Gary LaRose

The Palmer Golf Course will never see his Big Bertha hit another 240-yard drive from the tee; the trout of Finger Lake can rest a little easier; Ugak Bay, Kodiak, will never see his Boston Whaler fishing for its big halibut again. Gary Bertram LaRose, has taken his final voyage to his next fishing hole. He passed away at age 91, in Sacramento, California, at the home of his daughter, Carol J. LaRose. With Carol; daughters, Linda, Judy and Sue, along with son-in-law, Al Thomas, had been busy entertaining him since January. Son, Gary and daughter, Patty, with son-in-law, John Mac, visited also.

Gary came to Alaska in his eleventh year in 1935, from Philips, Wisconsin. He came north with his mother and father, Henry and Clystie; brothers, Floyd and Don, and sister, Virginia. They were part of the first wave of original colonist that settled the Matanuska Valley. They drew their selection of land on Farm Loop Road where he grew up hunting, fishing, trapping and learning a bit about farming.

In World War II, he served his country in the US Army attached to the 11th Airforce on a PT boat in the Aleutians Islands. Their job was to pick up downed pilots that were returning from reconnaissance and bombing missions on enemy positions. Many more pilots were downed by weather than by bullets. Gary was discharged in Seattle in November of 1945. The year 1946 found him in Gunnison, Colorado, gazing at a cute nursing student named Rosemary. After some convincing, she agreed to be his wife and they were off to Alaska. They traveled on a fishing boat out of Seattle via the inside passage. Gary loved the ocean; Rosemary soon learned it did not like her.

On his return to Alaska he purchased a colony house and 80 acres just north of his parent’s farm on Farm Loop Road. For the next twenty years Rosemary and Gary raised six children, farmed and milked 45 dairy cows. He worked very hard to be a farmer but a farmer’s life is a hard way to make a living in Alaska. The cows were sold in 1964. Gary transitioned from a farmer to a professional hunting guide. This had always been his dream, which he practiced at for years.

In his new role as a professional hunter, he excelled. He started out as an assistant guide, working for Johnny Luster and then Ron Hayes. He used that time to qualify for a registered guide, later upgrading to a Master Guide.

He went on to acquired hunting areas in the Talkeetna Mountains, the Wrangles, the Alaska Peninsula and his real love, Kodiak Island and Ugak Bay. During this time, he also studied for and passed testing for his private pilot’s license. Flying became his next love.

On Ugak Bay, Gary built a comfortable lodge where he and Rosemary entertained clients from around the world. From this location he guided for deer, brown bear and did fishing trips for halibut and salmon. He loved the salt water. He enjoyed telling his hunting and fishing stories. Although family got a bit tired of hearing them, clients never did. Several have stated, years after their time with him, that they really enjoyed his hunting stories.

In 2002, with Rosemary’s health issues, Gary sold his Kodiak Lodge. It was a very sad time for him, he had to say good bye to a place he loved very much and to the salt water. Homer Bay as an alternate was a small consolation for him.

Gary didn’t embrace retirement very well. Golfing became his next love, and was probably responsible for his long life. He golfed many courses on the West Coast and Hawaii. He had a long running season pass at the Palmer golf course, hitting two holes-in-one; one at the age of 86. He often joked that as he got older his score would be lower than his age!

During the nineties, Rosemary and Gary were ‘Snowbirds’. Their motor home had fifteen years of attendance pins from the Alaska picnic that took place in Yuma, Arizona. In the beginning, they drove the Alcan Highway out and back. As the years passed they decided to park the motor home in California for the summer and fly back to their Finger Lake home. They traveled most of the US, especially loving the East Coast fall color season.

In October of 2013, their travels together ended, Rosemary passed away at age 86, after sixty-seven years together. Gary spent the next two and half years with his son and daughters but his life was never the same without his wife. Gary died in Sacramento, California, at the age of 91, on April 22, 2016, at the home of his youngest daughter, Carol J. LaRose. Carol was assisted in our father’s loving care by his oldest daughter, Linda and husband Allen Thomas.

Gary is survived by his son, Gary R. and wife, Dr. Carol F. La Rose, of Anchorage; daughters, Linda, and husband Al Thomas, of Charleston, Oregon, Patty and husband John Mack, of Wasilla, Judy LaRose of El Dorado, California, Susan Denbo, of Central Point, Oregon, Carol J. LaRose, of West Sacramento, California and Eve Fisk ,of Port Orchard, Washington.

Grandchildren living in Alaska; Shawn, Sonya and Mandy LaRose, Jayme and Lance Mack and Devin Corey.