Keith Corpe

Keith Corpe

Keith Corpe, age 69, passed away at his home in Palmer, Alaska, on April 16th with his loving fiancée by his side.

There will be a service on Saturday, May 22, 2021, held at Journey Church, 3060 N. Lazy Eight Ct. Ste. 2, Wasilla, AK, at 12:00 pm with officiant Pastor Bill Little. A burial will follow the service at the Wasilla Aurora Memorial Cemetery, 1096 Wasilla Fishhook Rd., Wasilla, AK at 2:00pm. The pallbearers will be Keith’s dearest friends: John Tanner, Duley Tanner, Greg Beck, Art Hanson, neighbor Randy Rushing, and a family member, Brandon Unger will assist.

Keith became a resident of Alaska in 1998. He came up to work for Anchorage Sand and Gravel as a concrete batcher and CDL truck driver. He previously lived in Montana, working in the same field for many years. Seasonally, he worked on the North Slope as an ice road builder. He was dispatched out of the Teamsters Local 959 Union and worked at numerous camps for different contracted construction companies.

Keith was an excellent truck driver and taught other apprentices how to drive and handle equipment there. He was highly respected among his peers and made many good friends during those days. He retired from the Teamsters in 2010 after a severe knee injury and replacement surgery that disabled him.

He spent time helping others, doing odd jobs, traveling, building things around the house, and just enjoying life in Alaska. He also was an avid reader and an intellectual storyteller who loved to tell long interesting and funny stories while entertaining friends or watching his favorite sport, football on the big screen TV.

He enjoyed exploring, camping, and fishing, but his passion was riding his Harley Davidson and being in the great outdoors — especially summers. We explored Costa Rica for a month, checking it out as a possible retirement home a few years ago. He also took many trips to Arizona and Nevada to visit friends and ride their Harleys together in the warm desert sun.

After being diagnosed with cancer in January 2020, we had to cancel a few trips, but were able to go to Rhode Island last fall to meet my family and hometown friends. We caught the fall foliage of New England and researched some ancestry back to the days of the early colonists who came over from England on the original Mayflower in 1620, where they settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts. (Yes, the Pilgrims!) As it turned out, we both had ancestors who were on that ship of only103 passengers. We found their names engraved on a huge marble monument, which now stands in their honor near the actual Plymouth Rock. It was quite interesting to discover that, amongst other beautiful historical New England towns, fishing ports, and beaches along the coastline. Keith made some new friends there and was looking forward to going again this summer, but his cancer took over his immune system. He fought the battle for over a year until he couldn’t fight any longer.

He will be missed and loved forever by many! Keith leaves behind his loving partner and fiancée, Cheryl Wilby, of Palmer, her daughter, Sarah Mae Thompson, and his three-year-old step-granddaughter, Delaney Mae, both of Anchorage. He is also leaving behind two sisters, Tina Hardin and husband Larry, from Mesquite, NV; and Gretchen Ellinger of Lukeville, AZ; two nephews, and two cousins. He is predeceased by his parents, Edsel Lindy Corpe and Colleen Annette Corpe (Nix), also of Mesquite, NV.

A Celebration of Life will follow the services at the home of Keith and Cheryl. All friends are welcome to come join our potlatch gathering in his honor. Address will be given out at the church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Kehl’s Legacy Funeral Home of Wasilla.

Flowers are welcomed, or donations can be made to Journey Church, Wasilla, AK 99654.