F.A.Q. Obituary guidelines; Submit Death Notice; Submit an Obituary . I never visited his cabin again even though I made a couple more trip to Twin Lakes after that, for hiking or for a raft trip on the Chilikadrotna River. We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. As I leaned back on my elbows, knees bent, he took first one foot, then the other and began to rub off the calluses, gently but persistently. Mechanically gifted from an early age, the old bike was the perfect tinker toy. He lived alone in the mountains of the arctic from 1969 through 1999! Photo on book cover courtesy of Richard L. Proenneke, "A boy 17 yrs. Filmed in 1977, this 27 minute long documentary can be viewed online for free at the National Archives website. Betty Sue died from complications of emphysema in Waverly, Tennessee. He has since been writing for more than five years, developing his expertise in subjects like Soviet history as well as World War II, and his work has appeared in Esquire, Hyperallergic, Polygon, History Today, and The New York Observer. Next, he used his knife to cut a narrow wedge-shaped piece of metal out of that beer can, and he rolled it up tight in the shape of a needle. Dick meticulously recorded his observations of weather, wildlife, and even other human visitors. That goal is to live a life like you are. [citation needed], On May 21, 1968, Proenneke arrived at his new place of retirement at Twin Lakes. One sunny day, Dick and I were relaxing on his well-raked beach enjoying a little chat. To the park rangers that would occasionally check in on him, he was as wise and content as an old monk. His father William Christian Proenneke was a well driller who had served in World War I and his mother Laura was a homemaker. Alison Woodings never returned to Twin Lakes, but she corresponded with Dick for many years. He primarily stored his tools and a huge pile of wood in the shed. Bob edited the film and added sound to create this fascinating film of one man living alone in the Alaska wilderness. After they left, I asked Dick, So howd it go? He instantly lit into them. old . For the time being, he decided to move north, where the forests were. By then, he was more frail but still able to make his way up the trail to his favorite rock. After I left Lake Clark at the end of the summer, I made up a large package of assorted teas and sent him a surprise bundle with a thank-you note for helping to educate this park ranger. Thinking of exploring a national park by yourself? He documented his solitary life in journals, photographs and videos, which became a treasure trove for naturalists. While living in his cabin, Richard Proenneke spent a lot of time hunting for meat, growing vegetables and collecting wood for fire. In 1999, 82-year-old Richard Proenneke left his cabin and came to live with his brother Jake in Hemet, California. I visited Twin Lakes the following year in October to photograph bull moose and Dall Sheep but Dick wasnt staying for the winters anymore. Following his discharge from the Navy, Proenneke went to school to become a diesel mechanic. Tributes From Chris Degernes I first met Dick in 1986 when my former husband Gary Titus and I bought one of the two private property in-holdings on upper Twin Lakes, across from Dick's place. Richard L Proenneke of Hemet, Riverside County, California was born on May 4, 1916. In addition, Dick sought to improve his mental state as well. The following is excerpted from " The Handcrafted Life of Dick Proenneke ," by Monroe Robinson. He briefly attended high school but dropped out after just two years. (He never had valid title to the land, but some park administrators consider the cabin a gift nonetheless.). My backyard was a mountain, my front yard was a river and my best friends were the trails. You want to hold it tight. During the recent Athlon Outdoors 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme. Memorials for Richard may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Decatur, IL or the Kenney Fire Department. Jerry and Jeanette Mills and my dog Trapper made the hike. A third part was announced but never aired. 53 minutes), Volume II "The Living Wilderness" picks up where Volume I leaves off with Richard moving to Kodiak, AK and on to Twin Lakes, AK. Proenneke had a very close relationship with the Park Service, assisting them in filming sensitive areas and notifying them if poachers were in the area. Wikimedia CommonsRichard Proenneke built his cabin on the remote shores of Twin Lakes. From start to finish, Dick would keep meticulous weather records, maintain daily journal entries and filmed much of his life on the lake. Robinson is a respected professional woodworker here in Alaska and on . Nonetheless, he had become such an integral part of the parks ecosystem that the rangers had trouble imagining life without him. Would I love the isolation then? High-level park administrators, although well intentioned, can sometimes seem a bit arrogant. He returned to Twin Lakes the following spring and remained there for most of the next thirty years, traveling to the contiguous United States only occasionally to visit his family. In mid-2007, his cabin and the outbuildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places. He was especially well suited to this task. Hard work and determination, however, kept the wolf away. These three final collections were published by the Friends of Donnellson Public Library, The Richard Proenneke Museum, and were edited by John Branson. The early 1980s must have been an anxious time for Dick and many others who lived inside the boundaries of newly created parks and preserves. Everything that came in he either hauled back out or re-proposed in some form or another. Again he was forced to lay low while he recuperated. Select " [relationship]" Richard found and identified several of the wildlifes patterns he was hoping to film, and would steer away from these particular locations when he hiked with the Emersons or Roy Allen hunting for game. The following spring, working alone and with only hand tools, he built the now-famous Dick Proenneke cabin. They didn't cost me a lot of money either. I asked him why he placed the pin on the map and he jokingly responded, So if anyone is interested enough, they would know where to look for my body! On a more serious note, visitors who had business with him could see where he was and perhaps, how long he might be gone. He had suffered severe damage to his lower spine and numerous lacerations to his face. [9] A hardcover "commemorative edition", celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of One Man's Wilderness, was published by Alaska Northwest Books in 2013. [5][6], Proenneke's cabin is handmade and is notable for its fine craftsmanship as a result of his carpentry and woodworking skills; he also made 8mm films covering its construction. Dick always left a map of the area on the cabin table and a flagged pin to show exactly where he intended to go that day. We continued to exchange letters for a few more years, even as Dicks health failed more and more. Richard Louis Proenneke (/prnki/; May 4, 1916 April 20, 2003) was an American self-educated naturalist, conservationist, writer, and wildlife photographer who, from the age of about 51, lived alone for nearly thirty years (19681998) in the mountains of Alaska in a log cabin that he constructed by hand near the shore of Twin Lakes. I remarked, None of my other friends would do this for me., Dick responded with a twinkle, Then you need better friends.. A master craftsman dedicated to living simply on the land, he used local materials, simple tools, and human ingenuity to craft a home and life in keeping with the wilderness. His main cabin is roughly a 12-foot by 16-foot structure built from round spruce logs, with the roof being covered by sod, moss and grass that he added over the years. They rode west and worked the wheat harvest in Oklahoma, then on to pick apples in Oregon. His smile was always one of childlike joy, like we were getting away with something. - January 18, 1981. In how many days is his birthday? With the exception of a handful of nails, tar paper and some plastic sheeting, all the materials came from his surroundings. He used metal containers for food storage: one U.S. gallon (3.8L) cans were cut into basin shapes and buried below the frost line. He next went back to school to prepare himself for a career as a diesel mechanic. Developed May 1984. Proenneke represents in his own person the gifts and talents given to him by God, as well as the wisdom acquired and developed through his own efforts and the education afforded him by a life in the civilized world. Now that youve read about the life of Richard Proenneke, find out about the pursuits and sad end of Grizzly Man Timothy Treadwell. richardproennekestore.com or amazon.com. Dick Proenneke lived a life many of us dream about but only a few hardy souls could actually pull off. If the jays hadnt already been drawn in by the sight and voices of lodge guests milling around the cabin, Dick would call them. He donated his log cabin and most of his possessions to the National Park Service, which had managed the area since 1978, when it became part of Lake Clark National Monument. This book, which includes excerpts . Follow Richard Proenneke and explore their bibliography from Amazon.com's Richard Proenneke Author Page. Did you ever pick blueberries after a summer rain? He had already made arrangements to utilize a nearby cabin belonging to retired Navy Captain Spike Carrithers and his wife Hope as his temporary shelter while he was building his own cabin. For Dick Proenneke, starting a new life out in the wilderness was about fulfilling a childhood dream. For several years, he worked as a heavy equipment operator and repairman on the Naval Air Station at Kodiak. In 1969, Dick turned over his journals to friend Sam Keith. The cattle may not have worked out, but when the naval station on the island learned of Proennekes capabilities, he was immediately put to work as a dieselmechanic. . Not that he was ever a troubled man, but a lifetime spent working on parts instead of the whole project was not his cup of tea. If he ever fell out of the canoe he used for fishing, he would instantly freeze to death in the icy water. Groups applaud regulation that would reduce pollution from Texas coal plants. the heart becomes full But they were still on California time, rushing about and trying to see and do everything they could. Biographies are our place to remember and discover more about the people important to us. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data. Before long, tales of his skills as a handyman that could fix anything spread across the state. His vision would return but one thought would haunt him: What if the greasy belly pan of a bulldozer had been the last sight his eyes ever witnessed? With the U.S. Congress passing the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the Twin Lakes area became a prime destination spot almost overnight. His pants were just flapping in the wind where the seam used to be. NOW AVAILABLE! After making a complete recovery, he decided to retire early and move somewhere where he could cherish the eyesight that might have otherwise been taken from him. They gotta work for a living.. Richard's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Proenneke family tree. In October of 1976, Dick nearly met an untimely demise while flying south to Iowa. PO Box 227 View images of Proenneke's cabin and of the beautiful Twin Lakes area where he built his wilderness home. [1][2] The journals and film were later used by others to write books and produce documentaries about his time in the wilderness. Free Shipping on all orders within the United States. Another friend from Kodiak, Herb Wright, had applied for a Small Track Lease on the site in 1960; however, in a sad turn of events, Wright became terminally ill. Dick Proenneke, who had never caught as much as a cold, contracted rheumatic fever while stationed in San Francisco. In 1997 Bob Swerer and Bob Swerer Sr flew to Twin Lakes to visit with Dick Proenneke and explore the Twin Lakes region. The rumor has become fact: Hornady has expanded its Precision Rifle Cartridge family to 7mm. Dicks brother Raymond collected both Dick and the Arctic Tern to recuperate at his home in California. Flying solo in his Piper Cub, he was luckyto be in sight of a road when the engine cut out. Afraid he didnt have the discipline to keep from eating the whole box at once, he stored them in an abandoned cabin he used as storage. One fall, I came to visit Dick over my birthday. When old man winter forced him indoors, he enjoyed reading Thoreau and Leopold, both of which he was fond of quoting in his journals. Dick Proennekes cabin sheltered him from the elements during cold Alaskan winters. A conservationist at heart, Dick Proenneke wished to see the Twin Lakes area protected as well, but he was unsure about the Park Services intentions. He also admired motorcycles and obtained a Harley Davidson as a teen. Back in the 60s, however, people knew it only as a was a complex of deep blue lakes nestled between tall, snow-covered mountains. After years in print it was reissued in a new format in 1999, winning that year's National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA). Also Known As: Richard Louis Proenneke, Dick Proenneke, siblings: Florence, Helen, Lorene, Raymond, Robert, See the events in life of Richard Proenneke in Chronological Order, https://www.realworldsurvivor.com/2014/08/04/dick-proenneke-simplest-wildest-man/, http://winter60.blogspot.com/2015/09/not-so-alone.html, https://m.outdoorrevival.com/featured/alone-wilderness-amazing-story-richard-proenneke.html, https://www.laguiadelvaron.com/iba-solamente-un-ano-a-alaska-y-se-quedo-por-30-anos/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTHLpA4267Q. More than once he verbally confronted them over leaving behind trash or useable meat. Now, on top of all his other self-appointed duties at Twin Lakes, Dick had fan mail to return as well. I grew up here in Alaska. Equal parts Henry David Thoreau and trapper Hugh Glass, Dick Proenneke is widely remembered for both his practical survival skills and his written musings about mans relationship with nature. Most of what he did have he made himself. He recorded the building process on film. Richard Pronneke was an Iowa-born naturalist, writer, and wildlife photographer. Also Known As: Richard Louis Proenneke, Dick Proenneke Died At Age: 86 Family: father: William Christian Proenneke mother: Laura Bonn siblings: Florence, Helen, Lorene, Raymond, Robert Naturalists American Men Died on: April 20, 2003 place of death: Hemet, California U.S. State: Iowa Recommended Lists: American Celebrities One day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Proenneke enlisted in the Navy. Joyce Ann Marie Kemp April 20, 2023 (94 years old) View obituary. As with More Readings From One Man's Wilderness, the volume is edited by John Branson. Dick Proenneke spent several years in the Alaskan city of Kodiak before moving up to Twin Lakes. His mother, Laura (ne Bonn) (18841966) was a homemaker and gardener. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Cassandra Faye Shaffer (Peoria, Illinois), who passed away on April 21, 2023, at the age of 55, leaving to mourn family and friends. I was not sure it was true, but I had been told that if Dick liked and accepted you, he would invite you for a cup of tea. Order your copies today! Despite his remote location and fierce independence, Dick was not a hermit; he maintained friendships and wrote back to anyone who sent him a letter. In the same speech, he outlined the benefits of democracy which he said were economic opportunity, employment, social security, and the promise of "adequate health care". Without a doubt, Dick Proenneke's One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey is as memorable and captivating as any I've read in my five decades of reading. Through the early 1970s, land usage debates raged in Alaska. That summer Proenneke harvested spruce trees and in 1968 he began construction on what would become his cabin and wilderness home during the next thirty years. He greeted each day with childlike enthusiasm and never begrudged a task. The day after my birthday, we went to the other side of the lake and picked blueberries. 1 death record. He encouraged Proenneke to use the site instead. Plan your trip to the home of one of Alaska's foremost wilderness icons. Dick slowly recovered over the winter, as did his Piper Cub, thanks to Raymonds care. Proenneke's father, William Christian Proenneke (18801972), served in World War I, and made his living as a house painter, carpenter and well driller. The map was so full of holes from past pin placement that it looked like one of those old-time punchboards. Did Richard serve in the military or did a war or conflict interfere with his life? 1st edition: 2016, Read More Books or Watch More Films About Dick Proenneke. I knew when I flew out that I might not see him again, and that turned out to be the case. In all his years at Twin Lakes, Dick only documents killing a ram and a caribou himself. Was I equal to everything this wild land could throw at me? he wrote in his diary. Thank-you for keeping his memory alive and for expanding the resources that further document his life. Way back up. Reminded of his own mortality, he knew he wanted to change his life. He died of a stroke on April 20, 2003, at the age of 86. His parents married in December 1909 and had three daughters and four sons: Robert, Helen, Lorene, Richard (Dick), Florence, Paul, and Raymond (Jake). They didn't cost me a lot of money either. He accessed the cache with a ladder that he had built himself. Sadly, I missed his birthday, but I did get up to see him a week later. After one tiring hike up and over Low Pass to the Kijik area with my sister and Dick, who was then 79 years old, we returned to soak our feet in the lake in front of Dicks cabin and eat his famous blueberries with Tang. Richard Proenneke did what most nature buffs can only dream of: At age 51, he quit his job as a mechanic and moved to the Alaskan wilderness to become one with nature. The fireplace and flue were made from stones he dug from around the site and mortared in place to create the chimney and hearth. [1]:xiii, Proenneke enlisted in the United States Navy the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor and served as a carpenter. That summer, during my patrols, I flew over and landed at Twin Lakes a number of times. Not long after, he and a friend set out to see the country. She was 64. He did, however, possess one rare gem that seems very difficult to find in our modern worldpure, unadulterated contentment. Richard L Proenneke lived Too many men work on parts of things. 2 birth records, View Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Richard's lifetime. His observations have inspired several books and videos. To say he was ahead of his time is a massive understatementespecially when you consider all of todays survivalist-type cable TV programs. Dick first visited Upper Twin Lake in 1962 at the invite of his friends Spike and Hope Carrithers of Kodiak, Alaska. At the upper end of the valley, Dick said, See that glacier over there? That glacier doesnt have a name. 56 minutes), 100 % of your donation goes to support the Richard L Proenneke Museum, To our Canadian Friends, for assistance with your purchases please contact. He always liked to have people get pictures of themselves looking out through the top of the Dutch door of his cabin. His journals and videos were used with permission in the documentary, 'Alone in the Wilderness', which aired on television in 2004. Proenneke would stomp out a runway for pilots during the winter. The National Park Service sought protected status for the Twin Lakes region that would limit hunting to subsistence only. Watch Proenneke's last visit to his cabin at Upper Twin Lake in the year 2000 at the age of 84. Six months later, he was discharged from both the hospital and the army. Carrithers and his wife, Hope, were building a cabin at Twin Lakes on what was then Bureau of Land Management land. He spent almost two years at Pearl Harbor and was later stationed in San Francisco waiting for a new ship assignment. The first summer he scouted for the best cabin site, and cut and peeled the logs he would. The Early Years: The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke 19671973 was published by Alaska Geographic in 2010. Proenneke hunted, fished, raised and gathered much of his own food, and also had supplies flown in occasionally. Lemme see, Dick replied. Dick explained that hed gone down to the creeks at the head of Turquoise Lake. He fished, hunted, gathered, and raised his own food, but he would fly in supplies occasionally. Author: Richard L. Proenneke In 1949, Dick Proenneke moved to Portland, Oregon, to study diesel mechanics and heavy equipment operation. Unfortunately, he contracted rheumatic fever while hiking a mountain near San Francisco, following which he was hospitalized at Norco Naval Hospital. While at work at Chiniak he sustained an injury that nearly cost him his vision. At this age, Proennekes longing for a quiet life had to contend with his passion for gadgetry. Today she lives at Cooper Landing on the Kenai Peninsula. Dick seemed more frail than Id seen him before, but we still took a hike up to see the Balancing Rock. He would return briefly to Twin Lakes in the summer of 2000 for a taped interview and a farewell to his little cabin. They invited him up for a visit and in 1962 he got his first look at Twin Lakes country. We paddled at a steady but slow pace. In 1974, the National Park Service recognized Dicks limitless knowledge of the local wildlife and prowess with a camera by contracting him to do wildlife photography. I am sure Dick was probably wondering just what was in store for him and his cabin with the new national monument. Wikimedia CommonsDick Proennekes built meat storage on stilts to keep off wild animals. His birds gray jays were always part of the visit. And yet, his is not a story of man pitted against nature, enduring one hardship after another. They didnt cost me a lot of money either. Id love to go back just to pick blueberries. [citation needed]. Betty Sue is survived by two daughters, Lynn Markworth and Audrey Dyer and five grandchildren. the average Proenneke family member View Lake Clark's entire online museum collections which includes some of Richard Proenneke's belongings. For me, this event was quite a good lesson in etiquette and the importance of treating everybody with utmost regard. Then, learn about Chris McCandless, who hiked into the Alaskan wilderness in 1992, never to be seen alive again. Dick Proenneke shot over 3000 feet of 8mm movie film. The combination of his high intelligence, adaptability, and strong work ethic helped him become a skilled technician. He inherited his craftiness from his father William, a carpenter and well driller. 777 6th Street NW I met Dick Proenneke in 1982 when I was a seasonal park ranger on my first summer assignment in Alaska. Billions of dollars were lost and some investors committed suicide as a result, having lost their fortunes. When they came in, he would pass out crackers and tell visitors, Now hold the cracker tight. Today, Twin Lakes is best known for being Proennekes private retirement home. Being together was always very comfortable, whether conversation came or not. Once, when we were canoeing, I asked him, Do you get lonely, or is this enough?, But then he wrote me a letter afterward and said, After you left, I felt lonely.. He died in April 20, 2003. View obituary. Search Peoria obituaries and condolences, hosted by Echovita.com. Welcome to The Official Richard Proenneke Website! He saw his correspondence, films, and journals as a way to share a life untethered to the commercial world. His skills as a technician were well-known and sought after, and he was able to save for retirement. Called the National Defense Act of 1916, the national law expanded the National Guard and Army (the Army added an aviation unit), created the Reserves, and gave the President expanded authority to federalize the National Guard. Proenneke's cabin at Upper Twin Lake stands out for the remarkable craftsmanship that reflects his unshakable wilderness ethic. Dick never changed his clock for daylight savings time and thought it was dumb when Alaska merged all its time zones. Proenneke's friend, bush pilot and missionary Leon Reid "Babe" Alsworth, returned periodically by seaplane or ski-plane to bring mail, food and orders that Proenneke placed through him to Sears.[7]. He wrote: I have found that some of the simplest things have given me the most pleasure. When you share a memory, or just show that you care by interacting with the biography, Share what Richard did for a living or if he had a career or profession. AK His friend and Lake Clark National Park employee John Branson edited his journals to publish two books, 'More Readings From One Man's Wilderness' and 'The Early Years: The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke 19671973'. In 2020, the fifth and final collection of Proenneke's journals, Reaching the End of the Trail: The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke 19922000 was published. After an eye injury that threatened to leave him blind in the late 1960s Proenneke wanted to put down roots far from civilization by building his own cabin amid the natural beauty of the Twin Lakes region. The Extraordinary Life Of Mary McLeod Bethune, The First Black Woman To Lead A Federal Agency, The Raucous Life And Tragic Death Of Bon Scott, Legendary Frontman Of AC/DC, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Port Alsworth, A nature lover, Proenneke soon gave up his career as an engineer to work at a sheep ranch in Oregon, and later relocated to Shuyak Island, Alaska, in 1950. Proenneke has often been referred to as a hermit, alone and isolated and cut off from any type of contact. The war had already ended by the time he recovered six months later, so the Navy gave him medical discharge in 1945. Unable to restart the iced-up engine, he made a forced landing outside of Copper Center, Alaska. He later returned toOregon and found employment in the Blue Mountains on a large sheep and cattle ranch where he built remote herders camps. I asked him why he was using intestines for bait. After serving there for nearly two years, he was sent to San Francisco in order to join a new ship assignment. In his minimalistic life he needed few material things. The Unbelievable Story Of Dick Proenneke, The Man Who Lived Alone In The Alaskan Wilderness For 30 Years. He went on to become a well-known Alaskan pilot and the mayor of the Lake and Peninsula Borough. I sensed that it might be my last visit with him so I didnt want to miss a moment with him. In the fall of 1967, Dick cut logs for his own cabin on the lake. The landscape commemorates the life of Richard L. Proenneke, a legendary writer, wildlife photographer, and conservationist who lived alone in a cabin he built by hand. Filmed in 1977, this 27 minute long documentary can be viewed online for free at the National Archives website. But he didnt yet know how. ." Come in out of the subzero and shiver yourself warm in front of a wood fire?
richard proenneke obituary