‘See you on down the trail’

WASILLA — A memorial for Mat-Su Borough Mayor Curt Menard turned into a celebration.

Nearly 2,000 people packed into the Wasilla High School gymnasium Saturday afternoon to say goodbye to the longtime Valley dentist and public servant.

For almost three hours, family, friends and hundreds of others touched by Menard’s life in the Valley wept, sang and shared memories of the 64-year-old man who lost a five-year battle with cancer Tuesday. Mostly, however, they laughed. Prevalent among the eight eulogies was Menard’s zest for life and his infectious, albeit sometimes quirky, sense of humor.

Attorney Wayne Ross was a longtime friend and had those gathered laughing as he recounted their failed attempt to become cattle ranchers.

One year, Ross said, they bought two calves and feed and Menard housed the cattle in his barn. The plan was to raise them up then slaughter them for meat.

One day Ross received a phone call from Menard.

“’Your cow has escaped,’ he said,” Ross recalled. “How Curt decided the missing cow was mine and not his ...”

Pouring a little more salt in the wound, Ross said that after Menard lost his right hand, he would practice dentistry on his friends and family to become proficient with his left.

“But he sent a bill as if he were a two-armed dentist,” Ross said.

Gov. Sarah Palin spoke more about the man she grew up with knowing as a dentist and family friend.

“We are all better people having known Dr. Menard. We should’ve told him that.”

Although Menard, who was also a former school board member and state representative, was “a great public servant,” Palin said “the stuff that really matters (is) not the political stuff. He had a healthy annoyance for traditional politics.”

Menard’s pleasant attitude and humor came through for his patients, Palin said. She recalled sitting in his dental chair as a child.

“Even if our first encounters with him were in his dental chair under his drill — under his hook and drill — if was better than any of that happy gas he hooked up to our noses.”

HIS FRIENDS

Chuck Health was a longtime friend and hunting buddy of Menard.

Heath recalled the circumstances of his introduction to Curt Menard some 37 years ago.

Heath was a school teacher and Menard’s son Bob was in his class. One day, Heath said,  Bob and another student decided to have a tug-of-war with the classroom pet, a 9-foot boa constrictor. Well, the child pulling on the head end of the snake let go and the constrictor bit Bob.

“How do you tell a guy, ‘Hey, your son got bit by a snake?’” Heath said. “He was always a step ahead of me.”

On their hunting trips, Heath said they would often place a $5 bet on who would bag the biggest target.

Telling that story is when Heath choked up.

“Last night I paid Curt when I said goodbye to my friend. I put $5 in his hand.”

HIS FAMILY

Along with the prevalent theme of Menard’s passion for service and life was also the faith that Menard is now with his son, Curtis C. Menard II, who died in a 2001 plane crash.

Curtis C. Menard’s wife, Carole Menard, shared a letter she wrote to her father-in-law, whom she affectionately called “Grandpa.” In the letter, she recalls her first meeting with the elder Menard after becoming engaged. She said she was nervous and wanted to make a good impression. She even practiced shaking hands with her left hand.

“As soon as you saw me, you walked right to me and gave me a big hug,” she said. “That was just your way.”

Steve Menard also spoke. And showing some of the same playfulness those before him spoke of his father, he began his eulogy with humor.

“I just have a few words to say about my dad,” he said, unfurling a long scroll of paper that cascaded down the back of the podium. “He would have been so honored and humbled by all of this. Look at this turnout. It’s amazing. Dad would be overwhelmed.”

Robert Menard compared memorializing his father to his brother. Unlike the unexpected death of his sibling, he had time to emotionally prepare for his father’s death.

“Dad’s death brings us all together,” he said. “We coin every phrase we ever heard to try to help the pain go away quicker.”

Now, in addition to spending some time reflecting on memories of his brother’s death on Aug. 9 each year, Robert Menard said, “I’m sure I’ll be thinking the same things March 3 every year.”

Although his father’s contributions to the Valley and state are many from his time as a public servant, Robert Menard said he will always cherish the lessons he learned about being a dad, husband and son.

“I’m so lucky to have a dad I respected, loved and cared for so very much. I could look anybody in the eye and say, “I’m Curt Menard’s son.’”

As his father battled cancer, Robert Menard said he once asked his father, “Dad, are you afraid of dying?’ He said, ‘No, but I’m not ready yet.’”

A LASTING MESSAGE

Through the eight eulogies, reverent and inspirational songs and with a backdrop of beautiful flowers and memorial slideshow of photographs detailing Curt Menard’s life, it was his own words that resonated throughout the gymnasium. Robert Menard played the recorded message from the family’s answering machine. On it, his father’s voice was cheerful and clear:

“I’ll catch you on down the trail.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.