Carl Fritzler

Alaska Matanuska Valley pioneer Carl Fritzler, 99, died March 13, 2012, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

A celebration of Carl’s life is from 2 to 5 p.m., April 6 at Manna Baptist Church, 10151 Palmer-Wasilla Hwy., next to Animal Food Warehouse. Everyone is invited to give Carl his final party and share some stories and memories of his long and eventful life. Flowers will be welcomed. If you would like to bring a dish or help, call Joe at (907) 727-8200.

Carl was born in Winnebago, Minn., Oct. 11, 1912, to German-born Russian immigrants George Peter Fritzler and Amelia Heldt Fritzler.

He came to Alaska from Nebraska during the Great Depression at the age of 19 with two young friends he met on the trip. His friends left and he stayed for 80 years.

Over the years he had many jobs, including working on construction of the Alaska Railroad, as a carpenter during the construction of Fort Richardson during World War II and on the building of the Hatcher Pass road from Willow. He was one of the last surviving miners who worked at the Hatcher Pass gold mines, a homesteader, bootlegger, trapper, dairy farmer, carpenter and lastly owner of Greenridge Camper Park.

Because of Carl’s involvement with Dorothy Page in establishing the Wasilla and Knik Historical Societies, longtime friend Joe Redington approached Carl to help create the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race as a historical event. Thus, he was involved in creating the race and pioneering the modern use of the trail. Carl was honored in 2011 with a Founder’s Award from the Iditarod Committee for being one of those who helped organize, blaze and mark the trail for the first Iditarod race in 1973. For his help, Joe made Carl and Vicky guests of honor at the first Iditarod race.

Wasilla Historical Society honored Carl for his work in helping create and volunteer for the first fire department in Wasilla. He received a Governor’s Award from Gov. Bill Sheffield in 1983 for his community service work.

Carl was the first teacher for the construction trades class at Wasilla High School in the 1970s. He also worked on the clearing and construction of youth baseball fields in Wasilla. Fritzler Field is named in his honor.

In addition to his father and mother, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of more than 60 years, Vicky Mable Edlund Fritzler; brothers, Peter, William, John and Reuben; sisters, Anna and Katherine; five step-brothers and one step-sister.

Surviving are his son, Carl Mark Fritzler; daughter, Gloria Jean Wilson; grandchildren, Kay Hoff, Sam Carson, Joseph Carson, Vicky Mae Delgado, David Wilson, Kellee Wilson and Tim Fritzler; 16 great-grandchildren; and 18 great-great-grandchildren. Valley Funeral Home and Crematory cared for the family.