Paul H. Ruesch

Paul was born on Oct. 8, 1951, to Hartwig and Evelyn (Lemke) Ruesch in Iron Mountain. Paul spent his entire childhood in the Pine Creek area of Iron Mountain with his older brother Kent and younger brother Dave where they enjoyed spending time with friends, riding horses, and participating in 4H. Paul especially enjoyed hunting ruffed grouse, fishing in Pine Creek for trout, and hunting snowshoe rabbits with their beagle, Ruff.

Paul graduated in 1969 from Kingsford High School and then attended Michigan State University where he studied fisheries management. Paul graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1973 and immediately moved to Anchorage, Alaska, to pursue his field of study.

Paul’s first job in Alaska was working on a crab boat in the Bering Sea. He then worked another job on a boat in the Aleutian Islands where he got crab poisoning after his hand was punctured. He had to work through the injury until the boat trip was over and even had to be helped off the boat due to sickness. After this, he decided that it was the end of his career out on the boat.

In 1973, Paul started working at Square Deal Pizza in Anchorage where he met his future wife, Lynda, who was working there while on layoff from a local airline. Paul and Lynda became friends quickly and before long, Lynda was called back to the airline. Within a couple days of her leaving, she had a date with Paul where they went to see a movie and then had a drink together at Chilkoots. Afterwards, they sat in the pizza van and talked until 4 a.m., where they decided they were going to get married. On July 27, 1974, Paul and Lynda were married in Anchorage.

Shortly after getting married, Paul started to work short-term contracts with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game as a Fisheries Biologist. He continued to do that for a few summers before accepting a seasonal role in Kodiak in 1978. In this job, Paul interfaced with crab boats and helped determine the health of the crab population. Paul continued this work in Kodiak, Alaska, and then Dutch Harbor, Alaska, for a few years before he and Lynda moved to Kenai in 1980.

Once in Kenai, Paul was the commercial fisheries biologist assigned to the Upper Cook Inlet, managing quotas for commercial fishing. While Paul very much enjoyed the science of this process, he faced many challenges from advocates for both sport and commercial fishing. Paul remained committed to the policies and procedures managed by the state until retiring in 1999.

Paul enjoyed time with close friends in retirement, many whom he met during his career. It was at this time that Paul started taking annual trips in his pickup truck, accompanied by his dog, back to Michigan for fall hunting of both birds and whitetail deer. Some of Paul’s most cherished memories came from his time spent at “Ruesch Camp” with family and close friends.

Though Paul and Lynda did not have children, animals were always a huge part of their lives. Starting in the mid 80s, they began to accept orphaned moose calves at their property and raised more than 100 moose starting from a bottle over 15 years. They have also been dog owners for decades, owning multiple breeds, but most often, golden retrievers. Paul enjoyed years of companionship with the dogs and spoke of them like children.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Dave; and a niece, Laura.

Paul is survived by his wife and best friend, Lynda of Kenai; brother, Kent (Denise) of Sheridan, Wyo.; niece Jennifer Atwell of Sheridan; nephews Matt (Heather) Ruesch of Kingsford, Brad (Rebecca) Ruesch of De Pere, Wis., Adam (Hannah) Ruesch of Lake Geneva, Wis.; along with many great-nieces, great-nephews and friends.

Celebration of Life will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday July 15 at the Soldotna Elks Lodge in Soldotna, Alaska. Please bring a dish to contribute and a story to share.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Colorado State University Flint Animal Cancer Center: 300 W Drake Rd., Fort Collins, Co. 80525.

Arrangements made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.