Eric Josef Zehnder

Wasilla resident Eric Josef Zehnder, 23, died from injuries in a snowmachine accident near Petersville on March 20, 2011.

A memorial service is at Wasilla’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 11 a.m., March 26 with a reception following the services.

Eric was born at Providence Hospital in Anchorage on Nov. 5, 1987, and was a lifelong resident of Wasilla. After graduating from Wasilla High School in 2006, where he lettered in football and hockey, Eric attended the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, for two years before returning home to attend University of Alaska Anchorage. Eric worked in the family businesses, Arcticorp and Arctic Self Storage, while a full-time student earning his bachelor’s degree in Business Economics.

In his spare time, Eric enjoyed many of Alaska’s wonderful outdoor activities, most frequently four-wheeling, snowmachining and fishing, especially with Kimber Velasquez, and all his other truly great, lifelong best friends from hockey and football.

“We are proud of the ethical young man that our son had become,” the family wrote. “Eric’s happy disposition and energetic love of his family and friends was demonstrated by participating in all their activities and milestones. He enjoyed nothing more than being with his nieces, nephews and siblings. He will be dearly missed by his large family and all who knew him.”

Eric is survived by his parents Kathy and Robert Zehnder; brother and sister-in-law James and Mica Zehnder with nieces Shelby and Alexis; sister, Jennifer (Zehnder) Dumpert with niece Abigail and nephews Jacob and William; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Corinne Zehnder with nieces Sierra, McKenzie and Kimberlyn and nephews Robert and Grant; grandmother, Sally Fuller of Mesquite, Nev.; closest cousin Mandy (Fuller) Peratrovich and her husband John Peratrovich with Mina and Roy; April Harkins; uncles and aunts, Susan Janes and Nancy Zehnder of Washington, Ken and Linda Fuller, Michael and Kathryn Fuller, all of Anchorage, Mark and Brenda Fuller, Joel and Janette Fuller all of Wasilla, Robert Fuller of Mesquite, Nev.; Matthew Zehnder of Washington and numerous cousins, both in Alaska and across the country.

Preceding him in death were his grandfathers, M.C. “Skip” Fuller and Robert J. Zehnder; and grandmother, Beverly D. Zehnder.

Arrangements were by Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory of Wasilla.