Carl Albert Grauvogel

Carl Grauvogel, 68, died Dec. 11, 2011, at his home in Palmer.

He was born in Portola, Calif., grew up in Winnemucca, Nev., and graduated from the University of Nevada in Reno in 1965. He attended graduate school at the University of Alaska Fairbanks from 1965 to 1967. Following his tenure in graduate school, he honorably served his country as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Vietnam.

After his military service he returned to Alaska, where he began his 20-year career as an Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist. During his career, he was responsible for managing wildlife resources from the Nome office for the entire Seward Peninsula. He was instrumental in re-introducing musk ox to the area. After working in Nome for 15 years, he finished his career as a supervisory area biologist in Palmer. He was honored to receive the 1989 Alaska Biologist of the Year award for his work to help enhance moose survival during the previous winter, which was marked by heavy snowfall.

He was a cherished and loving father, teacher of life skills, Bush pilot, hunter, basketball, soccer and Little League coach, scientist, commercial fisherman, consummate fly fisherman, friend to everyone, loving brother, and a dearly beloved husband who will be missed by all.

Surviving are his wife of 39 years, Laura; sons and daughters-in-law, Zachary, Eric and Lori, Alex (Bo) and Nathalia of Anchorage; brothers, Dean (Janet) Grauvogel, Lyle (Karen) Damon of Reno, Nev., and Larry Damon of El Cerrito, Calif.; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephew; his many lifelong friends; and his constant companion, “Jazzy,” who always provided her unconditional love, affection and her well-known bird-retrieving skills.

Services are at 11 a.m., Dec. 17 at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 323 N. Alaska St., Palmer, followed by a reception at the church. Interment is at Fort Richardson National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m., Dec. 19.