Erik J. Stoll

Erik J. Stoll, 34, died on Dec. 6, 2011, at Mat-Su Regional Hospital. Erik touched many people in his short life. He was kind, generous and a very talented man. Everyone who knew Erik liked him.

He was born March 8, 1977, in Anchorage and attended Wasilla elementary, middle and high schools. He worked as a mechanic's helper all through high school. He also built his own snowplow business and helped his father in his land surveying business during high school. Erik spent two years in Phoenix after graduation from Wasilla High in 1995. He worked full-time putting himself through technical school and came home to Alaska debt-free with an associate's degree and some very valuable certifications.

Erik decided not to fully use his innate and certified skills in mechanics. He worked at construction-related jobs before he was hired as a construction surveyor at Red Dog Mine. Erik worked for eight years at Red Dog and was very proud of his work there before his health deteriorated and he was unable to fulfill his duties.

Preceding him in death was his mother, Patricia Karnofsky Stoll; her parents, Richard and Colleen Karnofsky, longtime Wasilla residents and homesteaders; grandparents, Charles and Katherine Stoll; and his aunt, Julie Karnofsky.

Surviving are his brother and sister, Alan Willie Stoll and Erin Fleckenstein; father, Stephen Stoll; auntie, Karen Karnofsky Ripley and her husband Brad of Wasilla; uncle, Dan Karnofsky; and Chuck and Donna Stoll, all from California.

His family will spread his ashes at Hatcher Pass in the summer, where he will be close to his grandmas, Colleen and Katherine, and his mother, Patty.