Family remembers local man killed aboard Katmai
SPANAWAY, Wash. -- Josh Leonguerrero was on his first fishing trip in Alaska when his boat sank, killing him and four of his crew members. But his family says he was a lifelong fisherman, happiest when he was fishing.
"He wanted to do it for the longest time. That's what he kept saying, 'I want to try going to Alaska. I want to try going to Alaska,'" said his mother, Florence Leonguerrero.
The family's home in Spanaway is now a memorial to Josh. Four generations gathered there to honor his memory and his decision to finally go to Alaska.
"His dad said, 'are you sure this is what you want, son?' He looked at his dad with a smile and said. 'Dad, I love you and I got this taken care of,"' said Florence.
But his fiance, Sheree Gardinier, worried about the dangers of the Alaskan fishing grounds.
"No, I told him not to go. But he's always been stubborn, strong-headed," she said.
The 19 year old had fishing in his blood, always heading out with cousins and friends to ply the waters of nearby rivers, lakes and Puget Sound.
All Gardinier now has left of her and Josh's love is his godson, whose middle name is Joshua. Now the couple's September's wedding will never be.
"I have him in my heart...and he'll always be with me," she said.
The family has been reciting nightly rosaries and waiting for word on what happened in those final moments.
"What we know is that there were even people in the life raft and it flipped and it turned over, and only four got back on," said his grief-stricken mother.
Why wasn't Josh able to get back in? While they wait for answers, they cherish their last moments with him.
"He went through the security and looked back at us, and gave the biggest smile," Florence said. "That was the last time I've ever seen him. His smile will always be in my heart, in my every day when I start thinking of him, I can picture that smile when he looked back at me."
"He wanted to do it for the longest time. That's what he kept saying, 'I want to try going to Alaska. I want to try going to Alaska,'" said his mother, Florence Leonguerrero.
The family's home in Spanaway is now a memorial to Josh. Four generations gathered there to honor his memory and his decision to finally go to Alaska.
"His dad said, 'are you sure this is what you want, son?' He looked at his dad with a smile and said. 'Dad, I love you and I got this taken care of,"' said Florence.
But his fiance, Sheree Gardinier, worried about the dangers of the Alaskan fishing grounds.
"No, I told him not to go. But he's always been stubborn, strong-headed," she said.
The 19 year old had fishing in his blood, always heading out with cousins and friends to ply the waters of nearby rivers, lakes and Puget Sound.
All Gardinier now has left of her and Josh's love is his godson, whose middle name is Joshua. Now the couple's September's wedding will never be.
"I have him in my heart...and he'll always be with me," she said.
The family has been reciting nightly rosaries and waiting for word on what happened in those final moments.
"What we know is that there were even people in the life raft and it flipped and it turned over, and only four got back on," said his grief-stricken mother.
Why wasn't Josh able to get back in? While they wait for answers, they cherish their last moments with him.
"He went through the security and looked back at us, and gave the biggest smile," Florence said. "That was the last time I've ever seen him. His smile will always be in my heart, in my every day when I start thinking of him, I can picture that smile when he looked back at me."