Lars E. Spurkland

1975 - 2014

Lars Erik Spurkland passed away at Providence Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska, on Dec. 12, 2014, embraced by his family and in the hearts of his friends, at age 39, from a massive hemorrhage in the brain stem due to undiagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Lars was born and guided by extraordinary parents, Tania Spurkland from Homer, Alaska, and Tobben Spurkland from Kristiansund, Norway. He grew up next to his protective older sister, Kristen and devoted younger brother, Jan. He lived in Anchorage with frequent excursions to Norway to spend valuable time with his cherished family and friends. Lars adventured through his youth, encouraged by his supportive, dynamic family, whose example anchored his heart in outdoor pursuits and gave him an unquenchable enthusiasm for life. As a youth, he participated in Anchorage Junior Nordic League, orienteering, running, hiking and biking. Following graduation from Dimond High School, Lars moved to Norway for a year with his family and attended Heimdal Videregaende Skole, a Nordic ski school, and completed an intensive Norwegian language program. Lars was awarded a Nordic ski scholarship and attended Northern Michigan University and then University Reno Nevada graduating with a master's degree in civil engineering. Throughout college Lars passion for the outdoors ramped up with mountaineering, rock and ice climbing. He transformed into an exceptional natural and humble leader. While working on his bachelor's degree, he coached North Tahoe High Nordic team and was captain of his UNR Nordic team. He was a competitive force in countless races during his time in college. Lars also began traveling internationally on trips to pursue his exuberance for extreme sports. The year following graduation, Lars met his counterpart, Raye Ann Neustel, and on Aug. 16, 2007, on a whitewater raft trip on the Salmon River in Idaho, married her for forever. As a civil engineer, Lars worked towards and earned his Professional Engineering License, to eventually assume ownership of the engineering firm his father had started the year before Lars' birth, Spurkland Engineering. He was dedicated to preserving the environment and living a life that reflected this, as well as, educated and engaged in current events and political topics. Though Lars was professionally accomplished and a hard worker, his true passion was still securely rooted in the back country. His gifted athleticism, just absolute love of living life and exuberance for new adventures escalated yet still. His favorite forms of recreation in were telemark skiing, biking and mountaineering. He proved himself as an elite endurance athlete competing all over Alaska, the "Lower 48" and Norway. His deep rooted devotion to coaching youth skiing continued with one year at Aspen Valley Ski Club, three years at Dimond High School and five years at East High School. He relished telemark skiing adventures on the haute route in the French/Swiss Alps, skiing his beloved Alaska ranges, B.C., and France. He was a powerful athlete and conducted himself with gentle grace at all times. Lars recently moved to Hatcher Pass, to live closer to mountains. He was available for spontaneous recreation and would play hooky from work to ski with his employee. Most summer evenings found Lars biking with the Boyz at Kincaid and his favorite days were what he called triple recreation days; which addressed his incredible sense of fun. The light burning in Lars was most bright, when surrounded by friends or family on an adventure. He was an inspiring, selfless and loving husband, who loved being married and was the best of men. Lars became very active in a non-profit called the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, serving as board Vice President and President. He was a perennial volunteer, course designer and exceptional, motivating leader. Lars was survived by wife, Raye Ann; parents, Tania and Tobben; sister, Kristen; brother, Jan; brother-in-law, Todd; sister and brother-in-law, Dallas and Elaine; sister-in-law, Megan; nieces, Elya and Eva; nephew, Fischer; the Boyz; and the Alaskan Ski Community. A Celebration of Lars will be at Kincaid Chalet in Anchorage at 3 p.m. on Jan. 4, 2014, please visit the Celebration of Lars Facebook page for details. Remembrances can be made to the Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage, Doctors Without Borders, KSKA and KNBA. Our beloved Lars, was a 6'7" mighty, VIKING, of a man.