Curtis Menard

Curtis Delbert Menard, 64, died March 3, 2009, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, from complications of multiple myeloma.
A funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wasilla High School with Pastor Larry Kroon of Wasilla Bible Church officiating. Pallbearers will be Curtis C. Menard, Larry Menard, and Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Ritchie Menard; Nancy, Jim, Gabrielle, Tanner, Harrison, Sullivan, Brock, Grant, Jack, Alexandra, Jane and Charles Menard; and Lewis Bradley. Burial will take place later in the spring at the Menard homestead.
Dr. Menard was born June 16, 1944, in Detroit, Mich. He graduated from L'Anse High School in 1962, received his undergraduate degree at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., and graduated from Marquette University School of Dentistry, class of 1968.
He had served with Habitat for Humanity, The Alaska Railroad Board, American Legion, Salvation Army Board, and as chairman of the Multi-Use Sports Complex. He was a member of Wasilla Bible Church. He was an honorary member of the Wasilla Rotary Club, was the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, and the Frontiersman Mat-Su Dentist of the year. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, flying, marathons, farming, coaching, politics and well-wishing.
His family wrote that Curt Menard was raised in L'Anse, Mich., born to June and Curtis Menard. At 15 years old, he met the love of his life, Linda. Linda and Curt moved to Milwaukee to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a dentist. In 1968, he graduated as class president from Marquette University School of Dentistry.
He joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage. He worked exclusively with Vietnam soldiers in preparation for the war. During that time, he learned to fly and there his love affair with planes commenced. He flew a 206, Supercub, Citabria and a PA 14.
In 1972, he purchased one of the original homesteads in the Mat-Su Valley and built the first professional building and dental office in Wasilla. He especially loved his dental contract in the village of Togiak.
Three years later, Curt lost his dominant right arm in an electrical accident. With unsurpassed determination, Curt learned to practice dentistry with his left hand. Sen. Curt Menard's public service began as a school board member. Encouraged by his experience, he ran for office and became a state legislator. By this time, he had two thriving dental offices, Palmer and Wasilla Dental Center, 33 employees, five children, and was a respected community leader and politician.
"He had a love for farming and not only bailed 55 acres of hay every summer, but enjoyed cows, chickens, turkeys, homing pigeons, pigs, horses, a cat and many dogs."
In 2001 tragedy again struck the family. Curt's son, Dr. Curtis C. Menard II, passed away in a plane crash.
Curt was diagnosed in 2003 with multiple myeloma, an aggressive and painful cancer of the bone. In 2006, in true Curt fashion, he took on the task of running and being elected Mat-Su Borough mayor. "In 2007 he went through a stem cell transplant at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. In a selfless manner he put his community before himself and carried out his mayoral responsibilities until the very end. And if you met 'Doc' today, his hook would not be the first thing you would notice. You'd see the twinkle in his eye, feel his zest for life and compassion for his fellow man, share his love of his countryside and then, maybe, you'd notice the hook. But by then you'd be so hooked on the man, it wouldn't matter."
Survivors are his wife, Linda of Wasilla; sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Gretchen Menard of Milwaukee, Steven Menard of Wasilla, Dr. Dirk and Alicia Menard of Fairbanks; daughter and son-in-law, McKenzy and Jared Boyd of Milwaukee; daughter-in-law, Dr. Carole Menard of Wasilla; grandchildren, Brock, Grant, Jack, Alexandra, Gabrielle, Tanner, Harrison, Sullivan, Jane and Charles; father, Curtis C. Menard of L'Anse; brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry and Virgie Menard of L'Anse, Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Ritchie and Maj. (Ret.) Joyce Menard of L'Anse, and Jim Menard of Nome; and sister, Nancy Menard of Germantown, Wis.
He was preceded in death by his mother, June Menard; and son, Curtis C. Menard II.
Memorial donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity, Mat-Su.
Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel in Wasilla.