George C Groff Obituary
Mr. George C. Groff, 74, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2012 in his home after trying to battle brain cancer. George fought his illness very valiantly.
A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on January 11, 2013 located at the Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla, AK. A potluck dinner will be held in his honor at the home of Tim Groff immediately following the service.
George was born on November 19, 1938 in Petersburg, Florida to Howard and Ruthie Groff. George and his family moved to Alaska in 1948 when his father was stationed in Elmendorf Air Force Base. Shortly after, the family homesteaded in Wasilla where George was raised. In 1957, he joined the 144th Air Transport Squadron. After being honorably discharged in 1960, he pursued work as a truck driver, heavy equipment operator and eventually bought a gold claim at Circle Hot Spring where he minded until the late 1980’s. George lived in many places in Alaska until he returned home to the family homestead in Wasilla. He married his current wife, Renee in 1996. George had a great passion for trapping and hunting and truly loved the Alaskan life of living off the land and being so close to nature.
George is survived by his wife, Renee Groff of Wasilla; his daughter, Vena Kasper of Anchorage; granddaughters, Degen Kasper and Kelsey Kasper of Anchorage and Courtney Koruna; brother, John Groff Sr. of Colorado; nieces, Lena (Ron) Oliver of Wasilla and their children, Matthias and Jeffrey Sturgeon and Wayne and Tony Chulin all of Wasilla; Katrina (Patrick) Anderson and their daughter, Brianna Anderson all of Wasilla; nephews, John (Amy) Groff and their children, Amber and Ryan Groff; Tim Groff and his children, Seteeva, Timmy and Cheyenne Groff all of Wasilla.
George is preceded in death by his father, Howard Groff; mother, Ruthie Groff; son, George Koruna and sister in-law, Nancy Groff.