L ong-term Alaskan res- ident, Leland Arthur Clune, 78, died Sept. 9 at Alaska Regional Hospital following a heart attack at his home in Anchorage, where he was surrounded by loved ones. Lee was born Jan. 7, 1946, in
U ldis “Jake” Jansons moved on to that last outcrop in the sky on May 30, 2024. He was born to Drs. Voldemars and Milda Dolfijs Jansons on Feb. 10, 1940 in Jelgava, Latvia. Jake completed his ear- ly education in Germany,
Lee Clune Jan. 7, 1946 - Sept. 9, 2024 IN MEMORIAM
Uldis 'Jake' Jansons Feb. 10, 1940 - May 30, 2024 IN MEMORIAM
ploration Geologist for Cyprus Anvil Mining Corporation from 1971-76. He joined the U.S. Bureau of Mines in An- chorage in 1976 where he was a Supervisory Physical Scientist. During his role with the Bureau, he played an integral role in super- vising a series of mineral resource assess- ments as mandated by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and Alaska National Interest Land Claims Act (ANILCA). He participated in some of the first miner- al resource studies of the National Petro- leum Reserve-Alaska. Fieldwork by Jake resulted in the discovery of an extensive belt of lead/zinc-bearing rocks along the north flank of the Alaskan Brooks Range. He also recognized the significance of the Red Dog discovery which would become one of the world’s major zinc mines. Jake was transferred to the Denver office of the Bureau of Mines in 1984 where he was chief Branch of Mineral Land Assess- ment verifying the mineral resources of 33 states until retirement in 1996. Jake leaves behind his wife, Carol, and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, neph- ew Pete Jansons, and brother, Dr. Peteris Jansons.
“The team at Alaska Resource Educa- tion and all our resource industries were sad to hear of the recent passing of Lee Clune, previous executive director of ARE (at that time known as the Alaska Miner- al and Energy Resource Education Fund). During his career, Lee worked towards the development and expansion of pre- paring Alaska K-12 students for the world of work. “ During his career, Lee had many ac- complishments, but most notable is his contribution to the Molly Hootch case and devotion to expanding educa- tion throughout Alaska. In 2007, Lee was flown to Juneau, Alaska where he was bestowed as an honorary member of the Alaska Association of School Administra- tors for his exemplary service as Super- intendent. Lee is survived by his wife Debra Clune of Anchorage, Alaska, son and daughter-in- law, Dean and Kellie Clune of Chicago, Il- linois, daughter and son-in-law, Rochelle and Chris Liedike of Anchorage, Alaska, and his five grandchildren and their sig- nificant others.
Fitchburg and Chelsea, Mass., graduating in Queens, New York. He spent his college summers working as a minerals sampler in Ontario and Nova Scotia, obtaining his B.S. in geology at St. Lawrence University, Can- ton, NY. He obtained his master’s degree at the University of Montana, Missoula in 1963. While completing his thesis on the New World Mining District near Cook City, Mon- tana, he worked summers for Bear Creek Exploration Company. It was at Cook City that he met his future wife and soul- mate Carol J. Nott on a blind date. They were married Feb. 5, 1966, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Continuing his education, Jake worked at the Laboratory of Isotope Ge- ology at the University of Utah, obtaining his Ph.D. in Geological Engineering in 1971. Jake and Carol moved to Faro, Yukon Ter- ritory, Canada where Jake was Chief Ex-
St. Paul, Minnesota, to Jeanette and Arthur Clune. He first moved to Alaska at three months of age, on an Alaska Airlines flight piloted by his dad, He lived in Alaska until he was six. He attended schools in Idaho, Oregon and graduated from Sammamish High School in Washington in 1964. Lee married the love of his life, Debbie Kersey in 1966 in Fruitland, Idaho. Lee was a member of the Army National Guard in Washington and Idaho until honorably discharged in 1968. He graduated from Boise State University in 1972, earned his Master of Education at the University of Alaska in 1975, and worked on obtaining his doctorates in Hawaii. The staff of Alaska Resource Education shared their thoughts on Lee’s early work in resource education here.
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Fall 2024 Volume 52, Number 10 Online: AlaskaMiners.org The official magazine of the Alaska Miners Association and the mining industry in Alaska
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