Obituary: Paul Maurice Garceau

 


“Butterflies are amazing, how the hell do they navigate?”

One of the many things Paul Garceau wondered about. That wonder ended when Paul passed away, June 8th,2014 at Prescott Valley, Arizona.

Paul was born at North Attleboro, Massachusetts on April 4th, 1930. He always enjoyed being outdoors, the woods and lakes were favorite areas to explore. He was setting his own trap lines by the age of eight, a free spirit even as a boy.

He knew at a young age he needed to go to Alaska, and he did, hitchhiking across country in 1950. Before his journey he fulfilled his military duty by joining the Navy and was sent to Patuxent River Naval Station in Maryland. He served one year active duty as an Airman and five years in the reserves.

Once in Alaska he worked many odd jobs to pay for college. He attended the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. Paul had fun playing hockey and football, one football game he recalled was played in minus degree weather against a team of "hulking brutes." They lost that game.


Graduating in 1955 with a Bachelors Degree in wildlife management, he went to work for the then territory of Alaska. Paul enjoyed his work, much of it spent living alone in remote cabins, banding ducks or counting fish. One of his favorite spots was up the Taku River. Paul was one of the biologists to stock wolves on Coronation Island in 1961, a study about their survival rate and the deer

population.

Paul's true calling came when he bought the FV Sharon Ann in the early 1960s. He changed the name of the boat to the FV Doyle and tried his hand at gillnetting for several years. In the early 1970's he had his boat the FYKE built. It was a trendsetter, being the first boat with a fiberglass hull in the fleet. Later, Paul converted the FYKE to troll and found his real niche in life. He absolutely loved it.


Paul was a very talented artist as well. In 1983 he won the all Alaska Juried Art Exhibition award for his watercolor titled “Crab Apples.” His paintings show his good humor and his love of nature. Paul was serious about his art while never taking himself too seriously.

Paul was quick to laugh and loved being kidded by his buddies. He enjoyed good friends and was a man of integrity, it was a way of life for him. To say Paul will be missed is simply not saying enough.

Paul is survived by his partner Marilyn Merriam of Prescott Valley and his children and stepdaughter. Cynthia Nardini of Hollis, AK.

Clint Garceau of Anchorage, AK. Gary Garceau and Pierre Garceau of Mazatlan, Mexico. Step daughter Brenda Louise of Petersburg, AK. Grandson Corey Nardini of Wasilla, AK.

 

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