Raymond Wipperman

Longtime Anchorage resident Raymond H. "Ray" Wipperman, 77, died May 5, 2010, at his home. He was at home with family members during his final days.

A celebration of life and memorial service will be held June 13 in Halibut Cove. The family will commit his ashes to Kachemak Bay, where he passed so many happy hours behind a rod and reel and the wheel of the Juneau Girl.

Ray was born Oct. 17, 1932, in Morgan, Minn. He moved to Alaska in 1960, initially planning to stay the summer doing studies for his bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Minnesota. He and his family fell in love with the state and he remained in Alaska for the rest of his life.

Initially, he lived off the land near Chistochina and Slana. He moved to Anchorage in 1961, working for KHAR and KBYR as program director and news director.

Always active in politics, he managed the 1968 campaign of John L. Rader for the U.S. House of Representatives. Later on, he supervised the editorial staff and stringers for the Alaska Construction and Oil Report. Subsequently, he joined the staff of the Alaska Public Utilities Commission, where he served principally as chief of consumer protection until his retirement in 1993.

Ray loved the outdoors, especially fishing and berry picking, which he pursued with great vigor. Until his retirement he spent every weekend from April through September on the Kenai Peninsula. In 1980, he and Claire built a cabin in Halibut Cove, where they spent summers for three decades. In his Greek fisherman's cap, he was a favorite with tourists, who loved taking his picture. His greatest enjoyment was taking others out fishing on his boat, The Juneau Girl. Ray loved to cook and feed family and friends, most memorably with the bounty he harvested from Kachemak Bay. He enjoyed the arts as well, particularly the opera.

Mr. Wipperman is survived by his wife, Claire; sons, Tim and wife, Jean Wipperman of Durham, N.C., and Richard and wife Kay Rainery of Juneau; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two nephews and one niece.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John F. and Elsie (Wenger) Wipperman; one brother, John Frederick "Fred" Wipperman; and one daughter, Elizabeth Larken "Lark" Nelson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Anchorage.

Arrangements are with the Cremation Society of Alaska, www.alaskacremation.com.