Hiram Lawrence Wells

Hiram Lawrence Wells

Hiram Lawrence Wells, 97, of Palmer passed away Sunday, August 23rd, due to natural causes. A private service will be held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Fort Richardson.

Hiram, known to those who knew him as “Hi,” was born June 24, 1923 in Barron, Wisconsin to Mabel and Ward Wells Sr. He served in the United States Navy from December 1942 through November 1945, working on the USS Mindanao (ARG-3), an internal combustion engine repair ship. After the war Hi worked various jobs that took him up and down the Pacific coast. He traveled north to Alaska on the ferry system in 1953 with his son Ward and former wife Alice. Hi lived in downtown Anchorage and eventually bought 5 acres of property at the end of Klatt Road on Cook Inlet. In the 1960s, Hi became a contractor and owner/operator of Certified Contractors, building multi-family dwellings in Anchorage. He was an avid collector of antique automobiles and member of the Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska. Hi also piloted his own biplane and collected antique aircraft. He moved to Oregon in 1974, working as a painter and as a building maintenance technician. Hi later moved to Palmer in the 1990s where he lived with his son’s family until his passing.

Hi is survived by his son Ward Wells III (Debra); grandchildren Crystal Allen (Tedman) and Scott Wells (Louise); and great grandchildren Kyler and Kaleb Allen, and Tyden Wells. He will be missed.