December 17, 1959 – July 10, 2026
There are people whose lives are defined not by the attention they seek, but by the quiet and lasting difference they make in the lives of others. Perry Joel Broschat was one of those people. Through his patience, humility, generous spirit, and unwavering dedication to his family, friends, and work, he left an imprint on countless lives that will never be forgotten.
Perry passed away on July 10, 2026, at the age of 66, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, quiet strength, and a life devoted to learning, teaching, and serving others.
Perry was born on December 17, 1959, in Dickinson, North Dakota, to James A. and Doris (Helm) Broschat. When Perry was three years old, his father, James (Jim) Broschat, moved the family north to Alaska, where he became Principal of Sitka High School in 1964 and retired in 1984. Sitka quickly became home, and it was here that Perry spent his childhood, attending school from kindergarten through graduation. He graduated from Sitka High School with the Class of 1978.
Perry’s childhood was spent in a Sitka that was alive with opportunity, adventure, and a strong sense of community. He loved basketball from an early age and always seemed to have a ball in one hand or was riding his bike through the neighborhood with friends. As Sitka’s logging, timber, and commercial fishing industries flourished, so did the spirit of the community that surrounded him. Growing up in that environment instilled in Perry a deep appreciation for hard work, humility, and the people who built their lives in Southeast Alaska. Those values stayed with him throughout his life and were reflected in the quiet way he lived, worked, and cared for others.
After graduating from high school, Perry began working as a choker setter for Gerry of Larabee Logging Company. He often spoke with gratitude about that experience, recalling the early mornings, the physical demands of the work, and the pride he felt earning his own way through college. It was hard work, but it was work he genuinely enjoyed.
In the fall of 1978, Perry attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo. While earning his degree, he embraced every opportunity the islands had to offer, creating lifelong friendships and memories along the way. He graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and a minor in Computer Science. His love of learning never faded, and in 1989 he earned his State of Alaska Secondary Teaching Certification. Teaching came naturally to Perry. He had an incredible ability to explain things with patience, kindness, and encouragement, and he found genuine joy in helping young people learn. Over the years, countless employees benefited from his willingness to slow down, answer questions, and share what he knew. He never sought credit for those moments, but many carried the lessons he taught and the confidence he helped build—long after they left his side.
In the summer of 1983, Melissa came to Sitka to work at Sitka Sound Seafoods, where she packed salmon roe for the Japanese market, work she had learned growing up in Petersburg. Although Perry recognized Melissa from the longtime Sitka–Petersburg basketball rivalry, it was their mutual friend Tommy Thompson Jr. who formally introduced them. What began as a simple introduction soon grew into a friendship, and before long it became a love story that would span more than four decades.
What Melissa thought would be one summer in Sitka became a lifetime. Perry proposed to her the following summer, in 1984, and they were married in 1985. Together they built a life rooted in love, commitment, laughter, and unwavering devotion to one another. Their son, Andrew, was born in 1986, followed by their daughter, Alexandra, in 1991. Family became the heart of Perry’s life, and there was nothing that brought him greater joy than the people he loved most.
In 1984, Perry began what would become a 24-year career with Alaska Airlines as a Lead Ramp Agent at the Sitka Airport Station. Then, in 1994, Melissa founded Highliner Coffee Co., and Perry became her partner in every sense of the word. Together they built not only a successful business, but a place that became woven into the fabric of the Sitka community.
Perry had an analytical mind and an extraordinary ability to understand how things worked. Whether he was installing new equipment, solving a mechanical problem, creating more efficient systems, or mastering a new skill, he approached every challenge with patience and determination. He had a gift for breaking down complex ideas and sharing them in a way that made others feel capable. His quiet leadership and willingness to teach shaped not only the success of the business, but also the confidence of the many young people who worked alongside him.
Those who knew Perry will remember his quiet steadiness, gentle nature, and generous heart. He listened more than he spoke, treated everyone with kindness and respect, and had a remarkable ability to make people feel valued. His humility, patience, and quiet confidence left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him. His legacy lives on not only in the business he helped build or the work he accomplished, but in the countless people whose lives were made better because he took the time to teach, encourage, and believe in them.
He was preceded in death by his father, James. A Broschat and brothers, Carey and Rick Broschat. He is survived by his loving wife, Melissa Thorsen-Broschat; his son, Andrew, daughter-in-law Elle, and his beloved grandchildren, Trygve, Chloe, and Elsie Broschat; his daughter, Alexandra Broschat; his mother, Doris Broschat; his brother, Brad Broschat and wife Janine, and his sister, Janae (Broschat) Rodriguez and her husband, Randy; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends whose lives were made richer by knowing him.
A celebration of Perry’s life will be held in Mesa, Arizona, later this fall. The Broschat family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the many friends in Sitka who have shared their love, support, and memories during this difficult time. Your kindness, compassion, and friendship have brought immeasurable comfort and will never be forgotten.
---Written by the Family of Perry Broschat
