With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Sloan Therese Von Gunten of Palmer, AK.
A life is more than dates on a stone; here is a small portion of her story.
Memory has a way of softening time.
Sloan Therese Von Gunten, age 49, a lifelong resident of Palmer, Alaska, went home to be with Jesus on Sunday, May 3, 2026. A woman of immense talent and a servant's heart, Sloan leaves behind a legacy written in music and a lifetime of dedicated service to her community.
A Life of Music
Sloan's musical journey began at the age of five with her first piano lessons. What started as a childhood interest grew into a lifelong mastery; she eventually learned to play over 36 different instruments, with a particular love for the tenor saxophone and piano.
A graduate of Palmer High School and Pensacola Christian College, where she earned her degree in Music, Sloan's life was a symphony of performance and education. She lent her talents to Palmer High musicals, PCC ensembles, and various orchestras and bands. She was a fixture in the local music scene, performing for churches and weddings. Since 2015, she was a dedicated member of the Mat-Su Concert Band, where she also served as a board member and the music librarian starting in 2022. For over 22 years, Sloan shared her passion as a full-time private music instructor, inspiring generations of students to find their own voices through music.
Service to Alaska
While music was her passion, service was her calling. Sloan was a retired firefighter and rescue technician, roles that reflected her courage and strength. For over 15 years, she served the Matanuska-Susitna Borough planning department as a Platting Administrative Specialist within the Platting Division. Whether she was responding to an emergency in the field or helping shape the growth of the Valley from her desk, Sloan's career was a testament to her quiet strength and her unwavering dedication to the community.
Faith and Family
Sloan's life was anchored by her love for Jesus. For many years, from her youth through her 30s, she served as the pianist for Pioneer Peak Church, using her gift to lead the congregation in worship.
Sloan was the family's source of laughter from a very young age, bringing joy to her household with a unique language (Sloanish) all her own that left everyone lovingly trying to decipher her secret world. This playful spirit blossomed into a lifelong wit; she delighted in crafting her own original jokes, always eager to share a punchline and a laugh with those she held dear.
When she wasn't making music, Sloan cherished spending time with her best friend, Cori Crutchfield, finding joy in shopping, crafting, and vacationing together. She also poured her creative spirit into handcrafted keepsakes, especially the countless crocheted gifts she lovingly created for her many nieces and nephews. Every stitch she cast and every joke she shared was a testament to the deep, creative love she poured into her family.
She is survived by her mother, Kathryn Von Gunten; her siblings, Marie (Doug) Roth, Coburn (Scarlett) Von Gunten, and Brian (Jodi) Von Gunten; and a large, loving extended family. Sloan was a cherished aunt to McKenna (Andrew), Morgan, Cade (Annie), Katie (Tim), Lucas (Macey), Kohler, Coburn, Hayden, Elijah, Clayton, Kaleb, Jude, and Brinley, and a proud great-aunt to Abigail, Whittaker, and three more on the way.
Service Information
A celebration of life will be held at Lazy Mountain Bible Church on Saturday, May 9. Visitation begins at 10:00 AM, followed by the service at 11:00 AM and a potluck afterwards. A graveside service will be held at 2:30 PM at the Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mat-Su Concert Band. matsuconcertband.org
"The Lord is my strength and my song." - Isaiah 12:2
