Ira Downs Pederson
The Pederson Family announces the passing of our brother and uncle, Ira Downs Pederson.
Ira was born in Nome, Alaska to Kitty and Steve Pederson of Council, Alaska and was the youngest of 11 children.
He grew up on the family gold mine at Ophir Creek near Council, Alaska.
Ira was part of the family crew that operated the bucket line gold dredge as Nugget Mining Company from 1958 – 1984.
Ira was a survivor. In the early 1980’s, Ira was travelling by snowmachine in the Council area, when his snowmachine broke down in a severe blizzard. Ira was able to walk to White Mountain and survived, however, not without freezing his feet and losing some of his extremities.
Ira and his brother Mathias lived at Ophir Creek near Council, Alaska from 1984 – 1994. At which time Ira moved to White Mountain and Mathias to Nome.
Ira moved to Nome in 2021 to live and travelled to Trapper Creek and back to Nome before his passing.
From a young age Ira learned to hunt, fish, and gather to support the family. Ira was an avid hunter and grew fond of firearms. Firearms became his lifelong passion. Ira was known for his gunsmithing and reloading.
Ira was preceded in death by his sibling’s baby Theresa, Isaac, and Florence Pederson of Council, Alaska and his parents Kitty Jackson Pederson of Noorvik/Council, Alaska and Steve Pederson of Council, Alaska.
Ira was survived by his siblings June (Franz) Kugelmann of Juneau, Mathias Pederson of Nome, Annie Bailey of Fairbanks, Theresa Szafran of Anchorage, Ray Pederson of Nome, Evelyn Pederson of Anchorage, Maureen (Cliff McHenry) Pederson of Nome and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ira had many friends and relatives that helped him through the years. The Adams, Agloinga, Ashenfelter, Buck, Lincoln, and Morris families in White Mountain, our Cousin Sally Agloinga and many others.
The Pederson family thanks all who helped Ira over the years. The family plans to have a memorial service at Camp Bendeleben in Council on September 20, 2025 at 2 p.m., with a burial service to follow.