William Church

May 25, 1932 - October 26, 2024

William "Bill" Roland Church, 92, of Wasilla, passed away peacefully at 10 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2024 surrounded by family in Palmer.

Bill was born in Mountain, Wisconsin in 1932 and came to Alaska as part of the Matanuska Colony Project in 1935. They arrived in Palmer on his 3rd birthday. He was part of a large family that farmed and prospered in the Valley.

After graduating from Wasilla High School, Bill served his country in the army from 1952-1954. He taught marksmanship, made treks across the mountains between Fort Richardson and Portage, and helped guard the Hurricane Gulch bridge during the Korean War. He worked on the Alaska Railroad before and after serving in the army.

He married Ruby Holstein on January 22, 1955. They homesteaded on what is now Church Road in Wasilla. They had three children, Billy, Greg, and Debbie. He worked for Matanuska Maid from 1959 to 1983 where he started out in the power plant, worked the feed mills, drove truck, and was a Teamster union steward respected by both labor and management. He retired in 1983.

Bill was extremely handy. He built his own home with several out buildings, Debbie's house on the back of their homestead, and helped build Billy's house in Valdez. In his retirement Bill enjoyed volunteering his time, keeping a nicely manicured yard and had many ornamental trees on his homestead.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and like many homesteaders, would not kill something he would not eat. His freezer was usually full of moose from the Valley, salmon from Seward, and halibut from Homer, and freely shared with family and friends.

Bill was Coxswain qualified in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and participated in many training exercises, search and rescues, as well as tows. He helped to establish the flotilla in Wasilla and trained many of the new members.

He was a member of the Pioneers of Alaska, was president of the Palmer Igloo, and installed as the Grand President in 2006. Bill presided over the convention for the 100th anniversary of the Pioneers of Alaska in Nome.

Bill had two unfulfilled ambitions from his early years which he was able to finally achieve. Bill had always wanted a Harley Davidson motorcycle. At 73 years old, he bought his first Harley! Bill and Ruby took riding lessons and both had their own Harleys, they had a pair in Alaska and a pair in Yuma, Arizona where they snow birded. In Yuma, they had a rude awakening when they rode out to dinner with the HOGS group and came out of the restaurant to darkness. They had never ridden in the dark! Alaska's motorcycle riding for them had always been done when the sun didn't set! Bill had also wanted to be pilot, so in 2012 although it wasn't his own airplane, he was able to take a "history flight" in a military trainer. These flights were designed for the person taking the flight, to actually pilot the plane. He flew from Merrill Field and went all around the Matanuska Valley. The smile on his face was unforgettable!

William Church was preceded in death by his parents John and Julia Church of Wasilla, siblings Jack, Lorraine and Edwin, and his son Gregory. He is survived by Ruby, his wife of 69 years, his son Billy of Wasilla, his daughter Debbie Dauphinais of Homer, his brother Don of Texas, his sisters Rose Feltz of Missouri, and Alice Caputo of Pennsylvania, six grandchildren, Mandy Doering of Oregon, Colleen and Michael Church of Pennsylvania, Amber Whaley of North Carolina, Sean Dickey of Wasilla and Chelsea Kreig of Nikiski, eleven great grandchildren as well as scores of nieces and nephews. His wit, wisdom, and lighthearted personality will be sorely missed. As he often said, "It's all in fun." He will be in hearts forever.

A family service was held Sunday, October 27th. No other service will be held. Donations can be made to the Pioneers of Alaska Foundation.