Ralph Kosbruk Sr.

Lifelong Alaskan Ralph Peter Kosbruk Sr., 44, died Jan. 1, 2011, in Anchorage.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, at Witzleben Legacy Funeral Home, 1707 S. Bragaw St. Burial will be the following afternoon in Gulkana. Pallbearers will be Clint Maxim, Johnny Lee Dye, Rodney LaFromboise, Peter Calugan, Thomas Burger and Reed Burger.

He was born July 5, 1966, in Kanakanak. He was raised in Perryville and spent much of his life in Anchorage and Gulkana.

Growing up in the village of Perryville, he was captain of the Perryville Eagles basketball team, as well as being an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved to watch football, having a constant friendly rivalry with his Dallas Cowboys and his brother A.J.'s Oakland Raiders. He loved to read and made sure to read his Bible each day.

He loved hunting in the Copper River area, on the Richardson Highway, with the late Bacille Ewan, whom he looked upon as a grandfather.

A jack of all trades, he was a fisherman, EMT and worked for Copper River Native Association for many years. He had a calm, strong, quiet nature. He didn't speak much, but when he did, it was from the heart.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Juliana Burger; maternal grandparents, Ralph and Oleana Phillips; and his uncles, Tommy Shangin, David Phillips, Alec Phillips Sr., and Jack Abyo Sr.

He is survived by his parents, Annie Wieskamp and Andronic Kosbruk Sr; former wife, Anne Maxim; daughters and families, Martina and Chuck Legge and their daughter, Amara; Shilah and Peter Kellso and their children, Emanuel and Lonna; daughter, Deanna Kosbruk; and son, Ralph Jr. He is also survived by his brothers, Andronic Kosbruk Jr. and Melvin Kosbruk; sister, Millie and her husband, Bob Taylor; and many aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.