Wayne L Martsolf

Wayne Lee Martsolf of Port Angeles, WA and Wasilla, AK passed away peacefully on October 31, 2023. He was in the presence of his loving wife of 43 yrs, Colleen Martsolf. Wayne was a long time Alaskan where he felt most at home fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family.

Wayne was born in Beaver Falls, PA, where he grew up riding horses, helping in the family restaurant, and playing competitive sports for Beaver Falls High School. After a family trip to Alaska, Wayne, his brothers, and parents decided to pull up stakes and move everyone to Alaska. While his brothers left a few months earlier, Wayne and his mother, Dolores, departed later. On the same day of receiving his high school diploma, Wayne and Dolores embarked on a cross-country drive to their new home and launched their new life in Alaska with the entire Martsolf family.

Wayne was paramount in the growth of Alaskan hockey where he served as the trainer of the semi-pro team Wolverines from 1973-1978. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Wolverines where he helped put Alaska on the map in competitive hockey. In the 1970's and 80's Wayne coached many competitive youth hockey teams where he represented Alaska in USA Hockey regionals multiple times. Wayne finished his coaching tenure in the Mat-Su Valley where he coached the Wasilla High School Varsity team in 1983, once again helping hockey program develop into a more competitive program. Through his years involved with Alaska hockey, he was proud to know and coach with Alaska Hockey icons such as Brush Christiansen, Mike Ashley, Harry McDonald, and the Father of Alaska Hockey Dempsey Anderson and many more. His friendships with, and coaching alongside, the great hockey legends of Alaska were among his most cherished memories.

Wayne retired from the Alaska Railroad after 21 yrs, and moved to Washington State in the early 2000's. There, he enjoyed retirement, spent time with family and friends and traveled. He was a social butterfly. He could most often be found at the local winery regaling patrons with stories and quick-witted humor. Just as he had built the character of many youth hockey players, he was quite a character himself.

Wayne was an amazing husband and father. Wherever he went he left an impression on the people he touched. Wayne is survived by his wife Colleen Martsolf of Marysville, WA, brother Bruce of Fairbanks, and Jay of McMinnville, OR. He leaves son Dale and his wife Liz of Georgetown, TX, son Troy and his wife Janis of Mukilteo, WA, and son Brian and his wife Hiroko of Castle Pines, CO. He leaves behind grandkids Katie, Amy, Mckinley, Finn, Denali, and Aurora. Survived by inlaws Jackie Warren, Gerry and Marshall Ellison. Wayne is preceded in death by his mother and father, Dolores and Raymond Martsolf of Palmer, AK and sister-in-law Chita.