Richard Ressler

Richard Ressler

Surrounded by his loving family, Richard Eugene Ressler, 70, peacefully passed away Nov. 30 after a valiant lengthy battle with cancer.

A service will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 8 at Legacy Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, 1015 S. Check St. in Wasilla.

Richard – or as friends called him, “Dickie,” – was born on Aug. 17, 1952 in Lancaster, Penn. to Morris and Ruth Ressler. On April 29, 1972, he married his high school sweetheart, Linda Sue, and they embarked on an adventure that led them to Wasilla in 1983 with their children, Casey and Kellie. Earlier this year, they happily celebrated 50 years of marriage.

A carpenter by trade, he carved out a well-lived life with his hands. Richard worked on the North Slope and for local construction companies before retirement, which still saw him tinkering in his garage in between games of Sudoku. He and his wife owned and operated Aunt Linda’s Funnel Cakes at the Alaska State Fair for 38 years. He was a member of the Matanuska Masonic Lodge #7 F&AM.

In his spare time, he could aways be found spending time with his family, riding his wheeler, and enjoying S’mores by the fire with friends while RV camping and exploring Southcentral Alaska.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Linda; his son and daughter-in-law, Casey and Tracy Ressler and granddaughter, Madison Ressler of Wasilla; and his daughter and son-in-law, Kellie and Jaden Alvstad of Wasilla.