Mark Erickson

Mark Alan Erickson, born Oct. 26, 1965, left us far too early to live with his Father in Heaven on Jan. 20 at the age of 43. Mark was a loving father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. His big heart and witty sense of humor will be dearly missed by the many whose lives he touched.

He leaves behind his four children, Sarah Nadine, Kristopher Alan, Kyli Vay and Nanci Marquanne all of Anchorage; his parents Vern and Joan Erickson; sister, Lori and Chuck Caraway with Darin and Jordan from Spokane, Wash.; sister, Cheri and Matt Jones with Mackenna and Benton from Clackamas, Ore.; his brother, Joe Erickson with Courtney, Emilie, Jeremiah, Hannah and Hope from Beaverton, Ore., as well as countless family and friends throughout Washington, Oregon, Montana, Minnesota, Colorado and Alaska where he has lived for the past 23 years.

Preceding Mark in passing were his mother’s parents, Joe and Vay Collison from Spokane; his father’s parents, Lloyd and Gladys Erickson from Whitefish, Mont., and a sister, Lisa Beth, at birth.

Mark was a paramedic who worked as an EMS Battalion Chief for Matanuska Susitna Borough, Central Mat-Su Fire Department in Wasilla. Mark loved those he worked with and was loved and respected by all those who worked with him.

Those in the EMS and Fire Service knew him as “Griz” both because his grizzly bear appearance and his ability to provide care and comfort to those in need much like that of a teddy bear.

He was blessed to have many good friends in Alaska that loved him and supported him in many ways, and he leaves behind a number of especially good friends in Gene Wiseman, Ross Crawford and Henry Schreiber. Mark considered himself very lucky to have such good friends in this life.

As we mourn his loss here on earth, we also celebrate his life and the time when we will be together again.

In lieu of flowers, Mark’s request was for contributions to be made to a charity donation account in Mark’s name being overseen by Gene Wiseman at Wells Fargo Bank.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled to take place at Station 61 (101 W. Swanson Ave. in Wasilla) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

A procession will begin at 1 p.m. in downtown Wasilla and a potlatch will follow the celebration.