Charlie Akers

Charlie Akers, 76, passed away recently at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer, Alaska. After a long battle with prostate cancer (’93), and later, Alzheimer’s Disease, he died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family.

Charlie was born in Rumford, Maine, and raised on a small farm in Andover, Maine, with his parents and two older brothers. He started skiing almost as soon as he could walk, and became competitive in high school, winning the state cross country championship in both his sophomore and senior years. While attending the University of Maine, he continued competing, and in 1959, won the NCAA Cross Country Ski Championship. In 1960, Charlie was selected for the U.S. Olympic Cross Country Ski Team; he took a semester off college so he could compete at the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley, Utah.

After graduating from college, Charlie enlisted in the Army in 1961. He was asked to take part in a special program - a Biathlon Training Unit at Fort Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska. Charlie qualified for the U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team, and competed once again in the Olympics - this time in the 1964 Olympics held in Innsbruck, Austria. Charlie placed 16th, and was the top American finisher.

Much of Charlie’s military biathlon training was done in Hatcher Pass and the mountains surrounding the Mat-Su Valley. He loved the Valley and its people, and chose to settle in Palmer when his stint in the military was complete. In 1964, he was hired as a teacher by the Mat-Su School District. Within a few years, he became a principal and throughout his career he worked at Swanson Elementary, Wasilla Elementary, Iditarod Elementary / Junior High Combo, Wasilla Junior High, and finally at Palmer High School until his retirement in 1986. He was, perhaps, the only principal in the Valley to work at all the different grade levels. During his early years in the Valley, Charlie married Pamela Webb, and had two children, Charlie Jr. and Kimberly. In 1973, Charlie married Linda Farrar.

Charlie loved the outdoors and all that Alaska had to offer. There were many air boating, snow machining, three wheeling and four wheeling, flying, fishing, and hunting trips throughout the years. He owned a cabin at Lake Susitna, and used to love to frequent it with family and friends. About the time he retired, he learned to play golf. He loved the game. As time would permit, he played with several men’s leagues in Palmer, and also hauled his golf clubs wherever he traveled - Mexico, Hawaii, Palm Springs, and New England.

After retiring from the school district, Charlie turned one of his passions, flying, into a business. He earned his commercial pilot’s license, got an air taxi permit, and started Alaska Mountain Air. For 16 years, he flew hunters, fishermen, hikers, and sightseers - mainly in the Lake Louise area, but also in the Mat-Su Valley.

Charlie served the Valley in several other capacities. He was a member of the Fish and Game Advisory Board for many years. He also was on the Greater Palmer Fire Service Area Board for over 20 years, and was a Palmer Volunteer Firefighter and truck engineer for 33+ years.

Charlie was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Linda; his son, Charlie Jr., of Anchorage, AK, his daughter, Kim Akers, of Palmer, AK; his two grandsons, Jason and Derek, of Palmer; his oldest brother, Leon Akers (Trudy), of Andover, Maine; his sister-in-law, Cynthia Akers, of Sanbornville, NH; and his five nephews and one niece. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his older brother, Melvin Akers, of NH.

Charlie loved life and all the adventures that came his way. He loved every moment he spent with family and friends. He never met a person he didn’t like. Everyone was an equal, and if someone needed help, he was there. Charlie dreamed big, and put 110% into everything he did. Charlie was full of energy, always happy, positive, and smiling; he lived in the moment and never looked back; he was very independent, but always cooperative and helpful; he was ingenious and creative; he was loving and nonjudgmental; he was forgiving and very humble; he was trusting of others, and confident with his place in life. His tall stories will be missed, but many of his attributes live on in his children, and in those whose lives he touched. God bless you, Charlie Akers. You were a very special person, and positively influenced many lives.

In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to a charity of your choice. The Akers’ mailing address is PO Box 1, Palmer, AK 99645.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Charlie on Wednesday, July 20th, at Palmer High School, at 6:00pm. Charlie did not want a funeral, and the sadness that often accompanies one. We hope this will be a time to ‘toast and roast’ Charlie, and give him a good ‘send off’. Bring finger foods, if you want, but your presence is what we value most. To send flowers to the family of Charles “Charlie” Akers please visit our Sympathy Store.