Gene Gerken obituary

Gene Harvey Gerken, 69, longtime Alaskan resident passed away on April 9, 2024. A funeral was held at Faith Lutheran Church in Anchorage, AK on April 20.  A Celebration of Life will take place on June 12, 2024, at his home in Chugiak, Alaska after his burial at Angelus Memorial Park Cemetery, Anchorage, Alaska.
Gene was born on June 19, 1954, to Harvey and Marlys Gerken. He graduated in 1972 from Lincoln High School, Lake City, Minn. He moved to Alaska in 1976. As an electrician he worked for several electrical companies in Alaska before retiring in 2015 from Anchorage Municipal Light and Power. He was a staunch local union member of IBEW 1547. During his life he was involved in many volunteer activities with the Anchorage Snowmobile Club serving as president and board member from 1982 until recently. He also served as president and board member for the Personal Watercraft Club and helped fight to reopen Kachemak Bay to personal watercraft.
He lived his life with integrity and honesty; if you needed his help he would always be there. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Anchorage, where he married Vicki Ring in 1981. Gene enjoyed playing and coaching softball with his girls, fishing the Kenai River, snowmachining and wave running.  He also loved watching the Minnesota Twins, Vikings and the University of Alaska-Anchorage basketball teams.  He enjoyed playing cornhole and spending time with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Vicki Gerken of Chugiak, Alaska; mother, Marlys Gerken of Lake City, Minn.; daughters, Jennifer Hill (Les Hill) of Keller, Texas, Jeri Rodriguez and Danielle (Scott) Wiles of Anchorage, Alaska; grandchildren, Madison, Wyatt and Ruby Hill, Brayden Gene and Aubrey Wiles; sister, Lori Meyers of Lake City; nephew, Jake Meyers (Ashley); niece, Megan Meyers (Ty); and great-nephews, Lincoln and Beckett Meyers, and Owen Murphy. He is preceded in death by his father, Harvey Gerken, and a brother Steven Lee.