Dennis J. Ponder

On Nov. 25, 2015, Dennis J. Ponder, 58, passed away surrounded by his loving family at his home after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born Oct. 24, 1957, in Wurzburg, Germany, to Wayne and Ella Ponder during his father’s services in the U.S. Army, Alaska became his home in 1967, where he later attended UAF, completing his B.S. degree in 1980 and M.B.A. in 2009.

Dennis enjoyed golfing, dubbing it “the game he loved to hate.” He also enjoyed motorcycle riding, fishing Alaska’s oceans, and visiting his children stateside, exploring restaurants, Oregon wine country, and scenic attractions.

Dennis served as an Alaska State Trooper from 1981 after graduating the 34^th Trooper Academy, retiring in 2004. At the time of his death, he was employed by HOPE Community Resources, combining his education and experience where he worked as a financial analyst.

He is preceded in death by his parents and survived by the love of his life, Lucretia (Henderson) Ponder, married 35 years; their son, Kyle Ponder, of Colorado; daughter, Morgan, and her husband, Shiloh Ficek, of Oregon; and sibling, Mark and wife Rowena, also of Alaska.

A celebration of Dennis’ life is planned. In lieu of flowers, he requested donations be made to Mat-Su Home Health and Hospice (950 E. Bogard Rd., Suite 132, Wasilla, Alaska, 99654) or HOPE Community Resources (540 W. International Airport Rd., Anchorage, 99518).

Arrangements were under the direction of Valley Funeral Home, Wasilla Chapel.