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In Memoriam.

706 views 0 replies 1 participant last post by  Bob Triggs 
#1 ·
Iliamna and Anchorage resident Arthur "Ted" Edwin Gerken age, 69, died October 9th, 2003, at home while surrounded by family and friends.

A memorial service was held oct 12th in Anchorage.

Mr Gerken was born January 15, 1934 in Seacliff, Long Island, New York.

In 1972 he moved to Alaska, where he and his wife, Mary,
purchased Iliaska Lodge in 1977 and ran it to the present day.

Mr Gerken was a U.S. Coast Guard career officer; he rose to the rank of Commander before retirement in 1975. He held two college degrees in engineering, was a commercial pilot, master fly fishing guide and author of two books and numerous articles.

His family wrote: "Ted spent his happiest moments outdoors, especially when shared with family, friends and his bird dog. An extroadinary man, he is remembered by hundreds of friends and his loving family."

Survivors include his wife, Mary of Anchorage; sister Jane Lenhardt of Calgary, Alberta; sons, William and David; daughters, Elizabeth and Angela of Anchorage; daughter-in-law Lani of Anchorage; and grandchildren, Jennifer, Travis, Tommy, Patrick, Courtney, Annika and Colten of Anchorage.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret Adelaide Ryer and Alfred Ferdinand Gerken; sister, Ann Marion Silleck; and son, Thomas Edwin gerken.

The family requests that memorial donations be sent to the Hospice of Anchorage or to the American cancer Society.

The above obituary was excerpted fromn the Anchorage Daily News 10/11/03 (www.adn.com/obituaries/

Ted Gerken was really the consummate ethical sportsman and a true gentleman. I was very fortunate to work for Iliaska Lodge in the summer guiding season of 2000. Ted was a pioneer of Alaska fly fishing. Any one who had the opportunity to fly out to one of Ted's rivers,in his beautiful De Havilland Beavers on floats, and to fish with him, was truly fortunate. Working at Iliaska that year was one of the high-points of my outdoors career. And getting to know Ted Gerken was one of the luckiest events in my life. You could not spend that much time around the man and not be changed for the better.

Ted made an enormous contribution to our modern fly fishing lives in Alaska and was one of the very few lodge owners who insisted upon catch and release fly fishing only.He set a standard for service and integrity that endures.
 
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