Clifford E. Gangestad

Clifford E. Gangestad, beloved friend to many near and far, born on Dec. 7, 1945, in Brainerd, Minn., passed from this world on Sept. 12, 2012, in his beloved coastal town of Whittier.

Clifford came to Alaska as a young man and built a lifelong family of friends. He met and married his first love, Lisa Afra Weiss, and together they shared 38 adventure filled years that included gold mining, commercial fishing, multiple businesses in Homer and Whittier.

Cliff was a master carpenter and took great pride in his work. He was a jokester with a dry sense of humor but underneath it all he had a heart of gold and loved his family and friends deeply. He loved NASCAR and to cheer for his longtime friend Bobby as he raced the wild pony.

Cliff leaves behind his loving wife, Patte; several siblings in Brainerd, Minn.; many longtime friends too numerous to list here but you all know who you are; his adopted grandchildren, Andy, Robert and Amy; his two beloved great-granddaughters, Ellee and Logan.

He was preceded in death by his first wife; his parents; and a sister.

Services will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20 at the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 2800 O’Malley Road, Anchorage. Military honors will be performed at Fort Richardson National Cemetery on Friday, Sept. 21 at noon.

Please feel free to post special memories of Cliff in a guest book at legacy.com and condolences to P.O. Box 671201, Chugiak, AK 99567.