William Howard Ahrensfeld, an Alaskan for 65 years, died Dec. 29, 2015, at the Sitka Pioneers Home. He was 88 years old.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Bill was born Nov. 19,1927, in the Bronx, New York City, the son of William and Teresa (Klumpp) Ahrensfeld. Bill grew up in the Bronx, and worked for a time for a sailmaker in City Island, N.Y.
He served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Philippines after World War II, and then headed West. In Seattle he worked for Boeing for a short time, until he saw an ad for an airplane mechanic with Alaska Coastal in Juneau; he was hired immediately.
On June 2, 1951, he and Gloria Saari-Maki were married in Skagway, which they had visited several times.
Bill was an aircraft mechanic for Alaska Coastal Ellis Airlines and then for 42 years for Alaska Airlines, retiring in 1992. He instilled the value of hard work.
He and Gloria built a log cabin in Atlin, B.C., and visited it frequently while living in Juneau.
Bill enjoyed dancing and listening to music, and building and flying airplanes, including an Aeronca Sedan and a Piper Super Cub.
In Juneau, Bill was a member of the Elks Lodge, the Eagles, the Moose Lodge and the Pioneers of Alaska.
Bill is survived by his wife, Gloria, of Sitka; daughter Kayla and her husband Jay Wyatt and their two children of Juneau; son Kurt and his wife, Mary Ahrensfeld and their three children of Seattle; grandchildren Orion, Brianne, Willow, Fisher and Bonnie; and great-grandchildren Summer, Kaia and Solstice.
The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Sitka Pioneers Home, 120 Katlian St., Sitka, AK 99835.
