Jennie Simpson

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Jennie Simpson passed away Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, at Marlow Manor in Anchorage, Alaska.

She was born Sept. 18, 1925, in Detroit, Mich. As a young lady, she was "Rosie the Riveter" on an aircraft assembly line during World War II.

She met her husband Jim Simpson at the Hudson Motorcar Factory. In 1954, they packed their belongings and newborn son into their car and headed for Anchorage, Alaska, where they spent the rest of their lives. She loved the fishing and freedom of Alaska and worked for the federal government until retiring in 1978. In 1985 she started a Popeye's Fried Chicken franchise with her husband and son, and many will remember the little white-haired lady behind the counter every day at the Dimond store.

She is survived by her son, William Simpson of Anchorage; brother, Tony Gervasi of Detroit, Mich.; sister-in-law, Colleen Simpson of Anchorage; brother-in-law, Bobby of Bitely, Mich.; and three sisters-in-law, Kathleen, Marlene and Jeanne of Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, her family asked that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Disease Resource Agency of Alaska, 1750 Abbott Road, Anchorage, Alaska, (907) 561-3313.

Visitation is 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, at Colonial Terrace Funeral Home in Eldorado. Graveside services will follow at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, at Wolf Creek Cemetery with Fr. Ignatius Okonkwo officiating.

Online condolences may be sent to the Internet site www.colonialterracefuneralhome.com.