Henry Anton Schreiber

Henry Anton Schreiber’s wish to “go to God ” was granted on Dec. 16, 2013. Henry, 56, passed away peacefully at home after battling brain cancer for almost 22 months.

He was born on May 7, 1957, in San Rafael, Calif., to Marianne and Kurt Schreiber.

Henry and his family moved to Alaska in 1970. He attended Service and Bartlett High Schools in Anchorage. Henry came to Wasilla in 1974 and graduated from Wasilla High in 1975.

He worked in his father’s automotive shop, K&M Import Car Service and then he opened his own business, Progressive Automotive. Henry then worked in customer service and the front parts counter at Continental Motors in Anchorage from September of 1993 to August of 2000. At that time Henry was hired as an Emergency Vehicle Mechanic for the Mat-Su Borough. He took great pride in being able to keep the ambulances running smoothly and loved his many “life savers” that he became friends with. Henry worked for the borough from August 2000 until his diagnosis/retirement in July 2012.

Henry and dear friends built the house he lived in for 30 years. He settled into his home in 1981 and then put his heart and soul into building his shop.

Henry was a proud member of the NRA and the First Presbyterian Church of Wasilla.

Henry loved his travels to Mexico, and especially his last trip to Germany with his dad.

Henry thoroughly enjoyed working out and staying in shape. He would get up at “zero dark thirty” to get his workout in before he went to work each day.

He also participated in the Clean Air Challenge (benefit for the Alaska Lung Association) by riding his bicycle from Houston to Talkeetna and back. He was an active participant and cheerleader for the other riders.

Snowmachining was another of Henry’s favorite activities, which took him to the backcountry of Alaska. In 2006 he completed the Poker Run from Tok to Dawson City.

Henry’s true passion was the many friends he collected over the years. He was the kind of guy who made you feel like you were the most important person in the world. When meeting someone new he had an instant natural curiosity and made new friends each day of his life. He especially enjoyed getting people together. In the last few months of his life, he particularly enjoyed his close friends gathering at his house. He enjoyed listening to the laughter and soft conversations of those he loved as he dozed in his bed. In his final days he was lovingly cared for by his friends who never left his side.

Survivors include his parents, Marianne and Kurt of Wasilla; brothers, Dieter (Karen) of Wasilla and Gerald (Karen) of Ferndale, Wash.; sister, Angelika (Lars) Opland of Wasilla; and nieces and nephews, Kira Schreiber, of Seattle, Kurt Schreiber of Portland, Annisa Chevalier of Wasilla, Isaiah Chevalier of Anchorage; and great nephew, Christopher Chevalier of Wasilla.

Preceding him in death were close friends Mike Kolivosky and Mark Erickson.

Services are at 3 p.m., Jan. 5 at the First Presbyterian Church in Wasilla. Pastor Henry Woodall will preside. A reception and celebration of life will follow immediately in the church basement.

Donations can be made in Henry’s name to the Alaska Lung Association at Lung.org or 500 West International Airport Road #A Anchorage, AK 99518 or Valley Community for Recycling Solutions, PO Box 876464, Wasilla, AK 99687, at valleyrecycling.org.

The last thing Henry wanted for his “buddies and buddetts” was to put a smile on your face, just be nice and have a drink in his name: pure and simple black and white.