James L. Chesbro, Sr.

Jim brought light and excitement to the lives of many people. He was gregarious, loving, and gave amazing hugs. He knew how to fix anything, and how to design plans to build everything he could imagine.

Born in his grandmother’s house in Hamilton, New York, he spent his youth as a rascal getting into trouble with ease and getting out of trouble with a wink and a smile. He was a big kid, able to gain admission into local bars by the age of 16.

Jim is preceded in death by his mother and father, Violet and Marcel “Red” Chesbro, his daughter Amy Chesbro and his sister Kathryn.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 45 years, Patricia, his children James Jr. (Pamela), Mark (Shelly), Heidi (Jacinto), Carrie (Michael), and Jennifer. He leaves his grandchildren, Jesse, Alyssa, Heather, Elizabeth, Brandi, Tom and Shasta and great granddaughter Audrey.

Jim had a lifelong love of nature and was an avid sportsman, both hunting and fishing. He enjoyed camping with his family in the great Alaskan outdoors. He was a gearhead, loving to soup up cars and drive them fast. He was known for doing donuts on iced-over lakes. He loved dogs and even had sled dogs at one time. Jim spent a large portion of his life working as a welder. He retired from Anchorage Water and Wastewater as a maintenance foreman. Jim’s accomplishments include: embroidered works of art (completed while he was quitting smoking), trimming and painting the fingernails of his daughters when they were little, big game hunting, riverboat fishing, float tubing and fly-fishing, surviving cancer, and walking the 100-mile Cleveland Way National Trail in England as Sherpa for Patty and 2 other women.

After his retirement, he spent time exploring his interests in traveling with his wife Patty and expanding his collections of boats, cars, fishing poles, knives, and firearms.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Jim’s name to: Palmer Museum of History and Art (P.O. Box 1122, Palmer AK 99645) or Arbor Day Foundation (arborday.org or 211 N 12th St., Lincoln NE 68508)

Condolences can be sent to Pat Chesbro, P.O. Box 1093, Palmer, AK 99645.