them fishing and showing them his special techniques. Papa and the grandchildren always thought their days should start with a healthy helping of Jube Jubes. Papa had very few rules for the kids and when Papa babysat you never knew what you were coming home to. It was all about having fun.

Larry leaves his wife Marjorie of 44 years, 2 children James (Kristine, Laura, Briley) and Tammy Nylund (Rob, Angelina, Logan); Mom Anne (Celko); sister Leslie Newbold (Bill, Deryld, Tina, Cameron, Preston; Kelly, Quinton, Jase, Levi); brothers Robert (Heli, Shayleen, Kevin, Madison, Robby); Jimmy (Margaret, Jason, Travis, Marilyn); father-in-law James Hamill, sisters-in-law Sherry Hamill; Jane Attridge (Ken Myja, Josh, Brooklynne, Makenna); many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Larry was predeceased by his Dad (Leslie William); mother-in-law (Winona Hamill); Baba and Gigi (Tekla and Steve Celko); Granma and Granpa (Edith and Samuel Doggett).

Lorne Joseph Wilfred Allard

April 20, 1932- Jan 13, 2016

As an adolescent, Lorne established a reputation as a top athlete in hockey, boxing, track and field, baseball, football, and soccer. His most loved sport was hockey, and he started his career playing for the Port Arthur juniors. He devoted 42 years of his life to promoting this love of sports, as a hockey coach, manager, executive and fundraiser, and was involved in football clubs, baseball leagues, boxing clubs, and the track and field club.

Away from the world of competitive sports, Lorne became an avid photographer and outdoorsman. He was able to combine these two passions when he opened Lorne's Cameras and Fishing Tackle Ltd. in Thunder Bay. His love for the outdoors led to involvement with various conservation projects, associations, and councils, and was a founding member of the North Shore Steelhead Association.

Lorne was dedicated to bringing the community together which, thanks to his positive energy and great sense of humour, proved to be natural to him. His passion for the community started with the Hill City Kinsmen. During his lifetime, he played a key role in jumpstarting many community projects: Castlegreen Community Centre, County Park and Kinsmen Northwood Park recreations centres, and the Port Arthur National Little League Baseball Centre at George Burke Park.

In addition, he volunteered in the construction of the Kiwanis Island - Centennial Park and Trowbridge Park projects. His positive impact on his community was clear when Lorne became Alderman for the Red River Ward in 1991.

His accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. Lorne was the recipient of many awards: the Royal Canadian Legion's George Rowe Memorial Award, an Ontario Bicentennial Award, the Alex Ross Member Award from the Hill City Kinsmen. He was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1984, and in 2011 the City of Thunder Bay recognized him with a Citizen of Exceptional Achievement Award.

Lorne loved his family time with his wife Jean, his kids and grandkids at the Stewart Lake family camp. His spirit will be there with them always.

The North Shore Steelhead Association has always recognized Lorne as the 'father figure' of the NSSA. His influence, inspiration and contribution reach deeply into our Association.

He will be missed on the river and will forever remain in our hearts.

Alvin Rissanen

1941 – Dec 22, 2012

Our fishing fraternity has lost a good friend and long time supporter of the NSSA, Alvin Rissanen.

Alvin spent any free time he had at his Surprise Lake camp and looked forward to his annual steelhead fishing trips up the north shore. He was an avid fisherman who never missed an opportunity to wet a line. Alvin served in many capacities with the North Shore Steelhead Association. In the early years he worked on the Upwelling Box projects, fry transfers, and stream improvement projects. He is best remembered for his 20 plus years of service with the Dinner Auction committee and the running of the “back room”. Alvin always knew the numbers. Alvin’s family, wife Joan and children Karen, Wendy, and Kevin all worked on the Dinner Auction as ticket sellers and set up. Good friends are hard to find. Great volunteers are even harder to find and loose. Alvin will be missed and in our thoughts. We hope he’s on the ultimate steelhead run ...a reward for his time with us.

JOE KOSTREBA

1938 - Oct 24, 2014

George “Joe” Kostreba Jr., age 76 years, passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Joe was one of the founding members of the NSSA and played an influential part in the early years of the Association, serving on the inaugural 1974 Executive.

George was a passionate fisherman and avid hunter. He often returned home after an evening playing with the band, caught a few hours of sleep and would be on the river or in the duck blind at sunrise. His favorite fishing hole was found on the Black Sturgeon River, where numerous trophy rainbow trout were caught. When fall time arrived, George turned his attention to hunting, where many mornings were spent in the duck blinds at Black Bay on Lake Superior.

George was an accomplished musician. He was a well-known fixture in the Thunder Bay music scene and played in a variety of bands for nearly 40 years. He was a talented violinist and bass guitarist who achieved numerous awards and accolades throughout his playing career. George had a successful career in the heavy equipment business that spanned nearly 40 years, working with W.H. Marr, Forano and International Harvester.

George was married for 53 years to his beloved wife Dorothy. He was a great father, was actively involved in the lives of his three children, and shared in their successes. He enjoyed time with his five grandchildren, and took pride in watching them grow.

Missed but not forgotten.

CEDRIC KNUCKEY

Age 69 of Inver Grove Heights Minnesota USA

Passed away peacefully on July 21, 2018. Preceded in death by parents, Richard & Hilda. Survived by loving wife of 30 years, Diane; step children, Gregory (Joanne Lund) Mitcheltree & Richard Mitcheltree; daughter-in-law, Kyla Mitcheltree; grandchildren, Patrick, Ricky, Kace, Samantha & Connor; 2 great-grandchildren; brothers, Jim (Dorothy) & John (sue); several nieces, nephews and friends. Cedric was a master fishing rod maker and avid outdoors-man who loved to hunt and fish. Cedric was a long time member and supporter of the NSSA whose donations of hand crafted fishing rods were cherished by those who were fortunate enough to acquire one at our annual fundraising dinner and auction. Thank you for your support RIP.

Norman "Butch" Stieh

Butch Stieh, age 79 years, passed away peacefully in St. Joseph's Hospice on Friday, November 9, 2018. Born in Fort William on June 6, 1939 to his parents George and Dorothy Stieh. An auto mechanic for most of his life, he got his license in 1969 at Jack Cryderman's Esso. Butch also liked working at Thunder Bay Volkswagen. In his final years, he also enjoyed delivering the Chronicle Journal on route #17 out towards the border. A member of Riverview Raceways for its life span, a member of the Salmon Association and the North Shore Steelhead Association. He also enjoyed fishing and was a familiar face at McVicars Creek every spring and fall.

Survived by: his wife Lil Stieh (nee Jacobson) for 60 years; children: Colin (Tracy), Kevin (Joanne), Colette and Kelley all of Thunder Bay; grandchildren: Curtis (Kat), Krissie (Paul) Nykyforchyn and Matthew, Ryan and Jenny Makinen; great-grandchildren Connor, Colton, Lilly and Mckenna; brother George (Emilee) and sister Georgina. Ryan Slobojan also survives.

Norm became a avid steelhead angler in his later years and became highly instrumental in the collection of scale samples from Rainbow Trout from local rivers and in particular his favorite haunt McVicars Creek. Thanks to Norm and his brother George they collected hundreds of samples which allowed for an accurate population estimate to be calculated. Well done Norm!

Ron Korkola

Oct 18 1960 -December 30 2018

It is with profound sadness that the family of Ron Korkola announce his sudden passing on Sunday December 30, 2018, of a heart attack. He was 58 years old.

Ron was born on October 18, 1960 in Port Arthur ON to Ron and Rose Ann Korkola (nee Racic). He attended schools in his hometown of Thunder Bay ON and graduated from Lakehead University with a BSc in Chemistry. He began his career with Ontario Power Generation over 30 years ago, starting at the Nuclear Generating Station in Pickering ON eventually returning to Thunder Bay to work at the coal generating station and then the HydroElectric Control Room. Ron thrived on the high level of responsibility and expertise required to work with OPG, especially that required at the nuclear generating station. Ron firmly believed that any job worth doing, was worth doing well. In Ron’s words, “Perfect is good enough”. Having said that, he was very much looking forward to his retirement later this month.

Passionate about the outdoors, Ron always said time spent in the wilderness was good for his soul. He loved Northwestern Ontario and enjoyed exploring its many lakes and rivers. He was an avid angler and enjoyed sharing his fishing trips with good friends and family. Ron always took care of those in his boat first and made sure they were on fish before he dropped his line. He was a long-standing member and director of the North Shore Steelhead Association.

Ron was always active and maintained an exceptional level of physical fitness. He earned his black belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 47, crediting the martial arts for instilling in him the discipline to stay fit. He skied and played hockey throughout his life. Ron loved the mountains. He enjoyed annual ski vacations for more than 25 years, going on his own if friend, family or acquaintance were not available to travel with him. Without fail he made a friend on the hill. His friends and family have so many wonderful memories of time together on the mountains. Angela, Evan, Danielle and Ron were blessed with a day together as a family at Loch Lomond two days prior to his passing. Evan, Danielle and Ron managed to rip the Jolly Giant that day. Ron loved both watching and playing hockey and was fortunate play regularly until the Christmas break. The hockey guys were a second family to him.

Ron loved to travel and was looking forward to his retirement so that he and Angela could explore the world together. As an expression of his love and pride for his stepchildren, he had promised them he would take them each on a trip of a lifetime when they graduated from university. He was in the process of booking a ski vacation to Japan with Evan to celebrate Evan’s recent graduation from engineering.

He was a man of integrity and honesty, and valued hard work and striving for something worthwhile. He was the ultimate pragmatist. He had a deep appreciation for friendship, and he had many friends, young and old and in-between. They will miss his friendship, wit and off-beat sense of humour. He was a wonderful teacher and has had a huge impact on Evan and Danielle.

Finally, and most importantly, Ron will be remembered by loved ones as the consummate family man. He and Angela came together 15 years ago…they always joked it was their destiny. He was a loving partner and an amazing stepfather to Evan and Danielle. He loved his family more than anything. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to take care of them. His love and care extended to his mom and stepdad, sister and brother and their extended families as well as Angela’s family.

Ron will be forever loved and missed by his spouse, Angela Saunders, stepchildren Evan and Danielle, his mother Rose Ann Korkola and stepfather Marty Pantoulias, sister Lori (Bruce Van Nus), brother Jeff (Sandy), niece and nephew Olivia and Jesse Korkola, parents-in-law Reg and Delores Arnberg, sister-in-law Debbie (Michael) Bemben, as well as loving aunts Ruth and Anna Racic, and Kay Suligoj, and many cousins. Ron will be missed by his loyal companion, Mya. They spent many hours hiking up Mount McRae together.

He is predeceased by his father Ronald O Korkola, grandparents Nick and Mary Racic and Otto and Laura Korkola, as well as beloved uncles Martin and George Racic, Stan Suligoj, Ken Korkola and cousin Doug Racic.

Ron is so loved and will be so missed by his family, friends and community. In his honour, please go out and enjoy the outdoors with someone you love.