George C. Groff

George C. Groff, 74, died Dec. 25, 2012, in his home after battling brain cancer.

A celebration of life is at 3 p.m., Jan. 11 at the Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla. A potluck dinner in his honor will follow the service at the home of Tim Groff.

George was born Nov. 19, 1938, in Petersburg, Fla., to Howard and Ruthie Groff. George and his family moved to Alaska in 1948 when his father was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base. Shortly after, the family homesteaded in Wasilla, where George was raised.

In 1957, he joined the 144th Air Transport Squadron. After being honorably discharged in 1960, he pursued work as a truck driver, heavy equipment operator and eventually bought a gold claim at Circle Hot Spring where he minded until the late 1980s. George lived in many places in Alaska until he returned home to the family homestead in Wasilla.

He married his current wife, Renee in 1996. George had a great passion for trapping and hunting and truly loved the Alaska life of living off the land and being so close to nature.

Surviving are his wife, Renee Groff of Wasilla; daughter, Vena Kasper of Anchorage; granddaughters, Degen Kasper and Kelsy Kasper of Anchorage and Courtney Koruna; brother, John Groff Sr. of Colorado; nieces, Lena (Ron) Oliver of Wasilla and their children, Matthias and Jeffrey Sturgeon and Wayne, and Tony Chulin, all of Wasilla; Katrina (Patrick) Anderson and their daughter, Brianna Anderson, of Wasilla; nephews, John (Amy) Groff and their children, Amber and Ryan Groff, and Tim Groff and his children, Seteeva, Timmy and Cheyenne Groff, of Wasilla.

Preceding him in death was his father, Howard Groff; mother, Ruthie Groff; son, George Koruna; and sister in-law, Nancy Groff.

Memorial donations may be sent to Renee Groff, 4691 W. Sunrise Rd., Wasilla, AK 99623.

Arrangements were by Valley Funeral Home. An obituary and guestbook are online at alaskanfuneral.com.